The beach, jungle and waterfalls

October 19
Friday
Today was a little heck-it. My art class was a disaster. I have been wanting to this panda bear for week now and every time I tried to do it something would stop me, but today I conquered. But it didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to. First off, I thought my kids could cut out simple shape in a reasonable time; NO! They seriously took a half and hour to cut out 5 objects. I had to step in and help them. I felt bad, but I need to get it done. If Art class was happening any other class period it wouldn’t be such a big deal, but Art is the last period of the day. I think I will try putting Art the first period so that I can finish and not rush the kids. I usually do test on Friday and partly Thursday anyway and I get done before the period.
Yesterday I played volleyball. It was so much fun. I will try and make a for sure thing on Tuesday and Thursday @ 4:30. The people here are fun to play with. Sometimes they are ball hogs, but I just need to push my way to the ball, and make sure when I call it I get it; weather that means pushing others out of my way. Last night I got hit in the face with the ball 2 times because someone got in my way of the ball. I called it AND had the better angel and they just stepped in front of me. So the ball bounced off their arms and nailed me in the face. I wasn’t mad, but annoyed.

October 26, 2007
Friday
It’s been a long time since I have been able to blog. I don’t get wireless anymore and I don’t want to spend too much money on internet. If it makes you feel better I have been keeping up on my grading a lot better than the first of the quarter. I do all my grading before I leave for the day. Today I stayed till 1 p.m.; reminder half day on Friday (11:40 a.m.). I wanted to get all of my grades done before the long weekend. Over here we celebrate the king and queens b-day. Kind of strange, but whatever I get the day off. Katrina, Heather and I are planning on going to Sin Uk Vill. Sin Uk Vill is the beach over here. I’m pretty excited to get out of Phenom Pehn.
Oh! So, I told myself I was not going to get a hair cut while I was over because I didn’t want them (locals) to mess it up and chop off all of my hair because of communication problems. But this past week I really wanted to get a trim. On Monday I asked Silim to take me to a salon. She was pretty excited and I nervous. Today was the day to face my fears of the salon, and it turned out not to be so bad. I was pretty happy with the service, lets see they, washed my hair, messaged my face and head, and did my hair all for $2. Talk about Wow! In the states that would of easily cost 30 some dollars.
All I wanted was a trim, which is what they did, but me being the way I am, I wanted layers. So I had to explain what I meant by layers and kind of show them how to do it. I was pretty nerve racking when they pulled out the scissors the second time. I wanted to keep the length for sure though; I said that I don’t know how many times.
As the cosmetologist started again on my hair I watched with a careful eye. At first glance it looked as if she was cutting off lots, but in the end it turned out “ok”. My hair cut was not exactly the way I wanted, but I just keep telling myself that it will grow back.
So, that is my experience with the salon. I know I will be visiting the same beautician next time and tell her no layer just a trim, because I want to let my hair grow back out.
Other than that my day was ok. I made brownies for my kids today. They don’t really like cake. Some complained it bitters; what the heck man, cake is sweet; whatever. I just decided to not make cake anymore. As I sit here Heather is opening another package! Annoying! I have not got one since I have been here. Oh, wait I got a package from WWU. That is pretty pitiful. Whatever I know you still love me, right?
So, heather is ok. She is kind of a control freak and that is starting to annoy me. I just need to tell her to back off. Take this for instance; when ever Katrina and I leave she wants us to leave a note on the white board she bought, tell her where we are going and when we will be back. I just don’t know what to think about her sometimes. I can understand for emergency reason, but that is not her intentions. Another thing, we have to take turns cleaning the house every Friday. I don’t mind that to much, but she reminds us every Thursday night and lists off what we are suppose to do; I’m not a child. It really annoys me when people do that, it just sets me off. If you haven’t noticed I’m venting.
I’m really sorry about not keeping up on my blogspot, but I have been really busy. Next couple of weeks I will be even busier. The first quarter testing is in two weeks. I have to make sure my kids remember everything and can do it all on their own. I’m mostly worried about the luck 5. Oh, I just found out I might be adding another student to my class. She is the little sister of Sopheaktra, really smart student, so I know for sure she will be good. Besides Kim tells me Sopheaktra’s little sister is really smart too. I kind of know how she is because I taught Kim class for 20 minutes on Tuesday.
Here’s the story:
Kim’s kids were being bad and threaten her kids she would have me teach the class and low and behold the kids thought she was bluffing. Once I walked into the classroom the kids didn’t know what to think. They really listened to me, I went over the number 1 through 12 and thought them how to spell one, two, and three. I walked around the room with a ruler and pointed to random students to spell the word. Some of the smarter kids in the class liked the way I taught while others cried. Yes, cried! This one girl in the middle back row started to cry; I didn’t even call on her. I guess I’m a little scarier than I thought. Kim’s kids are the younger kindergarten class; K-A; ages 3-5. Mine is the 6-8, but most of my kids are above and beyond kindergarten level. That is why I’m having such a hard time teaching them information they all ready know. I have to come up with lots of worksheets for them to do, because literally they will wiss though the workbook in 2 months if I don’t. My kids already know the information, but the luck 5 is holding the class back.
Okay, I have written enough for you to know that I’m still alive. Thanks for all your prayers. I will try to keep up on my blog more. My readers may need to read lots at a time because I will usually update a weeks worth in one day like on a Friday or Sunday. Who knows with me? I however want to go to T&C this afternoon to do blogging, but didn’t make it there because of the hair cut and a meeting with the evangelist group. We are planning on going to another church and put on the program. Katrina and I are going to sing special music. We are just going to sing the same song we sang for Vespers a couple weeks ago (I don’t think I told you about that). Okay, bye bye now!

October 28-31
Wednesday
Halloween!!!

Today in Cambodia it’s Halloween. I was thinking I would go around and ask for candy, but knowing this place I would just be chased off. I don’t feel like being put down.
This past week we had 5 days off. It was the king’s b-day. Katrina, Heather, JC and I all went to the beach. We left Sunday morning and got back yesterday. We stayed right on the beach for only $3.75 each for 2 nights and 3 days. The hotel was not all that bad either. It had AC and a warm shower. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, the whole trip I probably spent $50. Arrived Heather, Katrina and I went swimming and ate at the Holy Cow (restaurant). It was a really nice and calm place to chill. I bought a book called, They First Killed My Father. Its about the reign during the Pol Pot time. Pol Pot over ruled the King and want to bring Cambodia back to its roots. He felt Cambodia was being too westernized. During the Civil war he won (democrats) and forced all the towns’ people into the jungle. He then started his own rule in Cambodia, wanting to purify it. If you were from the city you were automatically considered dead. Pol Pot believe any who could read, write or think for themselves were dangerous to him so he ordered them all to be killed, this includes; teacher, priest, or anyone who wore glasses. Pol Pot wanted no one to over throw him. During Pol Pot’s rein he starved the people and tore families apart. There is a whole line of generation missing from that time. No babies were born, if born they were smashed into palm trees like coconuts, very sad. My book tells the story of a girls survival. She had so many trials to go though; she lost her father, mother, little baby brother, and older sister either from disease or the hand of a soldier. I really do recommend you read this book. Very easy to read and goes by very fast. I just bought it Sunday night and only have 30 pages left in the book. Here is the name once again, First They Killed My Father, by Loung Ung.
Other than me swimming and reading this book we rented moto’s for the day and drove to the waterfalls. It was so cool. I wanted to swim, but didn’t bring anything. I have some pictures and will post them later. I tell you what I will be going back to Sin Uk Vill. Just to let you know I’m spelling it phonetically out because I don’t know exactly how to spell it.
Ok, I need to do some work. We have first quarter testing next week and I need to make up the tests. I sure hope my kids do great. I worry about the luck 5. Today Katrina and I are going to the Russian market to buy a bag for me. I need one to bring to school. The one I have is not big enough for me and is falling apart because I put too much in it.
Hope all is well and once again I will try my best to keep up on my blogspot. Love ya all very much.
I almost forgot about the church thing. It went really good. We drove to the jungle and walked around handing out flyers to invite people to the new church in the area. Really sad how some people live, but its good that they are happy. The kids were really happy to see their picture after I took it. Laughing and giggles filled the village. I will put up picture sometime. Oh! Just a reminder, you know that I have a flicker account where you can look at my pictures. I have all of my kid’s pictures there and more. If you go to my page its under ALL ABOUT ME. Just ready you will find the link. Love Ya!