First trial and error

December 16
Saturday

Today was not all that bad. I woke up refreshed and ready for the day. After church I took a nap for the first time on the balcony, in the shade of course and slept for about an hour and a half. It was nice. I’m usually not the type to nap, but what else was I going to do. Katrina and I were invited to a Christmas concert at the Inter Continental Hotel, one of two 5 star hotels in Phnom Penh. Upon arriving I was amazed how nice it was. Truth is I was uncomfortable. Why was I so uncomfortable? I have seen all this before and know how it all works, why do I get this unease feeling? Is it because I have lived a much simpler life for the past 4 months? Do I really want to go back to a luxury life style? Lets face it America is a laughing stock when we complain our life is hard. America is the land of the free and opportunity. We have laws and regulations to protect the people. Here in Cambodia you can pay off authority’s to get by with a warning. Families are sleeping under mosquito nets. You see shacks built right next mansions. People are using kids for money. Women are sexually assaulted and nothing done. Police sit on the side streets dealing who knows what. Children lie on the spot without a blink of the eye.
I feel Cambodia is a very secretive country. During the Pol Pot times people were taught to keep their mouth shut and not show emotion if they wanted to live. Most of Phnom Penh is full of the younger generation because the older generation is scared. They believe Pol Pot will come back to rule, he is believe to have died years ago. The story goes, he flee’d to the mountains and tried to form another form of rebellion. Along the way he pissed off the wrong people and in turn assassinated him. This country has gone through a lot. Yes, our country has too gone through a lot, but we have gotten back on our two feet. Other countries are still on the ground (Cambodia) and need a little help getting up. That is why I feel so great volunteering here. I know I’m doing something to help. Educating this country is very crucial. Most of the older generating doesn’t know how to read and write. Take Rithy’s mom for instance. She lived through Pol Pot times and doesn’t know how to read and write, not because she’s incapable, but because you were slaughtered for being educated, now a day she stays home playing house mom. This country is really poor and needs a hand to help.
Totally off the track, but I need to write about how we (Katrina and I) need to be more aware. You know in my past blog I talked about me getting grabbed, well tonight Katrina was grabbed again! After the concert we came home visited the Lao boys for a minute then went over to the Scotts (Fay and Tim’s last name) to play games. It was fun. We played rook. Anyway, Katrina wanted to check her e-mail really fast and it was already 10:30 p.m., but she didn’t realize it at the time. On the way home she was freighted because while at the internet shop men kept staring. She knew this was not a good idea the moment she realized the time. In the dark on the way home she couldn’t help but notice she was the only one on the street. All of a sudden she hears a moto in the distance. Getting a flash back from last time she speeds up. The moto, just as Katrina hoped wouldn’t slowed down and reached over and grabbed her, but only this time she fell off the bike. Making it home she has skinned up knees, an elbow, and surprisingly under the armpit. So for tonight I played Doctor Liz with my first aid kit I brought from home.
Why is it that people don’t learn from the first incident? I’m not just talking about this one incident, but in life generally. Come on, seriously. Think about it. How many times have you told yourself you wouldn’t do that again, but end up doing every time. Why can’t we learn from the first trail and error? Now if Katrina learned from the first incident, she would have saved her self from a couple of bandages. If I learned from the first time not to wait till the last minute, I wouldn’t be in debt to the Scott's. You know how much time, money and humiliation we would save ourselves from, if we only educated ourselves the first time. Think about this one.
As of right now its 2 a.m. and I’m pretty tired. This is the latest I have been up since I’ve arrived. Now if I learned the first time that iced coffee keeps me up I wouldn’t have ordered it from the Hotel. WHY?! I can’t be up this late. I have too much to do tomorrow. Man. If only?