Streetside Pad Thai and Beaches

One of the best things about being in Thailand is the over abundance of streetside food. Unlike in Cambodia, the food is both delicious and safe to eat. Some of our friends took us out to get some authentic pad thai. Boy was it good! And for less then one dollar!

While on the beach, I recommend a huge piece of Corn. For less then a dollar you can get a huge ear of corn smothered with butter and salt. I say, yes sir, may I have another. Now your hungry aren't you?

:: 10 Things We've Learned About Bangkok ::

We have been in Bangkok, Thailand for 3 full days now. We would like to share some of what we've learned since being here! We will have to post pictures later, as the internet cafe is not allowing it now.


1.) You can travel all over this city of 10 million people for virtually under $0.50. To do so, learn the public bus and Sky Train routes! It took us our entire first day here to learn such information, but now we go everywhere for much cheaper than a taxi or tuk-tuk!


2.) Eating "street food" does not always make you sick. We were taken out to "The Best Pad Thai in Bangkok" by our friends the other night; K panicked when she saw it was street food...but after thorough digestion, there were no sick tummies!!


3.) We miss American food. Every meal that comes around, we are eating from American restaurants (Sizzler, Subway, Burger King, Tona Roma's, Outback Steak House, and McDonalds are a few that are here).


4.) Karie's friends Tawee and Pui (that she met in 2002 during her outreach) have turned into lovely, caring, wonderful adults; they were only 16 years old when we first met. They have great senses of humor, speak Engligh very well, and love the Lord!


5.) No Indian restaurant is good enough (even if it has been rated "best in Bangkok for 11 years in a row") to trek by foot, a bus, and a skytrain for for over 1 1/2 hours for. It was good....but not that good.


6.) There are more 7-11 mini marts here than there are Starbucks in big US cities. 7-11's are on every street corner, and they sell the same junk as in the states (localized cuisine). They even sell slurpees!!

7.) Starbucks should be in Cambodia. Karie has gotten a drink each day we have been here, and has realized how much of a "wake up" it gives her in comparison to the coffee in Cambodia.

8.) Christmas feels a lot different this year, especially being in a new city. Bangkok has done a great job decorating with wreathes, garlands, ornaments, lights, even music playing all over the mall! However, we still won't have a traditional Christmas tomorrow at all...but that's ok!

9.) There are many more cool things to buy here!! We are stocking up on gifts for our families and friends, as Cambodia does not have super cool stuff like Bangkok does!

10.) Without looking around at the details of the city, we feel quite at home here. It reminds us a lot of San Francisco, and we have both had some nostalgia since we have been here. We cannot WAIT to come home, but are enjoying our vacation here in Thailand.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas in Cambodia

Well here we are, amidst our first Christmas season spent in another country. We wanted to post a few pictures of what we've been up to in order to ensure that things for us "feel" like Christmas.....even though we are in the middle of a very non-Christmas celebrating country. Regardless, some of the businesses in town have put up decorations, there are even fake trees for sale here! When we are at school, Christmas is all around us! Last week we had both the elementary school and middle/high school musicals, and this week will be filled with Christmas activities, parties, crafts, stories, etc. Brian and I will be traveling to Bangkok over our Christmas vacation, and that is where we will spend the holidays. We have no clue what's in store for us there, but we are excited to go on a new adventure. Enjoy the latest pics!

The 5th grade paper chain: 763 links in all!

I hate fake trees...but it's the best we've got this year!

Some of the 1st graders rehearsing for the musical

Our Cambodian Mary & Joseph (these are 2 of K's 5th graders!)

The hosts of the Christmas program: a.k.a. more 5th graders

Getting ready for the big night: over 200 people came!

A Thanksgiving to Remember

After 6 long days of being very sick, 3 of those nights spent in the hospital, Brian was discharged yesterday. What a gracious gift from God on our Thanksgiving holiday here in Cambodia!! By yesterday, Brian was very ready to come home. During the day and night, he had many nurses poking and prodding him, taking blood, temperature, blood pressure, giving him pills to take, cooling him off, etc. We are so thankful for the hospital he was able to stay in: not only is it right across the street from our school, but it is also the nicest hospital in this city. It was just what he needed during his days of extreme sickness. Here are some pictures of his room:

It had a nice little kitchen, and a great view!

The view out his window (sorry for the glare)

Waiting to be discharged: Thanksgiving morning

Now at home, Brian is feeling a little better each day. He is on strict doctor's orders to rest for at least 3 more full days. Today is day 7 of him being sick. We are so thankful to be able to rejoice in God's provision; sending Brian home on this day was a true blessing. Some friends and I decided semi last minute to throw some food together and enjoy a traditional meal here in Cambodia. As B rested at home, I went over to a colleague's house and baked all afternoon. We had baked chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, gravy, and dessert. We had a great time of fellowship while baking, and an excellent meal. B joined us as the meal was ready, and was able to eat 2 plates of food (this is good, because he virtually hasn't eaten in 6 days). Here are some pictures of our meal:

The spread: we fed 6 people

The gang: Brian, Joanne (Hong Kong), Joelle (England), Megan (Colorado), and Dennis (CA)

We were stoked to have this traditional of a meal in Cambodia!!

: : Rescue Orphanage: A Trip I Will Never Forget : :

Before Brian got really sick, a group of us from the school took a trip out of the city to an orphanage. One of the families at our school knows the woman (a Canadian) who runs the orphanage; she is from their home church. We went to visit, encourage her, and bring treats for the kids and older ladies. This woman, Marie, is incredible. She has lived in Cambodia since 1961 as a missionary: her and her husband were missionaries here until the Pol Pot regime, when they were forced to move back to Canada. After a freak accident, her husband died; Marie felt called back to Cambodia, and this is her home. She is a woman in her 70's now, but still runs this orphanage with almost 200 kids! She also has an AIDS neighborhood, where she provides homes for families living with AIDS. In addition to that, she has recently built a school on the property, and has just added 10 more family houses. She also provides "granny homes" for elderly Cambodian women who have no where else to turn. This woman is truly a saint, and as I type this, my heart is warmed even thinking of all she has done for people in this country. Marie rescues children from being sold into trafficking, and just before we visited last week, she got a sibling group of 5 young kids whose father had just brutally murdered their mother. As we were traveling the 1+ hour to get there, we were given all this information: as we pulled into the gates of the orphanage, each one of us was truly blown away at what this woman, with God's help, has done. Enjoy the photos below.

The long dirt road leading to the most peaceful place I have been to here: Rescue Orphanage

The AIDS neighborhood: there were about 8 homes total.

One of the babies in the AIDS home. He just got a lollipop, and was totally enthralled!

Orphanage homes: each child is placed into a family with house parents. Each house is fully functioning and holds 10 children.

Marie and one of her 174 children. She speaks fluent Khmer (the language here).

Beautiful sisters enjoying a sugary treat.


Love at first sight: one of the 4 babies in the Baby House.

Group photo time! Marie couldn't remember the last time this was attempted!

Beautiful sunset for our trip home.

This day was such an eye=opening experience. So many families in this country give up their children for various reasons: some are sold into the trafficking industry, others cannot be properly cared for, and others lose parents and have no where else to turn. This orphanage was so well run, pleasant, and filled with God's love. These children were absolutely beautiful, and I will definitely return when given the opportunity.

Prayer is Appreciated!

Dear All Blog Readers,
You may or may not know that Brian has been diagnosed with Dengue Fever. This is a fairly common disease in these parts, as it is contracted by mosquito bites. Although it is common, it is not good. He was fighting this fever at home, but as of this morning, he has been admitted to the hospital. Dengue affects your white blood cell and platelet count. Brian's has gotten too low, and the doctors felt it best to have him somewhere where they could put him on an IV and monitor him constantly. He remains in fairly good spirits, but is physically very weak and exhausted. Many others at our school have had Dengue, but the disease has 4 different strands one can contract.

If you would, we would appreciate your prayers for us at this time. It is a very scary, unsettling time....especially going through this in a foreign land. We are currently awaiting word from our insurance as to their coverage; as of now, Brian is waiting in the ER at a hospital near our school. Please pray he can stay there, as it is close by for me to get to him. Also, pray for the Lord to strengthen both of us; I am having a hard time doing this on my own, and often get very sad at the circumstances. We will update as things progress.

Good Mornin'Vietnam!!

Sorry for the delay in blogging, but we've been crazy busy!! It seems no matter where you are in the world, November and December are BUSY months!

We were blessed through my Dad (K) to financially be able to go to Vietnam over a week long break we had from school. We had been planning the trip for a couple months, and we were SO thrilled to be able to travel across the border to a different land. We took a very nice tour bus for 6 hours, and smoothly made it across the border. Funny how things work, but as soon as we crossed the border...I could tell we were in a more well-kept country. The roads were cleaner, there wasn't a funky smell, and the trees and grass were green and groomed!! It was truly a sight to see. Below are some pictures from our adventures in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam's capital city. We thoroughly enjoyed our time, however I got very sick the first full day we arrived. I spent about 80% of the trip either in bed, or in the bathroom....not enjoyable. However, what I did get to see, I LOVED!!

Brian and I found a bowling alley at the top of a mall...great fun!

One of the many lush, green parks in the city.

Coffee!!! Vietnam is the world's 2nd largest producer of this addicting drink.

A sweet girl who wanted a picture with the fish she caught: not sure if she eats them or sells them...?

Cockroaches and crickets-fried and yummy! (Some of these were 5 inches long!!)

Pho: Vietnam's most famous dish.

One of many gorgeous buildings in the city.

Overall, minus the being sick part, it was a great trip!! Some major differences we noticed between Cambodia and Vietnam were: the people there were much more happy and friendly, they have people who daily pick up the trash, the roads weren't dusty, there are people whose jobs are actually to care for the city's foliage, there were movie theaters and bowling alleys, the food was cheaper, they had wonderful city parks, there were sidewalks, the Vietnamese were spotted on multiple occasions actually giving money to the beggars, the weather was pleasant, and the country was overall more developed and thriving than Cambodia. Simple things you might think, but not when Cambodia is "home". Look out for a video which will be posted on our time in Vietnam!

Brian and Karie.....in Wonderland??

Tonight I came up with the perfect analogy for living here. If you have ever seen the Movie Alice in Wonderland, that is us here in Cambodia!!! 

• Alice goes exploring one day: Brian and Karie wanted to go exploring as well. 
• Alice stumbles, falls, and experiences a world that is completely upside down from the world she is used to: same same for us here. 
  
• Alice tries to get used to her world in "Wonderland", but continues to be bumped and scared by weird things that come up along the way: just as B&K think they have mastered their world in Phnom Penh, weirder things continue to happen.

The Lord is teaching me personally (K) to revel in the simple things. For example, yesterday I put on a clean shirt after I got out of my work clothes. My shirt smelled good, fresh, and like dryer sheets!!! Now, you might be reading this and thinking.....don't you normally wash your clothes? Yes, our helper does the wash....but a few factors go into the unsuccessfulness of the laundry: 1.) The water here stinks, and is SO bad that in order for it to be safe to cook with, it has to be boiled for 3o minutes in advance, 2.) Our laundry is hung outside to dry in a humid, smell-saturated country. It was a blessing to smell a smell I haven't smelled in 4 months: the smell of a clean shirt. It is the small things.

Another simple pleasure we enjoy is the ability to buy and cook American foods on the weekends. We are SOOOOO sick of Asian food and white rice. A few weekends ago, I bought the fixins' to make stuffed baked potatoes. Again, this might sound trivial to you...but to us, it is comforting. It's interesting, as you grow older...you realize how truly important traditions, normalcy, and family is to your very soul. 

So as these 2 Alices try to navigate this "Wonder?land", keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Our home and family are constantly in the forefront of our minds and hearts, and we miss you all terribly. 

God uses 4-year-olds

Today I woke up feeling just plain yucky. It was one of those mornings you wished you could stay in bed, and things only got more challenging. The headache I went to sleep with was still there, but worse. My stomach was having issues, something I have unfortunately had a LOT of here. As I got on Brian's bike (mine was being repaired for flat tire #3), I came to the sad realization that he also had a flat tire. Oh well, had to ride to school on it anyway! Blugh. One of those days.
As I got to school, one of my students called my name. She was with her younger sister Maya. Apparently Maya had picked a flower for me on their way to school, but was reluctant to give it to me. Maya is 4 years old, and is an adorably hilarious little girl. Long story short, my student handed the flower to me for her younger sis, and it was perfect. A little pink bud nestled between sage green leaves. As I brought it to my room to put it in water, I couldn't help but think that my God put the thought in this 4 year old's head to pick me a flower today. I needed that flower. As the day has gone on, that pink bud has opened and graced my desk with its beauty. *Lord, thank you for using even the smallest of your children.*

Street 592

- - Where we work, and where we lay our head at night- -

Here, streets are given numbers instead of names. If you have a particular street number you are looking for, let's say there is a restaurant you want to find there, good luck! Only the few major streets in the city have actual names, and the numbered streets do not go in order on the maps!! Tuk-tuk drivers get soooo lost trying to find things, because nothing is in order. For example, Street 578 might be parallel to Street 3. Insane. Anyhow, we live and work on Street 592. Our new house is about a 5 minute bike ride on a nice, paved, fairly drained, street. We love it. Below are a few pictures of our new home:

The main, and largest room of our house: we have made it into a dining room, office, and guest area. The door you see is our front door.

The dining room and bookshelves; behind the shelves is our guest bed (w/o mattress yet...).

Karie's favorite spot: our veranda. Below is Street 592.

We see these beautiful sunsets from our veranda. Amazing.

This was one of our most rainy, flooding days. Look how deep the water was on our street!!

This ox cart comes by every morning, selling terra cotta pots and cooking containers. The oxen are badly malnourished.

I felt like a tourist, taking pictures of this normal event...however, the Cambodians think the oxen are pretty cool too!! They all came out to the street to watch them.

We have been here 3 1/2 months already, and we still have so much to see and do! There are days when we feel bored and trapped here, but even looking down onto our street can provide entertainment. In the recent weeks, we have spent nights out on the veranda watching spectacular lightning storms, colorful sunsets, flooding streets, ox carts, speeding motos, and much more. Hooray for Street 592....wherever you are on a map.

* * *Not All Daisies and Roses* * *

Lately, Cambodia has become a very tough place for Brian and I to be. I think the reality of the length of time we have committed here has set in, and we are finding it very challenging in many different ways. We try to make the best out of each day we have here, but there are just some days where this is fairly impossible. I have experienced a string of unfortunate events, so I thought I would share those with you. These just go to show it isn't always pretty and enjoyable here.

• Last weekend, some co-workers and I set off for a much needed girls day out. Our plans were to have breakfast (American style) at a cute little cafe called "Sisters: All Day Breakfast." After that, we needed to do a bit of shopping in the Russian Market (see my previous post pictures of the market with crowded, small aisles). Then, to top it all off, we were going to a salon called "The Oasis" to get manicures, pedicures, massages, etc. Believe it or not, I was going to be able to get a 30 minute foot massage and pedicure for $5.00 total. Anyway, during the market portion of our day, we were standing at a vendor's stall trying to find out the price for conditioner. As we began to walk away, she alerted the Cambodian women we were with to tell us to check our bags; apparently she had seen some suspicious people lingering behind us for a bit. When I went to take my backpack off my shoulder, it was WIDE OPEN. My wallet was gone. I had just visited the ATM to take out cash, which I had put in the wallet....not to mention I had my CA Driver's License, my USA bank's ATM cards, etc. etc. Well anyway, quite the commotion began as vendors, "police men" (really guys with walkie talkies dressed in everyday clothing), and shoppers at the market went scurrying every which way! Some thought they knew who did it: a women and her children. We were rushed over to the "police headquarters" (again, just a room with a conference table in it) and I was told to fill out a report. They say they might find the wallet, but I am not so hopeful. This event brought a real sadness to my heart, mainly because stealing is a WAY OF LIFE here. I am so saddened that the Cambodian government does not care enough about its people that the majority of its capital city are living in filth and poverty. Pray for whoever took my wallet, that they would someday know the love of Christ and realize that stealing is wrong.
  
• Yesterday a friend and I set off down the road on bikes during our lunch break; the cafeteria was serving hamburgers, and those who know me know I don't eat them. There is a little cafe down the street that serves great banana smoothies, so that is where we headed. I was riding on a flat tire, which I had discovered that morning when I got on my bike. As if this wasn't bad enough, I hadn't had time get it fixed before school started. Alas, one more ride on the flat wasn't going to kill my bike of steel. As we were backing our bikes up after getting our smoothies, I stepped back with my right leg and immediately began to feel my flesh burning. My senses took over, and I jumped; not quick enough to get a good little burn on my calf from a Moto pipe. This is VERY common here, as those pipes that hang out on the side of Motos are NEVER covered here, and get roasting hot. Yeay. 20 bug bites all over each leg, a nice burn situated on top of them, and a flat tire. What a day.
  

Anyway, I don't write this blog to bring anyone down; I write because I feel the need to communicate just how hard it is being here some days. I enjoy the people we work with and the students at the school: they literally keep us going on these hard days. Anyway, everyone back home be THANKFUL for where you are: in an un-corrupt country where things are kept clean and neat.

What we're up to

It's been awhile since I've written about the day-to-day things we stay busy with here. This blog will be all about that. In our few free hours each day and weekend, we love to hop on a Tuk-Tuk and venture out to new places. Here are a few pictures from one of the more bearable markets-Russian Market. The best time to visit Russian Market is in the morning or late afternoon; otherwise, you will nearly die of heat exhaustion as there are NO vents or things to let the air through the place.

You want a banana? They have 11 varieties here!!

The beautiful colors of Cambodian silks

Oh the choices! DVDs, CDs, TV Series....all for about $2.00!!

This little beauty was strolling around in underwear, no shoes, and a half drunken glass bottle of Green Fanta. I wanted to swoop her up and take her home. . .what a precious babe.

...and it was! I had a cup to-go, about the size of a Starbucks Tall, and it was 3,000 riel ($0.75)

Other than visits to the local markets, we have enjoyed teaching at the school very much. We work here about 9 hours each week day and usually at least 6 hours one of the weekend days. It is our second home, and the kids here are amazing. What a true blessing we have to work with them as they grow up in the Lord. Below are some pics Karie snapped of her class in action on a normal Friday afternoon:

Playing while having P.E.

Playing Guess Who!

A busy room during Friday Fun time!

We will continue posting on the day-to-day occurrences as time permits!! We love you all and cannot WAIT to come home this summer.

- -5 Senses of Cambodia- -

So many of you are interested in knowing what life is like for us here: how it is different, the new things we are experiencing, etc. The best way I thought to communicate that to you is through something we can all relate to...our 5 senses. Going through each of the five senses, I will try my best to give you a visual of life in a third world country:

SEE:

• Busy roads
• People going to the bathroom on the side of the road
• Dirt everywhere
• Tropical plants
• Large insects
• More motos than I have ever seen
• Worn faces on older people, hopeful faces on the youth of Cambodia.
• Dogs and cats without homes
• Markets crowded with people
• Darkness (the power goes out almost daily)
• Rats and rat poop everywhere
• Geckos magically climbing walls
  

HEAR:

• Horns honking
• A language I don't understand
• Multiple questions: "Excuse me, Tuk Tuk?" "Where you going?" "Where you come from?"
• Dogs barking
• Loud claps of thunder
• Children laughing
• American rap music playing
• Tukai Geckos doing their call (hard to explain, but it sounds like some sort of bird)
  

TASTE:

• Tropical fruits with FLAVOR
• Dirt in my mouth, blowing up from the roads
• Amazing iced coffee with sweet milk
• A multitude of new and exotic spices
• Filtered water
• Fanta soda in many flavors (including Orange, Green Cream, and Pineapple!)
  

TOUCH:

• My keyboard keys (lots of touching these; it's how I stay in touch back home)
• My bicycle handlebars
• Pencils galore!
• Riels and dollars
• Strange fruits

SMELL:

• Pollution
• Our helper cooking dinner each night
• Rotten trash
• White rice cooking (...far too often)
• Plumeria flowers
• Fresh laundry off the line
• Coffee brewing in the morning
• Human waste
• Rain falling on the cement
  

It is truly so hard to describe our lives here. I feel as if our lives here are completely opposite of our lives in California; not only are we on the other side of the world, but we are on another planet in terms of how we live day-to-day. I deeply miss the things and people of "home", but I know we are here to be challenged and sharpened.

Vacation at the Beach

Sorry it has been so long since we have updated you on life's happenings!! The past 2 weeks have been filled with packing our home, moving somewhere new, unpacking our home, finalizing our first quarter of the school year, and going on a mini-vacation! Our families blessed us by sending some extra money our way, and we were able to use that to treat ourselves to a beach getaway! We had a 4 day weekend at school because of a Cambodian holiday, so Brian and I, along with 18 other friends, set off last Friday to the coast.
The town's name is Sihanoukville, and is between 3 1/2-5 hours away by van. There is 1 highway we took to get there, which is only 2 lanes wide. What a difference from highways back home!! Anyway, we left on Friday after school and arrived around 8:45pm that night. We spend 4 nights and 3 full days there, and we had a BLAST. We were so fortunate to see another part of Cambodia, as well as to get out of the noisy polluted city. Phnom Penh is the most populated city in this country, and the rest of the country is virtually farmlands and rice paddies. We drove through very small towns, saw a very rural way of life, and enjoyed every moment of our trip. We swam in warm, clear ocean waters, we drank coconut milk, we played in the waves for hours, and we enjoyed thunder and lightning storms. Definitely a trip to remember. Here are some visual images from our incredible weekend (Remember: click on these photos to make them bigger):



The view from the highway: rice paddies and palm trees!



Occheuteal Beach (2 blocks from our Guesthouse)



One of the beautiful little girls selling bracelets, massages, etc. on the beach. We sat and talked with her for a long time, and taught her some songs about Jesus!



Fresh lobster anyone?



Occheuteal Beach at sunset (although the sun was being blocked by the clouds)



SO happy to be on vacation!!



Joanne, Anna, and Karie playing in the waves.



Loving life under the hut: we were waiting for the rain to stop so we could to play!



One of the sweet boys who was selling things: here, we were teaching him to play Uno.


Overall, great fun was had by all!! We are SO THANKFUL to our Mom's for providing us extra money for this trip. Without it, we would not have been able to go. We love you all; look for more updates to come!