Off the Map...

Sorry I've been out of communication in the last few weeks. I have made it safe and sound to Laos. I'll be finishing a bit of an update on Cambodia hopefully later this week and then get on to all the things that are happening in Laos.

Until then,

Kayla

Pieces of Cambodia- The Guesthouse

Over the next few posts, I'm going to detail a few of the different things and places I've been experiencing here in Cambodia from different foods to where I get to sleep at night. Enjoy!

The Guesthouse

We rolled up to the guesthouse in around midnight though our bodies all told us it was daytime. All I could see as we came was a huge gate with barbed wire across the top. The gate opened and we entered into a small paradise.

The gate, not so imposing in the daylight. 

We walked through the gate into a courtyard full of all sorts of beautiful plants, most that I had never seen in my life. The air was still hot and sticky in the courtyard, but there was a sense of relief as we rolled our suitcase in. One either side of the courtyard were two bungalows. It was to one of these that I walked up. 

Trees and greenery everywhere in the courtyard!

Home sweet home.

Inside I found a living area with a chair and a couch. It melded into the dining room, which was composed of one table and a couple of chairs. Beyond the table was a small kitchen with a gas stove I've yet to actually learn how to use, fridge smaller than most college dorm rooms and shelf full of dishes. There was bottled water, corn flakes and a few cartons of juice; Just enough of the essentials to make one feel at home, but missing enough to realize it's not Minnesota anymore.

The living, dining, kitchen area... the Linichen?

The bedroom and bathroom were beyond with a bed for me and a roommate. The bathroom is a Shoilet, so the shower and toilet are all in one tiled room. We have both hot and cold water. Surprisingly, a cold shower can hit just the spot after a hot day walking back from school. One of the best parts about living at the guesthouse has been not having to clean the bathroom, do laundry, or make the bed everyday. It's such a relief to come back after classes and have all of the little details take care of for me.

Beds come pre-made. Suitcases.... not so much. 

Water options-hot or not so hot. 

The only thing left to do after a good nights sleep and a full day of class is to go out to eat... But that's another story. 

The Plane

A Cambodian, an American, and a Korean all sit down together on the plane. The Cambodian arrives first and takes the end seat. The American comes next and attempts to motion that she needs to get into the window. The Cambodian sees that the American needs to sit down, and so she moves all the way over to the window. The American then takes the middle seat, a little annoyed that she didn’t get the window. She’s been traveling for over 24 hours and wanted to lean against the window to sleep. She gets over herself and her lack of having a window pretty quickly, realizing that in the whole scheme of things, it’s not that important. The Korean sits down next to her.

The Cambodian takes her blanket and pillow. The Cambodian, who seems to be the motherly type, motions to the American as if to ask where her blanket is. Because at this point the American doesn’t know where it is and doesn’t feel like asking for another one, she says and tries to motion that she does not need it. This seems to satisfy the Cambodian who turns back towards her seat.

The plane takes off and Cambodian closes her eyes. The stewardess comes by and offers everyone headphones. The Korean and the American both take them. A moment later, the Cambodian opens her eyes and sees that she does not have headphones. She again motions at the American. The Korean, however, quicker on his feet, realizes what is amiss and quickly asks the stewardess for another pair of headphones. By this time, the American is beginning to realize that her language skills are quite inadequate.

The American lies down on her tray and attempts to sleep. While this is happening, she is vaguely aware of supper being served. The only thought that goes through her mind is that she hopes nothing is dropped on her as the tray is passed over her head.

When the American wakes up, she sees that customs forms have been passed out. After receiving a pen from the stewardess, she begins to fill out the form. The Cambodian is trying to ask questions to the American, who again, is no help at all. Again, the Korean comes to the rescue and is able to help the Cambodian successfully fill out her customs forms.  The Korean even helps to interpret between the Cambodian and the American.

As the plane taxis to the gate, the Korean unbuckles his seatbelt and sits like a runner ready to start a race. The moment the seatbelt sign actually goes off, he rushes to the front of the plane in order to make a hasty exit.  The American gets out of the way and the Cambodian follows the Korean up the aisle. The Cambodian says a quiet “bye-bye” to the American before moving out of site in the crowded plane.

The American stays where she is, knowing it will be a moment before she can exit the plane. So many thoughts swarm through her head. She realizes how much she does not understand. She begins to realize that she is walking into a culture where she truly is the foreigner. The situations she will soon encounter will not be familiar. And yet, she has comfort knowing there is one who knows all things and watches over all situations. It is on Him she must lean, for on her own strength she can do nothing. By Him, she moves forward into whatever trials and adventure the next day will bring.

-Thoughts from August 1^st 2012

Note: The two people I sat in between on my flight were both so beautiful. I could not have asked for a better way to be introduced to the Asian culture. They were so gracious to me, especially when I did not understand. This post came around from realizing that our seating arrangement sounded like the start of a bad joke, when it turned out to be such a humbling experience in the realm of language. 

Leavin' On a Jetplane...

Tomorrow I fly out to Colorado for a week of training. I can't wait to see and experience everything that is there. I've been blow away by all that I've experienced so far. I am so excited to see what is going to be in store for me as this journey begins. Both of my suitcases are packed and weighing in under 50 pounds, though barely. My license is at hand and I won't get my passport until Colorado so I can't loose it while trying to fly to Asia (again.) That's a story for another post.

I don't have much more to say, but the next time I blog I'll be in Colorado or Cambodia.

Serving Him,

Kayla

One Week

One week from today I will begin an adventure like none I have experienced. By this time next week, my two suitcases will have been packed, weighed, and re-weighed just to be sure. My room will be clean, my bed made and my car put into storage. I'll have met with friends and said tearful goodbyes. Even now I know it will be a surreal experience. One week from today I board a plane and fly to Denver to begin training for my two year teaching assignment in Laos.

So many different thoughts go through my head. On one hand, I am so excited to see what will be in store for me once I get to Asia. There are new cultures, new foods and new languages. There are stories to hear and students to teach. In many ways, it holds a place of awe and wonder in my mind. In some ways, it seems a little bit like going to Disneyland for the first time. Everything seems as though it will be a bit magical.

On the other hand, I have doubt about why I'm going. I don't always know if it's the right way, or if I should have turned off at a different turn. I worry about bugs and where exactly I'll be living once I get there. I have so many unknowns in this process. I wonder how everything will actually come together in the end.

But no matter what happens, I know that there is one who guides my steps in all circumstances. In that I take comfort. With that knowledge, I can move forward through the next week and into the years to come, confident that my path has been laid out for me. I need only step ahead.