Practice last week- head coach was gone so I ran a few practices with the captain of the team. In one of the practices I made them do a total of 50 jump squats threw out the practice. The next day 2 of the girls complained to shannon ( the main lady if sam is gone ) that they were injured. I Of course first laughed then explained to shannon that they are just sore and then tried to explain to them.
Took out to eat my favorite waiter and waitress. it was the only day in may they get off and they make 50$ a month ( crazy) was a good time the girl is crazy and I never know what she is going to say or do.
This really pissed me off, and there was nothing I could do about it-- so I am doing a killer workout in the gym. I get done with my 5th round of a circuit and I am huffing and puffing and in comes 4 guys all with lit cigarettes, they chat a tiny bit stare at me and weigh them selfs and then leave. Meanwhile I am looking back at them like I am going to shoot them or stab them. DON'T SMOKE IN A GYM
More in the gym- well I am use to the other workers in the hotel coming to look threw the window to stare at me wile I am working out- dosent phase me
-- love when other Cambodians are working out, they usually are in flip flops And flopping them loudly on a tred mill.
-- my neighbor, she is a good sport when she comes into the gym she always smiles and sometimes cheers or gives me the gesture with her lips that can mean good job ( they mainly use the gesture to point at something like sticking there lips together and pointing them in the direction kinda)
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Back for my final month
Back to school back to school
Back to teaching and coaching. How do you forget so much over 2 weeks? It's like I had to re go over the whole chapter in 2 days. That's what I did and then tested them on Friday. They did well and it kicked them in gear to study. Training was not the best. April is the hottest month. With it always being in the hundreds in the afternoon and never going below 90 it makes training difficult. They are now going into there futsal season where they play it on cement. No joke a cone was melting to the cement. Yeah um it's hot
At the orphanage on Monday we went to coach and the girls were not aware that we were starting so we told them and then returned on wednesday. ( you gotta love Cambodia communication) practice went great. So I then told them they did well and let them scrimmage at the end. Well practice can only be so good for so long at the orphanage, once they started playing one of the good girls was mad bc she thought the teams were unfair. She then decided to sit down in the middle of the field errrrrrrrrrrr!! It had almost gone so well. I tried to talk to her saying she will never get better by sitting on the ground and bla bla and she didn't budge but she did go and sit off the field. I tried again to talk after she was off the field, but she didn't even look at me. Good news though ha - the girls are starting to learn, bc when they do something wrong or bad - they quickly look up at me to see if I saw them. Progress little progress but progress
Back to teaching and coaching. How do you forget so much over 2 weeks? It's like I had to re go over the whole chapter in 2 days. That's what I did and then tested them on Friday. They did well and it kicked them in gear to study. Training was not the best. April is the hottest month. With it always being in the hundreds in the afternoon and never going below 90 it makes training difficult. They are now going into there futsal season where they play it on cement. No joke a cone was melting to the cement. Yeah um it's hot
At the orphanage on Monday we went to coach and the girls were not aware that we were starting so we told them and then returned on wednesday. ( you gotta love Cambodia communication) practice went great. So I then told them they did well and let them scrimmage at the end. Well practice can only be so good for so long at the orphanage, once they started playing one of the good girls was mad bc she thought the teams were unfair. She then decided to sit down in the middle of the field errrrrrrrrrrr!! It had almost gone so well. I tried to talk to her saying she will never get better by sitting on the ground and bla bla and she didn't budge but she did go and sit off the field. I tried again to talk after she was off the field, but she didn't even look at me. Good news though ha - the girls are starting to learn, bc when they do something wrong or bad - they quickly look up at me to see if I saw them. Progress little progress but progress
Bali
Bali
Indonesia is made up of about 17500. I went to the most popular, Bali
The highlight for me was getting up every morning to go surfing. I figured I needed to practice practice practice. So that's what I did. I managed to ride a ton of waves and drop in on a few. I had some old Aussie dudes helping me one day and I finally successfully dropped in on a wave and road it to the beach bc I was pooped. When I looked back at them they were pumping there fist and I couldn't hear them but I am sure cheering as well. I played a board game one afternoon with the local beach bums. They mocked every word I said and ganged up on me to make sure I would not win. They loved me!! With only a short time there I was not able to see everything Bali has to offer so I must go back!
Indonesia is made up of about 17500. I went to the most popular, Bali
The highlight for me was getting up every morning to go surfing. I figured I needed to practice practice practice. So that's what I did. I managed to ride a ton of waves and drop in on a few. I had some old Aussie dudes helping me one day and I finally successfully dropped in on a wave and road it to the beach bc I was pooped. When I looked back at them they were pumping there fist and I couldn't hear them but I am sure cheering as well. I played a board game one afternoon with the local beach bums. They mocked every word I said and ganged up on me to make sure I would not win. They loved me!! With only a short time there I was not able to see everything Bali has to offer so I must go back!
Songkran
( thialand new year)
Back in the big dirty city of Bangkok
Biggest water fight in the world! Cramped packed streets, dancing, water gun fights, buckets of water, music, pancake powder going all over your face and cloths, people throwing buckets of water at tuk tuks and moto bikes, you are never dry for a second.
Way cooler then the 4 of July but by day 2 I was like can I please just be dry for one minute.
Last three days
Back in the big dirty city of Bangkok
Biggest water fight in the world! Cramped packed streets, dancing, water gun fights, buckets of water, music, pancake powder going all over your face and cloths, people throwing buckets of water at tuk tuks and moto bikes, you are never dry for a second.
Way cooler then the 4 of July but by day 2 I was like can I please just be dry for one minute.
Last three days
To the peak
Hong kong
I stayed with a local, named tony who showed me the best things in hong kong. For starters I want you to picture the smallest bathroom ever. Were you have to sit sideways to go potty. The shower head is above that and were you can wash your hands with out standing up. Living space in hong kong is tiny- is what I am getting at.
Tony brought me to tradtional favorite din sum restaurants, I new this not bc he told but bc the restaurants were always busy and full of local old people reading the paper : ) din sum is were you order a few dishes and share the din sum can me dumplings, rice portage with fermented duck egg, rice with some sauce and a chickens foot, a steamed bun filled with a yummy creamy dessert type flavor or pork and onion maybe throw a shrimp in there. I actually really love it and I could go for some more right now. I became a pro at using chop sticks with only using a fork once in my 5 days there.
I of course went and saw the main sights. Went camping in the rain with a few people who have never camped before. Hahah I don't think they are the camping type. Saw beautiful beaches and of course climbed a mouton or two
Hong kong has way more to offer then just a big crazy city, I will put it at the top of the list for cities I like.
I stayed with a local, named tony who showed me the best things in hong kong. For starters I want you to picture the smallest bathroom ever. Were you have to sit sideways to go potty. The shower head is above that and were you can wash your hands with out standing up. Living space in hong kong is tiny- is what I am getting at.
Tony brought me to tradtional favorite din sum restaurants, I new this not bc he told but bc the restaurants were always busy and full of local old people reading the paper : ) din sum is were you order a few dishes and share the din sum can me dumplings, rice portage with fermented duck egg, rice with some sauce and a chickens foot, a steamed bun filled with a yummy creamy dessert type flavor or pork and onion maybe throw a shrimp in there. I actually really love it and I could go for some more right now. I became a pro at using chop sticks with only using a fork once in my 5 days there.
I of course went and saw the main sights. Went camping in the rain with a few people who have never camped before. Hahah I don't think they are the camping type. Saw beautiful beaches and of course climbed a mouton or two
Hong kong has way more to offer then just a big crazy city, I will put it at the top of the list for cities I like.
Champs
We are the champions my friends, and the mighty girls were so happy as the held hands and smiled off the field. They played against a team they had lost to last year so it was nice to beat them this year.
Now they have a 2 week break from school and I no they are sad from me as well.
There break is for the Khmer new year, were they will go and visit relatives and friends. This is one of the biggest breaks they have all year. They go to school year around with having breaks here and there.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Vietnam
Vietnam
Phu qouc
My soccer girls were a little upset when I told them I was missing a game to go to vietnam
Boarder crossing was an adventure. They gave me the 5 dollar visa which is probably made up and then ended up charging me a dollar for the one guy and 5 for the other so it cost me 11 but that's a steal compared to the normal price visa.
I stayed in a little bungalow just a minute walk to the beach. Went on a fishing and snorkeling tour. I hahaha ended up going on the wrong boat but it was same tour different companies it was fine everyone laughed besides the tour guide. Once my boat arrived at same snorkeling spot I jumped on the boat I was suppose to be on. I got the privilege to see a fisher man poop off the side of his boat.
I promised the girls I would be back in time for there game on monday. The tour promised me I would be back in time for it also, I don't no why I believed them. Started out that I got picked up from my bungalow he brought me about half a mile away to get on to a little van who then back tracked past my place ???? ( very organized) then we get to fairy and there are way to many people on the boat. Everyone in the iyl got kicked off the boat it took over an hour. Lots of mad people. There were also lots of Vietnam people who just got on the boat with out a ticket we clapped as it departed an hour late to go for 20 seconds only to be called back by the police. They yelled and said a bunch of stuff I didn't understand and then we finally departed again. When we arrived on the main land to get a bus back to Cambodia we were told it would come at 1230, it didnt come in tell 2. At the boarder I was nervous bc I didn't no if my visa was legit but it was not a problem. --- there was no way I was making it to the game. I arrive back at 4 and I find out the team we were playing forfeited.
Now for the nock out games. We are seated number one and we play bright and early tomorrow morning.
Phu qouc
My soccer girls were a little upset when I told them I was missing a game to go to vietnam
Boarder crossing was an adventure. They gave me the 5 dollar visa which is probably made up and then ended up charging me a dollar for the one guy and 5 for the other so it cost me 11 but that's a steal compared to the normal price visa.
I stayed in a little bungalow just a minute walk to the beach. Went on a fishing and snorkeling tour. I hahaha ended up going on the wrong boat but it was same tour different companies it was fine everyone laughed besides the tour guide. Once my boat arrived at same snorkeling spot I jumped on the boat I was suppose to be on. I got the privilege to see a fisher man poop off the side of his boat.
I promised the girls I would be back in time for there game on monday. The tour promised me I would be back in time for it also, I don't no why I believed them. Started out that I got picked up from my bungalow he brought me about half a mile away to get on to a little van who then back tracked past my place ???? ( very organized) then we get to fairy and there are way to many people on the boat. Everyone in the iyl got kicked off the boat it took over an hour. Lots of mad people. There were also lots of Vietnam people who just got on the boat with out a ticket we clapped as it departed an hour late to go for 20 seconds only to be called back by the police. They yelled and said a bunch of stuff I didn't understand and then we finally departed again. When we arrived on the main land to get a bus back to Cambodia we were told it would come at 1230, it didnt come in tell 2. At the boarder I was nervous bc I didn't no if my visa was legit but it was not a problem. --- there was no way I was making it to the game. I arrive back at 4 and I find out the team we were playing forfeited.
Now for the nock out games. We are seated number one and we play bright and early tomorrow morning.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Lots going on
Soccer tournament in the capital of Cambodia. I depart with two coach buses full of screaming kids most with 3 kids to a seat. They were so excited to go to a soccer tournament. We stayed at a school! It was something I am glad I did but don't ever ask me to do it again. 100 kids sleeping in the top floor of one of the school rooms, tin roof pouring down rain, can't hear the person next to you. it's so loud with the rain hitting the ruff. Next thing you no there is leaks and half of the tile floor is wet. It didn't phase the kids they just moved there mats. I went and slept in the library. all the kids were up at 4 am playing and screaming!! WTF go back to sleep. I go down to the bathroom which is not even in the school it is on the outside. With buckets of water and holes in the ground ( normal) the kids laugh at me when I reach the bathroom bc there is a line and the look on my face must of said ... Why in the world are you up for the game all ready go back to sleep... I have to wait in line to go squat in this Asian toilet,.... You guys have to play soccer all day why aren't you sleeping, I just slept in a library, no I don't want to eat nasty rice portage, no I didn't sleep well,; yes I am happy despite all this to experience this soccer tournament with you.
That day a friend from Brainerd ( Melissa Hanson) arrived to find out what waiting around in Cambodia is like. She showed up at the fields and we Waited and waited and Waited for the tuck to come and pick the girls and us up to go back to our wonderful place we called home. before going to bed I was told 3 different answers on what time the bus was leaving in the morning. We got up in the Morning to make our way to the cost of Cambodia for the mighty girls " state" tournament. We got up 630 to catch a bus at 7 that didn't come Intell 8 something. so again we waited and waited and waited. When we arrived we sat at another school and Waite and waited ( in this time we waited and waited I got the girls to dance and sing a bit and we had photo shoots) after waiting and waiting sam (the main man) came and told them he rented an apartment for the 2 weeks for the team and coaches and English teachers to stay in.
Mellisa and I went and stayed on the river - which was awesome bc we were able to swim and paddle on surf boards and to escape the heat. The river is neat. The current switches directions based on the tide. It's a u shape river that goes to the ocean.
The girls had a day break so Mel( she made it easier for the mg to say her name) and I went kep ( a town on the beach about 35 min from where we were) on a moto bike. It was quite the day. We started of breaking the mirror on the moto, the screw came out and it fell off wile driving it. Then we had the two of us on the bike with goofy helmets my backpack and Mels big real backpackers backpack. It was a sight to see. We arrived in kep and started to plan our day in half. In planning we went to three different places trying to figure a way to go to phu cock island in vietnam. After pissing off a Cambodian Tavel agent women we had it all settled only to get back to the room and relies I didn't have my pass port bc I had to give it to the moto bike rental dude.
Other kep stories-- broken glasses, being screwed over in a room for money, monkeys, lady boy, hamik breaking wile I was laying in it, cambodian locks one key fits all, big boats made more like big canoes, butterflies, nature snakes geckos toads bugs, crab crab crab crab crab crab crab, ghost town, French math skills, And super ha -- if you have been to Cambodia you no what super means! All of those things I listed make up kep
The girls have a lot of down time in this tournament , so I see them playing cards and they ask me if I want to play. I ask first for them to explain it to me. They kinda try but English is a problem. So I make the mistake on saying o well I will learn as we go. They were playing for money and needless to say I lost all of my money. -I think they were cheating thou, they thought it was hilarious bc they were seeing my competitive side and I was losing all of my money. one of the mg won most of the hands and thanked me wile smirking for the snack she went and bought her self.
Side note-- as I write this entry there is something in my bathroom????Like a bat or monkey or bird or ????? Not sure if I should get the bungalow owner dude or just open the door and see if it attacks me.
That day a friend from Brainerd ( Melissa Hanson) arrived to find out what waiting around in Cambodia is like. She showed up at the fields and we Waited and waited and Waited for the tuck to come and pick the girls and us up to go back to our wonderful place we called home. before going to bed I was told 3 different answers on what time the bus was leaving in the morning. We got up in the Morning to make our way to the cost of Cambodia for the mighty girls " state" tournament. We got up 630 to catch a bus at 7 that didn't come Intell 8 something. so again we waited and waited and waited. When we arrived we sat at another school and Waite and waited ( in this time we waited and waited I got the girls to dance and sing a bit and we had photo shoots) after waiting and waiting sam (the main man) came and told them he rented an apartment for the 2 weeks for the team and coaches and English teachers to stay in.
Mellisa and I went and stayed on the river - which was awesome bc we were able to swim and paddle on surf boards and to escape the heat. The river is neat. The current switches directions based on the tide. It's a u shape river that goes to the ocean.
The girls had a day break so Mel( she made it easier for the mg to say her name) and I went kep ( a town on the beach about 35 min from where we were) on a moto bike. It was quite the day. We started of breaking the mirror on the moto, the screw came out and it fell off wile driving it. Then we had the two of us on the bike with goofy helmets my backpack and Mels big real backpackers backpack. It was a sight to see. We arrived in kep and started to plan our day in half. In planning we went to three different places trying to figure a way to go to phu cock island in vietnam. After pissing off a Cambodian Tavel agent women we had it all settled only to get back to the room and relies I didn't have my pass port bc I had to give it to the moto bike rental dude.
Other kep stories-- broken glasses, being screwed over in a room for money, monkeys, lady boy, hamik breaking wile I was laying in it, cambodian locks one key fits all, big boats made more like big canoes, butterflies, nature snakes geckos toads bugs, crab crab crab crab crab crab crab, ghost town, French math skills, And super ha -- if you have been to Cambodia you no what super means! All of those things I listed make up kep
The girls have a lot of down time in this tournament , so I see them playing cards and they ask me if I want to play. I ask first for them to explain it to me. They kinda try but English is a problem. So I make the mistake on saying o well I will learn as we go. They were playing for money and needless to say I lost all of my money. -I think they were cheating thou, they thought it was hilarious bc they were seeing my competitive side and I was losing all of my money. one of the mg won most of the hands and thanked me wile smirking for the snack she went and bought her self.
Side note-- as I write this entry there is something in my bathroom????Like a bat or monkey or bird or ????? Not sure if I should get the bungalow owner dude or just open the door and see if it attacks me.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Soccer tournament
Starting to teach some coaches soccer English terms. They are trying to learn enough to get there coaching license that will be held in Cambodia but taught and tested in English. So far I am teaching 4 guys. 1 very serious to learn and the others are so so. The youngest is 20 and knows very little English. He also works for salt. He is kinda a little punk. I have to basically drag him to class. I stand at the stairs and I scream perun ( his name) are you coming today. He just smirks at me. Then I say what do you have better to do. ........ He didn't come that day ( lazy boy bc I no he didn't have anything to do) the 1 guy who is very eager to learn and is very excited to know that I will be traveling with the mighty girls down to kempot ( south of Cambodia I am towards the north) thus I will still be able to teach him bc he is the assistant coach for the mighty girls. The tournament is 2 weeks long ( wt heck) it is similar to the state tournament.
I will be traveling with the team as a teacher. Since the tournament is 2 weeks long they still need to have class. They seem to be very excited for this. Which is finally good to see some fire in them for a game. However, one of my students tried to trick me and tell me we didn't have class today bc they needed to pack and get ready to leave. I laughed at her and said no we will have class.
At the orphanage
The season came to a close. (the team I co coach with -- did not win-- still need a little more structure : ) haha )) anyway- It will start up again after the Khmer new year ( biggest holiday in Cambodia) the orphanage had a party for the season yesterday. It was very cool. Kids running around so happy to have a tradition big meal that they loved. They stared at me confused at why I didnt eat it. It was also so neat to see that all the coaches ( mighty girls and I and some other volunteers) sat cross legged when we ate and all the kids sat with there feet pointing away and knees bent facing us. It is a sign of respect that the mighty girls had taught me the first week I arrived. When I sat down to eat with the mg the first week I naturally didn't want to sit cross legged so I sat how you should if your younger or sign of respect and they told me I didn't have to sit like that, so it was cool to see that all the kids just did it.
On way back from orphanage we ran out of gas ( that was Fun -- not going to explain it .........)
Had another great experience with food poisoning - this time was far crappier ( pun intended) hahahhahahahahah
Excited for this month ---- for the tournament , and I will be traveling for the Khmer new year time due to no soccer and teaching. They have a 2 week break so I will be heading to hong kong and Bali!!!
Pics -- teaching the boys and the girls
I will be traveling with the team as a teacher. Since the tournament is 2 weeks long they still need to have class. They seem to be very excited for this. Which is finally good to see some fire in them for a game. However, one of my students tried to trick me and tell me we didn't have class today bc they needed to pack and get ready to leave. I laughed at her and said no we will have class.
At the orphanage
The season came to a close. (the team I co coach with -- did not win-- still need a little more structure : ) haha )) anyway- It will start up again after the Khmer new year ( biggest holiday in Cambodia) the orphanage had a party for the season yesterday. It was very cool. Kids running around so happy to have a tradition big meal that they loved. They stared at me confused at why I didnt eat it. It was also so neat to see that all the coaches ( mighty girls and I and some other volunteers) sat cross legged when we ate and all the kids sat with there feet pointing away and knees bent facing us. It is a sign of respect that the mighty girls had taught me the first week I arrived. When I sat down to eat with the mg the first week I naturally didn't want to sit cross legged so I sat how you should if your younger or sign of respect and they told me I didn't have to sit like that, so it was cool to see that all the kids just did it.
On way back from orphanage we ran out of gas ( that was Fun -- not going to explain it .........)
Had another great experience with food poisoning - this time was far crappier ( pun intended) hahahhahahahahah
Excited for this month ---- for the tournament , and I will be traveling for the Khmer new year time due to no soccer and teaching. They have a 2 week break so I will be heading to hong kong and Bali!!!
Pics -- teaching the boys and the girls
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Fun picture
In this photo- I am being a back rest and an umbrella (they are waiting to get subbed in to play, and are keeping out of the sun) I get used for so many things here : )
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Before I forget to tell you
This week so far-
I spent all day in the sun biking around. During the last soccer game I decided to lay down in the grass and watch. I picked the perfect spot and placed my foot in an ant nest!
Wasn't going to tell you this one but such as life-- no worries though- I biked home alone and two guys on moto pulled up beside me. Chit chatted away. ( note to you worriers I had my pepper spray in hand- but I never felt threatened) any way he then asked if I had a boyfriend I said yes and he said sorry and they drove away.
On monday a different girl left practice on me. This was a much different situation, then the last.
I got pulled over wile ridding with a co coach to practice. We got pulled over bc we had our lights on during the day. Haha this was on a moto
On the way to the big field you take the busiest and biggest road to get there. It is 4 lanes 2 one way 2 other. Fast crazy trucks and cars that never stop honking on the left motos and bicycles on right. Anyway There was a guy walking down the middle of the busy lane against traffic. All the mighty girls and I are in the back of the truck and our driver honks and honks, the guy doesn't move he then stares at us and is right in front of the hood. we go around him and he just stares at the girls.
One of my students this week wasn't in class bc her family got in a fight with another family and her dad was injured. She went to see if he was ok.
Hope you guys have a good week : )
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Whats new
I had my English unit test this last week. It went very well. Some days I go threw class and they will stop me during a worksheet and say I don't understand. I say what do you mean you don't understand you have half of the worksheet done. Then they just look at me confused and I re describe how to do it and then they get frustrated and say no I don't understand -- then point at a word and they sound it out and say it " lake" -- I then relies they have no idea what a lake is, or bracelet, or simple words that I thought they knew. So then I go threw the process of describing it and showing pictures and and pointing and telling them you wear it on wrist. They then repeat wrist and say I don't know so then get the Khmer word for wrist and then they laugh and say o --- so basically English in a nut shell -I will have a lessen plan and it will start off great but then I end up teaching things like vocabulary words and then it's time for practice and I didn't make it threw half of my plan. I actually really enjoy class everyday, it's been fun.
I am such a bad office person. Can't handle being inside for half a day starring at a computer - pretty much drives me crazy. On Friday I managed to do it, and helped with the annual salt academy report.
Soccer- the mighty girls have advanced this last week to the state tournament. ( I am pretending that cambodia is a state and they won there section ( providence )) it's extra exciting for me bc I will travel with them as there teacher bc it is 2 weeks long if they win. The tournament is held in the south of Cambodia near the beach. I am excited to see another part of Cambodia that I haven't scene yet.
Orphanage I help coach at--- so I am trying to teach the kids some discipline/ structure/ rules. It is so hard bc they have never had this before. I had a girl leave practice on me : ( we started off passing the ball to make a square and you had to call for the ball. If you didn't call for the ball you are not suppose to pass it. They didn't care to follow the rules. I was determined to get them to follow my instructions thou haha. So I stopped the drill and raised my voice a bit and told them --do not pass the ball if they don't call for it. When I stopped them and raised voice and re demonstrated they all looked at me with wide eyes and basically like they had never had anyone stop them before. The other coach with me ( a mighty girl) was then describing to me how they never listen and how she doesn't no what to do some days. I say yeah i see that and we are going to change that. The drill went a little better. I moved on to a new drill a game. It was a competition and if they made a bad pass they probably were going to lose the game. One of the girls messed up and the girl next in line got mad and kicked the ball away from her as far as she could. ( not ok) so I go and look at her I made an x and put hands in air ( she doesn't know English) she gave me the meanest look and left practice. I have no idea where she went. The rest of practice didn't go so well it was a start to the right direction ha these were the mighty girls ( other coach) words to me half way threw " can we leave now" she was so frustrated with them. Needless to say week by week I hope it gets better and they start to play some real soccer and play by the rules. They are 12 and under team but very very low level. I don't know there history either so that could make a difference.
I'm taking a salsa class o yeaaaaaaah My salsa
When I bike in the day, as soon as I get off my bike my shirt is all wet it's sexy
I bought some BBQ chicken this week at the market I have been holding off - if you wanted to know I choose the one with out it's feet and everything still on it
I ate dog also ........
....
.....
Bahaba NO well not that I know of.
Pic- little taste of tragic
How they cut there ice
Students hard at work and loving it
I am such a bad office person. Can't handle being inside for half a day starring at a computer - pretty much drives me crazy. On Friday I managed to do it, and helped with the annual salt academy report.
Soccer- the mighty girls have advanced this last week to the state tournament. ( I am pretending that cambodia is a state and they won there section ( providence )) it's extra exciting for me bc I will travel with them as there teacher bc it is 2 weeks long if they win. The tournament is held in the south of Cambodia near the beach. I am excited to see another part of Cambodia that I haven't scene yet.
Orphanage I help coach at--- so I am trying to teach the kids some discipline/ structure/ rules. It is so hard bc they have never had this before. I had a girl leave practice on me : ( we started off passing the ball to make a square and you had to call for the ball. If you didn't call for the ball you are not suppose to pass it. They didn't care to follow the rules. I was determined to get them to follow my instructions thou haha. So I stopped the drill and raised my voice a bit and told them --do not pass the ball if they don't call for it. When I stopped them and raised voice and re demonstrated they all looked at me with wide eyes and basically like they had never had anyone stop them before. The other coach with me ( a mighty girl) was then describing to me how they never listen and how she doesn't no what to do some days. I say yeah i see that and we are going to change that. The drill went a little better. I moved on to a new drill a game. It was a competition and if they made a bad pass they probably were going to lose the game. One of the girls messed up and the girl next in line got mad and kicked the ball away from her as far as she could. ( not ok) so I go and look at her I made an x and put hands in air ( she doesn't know English) she gave me the meanest look and left practice. I have no idea where she went. The rest of practice didn't go so well it was a start to the right direction ha these were the mighty girls ( other coach) words to me half way threw " can we leave now" she was so frustrated with them. Needless to say week by week I hope it gets better and they start to play some real soccer and play by the rules. They are 12 and under team but very very low level. I don't know there history either so that could make a difference.
I'm taking a salsa class o yeaaaaaaah My salsa
When I bike in the day, as soon as I get off my bike my shirt is all wet it's sexy
I bought some BBQ chicken this week at the market I have been holding off - if you wanted to know I choose the one with out it's feet and everything still on it
I ate dog also ........
....
.....
Bahaba NO well not that I know of.
Pic- little taste of tragic
How they cut there ice
Students hard at work and loving it
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Everyday is what you make of it
On Valentines day the girl salt volunteers (see photo, notice how tiny the Cambodian is in the middle) threw a party for the mighty girls. We tried to explain that it is ok to have a boy friend and how you should act or treat one another. Valentine day for a typical Cambodian is when some may loose there virginity, maybe similar to a prom night in the USA. None the less it is a day when youth have sex for no reason because that's what they think. So we threw them a party to teach them other ways to celebrate it. It was a ton of fun wile at practice ( I was in charge the head coach was gone so I was the coach. Of course that made me happy because I wanted to make them work hard and change the pase of there practice. I don't think they like me so much as the coach Hahah but it was good for them) any way wile we were at practice the others decorated the house with hearts and crap. They all had there own little pink and red bags on the wall and when they got home they made notes and cards for each other. Then we played fun little games. After the games we watched shreck, this was my favorite part of the night because they all sat around watching the movie. They had no idea what shreck was. They watched as though they had never scene a movie before it was cool to see. They loved it.
One of the English teachers was gone this week so I took half of her students. On Thursday we had all the girls together for English class and we split them up into four teams and played English games. We played a game where I put up a letter they had 2 minutes to come up with as many words as they could. One point spelled right, half point if it was a word. Then we played scrabble, and hang man. I bought the winners candy.
Again this week I met a Cambodian who thanked me- he said - thank you so much for helping to develop my county it means a lot to me, thank you so much.
At my house I have Cambodians who ask me, will you help me with my English.
On my day off I toured all of my city. ( Battambang) the day flew by I rented a tuk tuk ( see photo) driver for all day with 2 friends. It cost 18 dollars in total for him to bring us anywhere we wanted from 10am- ?? I got dropped of at 8pm! We went to all of the temples, caves, killing caves, markets and a village. We went to the main fish market were the smell was enough to not want to go in. I watched a dog pee on the fish hahahhahahahahah no joke how gross is that. I watched a guy climb a palm tree to collect the something ( no not coconuts) for wine that had bees stuck in it anyway so i dont think it looked edible. ( see photo) one of the caves at dusk has one billion bats that come flying out of it. It is something to see. It looks like a black cloud moving rapidly threw out the sky. On the way home I got educated on how they get crickets and bugs to sell at the market. It was dark on the way home and out of the city center they have floresent lights everywhere. Under the lights is water so the bugs fly up to the light and then get trapped for food the next day.
To end a great day touring the city I got food poisoning. Right when I got home I spent the rest of the night on the toilet. I am now putting the peaces together to find out from what. I also : ( had to skip out on the girls game this morning. I had to throw the dorthy card ( my grandmas name) and say well there just isn't a bathroom close to the field so I better not go.
This paragraph of my blog may be very confusing. I am going to tell you some of my thoughts, that go threw my head on a given day. Now remember these are thoughts. I understand this is a different culture yada yada--- I don't say these things.
1- what the heck do these people do all day.
2 - (riding my bike) is it really necessary for you to honk at me. Really I think you should try and pass me a little closer. Develop a system ahhhh so dumb, I wonder how many accidents happen boom there goes one right in front of me a guy on a motto ( moped) and the other on a peddle bike. Ride on your side of the road. How old are you. Ahh I need a mask. Wow that was a close one. Don't come into my lane to turn so dumb. Don't stare at me. Haha dog don't attack me please please don't attack me.
3- ( apparel) I don't even care I am showing of my shoulders today. I'm sexy and I no it. Ok fine I will try and respect your culture. My shorts aren't even short. Some of the girls when it is hot they wear turtle neck hat gloves pants.( see photo) - this is not a thought. I always ask them what the heck they are doing. That it dosent make sense. They don't want there skin to become darker. They try and be as white as they can.
4- ( food) o NO I will not eat that. Ick why do you eat that. The smells = barf ha
5- I don't care if we are in Cambodia it dosent mean everything needs to be late or so lade back or not getting stuff done, or just hanging out or disorganized or............
6- they have a machine for that, so old school, I don't even understand how this is working.
One of the English teachers was gone this week so I took half of her students. On Thursday we had all the girls together for English class and we split them up into four teams and played English games. We played a game where I put up a letter they had 2 minutes to come up with as many words as they could. One point spelled right, half point if it was a word. Then we played scrabble, and hang man. I bought the winners candy.
Again this week I met a Cambodian who thanked me- he said - thank you so much for helping to develop my county it means a lot to me, thank you so much.
At my house I have Cambodians who ask me, will you help me with my English.
On my day off I toured all of my city. ( Battambang) the day flew by I rented a tuk tuk ( see photo) driver for all day with 2 friends. It cost 18 dollars in total for him to bring us anywhere we wanted from 10am- ?? I got dropped of at 8pm! We went to all of the temples, caves, killing caves, markets and a village. We went to the main fish market were the smell was enough to not want to go in. I watched a dog pee on the fish hahahhahahahahah no joke how gross is that. I watched a guy climb a palm tree to collect the something ( no not coconuts) for wine that had bees stuck in it anyway so i dont think it looked edible. ( see photo) one of the caves at dusk has one billion bats that come flying out of it. It is something to see. It looks like a black cloud moving rapidly threw out the sky. On the way home I got educated on how they get crickets and bugs to sell at the market. It was dark on the way home and out of the city center they have floresent lights everywhere. Under the lights is water so the bugs fly up to the light and then get trapped for food the next day.
To end a great day touring the city I got food poisoning. Right when I got home I spent the rest of the night on the toilet. I am now putting the peaces together to find out from what. I also : ( had to skip out on the girls game this morning. I had to throw the dorthy card ( my grandmas name) and say well there just isn't a bathroom close to the field so I better not go.
This paragraph of my blog may be very confusing. I am going to tell you some of my thoughts, that go threw my head on a given day. Now remember these are thoughts. I understand this is a different culture yada yada--- I don't say these things.
1- what the heck do these people do all day.
2 - (riding my bike) is it really necessary for you to honk at me. Really I think you should try and pass me a little closer. Develop a system ahhhh so dumb, I wonder how many accidents happen boom there goes one right in front of me a guy on a motto ( moped) and the other on a peddle bike. Ride on your side of the road. How old are you. Ahh I need a mask. Wow that was a close one. Don't come into my lane to turn so dumb. Don't stare at me. Haha dog don't attack me please please don't attack me.
3- ( apparel) I don't even care I am showing of my shoulders today. I'm sexy and I no it. Ok fine I will try and respect your culture. My shorts aren't even short. Some of the girls when it is hot they wear turtle neck hat gloves pants.( see photo) - this is not a thought. I always ask them what the heck they are doing. That it dosent make sense. They don't want there skin to become darker. They try and be as white as they can.
4- ( food) o NO I will not eat that. Ick why do you eat that. The smells = barf ha
5- I don't care if we are in Cambodia it dosent mean everything needs to be late or so lade back or not getting stuff done, or just hanging out or disorganized or............
6- they have a machine for that, so old school, I don't even understand how this is working.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
English class
First quiz went well. Yay they are learning.
This week was a good English week. Thank you to Laura zard who gave me 20 web sights with free worksheets on them. How ever I also had a fun day were I didn't teach out of the book we just talked and I showed photos of my life. They had to ask questions and discuss. I also played charades one day were one student had to ask the other what is Jess doing. ( my chapter is ing ) ( eating sleeping reading extra) I would act out and the other would ask using --what are sam, Jess, and Linda doing? ( I held up really good stick figures of other people doing it with me Hahah) then other student would say -they're sleeping. ( trying to get them to pick he's she's they .... And so on) it was fun and they enjoyed it bc I must say I am quite the actress : )
Struggles for me- I forget they don't know what a lot of things are. So when I say baseball cap they say I don't no. Then I say hat they look confused like they know it but just cant remember. I then go get one and they say o yeah yes hat. Hat same as baseball cap yes ( yes). I sometimes have to think hard on what to say so they understand, and I have to speak so slow!
Soccer was low key this week. There was a holiday so Monday- wed there was no soccer. I had 5 girls on me at once this week they thought I was a jungle Jim or something. Then I told them they were monkeys they didn't no the word monkey. ( 12 and under team that looks like they need more love) so I acted like a monkey for 8 minutes and then they understood what a monkey was. I made them repeat several times monkey : )
Saturday I had the day off. So I took a Cambodian cooking class. They start off taking you to the market explain how it all works. The market is the women's job. Farmers bring there crops to the market around 430 am and it's hopping once the sun comes up intelligence about 5. We made three dishes. 1 Fish or chicken amok 2 spring rolls 3 beef lak lak
The chicken amok was disgusting. It also took the most work. Had to make a paste ( similar to curry) for 15 of grinding it. Arm got sore. I told them they have machines for that kinda crap. Ha after making the paste you make your banana leaf bowl and stick the meet in and the paste and coconut milk. Then steam it and of course surf with rice. Spingarn roll yum, not so yum for you. The beef lak lak I would recommend to anyone. Was very good
My neighbor and I chit chat every night. Her story-
She is a survivor of the Khmer rouge her dad and her were outside her village when the Khmer rouge came and killed everyone in her village, including her sisters, brother and mother. She then was separated from her dad. They met again and escaped to Thailand. On her journey to Thailand they had to follow the path and make sure to stay on it because of all the land mines. She had one pair of clothing, and was happy when she had food. She said she was lucky to eat once a day. Also her cloths were always wet and she had a continuos rash from it rubbing. She then came to the USA. When she arrived in Washington dc airport she thought it was the most amazing thing she had ever scene. they had a shelter for the Cambodians. She had to re begin her life. Learn English and find a way to live. She grew up in America and came back to cambodia 8 years ago for the first time. She now is 50 something has 2 kids 19 and 22 they live in the USA. The night she told me about this she kept saying how amazing America is and how lucky she was to go there. She then told me about when she came back the first time 8 years ago how scared she was. She wouldn't leave her husbands side not even to go to the bath room. She didn't trust anyone. She now has been back 3 times and the reason she was my neighbor is because she is buying farm land and hopes to retire here, and open a small farm and help other Cambodians by giving them jobs. She still of course has flash backs of her experience.
She was never o sad me or wanted anything she actually was a lot of fun and very American. She this last week found her land and left today to go back home ( USA) but to return back home home soon (cambodia) before she left she wanted to say good bye to me. When saying good bye- she thanked me for volunteering my time and helping her country. She said it meant a lot to her and thanked me again.
This week was a good English week. Thank you to Laura zard who gave me 20 web sights with free worksheets on them. How ever I also had a fun day were I didn't teach out of the book we just talked and I showed photos of my life. They had to ask questions and discuss. I also played charades one day were one student had to ask the other what is Jess doing. ( my chapter is ing ) ( eating sleeping reading extra) I would act out and the other would ask using --what are sam, Jess, and Linda doing? ( I held up really good stick figures of other people doing it with me Hahah) then other student would say -they're sleeping. ( trying to get them to pick he's she's they .... And so on) it was fun and they enjoyed it bc I must say I am quite the actress : )
Struggles for me- I forget they don't know what a lot of things are. So when I say baseball cap they say I don't no. Then I say hat they look confused like they know it but just cant remember. I then go get one and they say o yeah yes hat. Hat same as baseball cap yes ( yes). I sometimes have to think hard on what to say so they understand, and I have to speak so slow!
Soccer was low key this week. There was a holiday so Monday- wed there was no soccer. I had 5 girls on me at once this week they thought I was a jungle Jim or something. Then I told them they were monkeys they didn't no the word monkey. ( 12 and under team that looks like they need more love) so I acted like a monkey for 8 minutes and then they understood what a monkey was. I made them repeat several times monkey : )
Saturday I had the day off. So I took a Cambodian cooking class. They start off taking you to the market explain how it all works. The market is the women's job. Farmers bring there crops to the market around 430 am and it's hopping once the sun comes up intelligence about 5. We made three dishes. 1 Fish or chicken amok 2 spring rolls 3 beef lak lak
The chicken amok was disgusting. It also took the most work. Had to make a paste ( similar to curry) for 15 of grinding it. Arm got sore. I told them they have machines for that kinda crap. Ha after making the paste you make your banana leaf bowl and stick the meet in and the paste and coconut milk. Then steam it and of course surf with rice. Spingarn roll yum, not so yum for you. The beef lak lak I would recommend to anyone. Was very good
My neighbor and I chit chat every night. Her story-
She is a survivor of the Khmer rouge her dad and her were outside her village when the Khmer rouge came and killed everyone in her village, including her sisters, brother and mother. She then was separated from her dad. They met again and escaped to Thailand. On her journey to Thailand they had to follow the path and make sure to stay on it because of all the land mines. She had one pair of clothing, and was happy when she had food. She said she was lucky to eat once a day. Also her cloths were always wet and she had a continuos rash from it rubbing. She then came to the USA. When she arrived in Washington dc airport she thought it was the most amazing thing she had ever scene. they had a shelter for the Cambodians. She had to re begin her life. Learn English and find a way to live. She grew up in America and came back to cambodia 8 years ago for the first time. She now is 50 something has 2 kids 19 and 22 they live in the USA. The night she told me about this she kept saying how amazing America is and how lucky she was to go there. She then told me about when she came back the first time 8 years ago how scared she was. She wouldn't leave her husbands side not even to go to the bath room. She didn't trust anyone. She now has been back 3 times and the reason she was my neighbor is because she is buying farm land and hopes to retire here, and open a small farm and help other Cambodians by giving them jobs. She still of course has flash backs of her experience.
She was never o sad me or wanted anything she actually was a lot of fun and very American. She this last week found her land and left today to go back home ( USA) but to return back home home soon (cambodia) before she left she wanted to say good bye to me. When saying good bye- she thanked me for volunteering my time and helping her country. She said it meant a lot to her and thanked me again.
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