"Try not. Do or do not!!! There is no try." ~ Yoda
Well that was my mantra today. I had a great morning. Got picked up by Perr Rack (I'm spelling everything phonetically so pronunciation is easier) and had a tour of the 4 CCF "campuses". There was a bad storm a few days ago which created a lot of flooding. I hope these photos do justice to the drive we had!
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| Is this guy practical or what? Convenient way to wash your car! |
One of the campuses (where I'm supposed to teach) was also badly flooded and we visited as the students were sweeping/bailing out their school. I learned a lot about the Fund. They do so much for 1,800 children and their families. They have a nursery, daycare center, community medical clinic, vocational training school and then coordinate public school education with additional classes for all elementary through high school students. Hundreds of the children stay in these centers full time as well. Very busy places with lots of smiling beautiful children. I'll be teaching 19 classes starting Monday. I said I wanted to be kept busy so...here goes... and yes - Of course I am terrified! I purchased this little bag from Northshire Bookstore awhile back and it is a lot easier to follow this advice here than it is in Dorset!
I was dropped off back at my apartment and feeling lonely, scared, hot and mostly hungry. I've been living on the food I brought with me because it is dang intimidating out there! Well I thought of the Yoda quote and sucked it up. Armed with my map, my bogus Lonely Planet Cambodia book (I say bogus because I don't know what Cambodia the author was visiting when he wrote that book - but it sure wasn't this Cambodia!) and my trusty backpack with camera, phone and bug spray, down to the streets I went. In front of my building a TukTuk driver offered to take me somewhere and so I started out at the National Museum which was an oasis of tranquility for sure. (Dang if I can't figure out how to place these photos side by side!)
So after a hot walk around town I got dropped off at a nice hotel near my apartment. Woo Hoo! Another oasis but this one comes with a Cafe. Mom- this totally reminded me of us in Thailand! I just used the ATM but know it's there tomorrow. I then went to walk home and realized I couldn't cross the street! I'm still trying to get my video up here so you can understand the predicament I was in. For now you'll just have to take my word for it.
So I sheepishly approached a TukTuk driver to ask him to drive me across the street for a dollar. And that is how I made the greatest find so far (well after the little shop that sold toilet paper- that was truly the greatest find). He became my most loyal buddy. Drove me home for free and spoke pretty good English. Asked if I'd need him again. YES! So I decided to go out to dinner. He drove me to the Foreign Correspondent's Club (historic hangout of war journalists) where I had a great dinner and talked to a couple of ex-pats who informed me that the ice in my drink was a-ok. Well, Yay:) I exited the restaurant and out from a sea of insanity came my trusty TukTuk driver, Bantu. I did a little happy dance in my head cause look how far I've come in two days!!! And tomorrow I'm braving another outing. Thank you Bantu...and Yoda.
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| From dinner of Reese's Puffs to a dinner riverside of Pad Thai and Sangria - with ice (ice that doesn't make you "regretful"). The things we take for granted until you get to a place like this. |
I got home feeling so much more comfortable with my surroundings and if I didn't think of the Yoda quote I would have sat in my room all day. He is indeed a wise Jedi Master... Tomorrow Banttu will take me to a Wat (Buddhist Temple) but my motivation for the location is because a Gloria Jeans Coffee Shop is nearby - say what!
I did it! Here's the link to the road situation here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ0WQjoOUKQ
