Today was blogworthy. It was my last day of Khmer school, which was exciting in itself. I went to hop on my “kong” like I do everyday and found that my tire was flat. So, I borrowed Omi’s and realized about halfway through my journey that it does not have 3 speeds. It has one speed. Slow. Needless to say, I arrived at LEC very sweaty. Last week, I was asked how I make my eyes so big, so this week I brought my eye liner to show the teachers. After doing a quick demo on “how to apply eye liner,” they took over the pencil to make their eyes big and draw fake beauty marks all over their faces.

After that, Nary and I walked to one of the local schools, so I could practice my Khmer with some children during their lunch break. About thirty children flooded around me to ask me questions and answer mine. It was so much fun. I wish I had my camera.

After THAT, we walked to the market and shopped together for a little while. At the end of “classtime” (best class ever), we went back to the school and Nary gave me a nice gift. Shown above. Then she taught me how to say “God bless you” and we said a sad goodbye.

The end.

CREATURES*

All of these things live in my backyard. I feel lucky to have only seen the rat.

1. Tokay - A large gecko like creature that will attack you with its sharp teeth if you enter its territory. I was warned of these lizards on my first day and was pointed out the “No Go” areas of the yard.

2. Monkeys - I’ve seen these little guys at Wat Phnom before they were removed for attacking tourists. Haven’t seen any in the yard yet, though. Apparently one bit Savana in the butt, though.

3. Rats - I’m sure you’ve all seen the video of the boys capturing and killing the rat that Cathleen found in her bed. Thank God for dogs, though, right?

4. Fruitbat - Sure, these demon-like bats only eat fruit, but with a six foot wing span, I would surely DIE just from looking at one. My greatest fear is that I’ll forget to close my window at night and wake up to one of these monsters standing over my bed.

*Note: These photos do not belong to me, but to random google images users.

I realize I haven’t been bloggin on a reg bay. My apologies.

So Friday afternoon, Cathleen received a call about an emergency baby crisis. Without getting into specifics (I don’t think I’m allowed to), basically there was a mentally handicapped woman in a remote, slum-like area outside of the city who was neglecting her five day old baby. The baby had a terrible eye infection and a badly infected, very stinky umbilical cord. The mother was walking around outside while the baby was screaming inside, when the social workers arrived. Social workers determined that the mother was not able to take care of this baby anymore, so he was put into CIF care and came to our house.

This all happened while I was in language school. A little while after I arrived, Cathleen and another woman (the social worker I’m assuming) came inside holding a tiny baby. I spent the next day looking after the baby and we took him to the clinic. The doctor told us that had he kept on with the cord that way, he could have died. They gave us medicine for the infections and then we went to buy diapers and other baby needs.

I split the night with Cathleen staying awake with the baby. I had already been awake since 6am taking care of the baby all day and was TIRED. Plus, knowing you are holding a tiny, weak life in your hands is somewhat terrifying. With advice and moral support from one of my good friends in America, I made it until my “shift” was over. 

Today I marveled over how his eye had gone from crusty, swollen, and purple to being open and able to look around in just two days. It’s amazing what simple antibiotics can do. Later on, the emergency care family came to pick him up and I said a sad goodbye.

I’m not allowed to post photos, but I drew this picture.

What an experience.

Last night I went to my first (and probably last) Khmer wedding. It was cool to see all of the outfits and decorations. People here take wedding REALLY seriously. They dress up like they’re about to meet the queen or something, and the bride changes dresses like nine times throughout the day. I borrowed a dress from a friend and ended up being one of the more “bummy” people there, but fortunately not the LEAST bummy. I was sort of average. Anyways, I only got one photo of the dress during the wedding and I knew if I didn’t take more, my fashion blogging “roommate”, would kill me. So these photos are for her. Also, my mom says the dress is ugly. #thanksmom

Also, I added a photo of my trendy, new Cambodian bracelet, made out of recycled trash made by AIDS people. And I just happen to be allergic to it. Bummer.

My most recent brain child.

I forgot to post this photo from a few weeks ago. The first person I ever spoke to in Khmer wrote down her name in Khmer and Chinese for me. I don’t know why since I can’t read it, but I thought it was cool.