More Firsts

Now that I have been here for a couple of weeks, my days are beginning to look more and more like they will once the short-term teams leave. And each day is full of little milestones. Yesterday, it was that I made it to the market and copy store by myself. Today, I made it to the Asia's Hope school and back.

The school is located about 30 minutes out of Phnom Penh. I have described the traffic in earlier posts, but I don't think I have talked much about the roads. During the period of genocide, the Khmer Rouge pretty much destroyed the infrastructure in Cambodia. They wanted to turn back time in the country and make this an agrarian nation with subsistence farming. So why have paved roads? Most of the streets are broken up and full of holes. I guess it's more like a bunch of holes with a little bit of street:) There are a couple of main roads that are well-paved and ok to drive on.

Once outside of Phnom Penh, the road out to the school is technically two lanes. Add cars, trucks, motos, tuk-tuks, animals and carts, bicycles and anything else they can think of to drive...it becomes crazy quickly. A road that is barely two lanes becomes three or four lanes in some places. Some day I will have to take video of the traffic around the circle leading to the bridge. There aren't words in our language to describe it!

So, this morning, I got up early to catch the 6:30am van ride out to the school. I thought I would be late, so I took a moto instead of riding my brand new bike. A helpful hint about moto drivers...know the correct cost, have the right amount of cash in your pocket, and when the ride is over...hand it to him and walk away. A short distance should cost 2000 Riel which is 50 cents (4000 Riel = 1 dolar). I somehow misplaced my Riel this morning and only had a dollar bill. He was not going to give me money back. I argued...and told him I would never ride his moto again. Which I am sure he didn't understand at all, and I probably wouldn't know him if I saw him again, anyway:) Lesson learned. Always have the correct change. After I walked away, I did think about how it was only 50 cents more. But, he and I both knew that he was cheating me! (I have a feeling that I will be learning a lot more lessons like this:)

I spent the whole morning at the school. I have to say, I can look back and see that I was quite pampered in the states! The school does not have air conditioning, and the normal high right now is in the 90s. I am not sure I want to think about what it will feel like in the hot season! In Asia, it is customary to remove shoes when entering a building. The floors are mostly concrete and marble...my feet are not happy. But by Cambodian standards, this building is beautiful and meets their needs. It is much better than where they were before.

Just like at the orphanages, the kids come rushing to greet me when I get to the school. Whenever they have a break, they want to sit with me and talk with me. They are learning some English and can answer simple questions. Any frustrations from the day are quickly erased when I have so many kids wanting to hug me that I cannot move. How is it that I get to be so blessed?!

The ride home from the school was quite something. There is no one to drive me back to Phnom Penh, so I have to take a moto. Which is actually the way I want it. Another part of this culture is that they are so giving and would bend over backwards to accommodate me, even when they don't really have the time or means. They put people ahead of tasks. So, they would try to find someone to take me, which would mean an hour or so round trip. I can learn a lot from them.

I had to laugh during this ride. I got a moto helmet yesterday, which I am sure is quite fashionable. It's a good thing, though, because I am pretty sure that Cambodian cars don't meet emission standards. Exhaust, dust, bugs...add to that the heat, bumps in the roads, and lots of cars. I had a couple of mixed thoughts at the time. On one hand, I felt victorious because I was able to get back to the guest house by myself. On the other hand, I was exhausted and drained by the time I got home. It was another perfect opportunity to remember that God is right by my side, and He knows what I need. When something seems beyond my capability, it's surely not beyond His. He will give me what I need for the moment I am in.

And tonight, I am very thankful that it was pizza. Yes...pizza. I had no idea there was an actual pizza restaurant here in Cambodia that served American pizza and could be delivered!! I was craving American food and Diet Coke, but didn't want to go out because it was pouring and getting dark. And, you know, it's not like there are American restaurants all over. Just so happens that someone was here who knew about the Pizza Company. It's just like Pizza Hut pizza in the states.

Remember how I said that everything takes more effort here? :) It took using a friend's phone and 10 minutes of trying to explain my order and directions to the house to the Cambodian on the other end. Then, I stood out by the gate while it was thundering and lightning trying to talk to the driver and help him get here. Me no speak Khmer. And there aren't really street names. I was just about the have a Cambodian friend try to help when he showed up at the door. It literally felt like a miracle.

So here's a shot of my dinner:)

I will take these little blessings as they come and thoroughly enjoy them.