So the past three weeks have kind of flown by. Hence the lack of an update. I guess we're starting to feel a real sense of normality about life here. We've both found our routines; Ruth with Khmer school and me at Logos, and the day to day is now seemingly ordinary.
(Ruth: I wouldn't say flown by exactly. Life has happened, as you would expect, and sometimes it is more challenging than others. Ben forgets quickly the tricky little things like living on the diminished leftovers of last month's paycheck and having to move across Australian money to pay for things. Or like someone leaving the key in the moto while we're out of town and hoping and praying that someone can pick it up for us before it gets stolen.... Every day's events here are completely different to back home, and, while I may be able to settle, I for one don't think i'll ever feel like things here are normal haha!)
There are two sides to our now ordinary days; on one hand, stress levels have begun to drop (at least for myself) as we are now visiting new places less frequently, we know where to eat out and have even identified a few foods that we can make at home regularly with easy to find ingredients. The endless list of "things we need" has now pretty much ended (again, at least for myself) and our everyday schedule is relatively unsurprising.
(Ruth: This coming from the man who forgets his toothbrush and has to use mine, and who doesn't do most of the cooking so is perplexed by the seemingly strange desires for utensils such as a strainer, measuring cups or so help me an oven haha. Ben is right that we can survive only on what we need, as do the majority of Khmers around us. But in a place such as this, doing work that is all about seeing the poverty and afflictions around us and building up and helping others in need, we must survive well. I am unashamed that for me, this does translate to my 'needing' western comfort food like a packet of chocolate biscuits or a slice of toast with vegemite once in a while.)
On the other hand, however, I feel like we're forgetting to appreciate where we are, and are now able to hide inside our comfortable bubble that we've blown here in Phnom Penh. This translates to fewer outings and few chances to soak in the culture. I'm very glad, then, that we were able to go on a retreat with students from Logos to Kampot and Kep, two holiday spots a couple of hours out of town. This popped the bubble, giving us a fresh opportunity to talk about Cambodia with students, and experience a new place as a tourist. By that, I mean you make the most of the opportunities that you have. I also had a chance to lead a devotion about sustainability and stewardship in Cambodia, something that's all too apparent when you see a beautiful river nearly devoid of life, and a beautiful landscape marred by mining and deforestation.
(Ruth: Agreed, it completely changed my perspective on life to get out of Phnom Penh for those 3 days. I hadn't seen countryside Cambodia in 10 years, and it was both familiar, chaotic and refreshing. From the long and slightly terrifying bus-ride on the dusty moto-filled roads, to the kayaking in a cool watery glade, we got to see what life was like outside the bustling polluted city. We had just a few hours in Kep for an afternoon hike in a mountainous jungle by the sea, so Ben and I hope to go back for a proper explore in April for Khmer New Year.)
Returning to Phnom Penh I feel like I'm ready to soak in more; like I was when I first arrived 2 months ago. We're back to our regular walks to the market, the camera has been dusted off, I'm learning a bit more Khmer from Ruth, and I'm here, updating the blog.
(Ruth: And I am here, adding my part while Ben plays sqeaky disney songs on his Khmer violin/ 'drou'. Sigh. Some things don't change haha. But I do feel the same way about life in Phnom Penh now. It's like we've gotten a second chance to do it over, see it all again afresh but this time without the homesickness or the stress. I have my first Khmer assessment tomorrow and then will go on to begin Level 2 on Thursday, thanks to some very kind and generous donors who are sponsoring my Khmer tuition. We are incredibly grateful, and even my broken conversation on the phone with a Khmer today proved to me that it is well paying off. As for the rest of the day, 'normality' ensues; we must hang out the washing that we are both hoping the other will do, and clean up the front yard from the mess that the surprise-rain from last night created (It was fantastic, the rain was cool and breezy and broke the dry and dusty spell. I even made friends with a frog who took a liking to my head). Then, we shall head off for evening church into the hazy Phnom Penh sunset on our little moto. What a life.)
(Ruth: I wouldn't say flown by exactly. Life has happened, as you would expect, and sometimes it is more challenging than others. Ben forgets quickly the tricky little things like living on the diminished leftovers of last month's paycheck and having to move across Australian money to pay for things. Or like someone leaving the key in the moto while we're out of town and hoping and praying that someone can pick it up for us before it gets stolen.... Every day's events here are completely different to back home, and, while I may be able to settle, I for one don't think i'll ever feel like things here are normal haha!)
There are two sides to our now ordinary days; on one hand, stress levels have begun to drop (at least for myself) as we are now visiting new places less frequently, we know where to eat out and have even identified a few foods that we can make at home regularly with easy to find ingredients. The endless list of "things we need" has now pretty much ended (again, at least for myself) and our everyday schedule is relatively unsurprising.
(Ruth: This coming from the man who forgets his toothbrush and has to use mine, and who doesn't do most of the cooking so is perplexed by the seemingly strange desires for utensils such as a strainer, measuring cups or so help me an oven haha. Ben is right that we can survive only on what we need, as do the majority of Khmers around us. But in a place such as this, doing work that is all about seeing the poverty and afflictions around us and building up and helping others in need, we must survive well. I am unashamed that for me, this does translate to my 'needing' western comfort food like a packet of chocolate biscuits or a slice of toast with vegemite once in a while.)
On the other hand, however, I feel like we're forgetting to appreciate where we are, and are now able to hide inside our comfortable bubble that we've blown here in Phnom Penh. This translates to fewer outings and few chances to soak in the culture. I'm very glad, then, that we were able to go on a retreat with students from Logos to Kampot and Kep, two holiday spots a couple of hours out of town. This popped the bubble, giving us a fresh opportunity to talk about Cambodia with students, and experience a new place as a tourist. By that, I mean you make the most of the opportunities that you have. I also had a chance to lead a devotion about sustainability and stewardship in Cambodia, something that's all too apparent when you see a beautiful river nearly devoid of life, and a beautiful landscape marred by mining and deforestation.
(Ruth: Agreed, it completely changed my perspective on life to get out of Phnom Penh for those 3 days. I hadn't seen countryside Cambodia in 10 years, and it was both familiar, chaotic and refreshing. From the long and slightly terrifying bus-ride on the dusty moto-filled roads, to the kayaking in a cool watery glade, we got to see what life was like outside the bustling polluted city. We had just a few hours in Kep for an afternoon hike in a mountainous jungle by the sea, so Ben and I hope to go back for a proper explore in April for Khmer New Year.)
Returning to Phnom Penh I feel like I'm ready to soak in more; like I was when I first arrived 2 months ago. We're back to our regular walks to the market, the camera has been dusted off, I'm learning a bit more Khmer from Ruth, and I'm here, updating the blog.
(Ruth: And I am here, adding my part while Ben plays sqeaky disney songs on his Khmer violin/ 'drou'. Sigh. Some things don't change haha. But I do feel the same way about life in Phnom Penh now. It's like we've gotten a second chance to do it over, see it all again afresh but this time without the homesickness or the stress. I have my first Khmer assessment tomorrow and then will go on to begin Level 2 on Thursday, thanks to some very kind and generous donors who are sponsoring my Khmer tuition. We are incredibly grateful, and even my broken conversation on the phone with a Khmer today proved to me that it is well paying off. As for the rest of the day, 'normality' ensues; we must hang out the washing that we are both hoping the other will do, and clean up the front yard from the mess that the surprise-rain from last night created (It was fantastic, the rain was cool and breezy and broke the dry and dusty spell. I even made friends with a frog who took a liking to my head). Then, we shall head off for evening church into the hazy Phnom Penh sunset on our little moto. What a life.)
