Flower Stalls in Town
My new fast round legs
Back in Phnom Penh!
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Im still here!
Hello- just wanted to say a little something as some of you have said hey Julie whats up how are you doing?!
Yes I am still here, still alive, although really whacked!
I know I have been quiet on the blog front- even though so many incredible things happen in the day that I really wish I could just directly plug my brain into the computer- simply upload memory files and post on here- but unfortunately I have to actually type my thoughts out and this takes a wee bit of time :)!
All pretty good although I was just saying to a friend I have made over here recently that I have been craving routines! (this is what happens at this point in ones life- despite the love of spontaneity and excitement- there is nothing quite like a good old routine) ahem.
So I have managed to keep some- like reading a little before bed time; drinking a nice cup of tea in the morning after me half hour meditation. But I miss my regular exercise and gym. I am putting on weight too! I am currently trying to join a gym but it is not quite 100% straight forward to do so ( you have to pay upfront whole year and am trying to organise advance at work). And going for a jog in the morning or evening is not exactly like when I lived at home. There are a couple of places to jog, from what I gather, but they are not very close. It is not quite as if I can just go for a run out on my street round the block- doing so would require extreme skill and expertise - in that you would probably spend more time darting out the way of a Tuk Tuk, Motto or large 4 X 4 Driver. Especially being a pedestrian- which is what I have discovered on my bike (it is like there is a ranking of importance by how big your vehicle is- so the bigger you are- the more respected and out of the way people go for you).
******************************
When I went to the market on Saturday I thought I would return to the really amazing food stalls we had be introduced to early on when I arrived with the LSA's- which you may remember me mentioning in the wordpress blog.
So I did- in between a bit of shopping for household items. I stopped at an incredible stall that looked like he was serving lovely pancakes with lovely filling and salad.
I don't know what I was thinking but I assumed that it would be a delicious meal with no animal content- but realised after taking a HUGE hungry bite that my pancake was filled with minced PORK.
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggrrgh
The poor man on the stall! He saw me jump up and go argh whahahahah (as I really have got to not being abe to bear the smell let alone the taste and the horror of seeing all these dead hanging pigs that they sell in the meat stalls here(another story within a story))
Anyway- I reminded myself to stop being so dozy all the time LOL
Apart from that it was a successful shop having purchased rice, noodles, some veg, ordered lamps for my apartment, some material for clothes and my classroom (although this took the best part of a WHOLE DAY.
I have started teaching by the way- and I am pretty whacked has to be said- reason being is that I have not finished setting things up, and am feeling a bit kind of like I have so much to do. After being in my previous job in UK comfortably ( and numbly) for 5 years- everything in its place each day, knowing the kids, having all the resources; actually having to start again requires being on the ball, on my toes, paying attention getting up mega early an working really hard to get things in place. Like making the classroom like a proper classroom (no proper displays previously) and setting things up like the Music Website and stuff phew phew. Very tired but kind of trying to remind myself that this is just now and that there will be a point where things are a bit more settled and again that word- routine.
I think it is an age thing. Seriously what has happened? I want a regular timetable of events - I dont remember being like this! Does any one else have this routine illness?
By the way I am sorry about this rather dull blog ranting about routines. Here I am in Cambodia on an adventure of lifetime!! hehehe!
Maybe it is because I am at work, it has kind of made me feel to make a little nest egg here and get comfortable. Having said that I really want the different stuff too-its just what I am craving more than anything is group meditation (which I got out of moving here- but need to get back to the Wat, and start up a local group ect ect) and getting fit.
Tommorow I am collecting my new lamps from the market. I will try to take my camera with me so you can see a pic of what the market looks like. I keep forgetting to bring my camera as I have kind of got into living here mode which is where the initial excitement of being here has settled a bit and am thinking more practically things like, how am I getting home and what do I need to buy for my apartment- so apologies for not taking loads of pics- it will happen!
And having said all that- I have moments every day which bring me to a state of complete awe. Even just stepping out on the street and noticing the lady on the moped carrying about 1000 pairs of jeans on holding in hands and behind her- or 5 kids. Or then the things people do- such kindnesses. I cant imagine ever taking it for granted. I am so looking forward to exploring more of Cambodia in my holidays.
Lots of love and I cant believe you are still with me- thanks for perservering.
PS I have some sunflower seeds a friend gave me and I have been meaning to plant them for a month now- and here they still are ! I have got as far as getting the initial clear cups to plant them in but need now the soil (which I have not yet a clue where to buy but am sure will become evident) but I AM on the case!
PPS had the funniest lesson today. My timetable had forgotton to include the fact that I would be teaching Reception (TWICE), so there I was relaxing into really getting some things sorted for my classroom- loads of paperwork spread out all over the floor- me splayed out in an unsightly contorted floorbound position and a group of bout 20 four year olds turn up. I had no plans, or clue what to do with them. So I just pick up guitar and sing a song I know, get them to move around the room dance and then proceed to try to teach them a song that is way to difficult for them as I was a little unprepared. Oh well they were still lovely but that was the most interesting lesson ever and good test on me working in the moment hahah
PPPS- I am learning Khmer- starting Saturday with a teacher- really excited!
PPPPS Can you believe I get up at 5 every morning. And this morning I woke up at 4.30am and thought- what the hell I may as well just get up seeing as meant to be up in half hour!!! It is however the best time of day here. It is cooler, quieter, and a lovely time of day. Although it is 9pm now and I am falling over my computer with droopy eyes thinking perhaps this should be my new bed time. EXCITING WOMAN I AM!
Night (really this time) :) X
Yes I am still here, still alive, although really whacked!
I know I have been quiet on the blog front- even though so many incredible things happen in the day that I really wish I could just directly plug my brain into the computer- simply upload memory files and post on here- but unfortunately I have to actually type my thoughts out and this takes a wee bit of time :)!
All pretty good although I was just saying to a friend I have made over here recently that I have been craving routines! (this is what happens at this point in ones life- despite the love of spontaneity and excitement- there is nothing quite like a good old routine) ahem.
So I have managed to keep some- like reading a little before bed time; drinking a nice cup of tea in the morning after me half hour meditation. But I miss my regular exercise and gym. I am putting on weight too! I am currently trying to join a gym but it is not quite 100% straight forward to do so ( you have to pay upfront whole year and am trying to organise advance at work). And going for a jog in the morning or evening is not exactly like when I lived at home. There are a couple of places to jog, from what I gather, but they are not very close. It is not quite as if I can just go for a run out on my street round the block- doing so would require extreme skill and expertise - in that you would probably spend more time darting out the way of a Tuk Tuk, Motto or large 4 X 4 Driver. Especially being a pedestrian- which is what I have discovered on my bike (it is like there is a ranking of importance by how big your vehicle is- so the bigger you are- the more respected and out of the way people go for you).
******************************
When I went to the market on Saturday I thought I would return to the really amazing food stalls we had be introduced to early on when I arrived with the LSA's- which you may remember me mentioning in the wordpress blog.
So I did- in between a bit of shopping for household items. I stopped at an incredible stall that looked like he was serving lovely pancakes with lovely filling and salad.
I don't know what I was thinking but I assumed that it would be a delicious meal with no animal content- but realised after taking a HUGE hungry bite that my pancake was filled with minced PORK.
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggrrgh
The poor man on the stall! He saw me jump up and go argh whahahahah (as I really have got to not being abe to bear the smell let alone the taste and the horror of seeing all these dead hanging pigs that they sell in the meat stalls here(another story within a story))
Anyway- I reminded myself to stop being so dozy all the time LOL
Apart from that it was a successful shop having purchased rice, noodles, some veg, ordered lamps for my apartment, some material for clothes and my classroom (although this took the best part of a WHOLE DAY.
I have started teaching by the way- and I am pretty whacked has to be said- reason being is that I have not finished setting things up, and am feeling a bit kind of like I have so much to do. After being in my previous job in UK comfortably ( and numbly) for 5 years- everything in its place each day, knowing the kids, having all the resources; actually having to start again requires being on the ball, on my toes, paying attention getting up mega early an working really hard to get things in place. Like making the classroom like a proper classroom (no proper displays previously) and setting things up like the Music Website and stuff phew phew. Very tired but kind of trying to remind myself that this is just now and that there will be a point where things are a bit more settled and again that word- routine.
I think it is an age thing. Seriously what has happened? I want a regular timetable of events - I dont remember being like this! Does any one else have this routine illness?
By the way I am sorry about this rather dull blog ranting about routines. Here I am in Cambodia on an adventure of lifetime!! hehehe!
Maybe it is because I am at work, it has kind of made me feel to make a little nest egg here and get comfortable. Having said that I really want the different stuff too-its just what I am craving more than anything is group meditation (which I got out of moving here- but need to get back to the Wat, and start up a local group ect ect) and getting fit.
Tommorow I am collecting my new lamps from the market. I will try to take my camera with me so you can see a pic of what the market looks like. I keep forgetting to bring my camera as I have kind of got into living here mode which is where the initial excitement of being here has settled a bit and am thinking more practically things like, how am I getting home and what do I need to buy for my apartment- so apologies for not taking loads of pics- it will happen!
And having said all that- I have moments every day which bring me to a state of complete awe. Even just stepping out on the street and noticing the lady on the moped carrying about 1000 pairs of jeans on holding in hands and behind her- or 5 kids. Or then the things people do- such kindnesses. I cant imagine ever taking it for granted. I am so looking forward to exploring more of Cambodia in my holidays.
Lots of love and I cant believe you are still with me- thanks for perservering.
PS I have some sunflower seeds a friend gave me and I have been meaning to plant them for a month now- and here they still are ! I have got as far as getting the initial clear cups to plant them in but need now the soil (which I have not yet a clue where to buy but am sure will become evident) but I AM on the case!
PPS had the funniest lesson today. My timetable had forgotton to include the fact that I would be teaching Reception (TWICE), so there I was relaxing into really getting some things sorted for my classroom- loads of paperwork spread out all over the floor- me splayed out in an unsightly contorted floorbound position and a group of bout 20 four year olds turn up. I had no plans, or clue what to do with them. So I just pick up guitar and sing a song I know, get them to move around the room dance and then proceed to try to teach them a song that is way to difficult for them as I was a little unprepared. Oh well they were still lovely but that was the most interesting lesson ever and good test on me working in the moment hahah
PPPS- I am learning Khmer- starting Saturday with a teacher- really excited!
PPPPS Can you believe I get up at 5 every morning. And this morning I woke up at 4.30am and thought- what the hell I may as well just get up seeing as meant to be up in half hour!!! It is however the best time of day here. It is cooler, quieter, and a lovely time of day. Although it is 9pm now and I am falling over my computer with droopy eyes thinking perhaps this should be my new bed time. EXCITING WOMAN I AM!
Night (really this time) :) X
Monday, 6 August 2012
I have given up on WordPress. Yes I know it may have slightly more class about it but I am just a mere blogger of the every day type that wants to find doing things such as uploading a pic or two easy. So here I am- sorry for any confusion folks but hopefully I will have more luck. I am a bit too whacked to post pics on here at mo, but I will in future with hopefully a little more ease!
Just a mini update- sorry -sparse at mo as been quite busy- but am loving every single minute of it here.
Just a mini update- sorry -sparse at mo as been quite busy- but am loving every single minute of it here.
Short summary of up till now:
Kep beautiful- albeit wet- coming back in November. We
stayed at a beautiful guesthouse called the Boat House and Lori happened to alo
be in Kep, invited us over to her guesthouse for a drink, to join her and her
beautiful 2 Khmer children…So nice of her to invite us.
Lena- the owner took her to her village and we visited some absolutely beautiful rice fields!
Back in hot Phnom Penh on the bus- I was kind of happy despite tropical rain being exciting and not quite the same as a rainy day in UK!!
Markets- underground- many stalls- little areas for DIY,
meat, vegetables, food stalls, clothes stalls ironing board stalls HEHEH. I am defo going to add some pics of this soon (she says hopefully).
In England – imagine you get a taxi to the shopping mall,
and he gets out and comes and helps you shop! Well that’s what they do here- my
tuk tuk driver gets out, helps me find the ironing board stall and carries it
for me! What a sweeti- so many sweet people here I cant get over it at all
Monday
Went to the ‘bike street’ today and bought myself a beautiful
red bicycle. And just in case you can’t tell what colour it is- it also has the
labelled words ‘ROUGE’ on it. LOL
First day of term today, kids are filtering in bit by bit
all week, and I start teaching Music next week which is cool as gives me a bit
more time than had expected to set up things- have been feeling a bit
overwhelmed with wanting to prep things really well- and do a really good job
so if I have time to do that is even better. My assistant Borith- who is
absolutely adorable- came in and helped me set up the displays in the room. We
both sat there in a kind of blissful peaceful state Bob Marley singing in the background
cutting bits of paper.
At the end of the induction David (the Vice Principal) said “
hey guys keep Friday free if you can as I am having a party at my restaurant
for my 40th”
I don’t remember being invited to a head of my schools birthday
before. How is it the principles can be so welcoming and open? Just this sense of the
head and deputy being completely at ease, and even though of course leading the
school, just kind of in it with us rather than being above, distant and separate,
as what can happen often times in work corporations.
Went to local pool with Dav and Anina today and we were
contemplating how lovely things were, with feet in pool, cold drink in hand- 5pm in the evening
after a successful bike purchase adventure by Dav and myself.
I come home, remembering I have some ironing to do-wanting
to look reasonably presentable for my new job.
Upon arrival I discover that Ming Ming has emptied my
wardrobe, and ironed every single piece of clothing in there including my
swimsuit.
I nearly cry.
To explain- Ming Ming is a beautiful lady in her 60’s with a
beautiful wide smile and I met her when I came to view my apartment holding a
huge bunch of bananas offering me one. Had
heard about people having cleaners, but I wasn’t sure this was a tad extravagant
of me. Euan (previous tenant who is a Dutch chef you may remember), explained
to me MingMing lived downstairs and cleaned his place twice a week for which he
paid her. He asked if I would continue to take her on- as she would then have
lost a job in effect, so it just kind of organically happened that MingMing
would now become my cleaner.
Never in my life before (apart from when I was a young kid)
have I come home to clothes all put away and ironed. I have no clue where some
of my things are – and she has organised everything in this very particular
way- its so funny and sweet and I feel so unbelievably nurtured !
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