So Many Things to be Thankful For

Christmas has already passed and I'm barely posting photos from Thanksgiving. I tell ya... i'm slacking it. But as the saying goes...it's better late than never.

What's funny, is that they didn't even plan on wearing the same outfit. I also like how my friend christine is in the back ground and she too is wearing the same outfit.

We got some extra treats from our boss. You cannot leave us alone with a tray of cookies...WE WILL EAT THEM ALL in a matter of minutes.

If we look excited it's because we were. We lined up and waited for some oh so delicous turkey. We were hardly able to wait!

Let the feast begin!!!

Great friends awaiting to eat our fabulous meal that was made for us by the Peace Corps staff and the K4 volunteers. Thank you all so much!

Definitely grateful for a great bunch of friends.

This Thanksgiving will be remembered forever. I'm definitely sad that i was not home to share it with my family but I'm glad that i got to share it with my peace corps family in Cambodia. :)

What goes up must come down

A few weeks ago some fellow volunteers and I went to our provincial town to celebrate a Cambodian Holiday known as the Water Festival. We had three days off from school and watched different teams row their boats along the Mekong River. It wasn't very competative. In fact, I saw a few guys napping while their team mates rowed away. We also took advantage of sight seeing some wats and other attractions around Kampong Cham.

This is Wat Nokor which dates back to the 11th century.

We also biked up to Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei (Man and Woman Hills). The reason behind their name is because legend has it that the men and women of a nearby village had a competition to decide which gender would thereafter be responsible for proprosing marriage. Whichever group had the taller mountain in one day could forver forgo proposing. Some how the men were duped into believing that they had won so they got drunk and fell asleep. Meanwhile, the women labored through out the night and ended up winning.
When we checked out these two hills you can definitely tell that the Phnom Srei is more victorious than the Phnom Pros...sorry boys.

Children of Cambodia...gotta love them!

On the following day we biked over a bridge to get to this light house that looks over the Mekong River. It was originally constructed during the French colonial period. We decided to be extra adventurous by climbing it.

Looking straight up to the top of the light house.

Irene, Katy and I wanted to be brave and try climbing to the top of it.

Amelia was smart and decided to wait for us.

Getting to the top was definintely worth the view but...

looking down, not so much.

This picture kind of reminds me of a drawing done by M.C. Escher. The one where there are all these stair cases are going up and down and sideways and you don't which direction to take. Yeah, i had that same dizzy feeling while being at the top.

Wedding crashers

A few weeks ago some volunteers and I biked into a nearby village where another volunteer had received a grant to fix up her local clinic. I was happy to accept the invitation to go by and help out. It was to be one of my first projects to help out and be apart of as a new volunteer.

Katy at the clinic that we would soon be painting.

Other volunteers scoping out the clinic and noting on what needs to get done first.

Erin and Katy working hard.

It was a lot of work but definitely a great time. We painted the walls inside and out. This clinic needed a lot of mainenance but thanks to Lauren, the volunteer who set everything up and who was our gracious host, we were able to get the clinic to look a lot better. I'll have to go back and take an after picture.

While we were there we got invited to go to a wedding. We didn't get an invite we just woke up and were told that we would be attending a wedding. So off we went, Lauren, Erin, Derik and I got dressed and headed straight to the wedding. Keep in mind that this was not planned so some of the clothes I had to wear had some paint on them and was not wedding attire but none the less, when you're invited to go to a wedding in Cambodia you kindly accept the invitation.

The groom (the one holding the plate of food) and the grooms men.

In Cambodian weddings, it's tradition to gather in a line and walk from the grooms house to the brides house while holding plates of food or drinks as a gift gathering.

Yes...that is a pigs head on a platter.

Erin (right) who is looking fabulous standing with another guest.

I got lucky and got to hold the beer. I was trying to take a traditional kamar picture but couldn't fight off laughing and smiling. Note: Cambodians usually do not smile when taking pictures.

Once we arrive at the brides house we sit down and in two lines facing each other and wait for the bride to walk down the aisle.

This was another item i got to hold. The little envelope on the right was a gift given to all guests who arrived with a gift.

The women in front of me are wearing traditional wedding outfits. They are bright and beautiful.

Here comes the bride!

As she passed me i noticed how beautiful and detailed her gown was. I felt very happy to be apart of it.

Where we had the wedding feast.

After enjoying a good meal of rice and soup we headed back to the clinic and continued with our painting. I'm not sure if that' sosmething i'll ever do in the states. Go to a wedding randomly and then get back to work. But one thing i do know is that I will never turn down a wedding invitation in cambodia. You'll never know what you'll miss. :)

Party at the Buddhist Temple

I have to apologize for not keeping up with my blog again. I've delayed updating it but only because of my lack of internet service. It seems that the internet gods are having fun at making my life a little harder. For some reason i am no longer able to get internet service in my room. It seems that the only spot i am able to get service is on the roof of my house. It's kind of nice getting to sit out here by myself especially at night when i get to look up at the stars. My family really don't know about me coming out here so it's kind of become my secret hiding spot...for now. I wonder if my neighbors are able to see me? No matter.

I'm posting pictures that were taken a few months ago when i first arrived at site. There was a festival going on at the local watt which i remembered was odd that is occuring during a Tuesday and everyone was there. I went with my friend and counterpart, Vanny and we had a great time.

Apparently this singer is famous in Cambodia and she sang in our little village. My village really knows how to rock!

Hit three balloons and win a prize! Guess who one a sweet basket?

Carnival rides...you know i love them!

This has become my new and favorite Cambodian picture.

My friend Vanny, who i am completely blessed to be working with. She is definitely a strong and driven individual who i greatly admire and I am glad to be working with her. She has helped me feel more at home in my new transition.

Inside the Buddhist Temple. One day i will post pictures of all the painting and images that are on these walls.

To end the night we watched a glorious dance that was nationally televised. Do we know how to party or what? :)