Among what manner of people...

Not quite the twenty years that Ulysses was absent from his beloved Ithaca, I find myself on the cusp of a twenty-four hour flight that will set me once again on the sweet and foggy shores of Seattle. I have been too long away from my culture of comfort—yet, this day is the last.

Yesterday, Wednesday in Southeast Asia, I began the long process of packing, repacking, and shuffling those belongs that must make the journey with me. The power was out, of course, so as a grimy sweat began to show beneath my Sasquatchian arm hair I heard a faint knock upon my door. I quickly moved across the room and answered; it was Roat (the student I tutor).

“Hey, Roat,” I said.

“Cher, I wanted to make the thanks to you for teaching me individually this whole year.”

“Oh yeah, well—it was no problem,” I replied.

At this, he slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small gift wrapped in bamboo. Grinning, I took the gift and opened a small silver ring-holder engraved with an image of Angkor Wat.

“Thank you Roat, this is amazing. I really appreciate it.”

“Cher, the thing is,” he began, “today is a very sad day for me. Oh, Cher,” he spread his arms wide, “please hug me.”

Obviously, as an American male, I was a bit discomfited by this offer, but what could I do—I hugged the little guy. He cried on my shoulder.

“Roat,” I said patting his back, “I will miss you friend.”

It was a difficult parting; a parting of a lifetime.

I closed the door.

I decided to postpone packing for a bit in my now melancholic mood, and instead picked up the last book I had hoped to read before departing, The Classical World. Before Andrea had left she decided to surprise me with hidden notes riddled throughout the books I had yet to read. So, as I picked up The Classical World, I opened to the chapter that held my secret note and pulled it out. Scrawled in the hand of my illiterate infant (Mommy’s hand over Regan’s) the note said: Dad, mommy misses you. Please come home soon.

There is so much I am leaving here in Cambodia; there is so much I am coming home to in America—what a beautiful and mysterious world in which we live.

I look forward to seeing you soon,

Ben

Missing the Shoolies meter: I watched an eleven second video that Andrea's sister sent me of Regan giggling forty-seven times yesterday.

The Final Push...

It's Sunday in Cambodia, and that means two things: one, the writing of this blog, and two, the start of my last week in Southeast Asia. I am little amazed that my time here has gone so fast, and that a year has come and gone. On Friday night, to commemorate my time at NPIC, the Korean staff took me and Bryant out to dinner. It was a crazy bunch of people kicking back sipping on green tea. They said some really nice things, we said some really nice things, and then we broke bread (well, actually, we broke the octopus soup—an Asian staple). Speaking of nutty foods, they also happened to mention that they regularly enjoy duck embryo, dog, and deer blood. According to the Koreans, these rare delicacies of the Asian world are not only anti-cancer, but slimming as well—bon appetite!

This weekend I hung around Phnom Penh for the last time. I was able to hit up the Russian Market for cheap goods, and get a much needed haircut totaling a dollar and fifty cents. It was a productive weekend. I am about to wrap things up here and make the hour long drive back to NPIC for what is sure to be the penultimate time. I’ll teach through Wednesday, pack on Thursday, and fly out late Friday night. It should be an eventful week.

Well, I miss you all and really looking forward to seeing some of you next weekend. Take care,

Ben

She eats!

Although I was not there as a direct witness, my sources tell me that Regan consumed solid food yesterday morning—oh, miracle of miracles, what a wonderful day. My sources also tell me that Regan then proceeded to urinate in the bed—oh, how sad I am to have missed the wetness.

In the sporting world: yesterday NPIC played an official soccer game against the Cambodian Department of Labor. It was an exciting game on a hot afternoon, but sadly they were obliterated by a much stronger side—maybe next year NPIC, maybe next year.

In other news: the semester is quickly winding down, and my students are readily preparing for their finals. Yesterday, after my IT class, Roat (the student I tutor) asked me if I could help him in the computer lab (which is rarely functioning) to look up American Masters Degree programs. It turns out there is a school very close to his relatives that he could attend to pursue further work in his academic area of interest, but he and I both were daunted by the overwhelming costs and red tape. It was a strange position to be in as a teacher as I wanted nothing more than to say, “If you believe, then you can achieve.” However, the reality of his situation is far more nuanced. While I was able to download and print all of the materials he needed to begin this process, it truly will be a miracle of all miracles if he ever makes it state side.

Well, that about wraps it up. I have a test to grade and some Korean red-sticky rice to eat, yum! The Liberal Arts Department head loves to cook for me and Bryant and regularly brings in Korean delicacies to please our platter. Today she brought in sticky rice.

“Enjoy,” she said, “maybe it will make for you a full lunch.”

“Yes,” I said smiling, “maybe it will.”

Alright, I miss you all and can’t wait to see you.

I’ll be headed back in nine short days. Take care,

Ben

Another Java Sunday...

Well, here I am, eating my Big Breakfast Combo Number One and writing my Sunday blog. It has been an eventful week: I taught, I tutored, I went out to dinner with the Korean staff at NPIC, and I talked to Andrea three times! Yeah! Today I am planning on updating the blog and shopping for groceries—it’s all pretty exciting.

This week I told my students the news that I would be leaving in two weeks and not be coming back; they were all a bit downtrodden. Yes, we have had a good year, but it’s time to move back home.

In tutoring this week, Roat, my student, brought a new friend of his to partake in the English tutoring. His little friend was a girl. I didn’t ask, but I wondered if there might be some summer magic in the air. Interesting fact: if there is some love fever going on, the Khmer kiss by sniffing, not touching lip to lip—yet another reminder that I am very far from home.

Anyway, this is a short update. I am doing well, finishing strong, and ardently looking forward to the journey home.

Take care,

Ben

Revenge of the ants...

This morning all I wanted for breakfast was my Frosted Flakes. I eagerly woke up, threw on a t-shirt, and walked over to the adjoining room (which is currently doubling as Bryant’s room, because his air-conditioning is out, and our kitchen). I opened up the ant cabinet—efficiently designed to keep the little buggers out—grabbed the blue box of deliciousness, opened it, and found an infestation of ants. Oh, the anger! Rage! This was not an acceptable way to welcome the day.

I quickly changed tactics though, fried an egg, and read a month old copy of The Atlantic—it would have to do.

Well, I have had a very busy week of teaching and grading. My students are chipper as always, and diligently studying for their chapter four test. The other day in class a very funny thing happened to me, however, due to the “G” rating of this blog I am hesitant to recount it in full. Basically, I have of late been breaking my classes up into groups and pitting them one against the other in vocabulary and grammar review games. It’s fun. The winner is dubbed the champion of the English universe and given all sorts of yummies (candy, Chuppa Chupps, Snickers, whatever). Yesterday I decided to branch out a bit and not only name the winner only the champion, but also the master of all things great and English. I won’t go into detail, but this led to a rather base question asked by one of my students referring to the second epitaph in my victor’s title. That is all I can say. It was funny; actually, awkward is probably the word for it.

In other news, we don’t have school on Thursday because it’s the Queen’s birthday. My students have no idea how old she is, but if I had to guess, I would say she’s pushing seventy. Way to go Queen! I hope you have a great day.

Anyway, I miss you all and can’t wait to see you.

Missing Andrea/Regan meter: the other day I wrote a song on my guitar called, “Missing Shoolies.”

The three Shoolies—we go together like spinal cords and car seats…

Well, what can I say? The internet and power were totally shut off all day at NPIC yesterday (Saturday—which means no students on campus), so I read a lot, played the guitar a bit, and ate some food. I also did some sit-ups and push-ups, but I don’t want to brag about it too much; I’m just trying to stay in shape for the American soccer season. What else? I am now sitting at Java (surprise) and it’s a hot muggy day. I woke up early this morning, shaved, dressed, and drove the old diesel all the way into town: it only died on me three times. I then dropped my chapter four and five tests off at the copier, headed to Java where I ordered the Big Breakfast Set #1, and Skyped Andrea. Yes, it’s been a productive day.

Tomorrow I start early with my Automotive class. They are always fifteen minutes late on Mondays, because, as they say, “Our real subject before this class Cher, so we must come late.” Awesome, what does that make English then, your fake subject? Yeah, I’m trying not to be hurt by it. So, after Auto, I have my IT class (my best class), and will have a good time reviewing for their upcoming test. If you’re reading this and thinking to yourself, “Sounds like a whole lotta fun,” then you’re in good company. It’s going to be a blast.

What else? Well, not much really. I am currently reading James Joyce’s Ulysses, it’s a whirlwind. Actually, it’s like wrestling an ancient Irish bear—the preface said, “Ulysses, an extremely difficult book to read, but well worth the effort.” To which I say, “If by extremely difficult you mean: I’ll have absolutely no idea what’s going on, then yes, I whole heartedly agree.” So, if any of you out there in blogland have any pointers feel free to let me in on your secrets.

Alright, not much else is going on. I’ll try to update the blog again when I get a chance, but who knows when that will be. Until then, have a great Sunday.

I look forward to seeing you soon,

Ben

Missing Andrea and Regan meter: I did all the dishes and sprayed for ants (again, Andrea will understand).

Barney Stinson...

Yesterday was Thursday, and you know what that means: tutor day! My student Roat (Row-aught) came over and studied the finer points of verb usage, followed by an intellectual stroll through his latest weekly essay. He is of an average height for a Cambodian, meaning, four-foot two-inches. He has dark curly hair, a wispy black mustache, and bronze skin. Last week it was awesome because he wanted to know how much I liked Michael Jackson. I couldn’t tell him the truth—he’s a huge fan; it would break his heart—so I said, “Oh, all Americans are huge fans. He’s like pop star number one; America’s musician extraordinaire. In fact, my Dad has a Michael Jackson autographed white glove he picked up on his trip to Neverland just last year.”

This week his essay question was: If you could change anything about your hometown what would you change and why? (I get the sample questions from a TEFOL book). Well, he understood hometown to mean Cambodia, and “what would you change” to mean systemic reconstruction—what can I say, the man has vision. He wrote: “When I am Prime Minister I will fix the Education System. I will pattern it after European systems. It will be the best Education System in Southeast Asia. When I do this there will be no more poverty and corruption, and Cambodia will never again repeat the living hell of the late seventies.” Dang! Roat isn’t messing around, so I did what any self-respecting teacher would do: I gave him my English Grammar Spark Note flash cards—study hard baby, cause you gots a whole lotta work to do. He was stoked. He stood up at the kitchen table, bowed, and shook my hand with both of his.

In other news, apparently Andrea and Regan (and Sophie too) made it home safely. I know this because they briefly turned the internet on yesterday at NPIC, and then, following a quick reading of my email, they turned the power off. One hour later when the power came back on, the internet was still off. I am writing this in Word with the hope that I can post it at some point in the near future.

I miss you all, and can’t wait to see you.

Ben

Missing wife/baby meter: today I made the bed (Andrea will understand).