090619

What’s to report?

Well, not too much new. We had a mid service training in Phnom Penh a week or so ago. We wrapped up and discussed successes and things that we could improve upon in regards to the last school year as well as brainstormed project ideas for the summer. Let me say, that many of the project ideas and plans always sound so much more achievable when we’re in an air-conditioned room, sitting in comfortable seats and have delicious snacks and non-instant coffee at break time. Coming back to site, you realize just how much the heat really can slow ya down. Oh well.

The rains have been intermittent the last week or so. They are much appreciated when they do decide to visit as it is the best way to cool things down at least for a bit.

We’ll be heading down to Phnom Penh for the 4th of July. Those of us who can carry a tune in the k2 volunteer group have been asked to sing the Khmer national anthem at one of the main events at the US Embassy on the 3rd, and again at the main 4th of July celebration on Saturday. It’ll be me, Lydia, Deidre, Kelsey and Matt. And Matt (who has a wonderful voice) will also be singing the American national anthem too. It should be pretty fun; and an excuse to get an all expense paid trip down to the big city. Ahhh the perks of being a musician – who knew sticking it out in band and choir, would pay off this much later in life?

Oh, we noticed this morning that home-slice, (our gecko lizard) seems to have lost most of its tail. Man, those guys have really got to watch where they put their extremities; especially during the rainy season when shutters are getting slammed shut when a sudden rainstorm hits. We kinda felt bad for the guy. I wonder how much not having the tail alters his ability to scale the ceilings and walls so gracefully. Hrrm….

Will’s garden is really coming along. He’s got some really long green beans, which will be great. The peppers seem to be doing well and the tomato plants have many flowers on them. It’ll be great to start eating from it! The eggplants were eaten by bugs; and we think all the herbs would’ve preferred a shadier spot. Live and learn. It’s amazing though what does grow out of this really sandy soil.

AND – the award for most delicious fruit goes to the mangosteen! An interesting looking dark maroon circular fruit with a plot of small round leaves at the top of it, and a hard, but soft outer shell. As soon as you cut the main part of the shell, it breaks apart and has an almost foam-core consistency beautiful deep red colored shell, which encases several small wedges of a white gently sweet fruit. I’m not sure what I’d compare it to but it certainly is tasty. We can get a kilo of it for about $0.75. Not a bad afternoon snack or complement to breakfast.

Anyhow, school officially, officially ends next week. It went pretty fast. Now we definitely have a better grasp as to what the actual school year really entails and know what and what not to incorporate for next year. I’ll be volunteering at an American funded school (Jay Pritzker Academy) for the month of July with a program they’ve got there. One of the head people at the school is an RPCV (returned Peace Corps Volunteer) from Africa…so that’s the connection there.

Then it’s officially summer! We’ve got to start looking into some travel plans, Malaysia seems to keep popping up in our current conversations…so who knows. We’ll see. All for now until next time. We hope all is well back home. Over and out.