Work, Rainy Days, The Killing Fields, and Angkor Wat

Time is passing quickly now, as most of our time is consumed by volunteering. Classes are going well, and Conan and I are enjoying teaching Cambodians. They are beautiful people: gracious, timid, and have huge hearts.

On one rainy Saturday when Conan took Sila somewhere, I had the opportunity to visit the Killing Fields (Choeung Ek), a place where the Khmer Rouge systematically eliminated over a million Cambodians. The fields, ironically, are one of the most beautiful spots in Cambodia that I have seen: massive trees (one which guards used to swing babies against--by their feet--to kill), a beautiful pond, and rolling landscape. What one quickly discovers, however, is that the "rolling landscape" are mass graves. There is an estimated twenty thousand of these. Appropriately, there was a slight drizzle as I visited, and it served as a reminder that beauty sometimes isn't what it appears to be.

There has been a lot of rain recently, which I quite enjoy. It reminds me of Florida, and when there is rain, clouds, winds, it feels as if everything is alive. Moving. Changing. I don't know if it's just because I love the warmth so much and that Cambodia's landscape reminds me a lot of Florida, but I really do love it here. It's so beautiful.

Lastly, we just went on holiday (been spending a lot of time with Brits and Kiwis), and we all decided to head to Siem Reap to visit the ever-famous Angkor Wat and the multiple surrounding temples. So okay folks, here is what I have to say about this area: AMAZING. Honestly. I was blown away with each temple that I visited. I have been a lot of places, but this, by far, blows everything out of the water. It's really hard to describe why it's so awesome, but it is. I've seen Machu Picchu, the Amazon, Patagonia, the Louvre, etc. Angkor Wat is by far the most awesome. So if you're thinking about visiting, you must. Come see us in Phnom Penh, then we'll all travel to Siem Reap to do some more temple watching (as my Brit friend, Charlie, calls it). My pictures really don't serve this place justice, but here goes:

I am homesick for...

food that won't make me sick; a bathroom that has a separate shower from the toilet; a dry bathroom floor and toilet seat; Swiffers (the floor mop); good friends; good beer; the beach; good friends, good beer, and the beach together; my Honda; earthy, crunchy granola; raw milk; fresh veggies; drip coffee; Sushi Thai; my comfortable couch; non-sweetened yogurt; my Seychelles water pitcher; my juicer; central a/c; a dryer; having no cable; a full-size refrigerator; friends; family.

Since I have been sick, the desire for all that is warm and good at home has hit strong. I figured writing about it might make it better.

The other option is to splurge when we go to Siem Reap (where Angkor Wat is--see Tomb Raider), which should be fabulous! A boutique hotel, four days, and $135 total! Hopefully it is as good as it looks online.

I'll post again once that trip happens, but until then, I will just leave everyone with some great pictures of good times from the states. And remember to love the life you're living!

  Vermont, 2012

FM Beach

New York with the Phipps-Millers

A little KrisBob Adventure

Watching Gramps play the bagpipes in KC, MO

Playing harmonica with Gramps

Having a dance party in Gotche, our camper

The bubble dude at Wanee

Easter in the Florida Keys

Ferris Wheel at Venice Beach

Uncle Sila and Morgan surfing: Fort Walton Beach

Serious talks with Captain Ron

A** and Mouth Explosions

Well hello, friends. I know it's been awhile since I've written, but we've been busy teaching everyday and settling in to our life here.The biggest thing on my mind is ass and mouth explosions. Yup. Sorry about the vulgarity, but that's what my last twenty-four hours have been like.

Saturday was a wonderful day: a picnic at Kean Svay (http://phnompenhday.blogspot.com/2013/08/kien-svay-resort-for-all.html) and dinner at the Russian Market back in Phnom Penh. I even found the best street food I've ever had at the market: a large, very thin, egg omelet with bean sprouts and lightly sauteed herbs and pork. It also came with a beautiful salad plate--herbs, flowers, lettuce--that you wrapped chunks of the omelet with and dipped in an amazing sauce. Yummy.

But then it happened: the slight rumbling of the stomach, the cramps, the explosiveness. First it was just a few times, but then the pace quickened. Then came the vomit. Lots of it. Then the chills, then the fever. By 9:00 p.m. last night, I was a hot mess. Literally.

Because we had Sila sleeping soundly in his bedroom (thank GOD he wasn't really keen to eating at the Market that night and didn't eat the salad), we had to call a doctor to come and diagnose me. Apparently, it was the food.

The dreaded event finally arrived. Anyone who has ever traveled to less-than-Western-standards countries, knows what I'm talking about: the moment when you're doubled over in bed and exploding from both ends. Yuck. I haven't felt this bad since the pasta event in Peru....or the deep sea fishing trip in Hawaii (remember that one, Kathy and Ron?).

Thankfully I am feeling a bit better and the explosions have stopped. The doctor has given me a lot of drugs (yes, Ma, I am taking antibiotics), and I am on the uphill trek.

So there you go--probably a lot more than you wanted to know about me right now, but there it is. Big hugs.

Do You Want to Send the Griffins Something?

I know your desire may be strong to send little trinkets, food, good beer, sheets that don't rip, fun toys, beach sand, a little Florida sunshine, pictures, memorabilia, or any other super-cool American thing, so if this applies to you, the best place to send something is the following:

Julianna and Conan Griffin
c/o Conversations with Foreigners
#247c, Street 271
Sangkat Toul Tom Poung II
Khan Chamcarmon
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Vulnerability

I know I have just written, but vulnerability has been the theme of my day, and I have an overwhelming draw to write about it.

Some of you might not know that I'm a pretty vulnerable person...but in the bad way, the way that holds me back from some experiences. I say the "bad way" because as per Brene Brown (author of Daring Greatly) she speaks about vulnerability as a good thing, as the ability to be open and receptive to experiences and to not protect yourself as a result of fear or insecurity.

Anyway, Conan leaving for a few days is always an opportunity to be vulnerable for a few days and to find comfort in it...as hard as that is. So as I sat in the apartment this morning, doing yoga, reading, emailing, and everything else I could think of to avoid having to go outside, the nervous tickle began deep in my gut. Once I left the apartment, I knew I would have to deal with all sorts of situations where I feel vulnerable. See below.

1. Speaking to young men (in clear English, with a sprinkling of Khmer) on motor bikes to secure transportation to my destination.
2. Getting on motor bikes with young men (the complete OPPOSITE of what a female traveler should do most everywhere else in the world).
3. Having faith that all Khmer people are good people and will not crash into me on the bike, especially since traffic rules don't really exist. Quick fact: 8 people a day die in motor bike accidents in Phnom Penh.
4. Arriving at my destination--that is, if my driver knows where he is going, and I don't have to help him out--and then fighting off hoards of more tuk-tuk and moto drivers who want to take me some place new even though I just arrived.
5. Putting trust in humankind (really in mankind) that I will not be raped since I just saw a statistic today that says 1 in 5 Cambodian men from ages 18-59 have admitted to rape in their lives. Gulp.

Okay, so I'm sure this post might be freaking some people out, but it shouldn't. What I meant to achieve is more of a confirmation for myself that I am okay. It is okay to be vulnerable and put myself out there for other people to experience (in a responsible manner). Because when I get home after days like this, I feel as if I have achieved something. I was vulnerable, and it was okay. No one laughed at me--okay, probably a few people did; I didn't die, and I am okay.

That said, I will leave you with the images below. To me, they capture how I feel when I am vulnerable but overcome. Maybe you can relate?

Some Fun Pictures

Traffic in Phnom Penh:

                                            (okay, this is cheating a bit: it was a protest, not necessarily traffic)

 

 

Fish:

                                          They eat all the loveliness off feet...........
Face Painting Fun:

Misc. Phnom Penh:

Western Mentality

It's been awhile since I've written; I know. Orientation for our NGO has begun, and it's been a pretty full schedule. Currently, Conan is off visiting the rural office/location of Conversations with Foreigners (CWF)--the Cambodian Rural Development Team (CRDT). I decided to stay in Phnom Penh to avoid taking Sila out of school (again), but the reward is that I have four full days to myself!

I've named my post "Western Mentality" because this has been on my mind recently. Actually, more of what has been on my mind could be coined "White Man's Burden." I didn't name my post this for multiple reasons: 1) it sounds so privileged; 2) it doesn't capture the purpose of this post, which is to highlight how awkward it can sometimes feel to be so lucky in life.

Now don't get me wrong, I have been doing my fair share of shopping locally, eating locally, and living locally. But the pull of my very privileged (meaning I have never really faced racial discrimination, poverty, or lack of civil rights) life has also tempted me to visit the local grocery market, have a drink at the roof-top bar, and get my feet nibbled on by fish, all while watching a huge percentage of the population struggle on less than $500 a month ($500 is supposed to be a GOOD salary). I feel the weight.

I hope this isn't coming off as "poor me: I'm feeling guilty because I can enjoy the finer things in life, and it weighs on me to see others not able to do so." This isn't what it means. More so, I mean for it to be a moment of gratitude, appreciation, and love for all that I do have.

Another sobering moment was visiting the Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21), which is the Cambodian Genocide Museum. It was shocking and sobering to visit, and realizing that this massacre took place a little less than 35 years ago was saddening. As I walked through room after room, my one overwhelming thought was the following: "I hope more than anything that these people had a moment of joy here; I hope they left this world with a bit of the stuff that really matters." I don't know if this is incredibly superficial and insensitive to think, but it was what I was thinking.

Whew. So here it is. I'll leave with a few pictures of S-21and follow up with another post of more fun images. So if you're reading this, and you're a Westerner (which you probably are because I can't imagine why else you would be following my blog!), love your life. Love your freedoms. Love your people.