august 25

At 6:30pm, we hear the “Noodle Seller” walk by from inside the Rogers’ house, he plays percussion on what sounds like a hollow wooden instrument. Phnom Penh is an interesting city, and because that adjective is horribly vague, I’ll say that it is magical, wonderful, destructed, poor, corrupt, where happiness and pain boils, bakes, fries in every street cart on every street corner in the city, where love and hate breathe the same air. It’s not extraordinary or particularly beautiful, yet it has life, laughter, poverty, beautiful, simple people; a city that compels you, excites you, depresses you: a perfect catalyst for discomfort and movement. Just what I said I had been looking for.

I live in an apartment at the steeple of the church, with two girls, my friend Liz from Walla Walla, and another girl I just met from Union, named Heather. We go up three flights of stairs, the last an iron spiral staircase, and we have the most beautiful balcony, where you can watch the stars if you wake up at 4am, like I did this morning, and then again just before 6am with Liz, where we watched the sunrise (which I took a picture of it, you can see it above). The Khmer's take this peaceful luxury for granted now, as I told a fellow staff at lunch of our experience and he replies, "does the sun not rise in U.S.?" We live across from Khmer mansions, we're told all the money to build them comes from corruption.



Liz and I (pictured above in our apartment) befriended a couple from Burma, who spent the last 5 years teaching in Seoul, Korea. 3 weeks ago they went to Thailand, did a week of prep, a week later (2 weeks ago) got married, went on their honeymoon all through Thailand, and then right after that, came here to Cambodia. The wife, Kimberly, has a youthful energy that is real and relevant, a laugh that is warm, funny, genuine, and inclusive. She's gutsy and dynamic, and says things (at our sabbath potluck) like, "westerners eat so quietly and stay in the same place, I like to eat and laugh and talk and keep eating. I feel like I'm eating at my own funeral." And when you laugh, she puts her finger over her lips, "sssshhh!" she says with a smile as wide as a jack-o-lantern. The husband is named Benjamin, and has black-rimmed glasses and silly jokes and funny commentary. He plays guitar and piano, and is genuinely nice. I am glad I have met them. It makes these transitions seem easier and more fun.

I miss you guys all, so tremendously much. Mom and dad. I hope to call you soon. Love you always and forever.