April 8

Mommy-o came to visit for a few days, and it was just what I needed to preserve my sanity, plus it was a lot of fun! I could give a brief summary of every activity and all of our whereabouts, or, as I like to do, create a messy list of highlighted memories.

I loved when mom came to visit and...
1. my students, upon meeting, greeted her with the respectful cultural bow of the head, hands folded together as if in prayer. My mom just grabbed them and hugged them, and they first looked at me with frightened eyes, bodies stiff, and I just laughed. Mom is one crazy lady! But it wasn't any later than second period, they were crawling all over her, giving her stickers and candy, doing everything they could to please her, tugging on my arms, "Teacher, me love mom you!" they shouted, just like I knew they would.
2. we sat on the roof of my house with red brick shingles, the smoky air making mom's eyes water, just catching up, the first time i've spoken my mind with ease and without inhibition in months.
3. we ate Tapas at Friends.
4. we got greasy corn on the cob from street venders by Psa Thmei, and an old lady struggled across the street and up the curb, and when mom put a hand out to help her, she seemed completely appalled that anyone would want to aid and ease her feeble steps. (What kind of person are you mom, really?)
5. we went to Suki Soup at the top of the dome of Sorya, and stared down at the marvelous view of the whole destitute city of Phnom Penh.
6. got massaged by the blind at Seeing Hands. My masseuse Sophea was so sweet!
7. we bought fruit at Toul Thom Poung, and made a fruit salad for potluck.
8. Ben and Kim made us breakfast at their house and we sang songs all morning.
9. we went to the night market by the Tonle Sap.
10. we went to Monument Books and attempted to get work done.
11. we went to a concert put on by the seniors of CAS at the school, where the same four people sang over and over, song after song in the same intensely pitchy voices.
12. ate dinner at Sarika in the middle of the garden, lights hanging from the trees and by the stream at night, fish Amok in banana leaves, banana flame bay that tasted like kerosene.
13. she missed her first flight because I didn't look at the itinerary and neither did she, and we couldn't find the airline office, and we were stressed and late and crazed like we always are and were.
14. everyone kept telling me, "Your mom looks so young, like your sister, and she's so beautiful, even more beautiful than you!" (it's true)
15. I just got to be with her, and I was happy.