My former students rock

The title of the post says it all.  Check it out  http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/drumrollnow-the-half-the-sky-contest/?apage=27#comment-150547

Happy Constitution Day

Hello again.  I just found this picture on my camera and thought I should share it just in case you wanted to know how sick I was :)  Although, I was able to move my hands again by the time this picture was taken.  I actually think I look better than I felt...teehee.  My favorite part of the ordeal was when the night nurse came on.  The first thing he did was come up to me and asks me if I was healthy enough to go home.  Now maybe its me, but I always expect the health professional to tell me when I am healthy enough to go.  I had to inform the nurse that I wasn't supposed to leave until my temperature dropped under 38 degrees C.  He then told me it was hard to control fever when you have Dengue which, of course, I did not have.  Hmmm....should I have been nervous?

Yesterday was a national holiday, Constitution Day, which meant no work.  Hurray!  I was finally able to make it to Pheng's (pronounced pang) temple.  Pheng is my monk friend and go to for all questions about Buddhism.  He's been a monk for 14 years, half his life.  I had planned on visiting the wat earlier, but I was struck down by illness.  I arrived at Wat Srah Chok in the afternoon.  I was sitting in  Pheng's room when I was told I was "perspiring."  Gotta love honesty.  I had to inform him that I never stop perspiring in Cambodia, which is why I drink lots of water.  I don't know how Cambodians do it.  They almost never sweat.  I see girls wearing sweatshirts, beanies, long pants, socks, everything and not a bead of sweat to be found.  You would think that by now my body would have adjusted, but no.  Oops I'm ranting.  Anyways, I was sad that I did not get a chance to poke around the wat while I was there, because it stared raining (of course), and monks tend to avoid the rain.  Perhaps next time I will get the grand tour.  Instead I spent four hours discussing Buddhism and Cambodian Buddhism.  Now when I say discuss I really mean I asked a million questions :)  It is interesting to hear everything from a monks perspective.  However, I did contribute by impressing the monks with my enormous height and by talking about my brother who is two meters tall.  I must say after my afternoon at the wat I heart monks even more than I did before.  All the monks I have met so far have been so nice and they always smile, my kind of people.  After the temple, I finished off my day with some bomb tacos and a couple Angkors with a friend.  All and all, I would say it was a pretty good Constitution day.

The rumors are true: I am blogging again

Before I get started, I must dedicate this, my first post in Phnom Penh, to the lovely Margaret Allison.  If not for her, this post may not have ever happened.  Ok, now that that is out of the way we can begin.  I’ve been living in Phnom Penh for about six weeks now and so much has happened already.  The first two weeks were a crazy whirlwind of activity.  My first day here I interviewed a socially engaged monk and had dinner with one of the princes of Cambodia.  I met tons of people working in the development field.  I realized that I have A LOT to learn about development and Buddhism.  I suppose that I couldn’t possible fit six weeks worth of adventures in one blog, so I will use on of my favorite tool…. bullet points!  So far I have (not in chronological order):

• dined with royalty
• made friends with a monk
• found an apartment
• eaten some really good food
• eaten some not so good food
• gotten seriously ill and had to go to the clinic, because I lost feeling in my hands, feet and face (not cool)
• been dragged across the street during rush hour by a motodriver, because I couldn't make it across on my own
• gotten completely soaked my the sporadic torrential downpours
• become addicted to The Office (i know, random)
• got a pet bunny
• had my pet bunny die
• heard some incredible life stories
• met the Cambodian love doctor
• showed up late for the Pchum Ben festivities and only got to see monks sweeping up garbage
• gotten locked out of the gym wearing a bikini and towel, had to call the manager and wait someone to come and unlock the door

Hmmm...I think that about covers it.  I haven't taken any pictures yet (bad Auggie).  I am hoping that my roomie will and then I will just steal his.  In the next couple weeks, I hope to make it out to the provinces  to interview people there.  I am excited, because I don't think Phnom Penh is real Cambodia.  It blows my mind that Phnom Penh and Chittagong are on the same continent.  It seems like they are on different planets.  Ok, I need nourishment.  Stay posted for some more detailed descriptions.  Byeeeeee.