Tuesday, May 27, 2008

A day in the life.

*editor's note: this post is a compilation of 3 days' work at the internet cafe, as each picture takes about 30 minutes to load. Phew!

As you can see from the picture, Carson is certainly happy to be here! His smiles and laughs are intense. (He also now sits independently and eats rice cereal and bananas.) This picture was taken outside of Pnohm Penh's one museum, which I wouldn't really recommend unless you're interested in picking out the differences between hundreds of statues of Buddah. The Cambodians leave little bottles of water and plates of fruit out by the big statues, for Buddah and for their ancestors. I was so hungry I almost snuck one of the bananas, but Rick held me back.
Our daily schedule now consists of the following:
Rick goes out at 7:30 a.m. to stand at an intersection and take pictures for an hour of the cars, motos and bikes that go by. He's working for a professor who's studying the increase in females owning motos, and how that is decreasing the number of children in Cambodian families. He comes home, and we leave together at 9:00 a.m. I go teach two English classes at an elementary school, and Rick takes Carson to work with him at RACHA, a Cambodian NGO that works with maternal and infant health. The women there absolutely love Carson, and they help Rick take care of him for 2 hours while I'm gone. (They also think men are inept at taking care of babies, and they feel they need to tell Rick how to hold him, change his diaper, etc.) My third and fourth grade classes are quite good at English, and I really enjoy teaching them. When you walk into the classroom, they all run up to you, hands together at their chins, and yell extremely loudly, "GOOD MORNING TEACHA!! HOW AH YOU TODAY?"
I pick up Carson at 11:30, and we go home so Carson can have a good nap. All this transportation is accomplished by a "tuk tuk," a moto that pulls a sort of carriage thing. It's the only thing safe enough, in my opinion, for Carson. We have the same driver, a really nice Christian guy, take me and Carson every day so I don't get lost! (These tuk tuk drivers are not like taxi drivers who know every address. I have already goten duped bt one telling me he knew where the church was, and we almost didn't make it to any of Sacrament meeting.)
We patiently (and sometimes very impatiently) wait for Rick to come home after work and one more picture-taking round at 6:00. I occasionally venture out to the internet cafe, or visit my Korean mom friends in our apartment complex, but the afternoons are long. After a dinner that always includes rice, we are exhausted. I think this heat just sucks it out of you!

We have gone on a few excursions so far, and I will get more pictures to update next post. For now...


Rick and Carson with the mango-eating monkeys at a Wat Pnohm.

The fam on a boat that took us for a ride on the Mekong River, where we observed the lives of families who live right on fishing boats or in little shacks on the water.

10 comments:

mag said...

I loving reading what you guys are doing there.. it sounds very interesting and fun, yet tired of course for you guys. it's funny you want to eat that banana.. i grew up in that culture too... and i eat it sometimes...(of course when my mom doesn't see it)be safe and have fun... miss you guys

The Mackay's said...

You guys look great! Carson is getting so big! We miss seeing you guys around at church, but glad you are having such a great experience!

Carly A said...

Sounds like you keep yourself busy! Cambodia looks beautiful! I would love to teach English classes to little kids. That sounds like so much fun! You guys look great! I hope that the summer continues to be as busy and fun as it is now! I know what you mean about impatiently awaiting a husband to be home, it is the best part of my day!

JenSwen said...

Wow, everything looks so green and pretty! I'm glad you're able to teach English classes - I'm sure that helps break up the monotony of the day. Looks like you are making the best of your unique experience in Singapore! Haha...

mackdick said...

carson has a BIG mouth.

and it looks like he's getting some hair!

Jewels said...

How fun! Teaching English to kids would be so much fun! What a great experience for you! Have fun, and take care of yourselves!

AMY_BELL - said...

Wow! Traveling with a baby has got to be interesting. I totally want to be a globe trotter with my family so it's nice to see that people are doing it. I'm glad things are getting better for you in Cambodia. I'm in Costa Rica for the summer and it has definitely been an adjustment. How long are you guys there for? I know I don't get a say but Georgetown is close to your parents and home...I love Northern Virginia :)

Marge said...

I still have a hard time thinking you are in CAMBODIA! Are you really there or are you just REALLY good at photoshop? I am so proud of you for going and doing and being things that I'm not sure I could ever go or do or be. PAGE you are a wonderful example. Keep up the great work, all of you!

Jen Bowen said...

What an adventure! (though there are the slow times). I'm glad things are going so well for you over there. How long will you be living in Cambodia?

The Hills... said...

Page and Rick...Thank you, thank you, thank you for such a fun visit! We loved being with you in PP. Your little Carson is so cute. I have some good pictures, I need to email you. Email me first, then I'll send them to you. callieannhill@gmail.com