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oneofthesedays
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Name: Elijah
Country: Cambodia
State: Cambodia
Birthday: 11/7/1980
Gender: Male
Interests: God, music, and people..those are probably the three (3) things i have a deeply rooted passion for. Today, i find myself keenly interested in the people of Cambodia...their music (traditional and pop)..language, their personalities..and their lives..both past and present.
Expertise: still pending...
Occupation: Other
Industry: Nonprofit
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
4/15/2003
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| Jumping straight into things, Sina and I will become parents in mid-January. And we found out yesterday that we are having a boy  . Looking at the ultrasound imagery we both had our first experiences of "wow!" and "incredible!" and all these indescribable emotions when we could see two arms and then, all of a sudden, 'his' little hand making grabbing motions - a real little boy! It was indeed priceless and I would be lying if I said it hasn't caused me to be all the more excited to have a baby. They always say "when it's your own..." yada yada yada ...but I am convinced there is some truth to these things.
Sina and I are just back from a three-week visit to California. This was Sina's first introduction to where I'm from and to many of her new relatives as well. The time we had with family could not have been better. Travels to and from San Francisco for some major league baseball and soccer were tiring, but a lot of fun. We both are so grateful to mom and dad for putting together a wonderful reception during our visit, a truly special and memorable event we will carry with us for a long time. We were also incredibly blessed to have a baby shower thrown by aunts, cousins, and grandma(s) for Sina. Thank you so much to all of you for your love and in practical terms, these gifts which will soon be put to such great use!!
I want to personally say "thank you" again, officially, to make sure it's understood once-and-for-all to my mom, dad, joseph, and jordo particularly, but then more broadly to all of my relatives, for the warm welcome you have given Sina. For me, that she feels so truly to be part of the family - and for my parents, brothers, and then extended family to feel this way too, this is a precious gift. I have much to be thankful for.
Here in Cambodia, my work with ICRC continues to keep me busy and continues to be rewarding. A full time Khmer Interpreter/Translator position has officially been posted for 2010 so I am finishing up my application. Besides improving (yes, improving) my Khmer language skills, I am exposed to public health and management issues in the Cambodian prison system. It is a truly unique opportunity to see the way a well-respected, international, and extremely professional organization operates. To be involved in conversations and see how they think and respond to a variety of issues - both in prisons as well as in dialogue with authorities, is a real privilege. So, in this way, I feel I have an opportunity to have my learning hat on, and yet be paid for what I'm doing. Not a bad combination.
Physically, I need to get in good cardio shape. I can't get out of my mind the idea of a lengthy jog this evening. Good sign!
Sina and I are getting serious now about purchasing a vehicle. Most likely either a corolla or a camry. Sina wants the 2001 Camry. Unfortunately, cars are a lot more expensive here than back home ...but we will bite the bullet and do this sometime soon. And as much as I can be anti-cars, especially in Cambodia, I know i will enjoy coasting through the city during a storm. All for now ...peace :)
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| Where do I start? Every time i pull up xanga to try and attack another journal entry a million things flood into my mind and I don't know how I can even begin to express everything. Life is good after over five months of marriage. I'm sitting in one of a multitude of trendy coffee-shop / restaurants popping up all over phnom penh - this one along the riverside with free wifi, today's paper by my side, a Foreign Affairs publication ...and for two and a half hours this has been my office where I've been working diligently - writing emails, typing reports, preparing lessons.
I'll see John Yoon this evening - a World Vision friend who Ben roomed with his last year here. John is now working in Laos. It will be great to see him. I hear Bill Forbes is in town but he is a tough guy to catch! Meanwhile, my own connections with people and various groups is always growing. It's such a privilege and a pleasure to have the type of life I have right now. Amidst everything, my Chinese has taken a slight dip though I'm considering initiating a new discipline - 30 minutes per day mandatory for Bible reading and review of at least 10 Chinese characters. I also have a thin little 50-cent book from the market on me at all times that is a treasure for continued khmer learning (poetry / buddhist but cambodian expressions ...chanting type stuff but all kinds of new words i never hear).
Tomorrow Sina goes to Siem Reap for a night to hold a radio program there. I'm excited to go spend a night with my host family. It will be good to see all of them.
Happy Birthday to my precious mother who turns something over 50 today ....an hour ago, technically, considering all time zones.....
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| Can someone explain to me why McCain's attack on Obama's tax plans pointing to Joe the Plumber makes any sense at all? I grew up in extreme comfort in America with parents who made far less than Joe the Plumber in a year. Is "redistributing wealth" a tainted notion simply because it rings of socialism? I'm sorry but i'm less concerned with Joe the Plumber - who makes an extraordinary amount of money in a year - saving some money, and more concerned with those who have next to nothing gaining opportunities - some systematic advantages (in a system that for decades has worked against them!) perhaps, to possibly be able to make ends meet from one day to the next and, possibly, move upwards on the societal ladder from one generation to the next.
I'm sure that some of Obama's plans are not entirely feasible in a potential four-year term of office - or even with reelection for a second term ....but there is no denying that this man's way of thinking is a breath of fresh air for many Americans. The fact that this presidential race is still relatively close says a lot about the American people -and i don't mean that in a positive way.
Twenty two of twenty two countries outside the United States in a recent Reuters poll strongly favored Obama over McCain. I think of the Pakistani couple I met in Malaysia, the Australian couple in Bali, my Korean students here and my German co-worker at ICRC - all of whom have followed the presidential race before us closely and can speak knowledgeably of U.S. foreign and domestic policy these past eight years (something I cannot do), and all of whom wish greatly for an Obama victory. Do these things mean anything?
My friend Patty Curran says she and her family are considering moving back to the States (after 13 years in cambodia) if Obama gets elected. She says she would love for her kids to grow up there with the atmosphere created by someone like Obama as President, in the States.
In any case, i will be at FCC on Wednesday to take in the well-deserved hoopla. I just might splurge on that $15 black hat that says Obama, Cambodia 08.
peace
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| I've just ridden by bicycle across Phnom Penh (approximately 33 minutes) to find out the President of GSE&C (engineering company where i teach eight respective korean students) is in from Korea and holding meetings all day. Thus, today i will not teach. But for the moment I can sit in pleasant air conditioning and attempt a 'thick and full bodied' post. Let's start with a photo that says something about recent weeks...
Here we see Sina presenting her radio youth program (It's Yours!) to young people at a student center. If you notice the girl in the yellow shirt on the left hand side and the young man in the back (also a yellow shirt) on the right hand side, these are Sina's niece and nephew (Srey Nich and Sroh).
Here we see Sina with her new hairstyle - i am just now realizing this is probably new for all my readers! For those who have tasted iced coffee with milk in Cambodia, this picture may be a bit of a tease! Jordo? Uncle Bob!!? Haha, as many of you who were here for the wedding in July will recall, the iced coffee with milk during the morning festivities was a huge hit .....
There you see our red moto parked on the right and a better view of the corner shop (Sina's head is at a back table if you look through the bushes) where I eat my breakfast of rice and pork most everyday.
At our place, the worship team gathers to practice on a Saturday morning for the Sunday service. I joined the group a couple months ago and am enjoying it a lot. I'm particularly thankful for the closer relationships I'm able to build with other Cambodian guys. Saveuon is on the left, Sophal next to me (plays the djembe) and (Bong) Ponleur on the right. Our music team had a sleepover this past weekend - seven of us (everyone is not shown here) - playing cards with the loser drinking water. By 2am I had put down 15 glasses of water and my urine was pure and see-through. I think 20 was the most and 13 the least so i came out in the middle. I really have a great time with these guys though.
If anyone is wondering what a multi-billion dollar Korean construction company puts on its walls, i can tell you. There is poster next to me that says "Zero incident equals 365 days for myself, my family & my company." In the middle it says "Happy 365" ...and H stands for "heart safety (we are family)" it says....this seems odd having discovered that one of the company policies is that the wives and children of these Korean workers are not allowed to come with them to Cambodia...even if they pay for it themselves, it is not allowed. It's a very interesting situation and makes for an intriguing, if a bit saddening, sub-culture with all these Korean men here by themselves. Their salaries are through the roof and the company pays for everything they need (including massages and other necessities like drinking and weekend golf) ...but they see their wives and children once every four months. Go figure....
I am proud to have managed to cast my vote for Obama last week at the FCC rooftop where lots of American citizen volunteers in country were helping coordinate and facilitate people getting their votes in. Laptops were set up, scanners, envelopes and everything so we could do it all right there ....they had the process down, all i had to do was show up. Then we all watched the third presidential debate projected on the wall......i hope to be at FCC at 9am November 5th when results begin to come in. it will be fun to join the celebration with other "democrats abroad."
Since pushing to have a link on Raindrops on Roses, i noticed my views shot through the roof. Exciting! haha...that said, i will sign off for now. Hope everyone enjoyed the first ever Shafter High Hall of Fame dinner - i've heard rustlings of some long-winded speeches from some of those who were inducted .....not to mention 'fire-roasted meat' ...and plastic knives...
peace..
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| So yesterday was probably the most absurd schedule for a day I've had yet, check this out...
8am - noon: debriefing and feedback session for evaluation
12:30 - 2:00: english teaching at GSE&C
2:15-5:15: work on translation of 10-page document from Pyramid (sitting in a coffee shop..so that's nice!)
5:30-7:00: english teaching with Han
7:15-7:30: meet Nino's parents to inform them I can no longer teach their son as I'm TOO busy!
7:45 ...arrive home where Sina is washing dishes and getting ready to make dinner (she went out with friends as well in my absence)
we are both fortunate to have many good, mutual friends - both guys and girls. they are certainly a huge blessing to us and a healthy part of our lives together. it's been great to have meals with friends here and there, randomly, on the spur of the moment. like last week i went by the student center to pick up sina after she presented to youth there about her radio program. our friend Sophal was there and i had a chance to talk to him ....i've always wanted to know Sophal better and he is a good friend of Sina's - it's already 7:30pm ...sina and i have both had long days and it's like , ' hey sophal, do u have any plans for dinner?' ....nope, so let's grab food together - we had a great time...probably the highlight of last week :).
quite honestly, this journal entry is more about getting on the top of Jordan and Katie's list than anything else ....not to spite Joseph ...though it's interesting how for the entire afternoon here there is sort of this period where i have a great advantage to, if nothing else, be seen on the top by everyone who wakes up in the states tomorrow (that is, today), since i journaled while they were sleeping .......i suppose at this point we don't need to think too deeply yet about the ethics of journalition (journaling competition).
anyhow, today is nice. i finished translating that document from yesterday and now have most of the afternoon to prepare english lessons properly for my faithful korean students. I will meet with STT, the cambodian community development organization at 4:00 and most likely get set up to begin spending time with them for three mornings per week through the end of the year. i'l ldefinitely get more up about that once i know more - promises to be interesting though.
peace..
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