Ankor Wat

Ok, So I'm Lazy

Yes i have failed to post here in forever. I wish I had excuses, but I don't. To top it off, it's been like a month.

Ok, right after last post, the other sm's and i had a talk. I know i am caustic and sarcastic, but i didn't know that they were mad about it. So, I was pretty put off, especially when they essentially said that i wasn't invited to come to vietnam with them. I gotta admit, that really hurt. It is no fun to be left out. I have always hated that. I have dealt with that before, and it is actually what destroyed the sanguine in me, and replaced it with phlegmatic. My teachers have commented on this strange dichotomy (Choleric-phlegmatic is abnormal) before, and talking with Pastor Speyer, i finally understood what the source of it was. Anyway, I agreed to tone it down, and I am trying to make a point to spend more time with them. Ended up that I went to vietnam alone. I gotta say, i had a great time, vietnam is cool, but very different. Got to see some vietcong tunnels. got wedged in said tunnels. they weren't built for me. very low to the ground ended up on my hands and knees.

Two weekends ago, we had midterms. they sucked, but Tim helped me to grade, and Sharon helped me clean up the room. Those were both enormous help to me, since i was dealing with getting over being sick after thailand, and being depressed over what the other sm's said, and having to go to vietnam alone. I got the room clean, and the grades done, and that felt good. Vietnam pictures will be up soon, as will some pictures from ankor wat. Yes, they are several months late, but they are coming at least. I am doing better with keeping up on grading this half of the quarter, and i am giving out a lot of extra credit to my physics class.

Poor physics, I am way too hard on them. I am teaching concepts that are far beyond them because college physics is still stuck in my head. I am toning the work and tests down, and giving a ton of extra credit to make up for what i feel was unfair.

This week has been weird. Monday, Cambodia experienced a terrible tragedy, culminating in the deaths of approximately 400 khmer. Entire families have been devastated. It is during this time that we see the depths of suspicion in what is otherwise a very secular culture. The supposed cause of the accident was either that no people were sacrificed when the bridge in question was built, or the previous tennants of the island, HIV women, were forced to leave without the proper rituals. either way, the land is supposedly angry. The khmers are afraid. The houses are surrounded by rice and have bananas and incense out front to ward off the evil spirits. The vultures which were circling (to us westerners, it seems obvious that they were after the human carrion) as a sign that a dragon caused this calamity in the service of the land. Hopefully, we missionaries can find a way to be witnesses here, at least to our students.

Both I and Cambodia in general need your prayers during this time.

Thank you,

Travis

Christmas Music

This week was pretty average except for 2 things. The first was the thoroughly awesome Friday off. I slept. Yeah, that was pretty much all I did. I was gonna go to the Russian market, but I just stayed in bed. I did clean our stove-top though. I ate Phil's chips, so I need to go buy more. Also, we go through bread at a bizarrely fast rate.

Oh, and the 2nd thing was that Uncle Mike showed up Thursday morning. Not only was it totally awesome, but I was completely caught by surprise. When Sharron called me, it sounded like she was trying to soften a blow, like someone had died, and then there was a knock on my door, and it was Uncle Mike. He said he wished he had gotten a picture of the look on my face. He also made some derogatory comments about the cleanliness state of our room.

It was really nice to see him. um, otherwise this week was fairly average. I am getting caught up on the work that i missed when I was sick, which is frustrating work. We went out to a house church this afternoon. I got lost trying to find my way to ADRA.

HMMM. Oh, I didn't take any pictures this week and I keep forgetting to upload the pictures from Ankor Wat, which was more than a month ago. frustrating.

Oh yeah, the title. I am being driven nuts by my compulsion to listen to christmas music. Why, I don't know? Between "Ace of Spades" and random christmas songs, I can't stop humming and whistling on and on. It is amusing to my students, and infuriating to Phil, since when I am whistling with my headphones on, I whistle really loud. sorry phil.

Updates

ok, sorry for the lack of updates.

Here's the schedule im gonna try to follow.

Friday night i'll post whatever pictures i've taken that week,

Saturday night, i'll post a blog entry.

Thanks for the patience.

continued

anyway, i finally found my way to Mission Hospital. Stayed there over night, and found my way to everyone else Thursday morning. The girls wanted to go shopping at a mall. We got as far as the food court. There was so much american food!!! We just spent the rest of the day there. They also saw a movie, while I hung out in the bookstore. I was so thrilled to be in a book store again. Oh, there was an anime show there, and I got to hang out there while they were in the movie as well. We ended the day back at the hotel, stuffed to the neck with wonderful american food. We were there during the vegetarian festival too, so we got so much vegetarian food. Like every third shop was selling it.

On Friday we got up and went to the Tiger Palace. That was incredibly awesome. I'm gonna try to post pictures of it too. Got to pet lots of tigers. It was so fun! We got to see the bridge over the river Kwai too. I visited a monument to chinese people that died there. On Sabbath, we went to an english church service. Then, since I couldn't get ahold of the people i wanted to hang out with, i spent the day with Phil, his friend Sam, and the girls, who also had no where to go. We got to go to a royal palace, which Rama V lived in for 5 years at the turn of the century. (20th) Truly cool. Loved that place

I felt this accursed cold coming on Saturday night, so i got pizza and went to bed early. the girls went shopping at a night market, and Phil went to a show with Sam.

Sunday, we went on a tour, where we were paid to speak english with some Thai people who wanted to help their english skills. they were really nice, and bought us lunch on top of paying us. I got some great green curry. We also got our pictures taken with Thai Captain Jack! He had all the manerisms down perfectly, and even spoke with his accent. it was awesome.

Whelp, that's about all. Great time though, hate sick. good night.

oops

ok, been a month since I posted. um, sorry.

So here's the deal. 3 weeks ago, we were in Siem Reap. We went to Ankor Wat, which was really cool. I bought a wooden flute. the ruins were amazing. I can't wait to go back with mom and dad. I will post some pictures. Then 2 weeks ago, the internet was off when i wanted to post. That week was pretty average. Last week, was finals and we went to Bangkok, Thailand. We had an amazing time. I was originally going to go by bus. I wanted to do the bus overnight, and get all my grading done before i got to Bangkok. I didn't realize that the border closes at 8. Most borders don't do that right?

So then, we had already told Somara that I was going by bus, and she decided that she was gonna come with. So, up until Wednesday, the day we were leaving, I expected that I was going to go from Phnom Penh to the border, stay the night there, and then finish the next morning. Then Wednesday morning, I called to check to make sure that Somara's visa had come through, and it didn't. So now i was going alone. That was ok i guess, until i found out that no buses were leaving after 3:15. So, i would have to do the whole trip on Thursday. I decided that it would suck too much to miss a whole day of Thailand, so I finally caved in and bought an airplane ticket. My wallet is still aching. Plan better next time.

So I flew in on Wednesday, and got totally lost. The taxi driver had no idea where I wanted to go, and I had never been to Ekkamai International School, so I was no help.

{Class Time, Continue Later}

work

So, this last week, it finally dawned on me that I am not just here for fun, there's actually a lot of work to do. I mean I knew that before, but the amount of work really just came down on me. I had to do midterm grades, and I really didn't realize just how behind i really was. I am a little disappointed in myself. So, looking at a new half of the quarter, I've told my students that I am going to work much harder to get everything done on time from now on.

But enough about that on Sabbath. I am definitely happy for you coming, Sabbath. It is time for a break, a little time to blog, and some time to go to church... oh yeah, that's right, I can't go to church this weekend. Bah, I'm guarding, and not the fun kind where there's a pool in front of you, but guarding the school gate.

Still, this weekend is potluck, so I'm gonna make something for it as soon as I am finished guarding, and then take it over to the mission, so hopefully i can get a ride to this Mark's house, cuz I have no idea where that is. Maybe I'll be in time for the end of Sabbath School. With all of this, it is still Happy Happy Sabbath.