Training Village update
There are about 50 of us trainees, divided up into three training districts: Chamkar Leu, Prey Chor, and Tboung Kmoum. I’m in Tboung Kmoum, and we’re about 14km from the provincial town (big city) of Kampong Cham. The others are a bit farther, I think Prey Chor is 20km away and Chamkar Leu is 30km. A few days ago training gathered the three villages together in Kampong Cham to do some big group activites, one of which included making a skit showing why our training district is the best. The skits were judged and the winners received a bagful of American treats, including Oreos, Milanos, and Twix.
Obviously Tboung Kmoum won. We’re clearly the best. TK what!
Tboung Kmoum is also the most beautiful district–it has coconut trees everywhere, sla trees, a rubber plantation, the most ornate and beautiful wat (pagoda), and, of course, the best trainees.
With being the most beautiful, however, we also have the most number of mosquitoes because we get the most water. Read: I am getting EATEN ALIVE. My bites swell up to the size of golf balls and there was one point where I had 4 bites on my left ankle and it looked like I had filariasis.
My host family is nice, though. I live with a grandma, a grandpa, their youngest son, his wife, and a few of their grandkids. They gave me a bottle of Raid to use and my host sister sits around me every night with the tennis-racket-mosquito-zapper and kills all the bugs for me.
Right now it’s Sunday morning, and a few of my TK Krushers and I rode our bikes into Kampong Cham to meet up with the other trainees from the other districts (who, in fact, are taking cars because they’re wimps and they can’t handle the bike).
In short, I like it here. I really, really like it here.
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About Me
I’m Christine. I’m a recent graduate of the best university in the world: the University of California, Berkeley. My top three favorite foods (arrived upon via careful introspection and serious consideration) are tacos, yukgaejang (a Korean soup), and Chicago’s Italian Beef sandwiches. I’m a beer enthusiast, basketball fiend (Lakers), chemistry nerd (my favorite road-trip game is titled “Periodic Table”), aquatic athlete (land sports evade me), and die-hard Cal fan. My comfort zone in terms of temperature has a range of two degrees; anything higher and I’m hot, and anything lower I’m cold.
This is me at Bay 2 Breakers 2010 in San Francisco, a legendary footrace where runners run but most people just dress up in ludicrous costumes and drink in the streets. I went dressed as Mexico, complete with flag cape and “Viva La Raza” on my chest. Someone apparently went as Bumblebee and we thought it was the perfect photo op.
Starting July 20th, 2010, I will embark on a 27-month long journey in Cambodia, deep in the heart of southeast Asia, doing public health education. My temperature comfort zone will be tested and broken, and I will be initially miserable–but the delicious food will more than distract me. This blog will attempt to keep track of what an awesome time I’m having, although I don’t expect it to be able to keep up. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are in no way representative of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps.
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” Roald Dahl
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It’s nice to know that you like there. Wear long sleeves and pants might help you a little bit from biten by mosquitos. And the most important thing: Do Not Sweat That Much!!!Please post some pictures of your training site, of you in trational long skirt (do you have one?), and of everything.
Take good care! Be safe! Be nice to your other trainees and family members.
Love,
Mom
Oh em gee–I too have lived the misery of the monster mosquito bite! Mine was actually closer to a tennis ball. Srsly. But–I had just the one to deal with. The others were “normal” but still large.
Elaine gave me Benadryl strips (she said she had the same thing when she first came to Shanghai)–they went down to normal sized buggers the next day. Transliterated, the explanation goes as follows:
“Your meat to them is new scent, very fragrant meat. To their poison, you are probably allergic. This poison, you are not yet used to.”
PS–I’ll send you some of these Benadryl strips. They dissolve in your mouth (no water needed) and are extremely portable. Might come in handy…I’ll send a few packs when I get back.
I’m so pumped you’re enjoying yourself!
Keep it up!