Day One: Surreal

If I could describe today in one word it would be surreal. Am I really here? Did this really happen? Am I really meeting these people? Am I really seeing these things? Am I really teaching these children? For some reason everything feels so normal. Almost like I've done this before, except that this is the most amazing thing I have ever done. These are the most amazing people I've ever met. This is the most amazing place I've ever been! And it is only the first day.

The very first thing I thought when I woke up this morning, went CICFO, and then to EYC (empowering youth in Cambodia) is that I am absolutely inadequate for this job. I have no idea how to teach, I can hardly understand anything anyone is saying to me, and I am going to be doing this all alone! I should probably back up.

My flight across the world was incredible. I met 5 people that truly made my life better. The first man was an American. He sat next to me on the plane from SLC to San Fransisco and helped me map out my route to my hotel with his blackberry. He was kind and helpful and helped me feel much better about being in San Fransisco alone. The next person I met was a young girl named Bianca from Taiwan. She helped me find my way on BART (the metro system) to Montgomery street. She was so kind and wonderful, I instantly felt as though I had made a friend. Then, on my flight from San Fran to Korea I met two guys one from Thailand and the other from China. They were both interested in my life and were so kind and patient with me when I did not understand their accents. The Korean airport in Seoul is humongous and so fancy! This is where I met the last lady. I never learned her name but she was from America and was going to Phnom Penh for a temporary job. We laughed with each other and swapped stories like we had been friends for years. It is so refreshing to meet people that are genuinely interested in you as a person. Why don't we all do that with one another?

When I landed in Cambodia I was surprised at how simple it was to get a visa. Then I found Seiha, Botevy, and Botevy's daughter waiting for me with a sign that read 'Katia'. That in itself made me happy. They all gave me a hug and were so kind. I must admit I felt very awkward at first because I had no idea what to say to them, not to mention I could barely understand them. And I couldn't pronounce Botevy's daughter's name. When I got to Botevy's house, where I'm staying, I was taken aback by how nice it is! My room is beautiful. And I have my own bathroom! I also have an ac unit and a refrigerator. And my bed is SO comfortable!

In the morning I got up and ate noodles (which were basically raman noodles) for breakfast, met the two Australian girls that I'd be volunteering with for the next 4 days (who are really great!), and then rode on the back of a motobike (basically just a small motorcycle) to CICFO. I met the kids we would be teaching who are all amazingly ADORABLE!! One little boy, the youngest who is about 3 years old, came and gave us all big hugs and smiled at us with his big brown eyes shining like the sun. I'm telling you that you've never seen cuter kids than these ones. I felt so awkward because I had absolutely no idea what to do. But the kids really are just regular kids, they're just harder to communicate with because they don't speak english very well. But I'm realizing that no one in Cambodia speaks very well English. It's just something I have to be in tune to with, i guess. I'll pick up on their accents eventually I'm sure.

We then went to EYC which is in the slums of Phnom Penh. It was humbling to see that kind of poverty. But honestly, I felt almost at home. It is a peaceful place, even if it is impoverished. Or, at least it is where the school room and yoga room is. Aziza is the name of the school. The kids that go there learn english, some math, computer skills, yoga, and other important things. This is where I truly began to relax. I started interacting better with the kids and even got one of them to start writing after he refused time and time again! He was so cute and if I could remember his name or how to spell it I would. The last class we went to was older, probably young adults. Late teens, early 20's. They are wonderful! We had soo much fun there. One girl is a really good Khmer dancer and showed us some of her skills. We talked about our favorite animals, what makes us happy, how many siblings we have, Utah weather (they didn't really understand what 'cold' meant and when I asked if they had seen snow they all said, on TV! haha), and they were all really interested about my life. I tried to explain to them what it meant to be a Rec Therapist but it didn't make much sense to them. After this class I kind of woke up and started realizing what a special experience this is for me. I don't have to know exactly what I'm doing. I still have things to offer these kids! And learning to give them all they deserve from me is going to be my greatest challenge.

The weather is hot and sticky and I LOOVVVVEE it!!!! I look horribly ugly, but I didn't feel the least bit judged for it.

Miracle for yesterday: That I FLEW across the world in a PLANE in the SKY!!
Miracle for today: The Khmer people's smiles [Google Khmer rouge, or Phnom Penh slums and you'll understand what I'm talking about]

Overall, today has just been the beginning. It's about to get better. With pictures I promise!!