Friday, September 25, 2009

The End of the Beginning





Training is now officially over and service has now officially begun. Today at around 4pm my training group was sworn in as the 3rd group from the U.S. Peace Corps to ever serve in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Our training has been long and difficult a times, ripe with drama, stress, injury and illness. It has been an eye opening succession of days, to be sure, and we are all glad to be done with the training process. At times I, and countless others, have wanted to quit and go home. At times I have wanted to make the move here permanent. I can only imagine how those feelings will ebb and flow over the next two years.

Tomorrow many of us will stay in Phnom Penh, purchasing supplies before our three month lockdown (in which we may not leave our province) and enjoying our friends and support networks once more before we strike out on our own. I fully intend to use tomorrow to purchase some necessary items (read: oatmeal, yoga dvds, a chamber pot and a tea kettle) and to relish easy access to free, fast internet and western food.

Beyond that, I have no idea what lies ahead of me besides opportunity, struggle, and, God willing, a host of awesome stories that begin "so this one time, in Cambodia...". I imagine I'll be in for a lot of learning, laughing, and lamenting over the state of the Cambodian educational system. I also imagine I'll find myself falling deeper in love with this ancient, awesome race of people who have already marked themselves indelibly upon my heart.

For now, blessings and love from Cambodia.


Pics: (1: My kitchen at my training family's house. 2: My little sister. 3: My cousin. Bottom 4: Angkorian age temple ruins)