Thursday, January 21, 2010

Ooooh...long time no see...whoops

I would love to say that I have not updated my blog in so long because I've just been THAT busy, but....that would be a lie. In all honesty, I have done more hammock napping and book reading in the last six months than I have EVER done in my life.

Christmas was lovely and VERY VERY laid back. I went to Phnom Penh with my friend Adrienne and we ate all kinds of Western food that we have been missing for the last three months (Christmas weekend was the first weekend we were allowed to come back to Phnom Penh after Lockdown), revelled in the air conditioning, and basked in the glory of each other's company.

I am blessed to have come this far from home and made such a rock solid friend.

New Years I spent at home with my host family. Global new years isn't such a big deal for Cambodians, since they also celebrate Khmer New Year and Chinese New Year, so on New Year's eve I slept and read until about 11:30 or 11:45pm. My host brother asked me to watch tv with him, so my brother, my mom and I watched a really REALLY bad new year's concerty (live, in Phnom Penh) and then a very anemic fireworks display. I was in bed and asleep by 12:20, I think.

Since then I've been working (a little) and being sick (a lot). I have been plagued by intestinal diseases here, and January was an extreme example of that. I seem to be on the mend now, thanks to my Peace Corps Medical Officer and the miracle of modern science and chemistry.

At training we were told to expect to gain weight...until now I have LOST 60lbs, which is cool and strange at the same time. The mirror I have at my home is about big enough to see my face if I stand in the right place, so when I came to Phnom Penh this week for medical treatment I looked in a big, fully body mirror and didn't recognize myself. That was a trip.

Look for more interesting reading to come soon....I hope.