"When the road ahead seems too long..."

" When the road ahead seems too long, look back to see how far you’ve come. For, even if the hill before you is steep, the view gives you hope to finish the journey."

-Daniella Kessler

Moto's zip by. Bike riders move over to make room. People turn to stare. I am approaching the Angkor Wat ticket booth. Not by bike, not by tuk-tuk or taxi but instead by foot. Wearing black running shorts, an orange singlet and my new pair of Adidas running shoes, I slowly reach my goal for the day. I make a big U-turn at the ticket booth and begin to "pound the pavement" as I work my way home. In just over 5 miles I have sweat out all of my net water intake for the day, given two kids high fives as they drove by on motos, raced teenage girls on their bicycles (they won), and almost got bit by 1 dog. 

Running in Siem Reap is nothing like I have experienced before. I've learned pretty quickly that Siem Reap is not one of those cities that has embraced the running movement, which has interestingly begun taking over in many parts of the world. As I run down crowded and traffic filled streets I completely stand out. Not because I am a white, 5 foot 11 inch Westerner wearing a bright colored shirt and shoes that have pink laces (actually men here love the color pink) but because I am doing something that no on really does. 

My most traveled route is along the river. I run out from my house till I hit the river turn right and follow it until I get tired, then I turn around and come home. I finish every run in front of a hotel called Soria Moria. The tuk-tuk driver who stations himself on this corner waiting for customers always smiles when I finish, looks at me and says one word: hot. I nod in agreement as I wipe sweat off my brow.

Between the beginning of my run and my finishing conversation with the tuk-tuk driver I spend a great deal of time watching the road. The first and most important reason for this is because I need to watch out for oncoming traffic. Drivers here are use to the traffic patterns but they are not use to slowing down or moving out of the way for pedestrians. Thus far, everyone has been extremely courteous : moving over to give me room, slowing down to let me go first and even completely stopping traffic for me so I can cross. I am still being extremely careful, sticking to sidewalks when I can and running with traffic coming at me so that, if I need to, I can jump out of the way. My other reason for concentrating on my surroundings is for observational purposes. A person can learn a lot about a place just by watching what goes on: I pass shops and notice children playing. I smell dinner cooking. I also smell garbage festering. I watch young men and women sit in the park, somewhat romantically, enjoying the end of the day. I hear men laughing, drinking beer and playing volleyball. Very simply, I witness normal life.

After my final cross country season in the fall of 2011 I was pretty much burned out from running. I had competed for the better part of ten years and just needed a break. However, since I have been here my spark and love for the sport have returned and I now look forward to and enjoy my daily runs.

Running for me has always been an outlet but now it seems ever more important. My days here are filled with teaching, planning, interacting, and preparing. When I am not doing work for TGC I am snapping photos for our website, working on The McBuddha Project, serving at Joe-To-Go, and doing some side projects that will be announced soon. This leaves very little time for self-reflection. Running through Siem Reap belongs to me and me alone. I am out there to be with my thoughts, to reflect on how far I have come and to ponder the journey ahead.

Ultimately, my goal will be to run to and from the Angkor Wat temples, which is a round trip of approximately 10miles. This will all be preparation for the Siem Reap Half Marathon which takes place on December 1st. The race will take me on a 13 mile course around the temples. Much more to come on this in the near future...

I have been in Siem Reap for a month now. Not much of a reason to celebrate as this means that I have one month less to accomplish my goals here. One month less to help people. One month less to learn and teach. One month less...

As the sun sets over the river my run comes to an end. With the end of this day comes the end of the first stage...

The Picture Post: This is my life.

Below are some pictures from my last few weeks in Siem Reap.  Enjoy!

The Global Child sign outside of the school building.  

Getting up at 4:45am, is tough, watching the sunrise over the countryside is not.

Beauty. 

TGC students trying to get a glimpse of the fast moving birds.  

The Lotus: wild and free in Cambodia, this breathtaking flower can be found throughout the country side! 

Marot using the binoculars to track down a bird. 

TGC group shot after Bird Watching! 

Joe-to-go photo shoot for the website is going well! Edited to enhance color! 

Students in traditional dance outfits! 

Chilling, hanging, relaxing with the boys.  

Simple yet Complex

There was a plot of land next to The Global Child School building that sat unused. Covered in trees, shrubs, weeds and garbage this piece of land would have been perfect for a park, soccer field, volleyball court or any other type of outdoor space. Today, this space is in a constant state of construction. Over the last few days I have watched as men and women have worked tirelessly to clear this land to make way for the erection of a building. No longer do tall trees stand soaking in the mid-day sun. No longer are there tall grasses and full, beautiful bushes. These things have been replaced by the shouts of men working, the sounds of axes hitting the ground and the silence of the afternoon nap break. 

There are many other familiar sounds associated with construction sites. However, most of those sounds will be absent at the neighboring build. The roar of engines, hum of power tools and deafening blow of heavy machinery will not be echoing in the ears of those in the surrounding area. Instead, it will be the sound of hand tools, dripping sweat and hard work that will ultimately drive this construction site to its final goal. I have already witnessed much of this first hand as those hired to clear the land very efficiently cut down many trees, dug many holes and burned anything that they could not use. (For those out there who are questioning the environmental impact of this construction I assure you that each tree cut down will be used to erect scaffolding, etc.)

In a city that is in love with wifi, cell phones and suped up cars it is easy to forget that you live in a place which still operates in ways that Westerners would classify as being from the past. Construction, among other things, is done through the hard and intensive work of people. Machines are too expensive and, for the most part, don’t fit in to the Cambodian way of life. People here create things with their hands and are satisfied when the work they have done is complete knowing that their own energy went in to the structure in front of them. 

Watching the construction workers from the second story of The Global Child has been an interesting and strangely eye-opening experience. At some point between observing the men burn piles of unnecessary items and struggling to keep the attention of nine girls in English class, I realized that these two scenes speak volumes about life in this country. It can only be said one way: life here is incredibly simplistic but yet extremely complex.

On one hand you have people using the techniques and ways of the past that have always worked during the building process to create something tangible. On the other hand, you have me. An American attempting to teach nine girls from all different backgrounds, households and situations English so that they may one day have the opportunity to succeed in life. Simple yet complex.

On one hand there are restaurants/street vendors that cook wonderful food using a single burner and limited ingredients. On the other hand Siem Reap is home to some extremely expensive restaurants that serve some of the finest and most delicious cuisine in the entire world. Simple yet complex.

On one hand there are men who sit in the street or around a little table and drink cheap beer after a long day of work. On the other hand there are those who indulge in lavish cocktails at famous bars on Pub Street. Simple yet complex.

Here in Siem Reap I am surrounded by a simple way of life that contains a complex core. Life here is easy but challenging all at the same time. I get up, I go to school, I come home, I go for a run, I eat dinner, I sleep…simple right? I get up and bike to school to be a teacher, something I have never done before. I stand in front of classrooms of students who have a desire to learn and I am expected to provide them with an education. I work hard to plan lessons that are both informative and fun. I am asked questions that I sometimes don’t know how to answer. I am an English teacher and a role model…complex right?

I have only been in Siem Reap for three weeks and am by no way an expert on anything Cambodian. All I know is that this place and, more importantly, these people have provided me with an understanding of how life should be lived.

Life should be simple: You should love the things you do, love the people around you and live every day with a goal of creating something with your own hands and energy.

Life should also be complex: Engage with people who challenge your mind, work hard to achieve success and strive to overcome any obstacles put in your way.

Most importantly, make sure you smile.

The perfect balance of this, I have been shown, is the Cambodian way of life.