Wednesday, October 3, 2012

New Beginnings...

**I need to begin by apologizing for my blogging hiatus.  A few weeks ago I came down with dengue fever, which put me back in the hospital for a few days.  Although I am not going to dwell on the illness because I do not want to re-live it nor bore you with the story of me sitting in a hospital for 5-days, I will let everyone know that my health is back to normal and I am hoping that this was the last of my health related issues for a long time...Now, for the good stuff!* 

In the beginning of September I was talking to some close friends from Union College on Facebook about how strange it was that we were not returning to school for a new trimester of learning and fun.  I think that most of my friends who had graduated with me a few months earlier were battling with this phenomenon.  In fact, from what I gathered from talking to different people, the beginning of September truly solidified the fact that college was over, graduation was real, and it was time to move on. Most of my home and school friends acknowledged the beginning of September but continued on with their lives, focusing on their new jobs or new schools. For me, the beginning of September seemed to linger in my mind...  

The beginning of September has always been about new beginnings for me.  Since I can remember, the first weeks of September have represented so many things.  Here is just a short list I came up with that ranges from kindergarten to college: 

-New pack of 64 Crayola Crayons, perfectly sharpened
-A brand new first day of school outfit that I always very carefully picked out with freshly purchased shoes to match the outfit! 
-New classes
-New dorm room
-New Friends 
-New session of Hebrew school
-Start of Cross Country Season 
-First party weekend at Union 
-Jewish High Holidays 
-The extremely important new planner that the school gave out
-Sharing stories from summer
-New goals
-Seeing old friends and making new ones 

The list goes on, but you get the point.  September is about new beginnings and a fresh start. It's about getting use to that new seat in your 4th grade class. It's about figuring out how to use your locker on the first day of high school.  It's about saying goodbye to your parents as you embark on the journey called college.  September, for me, has always been one of the best times of the year.  

This year, there was no beginning of  September.  Sure, September came along as normal, right after August, but the days went by without new crayons, new outfits and the first big parties of the year.  This was hard for me. It was difficult not because I love opening a new pack of crayons (which I do) but because it reminded me of how far away home is.  So far, I have not been too homesick.  However, the beginning of September definitely gave me my first taste of truly missing home.  And then I got sick and had to go to Bangkok.  And then I got dengue fever and was out of commission for another week and a half.  

So, here I was, struggling mentally as my head tried to understand the absence of the September transition while my body simultaneously struggled to survive two awful rounds of illness.  It was an interesting situation. I was fighting two battles, both of which took energy to win.  I can say that I have won the dengue fever battle as I am now fully recovered from the worst sickness I have had.  On a mental level, that battle was not won until just a few days ago...

It is now October. And finally, that fresh start feeling I yearned for in September has arrived.  On October 1, 2012 the official academic year kicked off at TGC with a graduation and congratulation ceremony. (For those not familiar with the Cambodia school calendar the official academic year runs from October-July, with summer school happening from July to October.)  The ceremony was wonderful.  The morning was spent preparing the school for the festivities and the afternoon was spent listening to speeches, handing out awards and certificates and watching as brave students preformed songs on the piano and guitar in front of the large crowd or students, parents, and staff.  For the students, this was a day of celebration.  They worked hard last year and deserved the recognition they received for this work.  Moreover, this was their September. 

As I watched each student collect their certificate and smile for a picture I slowly realized that this year, October is my September also.  On October 2nd, 2012 I arrived at school for my first day of new classes.  This consisted of a 10:00am English class with Group 3 (nine girls), 2:00pm English class with Group 3 (nine girls), 3:00pm English News Class with Ratha (a university student), 4:00pm Joe-to-go staff English class, 5:00pm English class with Piron and Marot (two of the older boys).  It was a busy first day, but it was a good one. 

More importantly, the first day back solidified the idea that new beginnings aren't confined to a specific time period.  Instead, new beginnings are attached to the acceptance of a fresh start.  The graduation ceremony will forever represent at new start for me.  Even better I now have some other things to add to the list from above.  Here are some updates: 

-Students signing at graduation
-Ratha and I arguing about whether Heineken beer should enter the Asian market (he is an international business major at University, so this was appropriate) 
-4 hours of teaching in a row all made worth it by 
-Piron and Marot battling to get more points in a reading competition 
-9 girls fighting to write on the board during a sentence creation exercise 
-Moving almost every piece of furniture with Sopha (assistant principal) before graduation started

As I reflect on the last month here in Siem Reap I think that there is only one way to sum up how I felt and how I now feel.  Interestingly enough the words come from a new song by the Dave Matthews Band that came out in early September....

Don't give up
I know you can see
All the world and the mess that were making
Can't give up
And hope God will intercede
Come on back
Imagine that we could get it together
Stand up for what we need to be
Cause crime won't save our feet or hungry child
Can't lay down and hope no miracles change things
So lift up your eyes
Lift up your heart

Singing mercy will we overcome this
Oh one by one could we turn it around
Maybe carry on just a little bit longer
And I try to give you what you need...


I had a lot to overcome this September with my health but now I am back and ready to once again make a difference doing the work I have come to love.  Here's to a new start!