The Update...

It has been over a month since my last post.  Although all of you, my followers, may not be so happy about my lull in posting, I must say that the only reason I haven't posted is because I have been too busy!! After a rough start with my health, I am finally feeling great.  More importantly, I have consistently been feeling well, enabling me to be fully active in all parts of my fellowship.  Many wonderful things have happened in the last month and it would take me a very long time to re-cap everything that I have been up to. So, I am going to share an abbreviated list with you  of all the happenings of the last few weeks.  After that, please continue to read as I will share some  more detailed thoughts.  First, lets take a picture break: 

I can totally give a piggy back ride to three people at once.  

*Please note, these are in no specific order.  I am simply rattling them off as they come to mind: 

• 10 day vacation to Thailand stopping at: Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Ao Nang, Railay Beach, Ton Sai, Phuket, Bangkok 
• Lot's of rock climbing on the above trip, most amazing climbing I have ever done 
• School trip to the Baray
• Angkor Wat Temples at night with a light show and fire works display 
• Twenty-Two+ hours of regular teaching per week 
• Finalization and implementation of the new Mentoring Outreach Program 
• Visit from our fearless leader and one of the most incredible people I have ever met: Judy Wheeler 
• Halloween Shenanigans with students at school and friends during the annual pub crawl (dressed up like Grease!) 
• Discovered the cheapest and best gym in the world: 30 cents/time with lots of friendly Khmai people! 
• Countless miles/km logged for my marathon training 
• Launching of my marathon fundraiser
• Incredible support of friends and family who donated to this fundraiser! 
• Celebration of random Cambodian holidays with days off 
• Night bike ride with my two older students
• Day bike ride with two friends who are training for the 100km bike race! 
• Actual visit to Wat Svay Primary School for the first part of the Mentoring Outreach Program (watched 6 students who I trained teach about First Aid, Nutrition, Hydration, Hygiene and Lice Removal) 
• Received a wonderful package from home 
• Got out eat in a pizza eating competition at Pizza Company Restaurant by one of my female students! (Thanks for taking all of us Judy!) 
• Girls Soccer Tournament, 2nd place! Lost in the finals during a penalty shoot out...
• And, most recently, played the part of both the Pilgrims and Indians in a wonderful Thanksgiving re-enactment! 

As you can see, my life has been full of new and exciting things.  Everyday brings new surprises, new excitement and new challenges.  This is my reality, and I love it! 

And, another picture break...

Temples with lights!

Some more serious thoughts: Air Force One has landed...

For those of you who watch the news, you probably know about President Obama's recent visit to Southeast Asia.  In fact, our newly re-elected President has chosen to come to Cambodia for the Asean Summit.  In doing so, Obama is the first in office U.S. President to visit the country.  To say the least, it is a pretty big deal.  

One of the classes I have been teaching for the 2012-2013 academic year is called News.  It is a one-on-one class with Ratha, the oldest male student at TGC.  Ratha also studies at university hoping to gain a degree in International Relations.  For this reason, we focus heavily on international and business news.  However, for the last few weeks, as Obama's visit approached, we have shifted our concentration to national news in order to follow the excitement and inevitable conflict surrounding such a momentous visit.  

Initially, the news wasn't very exciting.  As we read through the Cambodian Daily, a local English publication that combines its own pieces with that of major news sources around the world, provided little information about the visit.  Occasionally an article would pop up discussing the need for Obama to put more pressure on the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.  Luckily, in the last week and a half things have become much more interesting.  

Besides the articles about security precautions and road closures, the Cambodian Daily has done an excellent job at covering the story of local Cambodians who are protesting about land evictions.  There are two parts to this story.  The first is the land evictions that were already happening prior to Obama's visit.  The second part involves people who the government deemed living to close to the airport and thus posed a security threat.  The members of the second group is responsible for truly starting the major controversy.  In an act of defiance and to show how unfairly they were being treated, those who lived near the airport decided to paint S.O.S on the roofs of their shacks with a large picture of Obama next to it.  These people knew that he probably wouldn't see the mural when he landed but they did realize it would stir up some discussion.  In fact, the government decided that this act was illegal and arrested 8 people who participated.  The government then painted over the roofs and evicted the people living there.  Since then, the people have been released.  More importantly, painting over their signs did not stop other people from beginning to protest.  The government is doing what it can to stop these people from spreading their S.O.S message but it seems as if the country and even the worlds eyes have turned to Cambodia to see what will happen next.  

The S.O.S signs stand for a lot.  They represent peoples frustrations with their government while simultaneously showing President Obama and the rest of the delegates at this Summit that although Cambodia is progressing it is very far from perfect.  

It will be interesting to follow what happens for the rest of this evening and tomorrow.  Will President Obama actually put pressure on Hun Sen about topics such as human rights?  Or will Obama just simply pass through Cambodia on his way out of the Middle East?  The atmosphere within the country is electric with conversation about this visit.  Most people here who are comfortable enough to talk about politics and government are hopeful that Obama will help to alter the current "forced" equilibrium of the Cambodian country.  

I must honestly say that being here at this time is a wonderful experience.  Although my email request to the embassy to have a meeting with President Obama went unanswered, I am confident that his historic visit will yield some results.  The pressure now will be on Hun Sen.  I can only hope that he realizes it is time to listen to the people.  

I hope this post has caught you up a little bit on what my life has been like.  I will absolutely work on blogging more but always feel free to email me at ian.p.schwartz@gmail.com.  

Before you go, don't forget to check out my marathon donation page at: gofundme.com/1fx8t4

I am only $275.00 away from reaching my goal! View the page.  Read my story.  Donate.  That is all you have to do to change a life.  

Check back soon for more updates and thoughts! 

Coming soon to a blog near you...

Check back soon for a new post with lots of information, updates and pictures! Lots of pictures!

Apologies for the blogging hiatus, life is beautifully hectic and blogging time is limited.

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! 

That one time I went to Bangkok...

“You look really weak, would you like to stay here with us?” asked the Emercency Room doctor at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. It had been over a week since I started feeling sick and I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough. The previous week had been quite the health adventure. In the span of 7 days I lost ten pounds, dehydrated my body and struggled to find the strength to walk from my bedroom to the bathroom, a distance of less than 10 feet. Before making a decision to go to Bangkok to seek further medical assistance, I attempted to get some assistance from the Cambodian health system. There are two options here: clinics and the Angkor International Hospital. I tried one of the clinics first, but was met with a very long wait and staff that spoke poor English. Worried, painfully sick and thus very impatient I moved on to the Angkor International Hospital (AIH).

Located near most of the major resorts in Siem Reap, AIH is an impressive looking building both inside and out. Unfortunately, as I would soon find out, their medical care doesn’t exactly match the décor. I went to this hospital twice: once in the beginning and once before I decided to go to Bangkok. During my first visit the doctor and ran a number of tests and eventually figured out that I had some type of bacterial infection. The doctor asked me (note that he did not tell me) what kind of care I wanted. This is very typical of medical care in this part of the world and is very startling at first. Did I want an IV? Did I want medication? Did I want to stay in the hospital? I asked for the medication and went on my way, hoping that the 4 meds would work magic and heal me. At first, I thought they did. Two days later, I felt great. I was finally able to go more than 5 feet from a toilet (I will leave details out here for the sake of everyone reading) and I returned to TGC.

Have you ever heard the expression “the calm before the storm?” Well, that is what the one day back at TGC was for me. Essentially, my body was just taking a day off so that it could really have some fun. The next day I woke up feeling extremely tired. Not tired as in I needed to sleep, but tired as in every step was a struggle. Biking to school was even worse. I consider myself a pretty decent bike rider who has logged a number of miles on both roads and trails. The bike to school takes 3 minutes if you pedal slowly. I barely made it their in ten minutes and was so exhausted and sweaty I may as well have just run a marathon. I taught one class from 11-12, biked home for lunch (just as slow) and instead of eating collapsed on my bed. I didn’t plan on going back in but somewhat stupidly decided to anyway. I couldn’t even teach my next class. I put on the movie Tomb Raider (because of the Cambodian setting in much of the movie) and sat there motionless. I knew something was wrong.

8 Hours later I was back at AIH, getting an IV and some more medication for nausea. The next two days were nothing short of awful. Finally, with the help of Tom McEvoy, my parents, Amanda and an expat friend Deb I decided it was time to go to Bangkok and check in to the Bumrungrad International Hospital. But first, I had to get there…

Tuk-tuk rides are fun. You are in an open, chariot style vehicle that whizzes through the city and navigates its way over bumps and potholes past restaurants and shops. Tuk-tuk rides when you have been vomiting for the last three days are on the same playing field as listening to heavy metal rock music when you have a migraine. It wasn’t really the bumps that got to me as the road to the airport is fairly smooth. Instead, it was the smells coming from restaurants and homes as people sat down for dinner. At this point I had not eaten a full meal in six days, and getting stuck by a Chinese Buffet restaurant while waiting for a light to change was not my idea of a good time. Luckily, I got to the airport. At the airport I was too weak to stand in line for my ticket or even walk to the airplane. Thankfully, I had Amanda with me and she very patiently waited in line for our boarding passes. Bangkok Airways was nice enough to give me a wheelchair, which promotes you to VIP status in the world of airline travel. I was literally the first person on the airplane. When we arrived in Bangkok I was taken off the airplane, put in a private van and wheeled straight through the VIP Diplomats line at customs. From there I was taken to the Bumrungrad Hospital kiosk, where a private car was arranged to the hospital. Even though I was extremely sick, this was still pretty fun. After being check out by the ER doctors and nurses at Bumrungrad I was admitted to room 861.

For those of you who know me pretty well you know that in the last few years I have spent an above average time in hospitals. More specifically, I was not a stranger to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, NY and more recently to Albany Medical Hospital. These hospitals are wonderful medical institutions of the upper NYS area. They helped me out whenever I got my fingers slammed in a door or got hit by a rock while riding my bike. Bumrungrad hospital was on a different level. Upon entering my room I was extremely confused. Is this a hospital or a five star hotel? Boasting wood floors, a couch, spacious bathroom, full kitchen with a microwave from the future, 42inch flat screen TV, and an integrated electronics system that allows you to control every part of the room from a remote, this room was not your average hospital set up. The bed was also really, really comfortable.

Almost immediately, a team of nurses came in to my room to make me comfortable. I put on a wonderful hospital outfit , turned on the TV, and relaxed as I waited for the doctor. I had already been hooked up to an IV and was extremely happy to have fluids pumping in to my body. The night doctor came in and we discussed my symptoms, etc. He was extremely intelligent and began running numerous tests to ensure that all possible diseases were accounted for. He told me that he would have an infectious disease doctor come check me out as well as review me in the morning. To make a fairly long story short I was diagnosed with two bacterial infections: Salmonella and Plesiomonas Shigelloides . The doctor put me on proper medication and I spent five days recovering at Bumrungrad. I watched tons of movies, read some great books, and enjoyed watching my appetite come back. I also got really bored. No one likes to sit in a room for 5 days watching tv and reading when they were very recently living an extremely active lifestyle. However, the important thing here is that I got better. I received the proper care from doctors who knew what they were doing. I will be forever grateful for the nurses, doctors, cleaners, food staff and customer service people at Bumrungrad for helping me get through this rough period.

Chilling in my hospital bed

Eating my first meal after a long week of no eating.  You will notice that the food company Sodexo supplies this hospital. It also supplies Union College.  

Being sick isn’t fun. No one enjoys it. It is especially hard when you are in a foreign place. The last two weeks were definitely tough for me and I will be the first to admit that being sick for an extended period of time caused some serious unhappiness. I tried my hardest, as I always do, to keep things in perspective. First and foremost, I got the help I needed and was lucky enough to be able to do that. Besides the fatigue and exhaustion, my hardest internal battle was coming to terms with the fact that most of the people I now teach, live and work with now would never be able to get this type of help. If they get sick they don’t have the opportunity to travel to another country and seek medical assistance. I am privileged to have this comfort, and will now, more than ever before, appreciate my access to medical care. There are many injustices in the world, but as I lay in my hospital bed in Bangkok I couldn’t stop thinking about this uneven balance.

Today, I am feeling much better. Although I am still weak and will have to go “slow” for the next few days, my energy levels are increasing. I have returned to TGC and could not be happier. Returning back to my students was so wonderful. They greeted me with smiles, hugs and laughter. I am quickly falling back in to a routine and look forward to the days ahead when my strength increases enough to continue running, playing volleyball and working out with some of my older students. For now, I will settle for getting to the bathroom without struggling and biking to TGC without feeling exhausted.

There is no way I could write this post without stopping to thank of few people who helped me greatly during this rough patch:

I must start with Tom McEvoy who not only convinced me to go to Bangkok but also provided me with everything I needed to get there safely. Your support and guidance throughout this entire fellowship has been incredible, and I especially thank you for being here for me while I was sick.

To my parents, I can’t really imagine how hard it must be to have a child on the other side of the world who calls you and says “Hey, I am really sick I’m going to fly to Bangkok to get some help.” Thank you for not freaking out too much and for keeping me positive throughout my healing process. I love you both very much and am excited to see Bangkok with you when I am healthy and you visit in January.

A large, huge thank you goes out to Deb Schaap. I’ve known you for less than two months but yet you were amazing enough to bring me food, send me messages of support, make me smile and even come to AIH with me. I know it was the first time you were there so I am glad I got to show you something new instead of you always showing me new stuff! Thanks for all the Gatorade, crackers, water, and awesomeness.

Alexa Cawley, Katie Persichelli, Jenna Meltzer, Lauren Shenfeld, Tim Riddell, Zach Rittner, Mike DeWolfe and my other friends from home: While I was longing for the comforts of America during this, all of you kept me connected to the life I use to have at home with stories and words of encouragement. It was so great to know that you were all there for me. I miss you guys a ton!

Last, but absolutely not least, Amanda Greenberg, my fellow fellow. While most people just heard about me being sick, you were lucky enough to live it. I cannot thank you enough for buying me food and water during the first week. And of course, there is nothing I could say to show how much I appreciated you coming to Bangkok. I would not have been able to get there without you. Moreover, you sat around in the hospital room with me when you could have been out in Bangkok or back in SR teaching and enjoying life. Thank you for all of the trips to Au Bon Pain once my appetite came back and for being so great throughout this entire thing. You are a great support system.


So, the last two weeks have been pretty eventful. I got sick, I got sicker and now I am better. I very much hope that this is the last time I get very ill while here in Siem Reap. I am looking forward to how much more eventful the next two weeks will be as I adjust back to normal life. If there is one thing that I have really learned during the last few weeks it is that I love Siem Reap and more importantly the people who are apart of my life here. Glad to be back!

(pictures from the hospital coming soon!)

"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.