Markets and Stores

Today has been quite the day. I was feeling kind of down today, it seems overwhelming to have to start all over with building relationships here. I am optimistic but my little Introvert needed some time to process this. I also realized I want to get started and jump into things and right now I have to wait. So I did my own thing most of the morning and had a chance to chat with one of the people living in my house. His name is Ra and he teaches English and is going to school. It was nice to have a chance to chat a little bit. After lunch Judith was around and she took me to a mall where they have a grocery store.

The choice to go to the store was made after Judith listened to my list and told me what things are cheaper at the market and they usually just go and buy it the same day when they need it (the market is 2 blocks from my house, very easy to walk to). Now, how does one get around in Cambodia? Good question! They have bikes called Moto's, cars, and regular bikes. Judith had a Moto so after donning our helmets we were off. Thanks to my brother-in-law I have ridden a motorcycle so I was familiar with sitting on the back of a bike and not having to hold on. Granted some of the streets were missing sections or had big pot holes, but I'm proud to say I didn't scream and grab onto Judith but simple put my hand up on her shoulder for a moment of security. The street laws are a little bit different here. With the "street rules" as I will call them it is very simple: you go until you can't go anymore...meaning if you are turning left and that means crossing traffic you turn and drive in the wrong lane facing oncoming traffic until you get over. This also means "Michigan Stops" at most every corner, pulling out in front of people to cross a street, etc. This might seem unsafe, and I won't want to drive anything motorized here, but no one is really driving over 30 I would guess. Judith also said you are good to pull out etc. as long as you make eye contact. It is when the person coming at you isn't looking that you need to watch out :)

After the store we had some ice cream, a waffle cone with 2 scoops for .90 cents. We arrived home, which meant me holding onto my two bags of food in front of me, and then headed to our market. I was able to buy fresh Gala Apples!! (kind of expensive but I love them), carrots, potatoes, zucchini, oranges, and some of their native fruit. Oh...and for my brother...the fruit you asked about Dariun I think, yeah I had it last time. You can't even open in the house it smells so bad because it smells like rotten eggs. I tried some and it was the consistency of custard, and not very good.

In the market I was looking for skirts that I can wear here. I didn't think my wool lined skirt or thick denim would make the cut in this heat. I found a dress ($5) two skirts ($10) and a little thin jacket to go over my dress to cover my shoulders ($2.50). The tag on one of my skirts shows retail price of $40. The one skirt had to be shortened (it went past my feet) and the thin jacket was long sleeve and I wanted short sleeves. So for $1.50 I had my skirt and jacket done...and in less then 10 Min's mind you. As we were leaving I heard a Michael Buble song playing and smiled to myself. That guy does get around :)

Tonight will be dinner at another girls place who I met today. Tomorrow is the first day of checking out some of the different churches. But it was good to get out of the house and start getting around to get the things I needed. Oh...at the grocery story it was over $7 for a box of Special K fruit and yogurt cereal, yeah I passed on that one. But I did buy fabric softener in a bag...which also made me smile :)

New Year

2010 has begun...nothing about this really jumped out at me. And then I heard people talking about the beginning of a new decade. How strange to think about ten years ago...I was 17 and entering my second semester of being a Junior in High School. That is weird to me. If you had told me that ten years later I would have two degree(neither of which were on my radar at the time), traveled Europe, Africa, and Asia. Taken a trip to Hawaii with college friends, and lived in a slightly larger city with a roommate...I'm not sure I would have believed you.

I think back to that time in my life and I imagined going to college and getting married, with a possible chance of living on my own for a while. So I guess part of what I have done I would have foreseen. But I never would have guessed the rest. How small my view of life was ten years ago. How much importance I put on silly things. Yet at the time they did not seem so silly. Ten years ago I was planning for Prom...Ten years later I am planning for Cambodia.

I love seeing God's plan unfold for my life. To know that in the middle of what I thought was important God was at working doing bigger things. Things not really about me but things for me to do for His plan. Events, people, and places have all come together to teach me, help me, and grow with in me the person He has called me to be. I love sitting and reading my journals from High School and even College. I laugh at my concern over boys and the things that crowded my heart. I feel triumph in seeing concerns and prayers that God has answered. Ten years...that is a lot of time and yet it doesn't feel like enough. I am excited to see what God has in story for me ten years from now.