Cambodia: Day 7
Start at the beginning.Jeff has the HIV
Since Jeff was still weak from shouting from both ends, we stayed in and ate leftovers for breakfast. Jeff had a whole roll of bread, while I almost killed a whole kilo of dragon eyes.
Yesterday, Jeff had noticed that his left arm started forming these dark purplish spots. We weren't sure where it came from. My guess was sunspots. But it kept bothering him and he kept bringing it up every few minutes.
When we went to Light for Living, he showed them his arm and they all joked that he had the HIV. Apparently, they thought this was really funny. The jokes aside, they didn't know what it was or what could have caused it. Cherr said that she knew someone who had something similar all over her arm, but it had gone away after a week.
We offered to take the staff from Light for Living out to lunch, but they already had food. Because of the stomach virus, I limited what kinds of food Jeff could eat. They ran to the market to pick up some chicken soup for him.
While we waited for them to return with the soup, I found some old rags and started to do some pullups. It feels weird after not climbing for a week. I hope when I return, my climbing skill will not have dimished too much.Temple
After lunch was time for temple and our Khmer lessons. Gentoo's other friends, Ravi and Sing-Hi started asking me more about English. We got into a pretty good rhythm where they would teach me some Khmer and I would teach them some English. I've gotten to the point where I know enough vocabulary that I need to start forming questions. I know too much useless Khmer.
It feels like the time that we spend at the temple is too short. Even though we spend an hour, the time just flies by.Guitar Class
Jeff decided to go to the clinic to try and see what was up with his arm. While he was gone, I took over the guitar class for him.
The class is so incredibly frustrating because it everyday we take 2 steps forward and 1 step back. It takes half the session to bring them back to where they ended yesterday.
They still have a hard time counting and reading the music. It seems like they try and memorize the music more than they try and learn and read it.
Teaching one guitar class was more than enough frustration for one day.Hello, Moto
Jeff had just gotten back from the clinic. He had talked to a doctor in Phnong Penh and suggested that he go in. So, tomorrow, he will go into the city to see the doctor. He'll be gone for the whole morning and part of early afternoon.
There's really no reason for me to go to Phnong Penh with him, so it made sense that I learn how to ride the moto. I asked one of the guys sitting around to teach me.
At first, I drove around the parking lot pretty well. Then he took me out on the road. Luckily, there weren't a lot of people on the road. Some parts were tough, like getting the moto moving, slowing down for intersections, and sharp turns. But by the end of the time, I felt comfortable enough to ride on my own.Market Food
Then it was off to teach at Light for Living and Grace School.
Between guitar class, Light for Living, and Grace School, there isn't much time for food. We start teaching at 3 and don't stop until 7:30. By the time it's all done, I'm mad hungry. Sometimes we'll be lucky and grab some food, but more often than not, we have to wait 'til after class to eat.
We went to some shops around Grace School and picked up some instant ramen and some fish in a can. Then we stopped by the market for some pork skewers and beef ball skewers.
The pork skewers were okay. You ate them with some pickled onions and hot sauce. There was a lot of fat on them and not a lot of meat. The beef balls were a little better, they seemed more substantual.
We borrowed some bowls, forks, and spoons from the hotel to make the ramen. It wasn't too bad, pretty much like normal ramen.
I had forgotten to take my malaria pill during dinner. By the time I remembered, it was too late. The side effects did a number on my system. When I swallowed the pill, it sat at the bottom of my chest causing this sort of burning sensation. The pill also felt huge. It wasn't long after that I started feeling a little dizzy and drowsy.
So it's off to bed. Tomorrow, I will be out on my own for awhile.
posted by w3y at
8/16/2006 11:38:00 PM
