Lost and Found

When I returned from Thailand, I was excited to visit Kim and her new baby.  I've driven to her mother's house only once before, but I took a wrong turn, became confused.  There are so many meandering paths in the village that I decided to ask for help.  I saw a group of school girls and had them to talk to Kim on the phone and explain where I was.  The girls called me "Cha" and knew me even though they attend another school that I'm not familiar with.  The girl asked me who was on the phone, and I said, "Kim Chann."  They knew her too.  Of course!  As a big city girl, I am continually surprised how everyone knows everybody else.  Mongkol Borei is a place where people are born, get married, and never leave. 

 

After the phone discussion, I still lacked specific directions, so I went to Thida's house and asked her to go with me.  Thida (pic. above) is one of my best friends.  I love her because she is always smiling and has a big heart.  Despite living in extreme poverty, she has such a generous spirit.  Her mother is a seamstress, and her father is a rice farmer.  She lives in their tiny shack with her sister and six cats (all of whom have names and are adored by the family).  Whenever I visit their house, they treat me like a queen.  Someone will pull over one of the three ancient, red plastic chairs and offer it to me.  Then, her sister will climb the tree and pick a bunch of Cambodian apples for me to eat.

 

Before we left, Thida inspected my attire and said, "Kerri, it's so hot!  Is that all you wear?"  I laughed and said, "Yeah, it is freakin' hot.  That's why I'm practically naked!"  Thida was wore pants, socks, shirt, sweater, coat, and gloves.  I will never understand how Cambodians can dress like this when it's above 80 degrees. 

On the way to Kim's house we hit a Cambodian traffic jam on the rutted, dirt road.  By this, I mean we got stuck between a three cows, a large wooden cart, and some children riding bicycles. 

In just a few weeks, Sey-hak has grown so much.  His eyes are open more, and he's more alert.  When I cradled him in my arms, he immediately tried to suck my nipple through my shirt.  Kim laughed talked to Thida in Khmer, but I understood what she was saying.  "Haha!  He likes her breast because it is so big!"

Kim's brother-in-law teaches a free class for some of the children in the area, and he asked me if I would teach class that day and focus on pronunciation.  Naturally, I felt obligated to do so.  He handed me a marker and told me class began in 5 minutes.  I asked what he wanted me to teach.  His answer, -  "simple words."  Great...  No curriculum.  No book.  No instructions.  It was like - "Hey, you're white.  You can do this."  I decided to wing it like I do most of the time at school anyway. 

On a side note: Kim's husband has left her.  She called me, crying, one night shortly after she gave birth.  She said, "After I have baby, he change."  Now, she lives with her parents and some other family members who help take care of her son.  I asked Kim if her husband came back, if she would be happy.  She shook her head and replied, "No.  I no want."