Although for the most part, my life is very simple, I do, from time to time, stock up on luxuries in the big cities. Frosties are Frosted Flakes. Import items like this usually cost the same or higher than in the U.S. My favorite item is Magicaroni. The picture on the box is almost identical as Krafts Macaroni n. Cheese, but the best part is they taste exactly the same. Of course, we can't forget the lotion. Import lotions cost double, so I bought the local brand. I never thought I would be using "whitening" lotion. It doesn't seem to be working though. I ran out of sunblock, and can you believe they don't sell it anywhere in my village? I looked everywhere. We are 11 degrees north of the equator, in the middle of an intense jungle, and I couldn't find one bottle.
The farmer next door has 5 cows. He ties up the three big ones in a different spot each day to graze. The two calves are free to roam all around because he knows they will stay close to their mothers. Sometimes, I find them wandering through the school yard or right outside my bedroom window.
I taught my first graders to write their names in December, and we practice every day, so they don't forget. Notice one of them decided to write my name too.
I am addicted to Thai chilis. This is a one week supply. It looks like a lot, but I eat at least 5-6 every day. At lunchtime, I always bring a small plastic container of chilis, onion, and garlic to add to whatever vegetarian dish they have prepared for me since Khmer food is so bland. Often, I bring the leftovers home and heat them up for dinner.
If you need Mr. Thang during siesta after lunch, you can find him sleeping in his hammock. He takes off his buttoned up shirt and curls up in a shady spot in the stairwell. I don't blame him. Sometimes, I take a nap too - only I have a quiet room with A.C.
My 7th graders made treats and brought me one. It's a leaf bowl which contains gooey balls of a snot-like substance made of rice with coconut sprinkled on top. I pretended I was really happy and couldn't wait to eat it. I could wait though. This stuff is disgusting. Later on, I saw a student scarfing down plain rice with his bare hand like a starving dog, so I gave it to him.
Most of the students walk, ride their bicycle, or get a moto ride to school, but some live really far away and don't have a ride. They shove about 80 kids onto our school bus which rumbles around the village, stopping at various locations to let them off. The whole process takes about an hour.
Two of my first graders live just a couple house down the path, and they visit me almost every day. Some of the old ladies who sell snacks left their headwear on the tables, so they had fun dressing up like them.
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