Differences Can Be Made in One Day

Well, this is yet another unexpected post meaning that school and life lessons are still on their way. I am quite certain however, that the lesson I learned today is equally important, just in a different way: it’s a lesson in perseverance.

Friday night I was elated at having met some really interesting people whom I introduced to you promptly on Friday night. I was hoping to meet up with some of them for dinner and drinks last night, but that wasn’t in the cards so I stayed in a watched some French tv… which was great. I was even feeling pretty good this morning when I slept in until 8:30am. It wasn’t until after I’d digested my buttered toast and English tea that it really hit me… or I really hit it.

What did I hit? I don’t know if you’d call it a wall, but it was something that caused a breakdown or something like it. Questions started to flood my mind, and when I skyped my parents the questions turned into tears that flowed from my mind onto my keyboard. I didn’t expect to cry, but it was the moment I started talking with my Dad that I realized that I was no longer excited to be here. In fact I was almost resenting the fact that I decided to uproot myself from the familiar and live on a continent that I’d never been to, in a country that spoke a language that I’d only just heard of, and in a town stricken with problems that I can’t fix. Why wasn’t I just in DC? There I could be living with sorority sisters working the 9-5 and having the rest of the time to pal around, see the sights, and have some fun. Or better yet, why did I give up my opportunity to travel Europe and get paid with some of the most outrageous people I know? (Yes LeadU staff, I am sure that you are excited to have that prestigious honor!).

My conversation with Mom and Dad did help a bit; they reassured me that I’d get through it and that things would turn up. Deep down I knew that they were right, but when things are bad, they’re bad. And this morning, they were bad. I told them that I didn’t feel like I was helping anyone at the school, and that I didn’t like Siem Reap. In the past week I left the guesthouse to go to the grocery store, but that was the extent of me having a life and going out and meeting people. The only person I “met” at the grocery was a man in the wine isle, and he was grumbling about the price of the wine. I kind of wanted to say, “Hey man, you should just look outside,” because that might have shut him up. Either way, we didn’t become friends anyway, which has been tough for me because as you probably know, I like to be around people all of the time. While this is great when you live in a dorm or in a house full of little sisters, it’s a weakness when you live by yourself in a foreign country where their native language is Khmer. What is even more ironic is that I felt the same way when I began my semester in Paris. I now know, however, that I had it easy there since I had the language skills (how good they were makes no difference because at least I knew the alphabet and could say more than “thank you” and “hello”) as well as the accompaniment of Ms. Katie Pendery virtually everywhere I went.

Persistence. At least that’s what my Dad called it. He said that it was one of my strengths and that I could get through this because I was persistent. Like I said, I knew that I would make it somehow, but I was in a serious slump. Even the phone calls, texts, and emails that I sent to the few people that I’d met did not provide me any hope since they either gone unanswered or unable to go through. So instead of going out and seeing Siem Reap, I found alternative ways to occupy my free day. I made peanut butter and banana sandwiches and spent the entire afternoon glued to my Mac practicing French (I’m sure that you also know I’m a huge nerd). I figured if I’m going to waste one of my very few day offs, I might as well do something productive!

Things turned up around 4 pm when I got a text message from Savy who I consider to be my boss here. He’d been meeting all day with Kaye Bach and her husband George all afternoon. Originally from New Zealand, Kaye and her husband have lived in Singapore for eight years and have been involved with CFC for quiet a while. After helping with the Teacher Training program on and off for a few years, Kaye quit her job at the Singapore American School and decided to work for a year full-time with CFC. Thus, she came to Siem Reap to work out details with Savy and finalize things for the next year.

Not only did their presence provide a few additional friendly faces; Kaye and George were my guardian angels. Everything happens for a reason, and the fact that they were in town today is no exception. After touring the town searching prospective apartments for Kaye, the three of us ventured out for dinner. On the way Kaye and George provided me with the most useful information I’ve received since I’ve been here… not only did they know where to eat, but they had great ideas about everything you can imagine, including how I could get more involved with CFC. I’ll elaborate more a bit later, but if all works according to plan I will be helping to develop programs targeted to increase the students’ conversational English skills. It’s just remarkable what a few good ideas, some great people, a burrito, and mango margaritas can do for one’s spirit.

I called Mom and Dad after we returned to the guesthouse from what I consider my first real adventure out on the town. They continued to support me and tell me what a difference one day can make, and while I couldn’t agree more, I had to remind them that I had called in tears earlier this morning. Oh the difference that can be made in a single day. I’m just lucky that my guardian angels have quick response time!