When you live in a culture that is so radically different from your own, there is never a shortage of things to process and blog about, but for some reason I seem to find it difficult to actually sit down and figure out how to put into words what I want to say. Then, by the time I do eventually sit down and write, I am overwhelmed by the amount of "updating" I feel I need to do. So today instead of a list of detailed updates about everything that's gone on over the last few months, I'm going to free myself of that pressure and just write what's on my heart today. If you want to see what I've been up to, photos on facebook capture the bulk of it... except for my daily interactions with my precious (but sometimes crazy/hyper/mischievous) students... which I guess IS why I'm here in the first place! ;)
This Christmas was beyond strange. It was beautiful in its own way, but that doesn't change the fact that it was weird! For my whole life I've lived in a place in which the "indicators" of the Christmas season are endless... snow, freezing cold, jackets, christmas lights on houses, candy canes, carols playing at shopping centres, Christmas-y smells, Christmas movies on TV, the season of advent at church, etc... Here in Cambo, some of those indicators are suprisingly still present, like some Christmas decorations at more "Western" coffeeshops and stores, but many indicators are nowhere to be found. For the past few weeks, my roommates and friends have been saying to each other, "It just doesn't FEEL like December" or "It can't possibly be Christmas so soon when it's still so hot out!" but it didn't matter how many times we said those words, Christmas still came and went, even here in hot Cambo. Fun fact - this is the coldest season of the year in Cambodia, and I am presently sitting in a coffeeshop wearing a sweater! ... The only reason I'm wearing a sweater though is because this coffeeshop is wonderfully air-conditioned and when you don't have many opportunities to wear sweaters, you take advantage when you can! It is still, by my standards, HOT outside, and I was sweating this morning in my tank top and shorts, but to the Cambodians, this kind of weather (in the mid to high twenties) is perfect for heavy winter coats, hats, and gloves. I sweat FOR THEM when they drive by me on their motos all bundled up, but they seem perfectly content!
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| The only snowflakes I saw this year... |
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| ... Snowflakes continued. |
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| Juliann and I took a lovely trip to Kep, a town about 4 hours away by bus, and then spent one day on Rabbit Island. Beautiful beach!! |
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| The irony of Juliann sitting in front on the full-speed fan on Christmas morning. |
It was a huge blessing this Christmas to have a full house of people, includng my dear friend Juliann who came across the world to spend Christmas with me, and two other visitors. I loved having Juliann here and getting to introduce her to my "new" way of life - driving her around on the moto, eating Cambodian food (I HAD to give her the chance to try tarantula!), taking part in a super fun Cambodian cooking class, doing another traditional Khmer photoshoot (so much makeup, but such an experience!), teaching her a few phrases in Khmer, having her with me at school and introducing her to my students... My worlds collided and it was just so special to have a friend here who knew me way before coming here. I feel like I've known the people here for a lot longer than 6 months, but when I think about it, it's strange that there is no one here who knows me beyond that timeframe. Doing life together in Cambodia certainly has a way of bringing people together, and I feel so blessed that I have found such community (really, family) here, in the people I live and work with. I definitely missed being with my own family and relatives this Christmas, and it's hard to be so far away when there are a lot of exciting things going on in their lives, but it was special to Skype with them on my Christmas morning. I can't wait to see everyone again in just over 150 days (May 29th is my last day of school - my flights will soon be booked)!!!
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| At our Cambodian cooking class, with our instructor "Lucky Two" - that was his real name, no joke. |
The Christmas season is always busy and it was no different here. One moment that has not left my mind, though, was a simple comment made by one of my grade 4s. I bought my students small gifts (bracelets for the girls and toy geckos filled with sand for the boys) and wrapped them up with little cards for each of them. I wasn't sure how impressed they would be, but it filled me with joy to see their faces light up with excitement as they tore the wrapping paper open. One of my girls came up to me afterwards and said, "Ms. Alyssa, this was the best Christmas ever, because my family doesn't celebrate Christmas at home!" I was so humbled. In my mind, I knew that many of my students don't come from families who celebrate Christmas, but to hear her say those words made it real. It also brought me such joy this season to be able to remind these kids (and for some, to teach for the first time) about the true reason for Christmas. I am so thankful that my job gives me that freedom - I know I wouldn't find that freedom everywhere in the world. Here in Cambodia, Christmas is just another day for the majority. For kids that go to public school, December 25th is just another school day! Blows my mind. But for the Cambodians who know and love Jesus, celebrating his birth is a joy-filled celebration! On Christmas Eve, Juliann and I (and our roomies) went to our church's candlelight service, and got to sing carols with the Cambodians - in English for us, and Khmer for them. This Christmas, I'm grateful beyond words that Jesus is not limited to a certain people group or language. 2000 years ago, God became flesh, Immanuel, God with us - that's ALL of us. And in the simplicity of what was #christmasincambo, He was here, even though the snow was not. I'll close with the question I've asked myself (and struggled through, if I'm honest) this Christmas... is His presence enough for me?
Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsXOP7aQeqQ
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| Christmas Eve candlelight service at Water of Life church. |
