I suddenly became really clumsy yesterday, and its continued today. Dropped a few bowls etc. I've been feeling hot, tired and a bit uncomfortable today. Actually since I got here 2 months ago I've been feeling hot and tired, but now feel things take a little more effort.
I'm not sure if its just this week, feeling extra tired cos of heat and some extra trips around town last week, or this is the start of how its going to be for the rest of pregnancy.
The baby seemed to suddenly feel extra big as of last night, and extra active. Since I got here I've been trying to get certain things done before I start feeling too uncomfortable, and before the weather gets too hot. Running out of time?
Tomorrow I'll spend a few hours at the hospital having some tests done. I'm kind of looking fwd to it, I think it will be a lot of sitting around in an air con room.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
some more photos from the first month back in cambodia
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| Buddhism and local animism exist side by side, if I wasn't aware of it already I see this every week on my ride home from my Bible study group meeting. |
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| Riding home from the market- nice smooth roads as we live in borey. |
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| Our nearby market is still very new, at first there was only one beef seller, and it cost more than 2 years ago. Wasn't sure the price was up cos 2 years on, or cos I'm white or cos she had monopoly. |
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| A group of youth from church/Soeun's music class came over for the day to cook and eat. They all had so much fun! |
old places
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| This was open area and a swamp, 2 years ago I used to ride my bike around in the afternoon and enjoy the quiet roads. Now they are building new houses and there is a new market that gets bigger each time I go (multiple times in a week.) |
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| A near by street, more new houses being built |
new places
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| Happy to have a window at church, feel less claustrophobic |
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| Many new buildings went up in PP while we were away, and still more being built |
Friday, February 15, 2013
church
A ceiling so high I can't touch it even if i were to stand on a chair, windows on one side, lots of lights on the ceiling and aircon!!!!
These were the main things I noticed at the church we went to on Sunday. I was able to use more energy for listening and singing as I wasn't using it all up just being there. I often feel a bit claustrophobic when a room has a low ceiling and no windows or air flow, esp on hot days.
I still felt tired and sore back ish for the rest of the day, due to the seats and the moto ride there, but I think its going to be easier to go for both us. We have been part of this church before, but away from it since end of 2008, it used to be about 45 min moto ride away (too far), it meets much closer, only have to spend 15 min on moto.
These were the main things I noticed at the church we went to on Sunday. I was able to use more energy for listening and singing as I wasn't using it all up just being there. I often feel a bit claustrophobic when a room has a low ceiling and no windows or air flow, esp on hot days.
I still felt tired and sore back ish for the rest of the day, due to the seats and the moto ride there, but I think its going to be easier to go for both us. We have been part of this church before, but away from it since end of 2008, it used to be about 45 min moto ride away (too far), it meets much closer, only have to spend 15 min on moto.
Monday, February 11, 2013
"1st world problems in 3rd world country"...too much rice, not enough dairy vs growing up in post Pol Pot time
...Soeun said this phrase as he tried to eat some bread for breakfast the other day. His whole childhood he didn't have enough money to eat 3 meals of rice daily, but this week is finding he is concerned about eating too much rice.
We're going to some childbirth classes run by a European doctor. Last week we learnt about nutrition and our homework is to eat according to the food pyramid.
When the doctor looked at what we each ate for the past 7 days she advised Soeun rice shouldn't be his only carb- he should try to eat different types. Last year I was advised not to eat so much white rice as I developed some health problems. I used to eat it 3 times a day, but now as I settle back into life here I've been shopping at foreign shops buying brown bread, brown pasta, brown rice, and basmati rice so I can eat lower GI as advised.
Our childbirth teacher advised me I need to be eating more dairy. I really miss dairy products when I'm living in asia, but as they are harder to get, generally more expensive and sometimes don't taste as nice its harder to put them in my weekly diet.
Trying not to spend too much, and trying to get used to how Khmer eat I just thought thats how life is for me here. (Atm we live in the city, but if we were living away from a town it would be even harder to get and store dairy products, and if we are considering moving to a remote location maybe I should be preparing myself.)
But now maybe I'll start spending more on food? Wondering what all those millions of Khmer people do, as far as I know there is no dairy industry in Cambodia but people seemed to have survived all these 1000s of years, albeit with a lower life expectancy.
Just one of the many things we think about as a Khmer- Australian family, trying to work out how to live well. There is such a huge and deep gap between what many would consider being rich, and what I as an Aussie think of as rich, which relates to priorities and how we spend money.
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
We're going to some childbirth classes run by a European doctor. Last week we learnt about nutrition and our homework is to eat according to the food pyramid.
When the doctor looked at what we each ate for the past 7 days she advised Soeun rice shouldn't be his only carb- he should try to eat different types. Last year I was advised not to eat so much white rice as I developed some health problems. I used to eat it 3 times a day, but now as I settle back into life here I've been shopping at foreign shops buying brown bread, brown pasta, brown rice, and basmati rice so I can eat lower GI as advised.
Our childbirth teacher advised me I need to be eating more dairy. I really miss dairy products when I'm living in asia, but as they are harder to get, generally more expensive and sometimes don't taste as nice its harder to put them in my weekly diet.
Trying not to spend too much, and trying to get used to how Khmer eat I just thought thats how life is for me here. (Atm we live in the city, but if we were living away from a town it would be even harder to get and store dairy products, and if we are considering moving to a remote location maybe I should be preparing myself.)
But now maybe I'll start spending more on food? Wondering what all those millions of Khmer people do, as far as I know there is no dairy industry in Cambodia but people seemed to have survived all these 1000s of years, albeit with a lower life expectancy.
Just one of the many things we think about as a Khmer- Australian family, trying to work out how to live well. There is such a huge and deep gap between what many would consider being rich, and what I as an Aussie think of as rich, which relates to priorities and how we spend money.
Proverbs 30:8
New International Version (NIV)
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Saturday, February 09, 2013
back into Khmer language- market, friends, church, TV
After 2 years in Aust what's happening with my khmer language...?
I started shopping at the market almost as soon as I got here, and thankfully, in terms of language its still pretty easy. I guess it was what I used the most, and with so much context easy to remember, mostly names of veggies, meat etc, and questions like "How much for 1kg/100g etc?". (the heat, chaos and noise makes it challenging tho!)
I've been meeting up with a Khmer friend to read the Bible and pray, and hopefully at some point put to use some Bible storytelling. We are reading a passage in both languages, her English is way better than my Khmer as she teaches English. I printed out different versions of the passage for her so she can read the same thing in different English words, and she read the passage in Khmer for me on to voice recorder so I can listen to it.
Yesterday she got me to read the passage out loud in Khmer, which I hadn't tried yet and didn't think I was ready for, but she insisted. I had hoped to do it during the week but just felt so hot and tired, and it seemed too hard. it wasn't actually too hard- slow going, and probs sounded funny, but after listening to it in Khmer lots, and reading it in English lots it wasn't too mysterious.
I used to go to Khmer church regularly, was great place to learn and practice Khmer language, I've been once since I got back, but we're not sure what we are going to do on Sundays. I don't really have a good way to travel here, and Soeun hasn't settled in a church yet so each Sunday is different at the moment. He is still teaching music and helping with music at our old church, but without a long term commitment its hard for me to make the effort required to get to know people at church (and make it thru the hot, bumpy traffic).
I've been trying to watch TV, the cooking show is easy to understand- food words with lots of context, familiar. The news and dramas are also good to watch, I can't understand everything though, the adverts are the easiest to pick up, its nice they keep repeating the same short ads over and over, great for language learning!
Over the last week all the channels were always showing stuff about the late King Father, as it was 100 days since he died. There were some docs on what he did in his life, Khmer history since 1950's, and I think they might have showed some of the movies he made.
I started shopping at the market almost as soon as I got here, and thankfully, in terms of language its still pretty easy. I guess it was what I used the most, and with so much context easy to remember, mostly names of veggies, meat etc, and questions like "How much for 1kg/100g etc?". (the heat, chaos and noise makes it challenging tho!)
I've been meeting up with a Khmer friend to read the Bible and pray, and hopefully at some point put to use some Bible storytelling. We are reading a passage in both languages, her English is way better than my Khmer as she teaches English. I printed out different versions of the passage for her so she can read the same thing in different English words, and she read the passage in Khmer for me on to voice recorder so I can listen to it.
Yesterday she got me to read the passage out loud in Khmer, which I hadn't tried yet and didn't think I was ready for, but she insisted. I had hoped to do it during the week but just felt so hot and tired, and it seemed too hard. it wasn't actually too hard- slow going, and probs sounded funny, but after listening to it in Khmer lots, and reading it in English lots it wasn't too mysterious.
I used to go to Khmer church regularly, was great place to learn and practice Khmer language, I've been once since I got back, but we're not sure what we are going to do on Sundays. I don't really have a good way to travel here, and Soeun hasn't settled in a church yet so each Sunday is different at the moment. He is still teaching music and helping with music at our old church, but without a long term commitment its hard for me to make the effort required to get to know people at church (and make it thru the hot, bumpy traffic).
I've been trying to watch TV, the cooking show is easy to understand- food words with lots of context, familiar. The news and dramas are also good to watch, I can't understand everything though, the adverts are the easiest to pick up, its nice they keep repeating the same short ads over and over, great for language learning!
Over the last week all the channels were always showing stuff about the late King Father, as it was 100 days since he died. There were some docs on what he did in his life, Khmer history since 1950's, and I think they might have showed some of the movies he made.
Thursday, February 07, 2013
melting
I lost track of how many cool showers I had yesterday, trying to cope with the heat. In the evening I went to have a piece of chocolate. I tried to break a bit off, then remembered why I used to keep chocolate in the fridge. It was all running- still yummy but messy and hard to get the bits of foil out, all mixed together.
Feel like my brain melted too, hard to think clearly.
Feel like my brain melted too, hard to think clearly.
Monday, February 04, 2013
when to persevere, when to have some recovery time
"different not wrong" something i remember from one of my senior high subjects "Society and Culture", it often comes in handy!
Being back in Cambodia after 2 years away is exhausting. There are so many things that are different here, that I was used to before but find that they are strange again, like when I first arrived.
I'm reminded that what I find normal/good/beautiful etc is not the same as most people here. I find myself wanting to tell people how to do things properly (properly = my way) or to turn up my nose or laugh at some things here. Wondering how Khmer people see me- maybe also wanting to laugh at me?
I find myself wanting to go inside and have a rest. Its hard to know what a good balance is- the harder I work at getting used to things the sooner I'll feel settled, yet I think I do need to take a break sometimes. I don't want to be lazy and take breaks all the time, yet I don't want to get sick/ go insane.
Living in Phnom Penh (as opposed to somewhere else in Cambodia) we have access to "normal" food (Western food) and we have cable TV, with some English language channels. Its great to have these comforts, but want to keep interacting with Cambodia too.
Being back in Cambodia after 2 years away is exhausting. There are so many things that are different here, that I was used to before but find that they are strange again, like when I first arrived.
I'm reminded that what I find normal/good/beautiful etc is not the same as most people here. I find myself wanting to tell people how to do things properly (properly = my way) or to turn up my nose or laugh at some things here. Wondering how Khmer people see me- maybe also wanting to laugh at me?
I find myself wanting to go inside and have a rest. Its hard to know what a good balance is- the harder I work at getting used to things the sooner I'll feel settled, yet I think I do need to take a break sometimes. I don't want to be lazy and take breaks all the time, yet I don't want to get sick/ go insane.
Living in Phnom Penh (as opposed to somewhere else in Cambodia) we have access to "normal" food (Western food) and we have cable TV, with some English language channels. Its great to have these comforts, but want to keep interacting with Cambodia too.
Saturday, February 02, 2013
unpacking...getting to know people
Well, over 2 months ago I started putting my bags in clothes and now I have finally taken them out. Makes life so much easier! I lost some things along the way, with all the different places I stayed at- my shoes went missing, and I seem to have lost a calendar. I did so many packs and unpacks and culling I can't remember which things I decided to leave behind and which things I lost, and where I left them- did i give them away? throw them out?
My first few days here I was hanging out outside trying to get to know some neighbours. My main goal for these first few months was to set up our place, and get to know people so things would be easier after we have the baby. However, when we found out that we may have to move at any point in the year I lost the energy for getting to know neighbours. I do still try to be around outside at the time of day others are there, but its hard to come up with the same energy and initiative now.
And we were planning to set up the house- like maybe get an oven, think about fly screen (try to prevent dengue), think about what the baby is going to sleep in, make it feel like a nice familiar place to be with photos, pot plants etc. But with the maybe moving news we kind of lost our energy for that, so just working on the basics now, like having a place to put clothes, and thinking its better not to get too much kitchen stuff so feeling like we are a bit limited in what we can cook and eat.
My first few days here I was hanging out outside trying to get to know some neighbours. My main goal for these first few months was to set up our place, and get to know people so things would be easier after we have the baby. However, when we found out that we may have to move at any point in the year I lost the energy for getting to know neighbours. I do still try to be around outside at the time of day others are there, but its hard to come up with the same energy and initiative now.
And we were planning to set up the house- like maybe get an oven, think about fly screen (try to prevent dengue), think about what the baby is going to sleep in, make it feel like a nice familiar place to be with photos, pot plants etc. But with the maybe moving news we kind of lost our energy for that, so just working on the basics now, like having a place to put clothes, and thinking its better not to get too much kitchen stuff so feeling like we are a bit limited in what we can cook and eat.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
missing routine aka an atypical week
"A typical week" could be the title of this post, if we had a routine. Its not and we don't but this will give you some idea.
Our days mostly consist of setting up/settling in type jobs, as well as trying to stay healthy and working out how the household is going to work. (And all the while battling the ant bites and blocked toilets!)
Yesterday I told my Bible study group that they are the only regular thing in my week so far, and that I was feeling frustrated that each day my energy was getting used up just settling in. Having been out of routine for quite a few months now, feeling like we are in limbo, mostly living out of a bag we're really eager to settle down. One member said if she felt settled after only a few weeks she'd feel like she'd had a baby snatching experience.
So I guess its normal that we are still settling in, esp since our progress has been slowed down by the fact that the house is for sale so we made need to move, and also had some minor sicknesses.
Some examples of these days:
On Monday I went to the doctor in the morning, and to buy some secondhand kitchen stuff from an expat who is leaving. With Phnom Penh traffic that took up the whole day! And I remembered how uncomfortable motos and tuk tuks are. Wondered what all the bumps and jolts were doing to my back and unborn baby.
Yesterday, Bible study in the morning, trip to renew my visa in the afternoon. A much nicer day than Monday, my Bible study group is close so its an easy short bike ride. The visa extension was also pretty ok bike ride, although the office is on a busy road it doesn't involve going through the city and the main part of the journey the road is smooth and sealed. Also, mostly people stay on the correct side of the road which makes it a smoother ride, feel less like I'm going to get knocked off.
This morning I went to the market, got meat, veg etc - also and easy short bike ride. Still trying to work out how often I will need to go. I don't think I need to go daily as we have a fridge, but I can only carry so much on my bike, and veggies don't seem to keep for very long so it probably needs to be more than once a week.
Now doing some research re prep for birth- eg what we need to do about visas (will we need a doctors letter to extend if we give birth in thai? are visas for khmer and aussie the same?), what airlines will let me flight in late pregnancy and what the doctors letter needs to say, can the non-Aussie parents be the one to go to the Aust embassy in Thai to do the various pieces of paperwork? etc etc
Tomorrow we hope to go to our first birth prep class, and on Friday Soeun's music class from church is coming over for the day. Its a special public holiday as the King Father died 100 days ago.
Our days mostly consist of setting up/settling in type jobs, as well as trying to stay healthy and working out how the household is going to work. (And all the while battling the ant bites and blocked toilets!)
Yesterday I told my Bible study group that they are the only regular thing in my week so far, and that I was feeling frustrated that each day my energy was getting used up just settling in. Having been out of routine for quite a few months now, feeling like we are in limbo, mostly living out of a bag we're really eager to settle down. One member said if she felt settled after only a few weeks she'd feel like she'd had a baby snatching experience.
So I guess its normal that we are still settling in, esp since our progress has been slowed down by the fact that the house is for sale so we made need to move, and also had some minor sicknesses.
Some examples of these days:
On Monday I went to the doctor in the morning, and to buy some secondhand kitchen stuff from an expat who is leaving. With Phnom Penh traffic that took up the whole day! And I remembered how uncomfortable motos and tuk tuks are. Wondered what all the bumps and jolts were doing to my back and unborn baby.
Yesterday, Bible study in the morning, trip to renew my visa in the afternoon. A much nicer day than Monday, my Bible study group is close so its an easy short bike ride. The visa extension was also pretty ok bike ride, although the office is on a busy road it doesn't involve going through the city and the main part of the journey the road is smooth and sealed. Also, mostly people stay on the correct side of the road which makes it a smoother ride, feel less like I'm going to get knocked off.
This morning I went to the market, got meat, veg etc - also and easy short bike ride. Still trying to work out how often I will need to go. I don't think I need to go daily as we have a fridge, but I can only carry so much on my bike, and veggies don't seem to keep for very long so it probably needs to be more than once a week.
Now doing some research re prep for birth- eg what we need to do about visas (will we need a doctors letter to extend if we give birth in thai? are visas for khmer and aussie the same?), what airlines will let me flight in late pregnancy and what the doctors letter needs to say, can the non-Aussie parents be the one to go to the Aust embassy in Thai to do the various pieces of paperwork? etc etc
Tomorrow we hope to go to our first birth prep class, and on Friday Soeun's music class from church is coming over for the day. Its a special public holiday as the King Father died 100 days ago.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
contrasts
Some things I buy in a supermarket/ shopping centre, others at the market.
In a big shop the floor is shiny, clean and smooth and things are pretty quiet and cool.
In the market I'm often tripping over, or feel like I'm about to, esp when fish jump out and land near my feet. Although the market I'm using now has much smoother ground than the market I was using before its still harder to walk around than a supermarket.
In the big shops its seems there are heaps of shop assistant, always there watching and ready to help. Sometimes standing a little too close!
In the market it seems all the sellers like calling out as you walk past their stall "hey child what do you want to buy? buy these veggies!" To my Aussie ear it can sound a bit rude, like they are yelling at me, and actually has the opposite effect, I 'd rather buy carrots from someone who doesn't yell at me.
And in the market lots of sun and flies! So different to the air con supermarket with food in packets and fridges!
In a big shop the floor is shiny, clean and smooth and things are pretty quiet and cool.
In the market I'm often tripping over, or feel like I'm about to, esp when fish jump out and land near my feet. Although the market I'm using now has much smoother ground than the market I was using before its still harder to walk around than a supermarket.
In the big shops its seems there are heaps of shop assistant, always there watching and ready to help. Sometimes standing a little too close!
In the market it seems all the sellers like calling out as you walk past their stall "hey child what do you want to buy? buy these veggies!" To my Aussie ear it can sound a bit rude, like they are yelling at me, and actually has the opposite effect, I 'd rather buy carrots from someone who doesn't yell at me.
And in the market lots of sun and flies! So different to the air con supermarket with food in packets and fridges!
Friday, January 25, 2013
stages of settling in
My first week here I was so looking fwd to finally unpacking and settling in, but we got some news which kind of "froze" us for awhile, made unpacking feel like a waste of time which was quite stressful!
The 2nd week we both had colds, which really slows down things in life generally , so that was frustrating. (and i had a really bad cold in Dec so i was worried i was going to get that sick again, but it didn't happen, yay!)
But after the initial shock of the first week news wore off, and the worst of our colds were over, we found we started to feel much better. We started to think about doing the things we had been planning to do, like planting herbs and buying a coffee plunger and a 2nd saucepan. We now have bedside lamps and a grater! We've been able to start forming a weekly timetable. There are still lots of things we haven't started yet, and lots of things we need to work out, and SO many more things we wish we had, but feels like the process of settling in is actually happening now.
The 2nd week we both had colds, which really slows down things in life generally , so that was frustrating. (and i had a really bad cold in Dec so i was worried i was going to get that sick again, but it didn't happen, yay!)
But after the initial shock of the first week news wore off, and the worst of our colds were over, we found we started to feel much better. We started to think about doing the things we had been planning to do, like planting herbs and buying a coffee plunger and a 2nd saucepan. We now have bedside lamps and a grater! We've been able to start forming a weekly timetable. There are still lots of things we haven't started yet, and lots of things we need to work out, and SO many more things we wish we had, but feels like the process of settling in is actually happening now.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The first weeks include...
So after 2 years away from Cambodia, what is it like to be back?
Well, I've spent a lot of time feeling tired and hot and having lots of cool showers to try to get cool. Unlike our last house we have hot water in the showers apparently. I thought I would be excited about this, but we haven't even bothered to turn on the hot water thingy.
(and this is cool season!!! what is it going to be like in hot season when I further a long in pregnancy?!)
I've caught up with a khmer friend who lives nearby, and her family. I haven't seen her husband yet but she brought around her 2 kids (one was born while I was away) and her sister in law who lives with her.
Today I re-joined the expat Bible study group I was part of before. It was nice to see everyone!
I've also spent a lot of time buying things
- yesterday I bought a kettle from a big fancy looking shop (although many of their products on display seem to be the only one they have, I asked about 3 different kettles and there was only the display copy),
-the day before a 2nd hand desk from a german family
-ktichen stuff, like food storage containers, seasonings/sauces for cooking
Annoyingly we had all these things and more just 2 years ago, but no where to store them all, and not sure what sort of housing we would be in when we came back anyway. I still remember emptying our house of all the furniture etc 2 years ago, and then recently getting rid of the stuff we needed to live while we were in Aust. Now having to get more stuff for this stage of life, it hard doing this over and over again, esp as we may have to move again soon so we don't want to get too much stuff.
Well, I've spent a lot of time feeling tired and hot and having lots of cool showers to try to get cool. Unlike our last house we have hot water in the showers apparently. I thought I would be excited about this, but we haven't even bothered to turn on the hot water thingy.
(and this is cool season!!! what is it going to be like in hot season when I further a long in pregnancy?!)
I've caught up with a khmer friend who lives nearby, and her family. I haven't seen her husband yet but she brought around her 2 kids (one was born while I was away) and her sister in law who lives with her.
Today I re-joined the expat Bible study group I was part of before. It was nice to see everyone!
I've also spent a lot of time buying things
- yesterday I bought a kettle from a big fancy looking shop (although many of their products on display seem to be the only one they have, I asked about 3 different kettles and there was only the display copy),
-the day before a 2nd hand desk from a german family
-ktichen stuff, like food storage containers, seasonings/sauces for cooking
Annoyingly we had all these things and more just 2 years ago, but no where to store them all, and not sure what sort of housing we would be in when we came back anyway. I still remember emptying our house of all the furniture etc 2 years ago, and then recently getting rid of the stuff we needed to live while we were in Aust. Now having to get more stuff for this stage of life, it hard doing this over and over again, esp as we may have to move again soon so we don't want to get too much stuff.
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