100 days!

Long time, no blog! Since my last post I have spent a few weeks at site, took a trip to Malaysia, celebrated Khmer New Year with my family at site, eaten my weight in mangoes, and attempted to keep my brain from melting during a sweltering hot season.

Malaysia was amazing. It was so different from any other country I have visited during my time here. There were so many influences from so many places and a little bit startling going from a Buddhist country to a Muslim country. We went from seeing pagodas to mosques and pork and rice stands to halal signs. I went with two other PCV’s and we spent a week on the Perhentian Islands, relaxing, sitting on the beach, snorkeling in a rainstorm, and stuffing ourselves silly with roti.

I came back in time to celebrate Khmer New Year with my family. On Friday, April 13^th at 7:11pm we bid adieu to year of the rabbit and welcomed the year of the dragon. We set up a table full of fruit, cakes, soda, clothing, perfume, candles, and incense as offerings to the spirits. To ring in the New Year we lit incense and my family prayed for me to have a safe journey to America and to find good luck and success. It was very sweet of them and made me really glad I decided to come home to celebrate with them. The next day we went on a picnic in a neighboring province. We ate lunch near a river and then went swimming and participated in a massive traditional water fight. There were easily a couple hundred people in the river all filling and throwing water balloons every which way. I had a great time swimming and splashing around with my family. The rest of Khmer New Year we did a lot of party hopping in the village and playing intense games of tug of war.

Today marks 100 days until my Close of Service! I am officially in the home stretch. 101 days from today I will be an RPCV and Scott will be here to start our journey home! I am so excited. I’ve had an incredible experience and will be making the most of my last few months in country but I am definitely ready to get back home.