Random Thoughts and Notes

My roommate and I are currently sharing our apartment with geckos. I keep finding gecko dung in random places like in the dish drying rack and the sink in the washroom, but they are just a regular part of life here. We also have a new addition to our house -- a rat! At least I think it’s a rat, I only watched it dash away when I turned on the lights in the kitchen, but it was about 6 inches long and had a long tail.

Every night at 10/10:30 we are serenaded by the dog choir. A couple are still going at it as I write this (it's 11:30pm).

There are many layers to the streets of Phnom Penh. From the road you see the villas and basic buildings but on most streets are hidden alley ways. In those alley’s are the small shacks and tiny homes that people live in that are hidden behind the villas and away from the public eye. I had the opportunity to go with Bev to check on some of the child care plus families that live in some of those alleyways.
I have decided that I prefer to ride side saddle on motos as it is a preventative method against getting another Asian tattoo (aka moto burn) and it is easier to jump off at the gas station or in the event you think you are going to be in an accident.

Today I had to help my moto driver walk the moto into the gas station as we ran out of gas.

I now have a regular moto driver who drives me home from my language class each day. His name is Steven and he tries to talk to me while driving. I am discovering how hard it is to a)hear him above the sounds of the street, the moto, with a helmet on and b) to process what he saying (in Khmer). Nonetheless, he just keeps on asking me questions even though half the time I have no clue what he is talking about. At least I have been able to understand some words and the sounds of the moto give me an excuse to take a minute to think about what he is saying.

Thanks for all your prayers and support and encouraging emails!