Temple Exploration

  

What will I do in the States when I cannot find a trained in Paris, Vietnamese hairdresser???

Will I find anyone else with this level of focus? 

In his shop you will find precision, something common in this country (excluding construction and maintenance) but with a price - patience. 

But in this case you will find precision with results in 30 minutes or less.  Now that is something.

I am intrigued by the rapt attention to even the simplest of details.

The rough yet consistently steady hands.

The constant feeling that, just for now, I am in the hands of a master. 

A master creating his masterpiece.  And he will not allow me to leave until he has deemed his creation worthy.

He will not be distracted by the television, the customers walking in or out, the telephone ringing.  He has eyes only for this.  His focus is unwavering.

He is not one to lollygag. 

I can study his face without feeling awkward, because I am in Cambodia.

His eyes are dark and fixed.

His hands strong and firm.

His smile is a typical Southeast Asian smile – indescribable. 

All that for a measly 6 USD.

I never even look in the mirror.  If he is happy, I am happy.  The experience is somehow always enough.

Sometimes it’s the little things.

Bittersweet

Three months to go…

Just 78 days actually. 

I am not dreading it.

No, my choice of defense is to simply ignore it.  Pretend it is not actually happening.  Cowardly I know.

This place has truly been my salvation. 

I knew back in the good ole USA there were certain ways I never had and never would fit in.  I had no idea I would find the reason why.   

I knew there was so much more to see and do, more to consider and understand.

Of course I realized there were different ways of doing things, diverse ways of thinking and being. 

But I had no idea how life-changing one place could be in this adventure of life.

Living in Cambodia has allowed me to learn and grow in ways nothing or no one else could.  It has offered an education beyond university (and far less expensive!!).  While I know no place and no person is perfect or ideal, we must each find our niche.  Maybe it’s here, maybe it’s there.  But please don’t stop searching until you have found it. 

I have found there is no time to hate any person or any place.  There is no energy to waste on anger and animosity.  Love and forgiveness and tolerance are life-long lessons and here I have been greatly assisted in my learning.   There is no room for people to force their ideals and beliefs upon others.  There is no space for another country’s values and systems.  Each will make do with what he has.

I have learned from my mistakes.  

There have been crazy days. 

There have been incredibly difficult decisions.  

But every one of them has been an invaluable lesson and an unforgettable experience. 

I will never tire:

...Of speakers screeching at me in my dreams. 

...Of lizards and stray cats, cockroaches on steroids and elephant sized rats. 

...Of weddings and funerals and a bazillion holidays all accompanied by chanting monks and incredibly attractive music.

...Of being told it’s “cold” when testing the new students and asking “How is the weather today?”

...Of dodging certain drivers whose lack of attention to anything and everything around them is deadly.

...Of being asked "how much" whether for rent, or for my moto, computer, phone, going to the doctor, a bag of groceries, or basically anything.  

The only reason I can leave is because I know I will be back.

It is almost time for a new place, for new lessons and new faces.

But today I will continue to be here.  

To make eye contact with every person I see. 

To be continually offered the most beautiful smiles I can imagine.  

To laugh and smile and jumble my Khmer with all of the wonderful tuk tuk and moto drivers. 

To hide in their tuk tuks when I’m stuck outside and the colossal raindrops decide to drop by.  

I will appreciate every minute of every day that I have...  I know how incredibly lucky I am to have spent a couple of years in such an incredible and beautiful place.  This place I call home.  The Kingdom of Wonder.

But now it is time for the next step.  

Kampong Chhnang