7.24.2008
Made IT!!!!
Well, I made it to Cambodia safe and sound and non-jet lagged. I'm pretty far from internet at the moment, but in this quick 10 minutes I have with a computer I had to post. Things are great here...the food is great and the staff and PCVs are awesome! I am looking optimisitcally at the future of training!
7.20.2008
San Fran-Phil's-Co
Well, I made it. After a couple of games of Wilson solitaire, a quick stop at Perkins, and a teary goodbye at the airport, I got on a plane to get my 49 pound suitcase, my hiking pack, and my little bag all the way over to San Francisco. I was happy to have stopped in Dallas/Fort Worth and ridden a huge sky-train. Obviously Des Moines’ airport is a little bit different… In true travel style we waited on the plane in Dallas for an hour because of “total incompetence” as the pilot said, but, fortunately enough, the movie 21 was playing as in-flight entertainment and the time went fast.
From then on it was Phil’s Frisco. We came through, stopped at the Marriot where I am staying (holy cow is it nice!) and went on to glance at the Golden Gate Bridge and head over to Phil’s apartment. We went to this little place called Nopa… yummmmm…There was little crispy bread chips and goat cheese dip, pizza with cucumbers and tomatoes and goat cheese, rabbit with a spicy stew, and dark chocolate dessert. I’m a picky eater, I’ve never liked goat cheese, I’ve never had rabbit, but it was delicious! And Nopa was an experience, not a restaurant. True San Fran style.
I’ve decided that I am getting spoiled with all of this luxury. The Marriot has a king size bed and a TV to match, not to mention $4.00 M&Ms and a concierge room that has food and dessert at almost every hour of the day. Before I left, I had chicken and noodles, and pizza, ice cream, hibachi Japanese, and all of my all-time favorite foods, plus time playing solitaire with Mom and Grandma. (Note: Solitaire with the three us is group solitaire: a hardcore, competitive, break-all-your-nails sort of game. Is there limited electricity sometime in the future? I would never know it from my experiences today!
Day 2
This city is amazing! Phil, Aparna and I, after a light breakfast in the hotel-room-for-special-people lounge, walked around the city, getting a little feel for the downtown skyscrapers, the grand hotels, the parks and the fountains, the little eateries, and all of those hills that are great to look at on the movies, and a little less fun to walk around. We walked through Chinatown (both tourist town and the true China town), down to the pier, and right onto a little catamaran that took us under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz island. It was beautifully bumpy, spraying Phil and I with ocean water numerous times as we tried to hang on to the rails through the wind and the waves. Fun Fact of the Day: The guards at Alcatraz made the prisoners shower in hot water so they couldn’t get used to the cold water and therefore would be less likely and able to escape by sea to the city.
Before we went on, we had these delicious sandwiches at a place that I would never had found by myself. Tiny, no seats (not full…non-existent), just a register and a counter for the chow. Places like this are the reason why I never want to tour a city without a native, or, in Phil’s case, a guy that has somehow become a native through extensive exploration.
We had the lovely pleasure to go see Frida Kahlo’s work at the SFMOMA. So amazing! Passionately created, intricate in detail, and simply gorgeous. The museum itself is also quite a pleasure to walk through.
For dinner, because the wonder never stops, we ate at a little Brazilian steakhouse: Espetus Churrascaria (I thought of you, Jacob!). There was a salad bar in the back full of greens and mango salsa and all kinds of ethnic dishes. Then all of these men called gauchos come around to each table with skewers of meat and, if we consent, put a slice or a bite on our plate. I was impressed with their skill as they cut and placed the meat. I was also impressed with the delicious glass of sangria that I had (And with the pomegranate gin that I had later at an old style speakeasy that we had to give a password to get into!).
I would like to publically state that Phil is the best tour guide that I have ever had. San Fran-Phil’s-co was a blast…and now the rest of the adventure.
From then on it was Phil’s Frisco. We came through, stopped at the Marriot where I am staying (holy cow is it nice!) and went on to glance at the Golden Gate Bridge and head over to Phil’s apartment. We went to this little place called Nopa… yummmmm…There was little crispy bread chips and goat cheese dip, pizza with cucumbers and tomatoes and goat cheese, rabbit with a spicy stew, and dark chocolate dessert. I’m a picky eater, I’ve never liked goat cheese, I’ve never had rabbit, but it was delicious! And Nopa was an experience, not a restaurant. True San Fran style.
I’ve decided that I am getting spoiled with all of this luxury. The Marriot has a king size bed and a TV to match, not to mention $4.00 M&Ms and a concierge room that has food and dessert at almost every hour of the day. Before I left, I had chicken and noodles, and pizza, ice cream, hibachi Japanese, and all of my all-time favorite foods, plus time playing solitaire with Mom and Grandma. (Note: Solitaire with the three us is group solitaire: a hardcore, competitive, break-all-your-nails sort of game. Is there limited electricity sometime in the future? I would never know it from my experiences today!
Day 2
This city is amazing! Phil, Aparna and I, after a light breakfast in the hotel-room-for-special-people lounge, walked around the city, getting a little feel for the downtown skyscrapers, the grand hotels, the parks and the fountains, the little eateries, and all of those hills that are great to look at on the movies, and a little less fun to walk around. We walked through Chinatown (both tourist town and the true China town), down to the pier, and right onto a little catamaran that took us under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz island. It was beautifully bumpy, spraying Phil and I with ocean water numerous times as we tried to hang on to the rails through the wind and the waves. Fun Fact of the Day: The guards at Alcatraz made the prisoners shower in hot water so they couldn’t get used to the cold water and therefore would be less likely and able to escape by sea to the city.
Before we went on, we had these delicious sandwiches at a place that I would never had found by myself. Tiny, no seats (not full…non-existent), just a register and a counter for the chow. Places like this are the reason why I never want to tour a city without a native, or, in Phil’s case, a guy that has somehow become a native through extensive exploration.
We had the lovely pleasure to go see Frida Kahlo’s work at the SFMOMA. So amazing! Passionately created, intricate in detail, and simply gorgeous. The museum itself is also quite a pleasure to walk through.
For dinner, because the wonder never stops, we ate at a little Brazilian steakhouse: Espetus Churrascaria (I thought of you, Jacob!). There was a salad bar in the back full of greens and mango salsa and all kinds of ethnic dishes. Then all of these men called gauchos come around to each table with skewers of meat and, if we consent, put a slice or a bite on our plate. I was impressed with their skill as they cut and placed the meat. I was also impressed with the delicious glass of sangria that I had (And with the pomegranate gin that I had later at an old style speakeasy that we had to give a password to get into!).
I would like to publically state that Phil is the best tour guide that I have ever had. San Fran-Phil’s-co was a blast…and now the rest of the adventure.
7.07.2008
As of now.....
Here is what I understand about my assignment and my time in Cambodian Peace Corps: My group of 38 people, about half of which I have talked to over facebook and email, will all be Teachers of Foreign Language (TEFL). I will leave on the 17th of July for San Francicso, where I will see my brother and then begin Peace Corps Staging, sort of an orientation to Peace Corps. On Monday the 21st, the plane leaves for Cambodia. We fly through Tokyo, through Bangkok, and arrive in Phnom Penh. From there we go to our training site, where we will learn the language in small groups of 4-5 people as we stay with a host family. The large group meets for special events and special larger-group training sessions. Training is intense, leaving very little time for any sort of exploration except for within my host family and small village.
At the beginning of October, we are sworn-in and transported to our sites. I won’t know where I am going until right before then, though, because training is one of the ways that the PC determines where we are going to live. When I am there, I will stay with another host family and teach English for a school…I don’t know the grade level (or levels) yet.
Other than that, the questions are up in the air! I will find out soon…but until then…on with the wait!
At the beginning of October, we are sworn-in and transported to our sites. I won’t know where I am going until right before then, though, because training is one of the ways that the PC determines where we are going to live. When I am there, I will stay with another host family and teach English for a school…I don’t know the grade level (or levels) yet.
Other than that, the questions are up in the air! I will find out soon…but until then…on with the wait!
To take or not to take.....
In less than two weeks I will be soaking up the sun of the Cambodian sky. I had my last day at Simpson College just this past Thursday and rushed home to Grandma’s house for the small-town Fourth of July celebrations. Considering that the majority of my possessions are stuffed into the trunk of my little car…I have yet to begin packing. However, I have been thinking about the things that I need, the things that I want, and the things that the current PCVs tell me not to bring (How I love the internet!).
What does a person pack for a two-year trek into another country?
Take:
A couple pairs of pants, Some skirts, Some shirts, Undergarments, Socks, Shoes (especially shoes, because my “Canoe feet” won’t fit into small Cambodian shoes)
Gifts for the host families, including some hats, some toys, some stickers….etc, etc, etc.
Conditioner, Deodorant, Contacts, Glasses, Hair brush, Toothbrush, Face Wash, non-PC bug spray.
Laptop, ipod, camera, pictures, paperwork, and a couple of books.
My blankie…because we all need something with absolutely no use besides sheer comfort.
Not Take:
Too many clothes (Because everything is so cheap and special clothes are required for women there)
Too much stuff (Because everything is so cheap there)
What does a person pack for a two-year trek into another country?
Take:
A couple pairs of pants, Some skirts, Some shirts, Undergarments, Socks, Shoes (especially shoes, because my “Canoe feet” won’t fit into small Cambodian shoes)
Gifts for the host families, including some hats, some toys, some stickers….etc, etc, etc.
Conditioner, Deodorant, Contacts, Glasses, Hair brush, Toothbrush, Face Wash, non-PC bug spray.
Laptop, ipod, camera, pictures, paperwork, and a couple of books.
My blankie…because we all need something with absolutely no use besides sheer comfort.
Not Take:
Too many clothes (Because everything is so cheap and special clothes are required for women there)
Too much stuff (Because everything is so cheap there)
6.06.2008
Send me mail.....please?
Here is the address for sending mail to me through the Corps...
PCT Kelsey Hedrick
Peace Corps (PST K2)
P.O. Box 2453
Phnom Penh 3
Cambodia
More information forthcoming as I enter the country!
PCT Kelsey Hedrick
Peace Corps (PST K2)
P.O. Box 2453
Phnom Penh 3
Cambodia
More information forthcoming as I enter the country!
My Invitation!!!
I recently recieved the Peace Corps invitation that told me about my country and my service there. Survey says.....CAMBODIA!!! I will be leaving on the 20th of July and going to train for 3 months in-country before heading off to my service site to teach English in (probably) Upper-secondary school.
Now...you may be asking yourself, "But I thought she was supposed to go to French-speaking Africa...Cambodia isn't in Africa, is it?" Indeed, Cambodia is not in Africa, nor is it French speaking. The note that accompanied my invitation said that by the time I completed medical review (late, because of all the tests I had to take), my program had filled up and they put me in this one instead! I did say that I would go anywhere....
Fun facts about Cambodia...
-The Peace Corps program is very new, just starting in 2007.
-It is located by Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, and is described as a big bowl, with flatlands in the middle and mountains on any given side. (Note the map here....
http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS277US277&q=Cambodia&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=image)
-My Peace Corps welcome book describes the people as kind and friendly, and the food as "excellent" with rice being used extensively. The direct quote is "The staple food is rice, so you can expect to eat a lot of it."
-The language is Khmer....whoa I have some work to do....That's what that photo is from....
So.... awkun ch'ran for reading this blog!
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