Culture and Poverty

I found this book with the same title at NBS today. The more I read it, the more I am convinced that I should go and migrate to a richer country. I'm thinking of Canada. Tua na man gud sila Abegail and family didto. Sila Leikha pud and family. Sila Ate Cecil, Gigi, Dexter ug Rica Sierras pa. Pero tan-awon na lng ni. Ako lang ni iplot tanan. Everything will happen in God's time lagi. I keep the faith. Merry Christmas!

SIMPLE

True, life is really simple! We make decisions, choices on where our lives would lead. Talk man gud mi ni Benj, secretary namo sa HOA. Ask ra sya when daw ko magminyo aron kakita na daw ko sa ako liwat. Tan-awon n lng ni...

I'm Gonna Miss PP

Yes, indeed. I am gonna miss this place which has sheltered me when I was going thru the process of letting go of NUS and of USC. But I know in future I will be back.

Despite my NUS fiasco, I also wanna go back to SG pohon. I have very good friends there --Sheryl, Yuka, Rica, Niña, Tanya, just to name a few. I would love to see them again.

But first, I have to go home and ayusin things in my life. God is with me, I keep the faith.

I am Still the Same

True, despite everything that I have gone through, I am still the same. But I would like to believe that I have grown up some more here in PP. I just look the same maybe, but the outlook may be different.

Advanced happy birthday to me!!! :-)

Phnom Penh Dangers

Twice I came face-to-face with the dangers lurking in PP. First was when my purse got snatched in St 63, on 3 October 2008 pm. We were about to make a left turn to go to my house when two boys on a moto snatched the purse which Ate Jing bought in Bangkok. It happened so fast, nihapdos pa gud ako samad. Kaingon nuon si Ate Maline, 'ayun nagshopping sila ng purse sa Bangkok para lng masnatch'. Inside that purse was my tinutoran for that week, $14 plus some money so $18.50 all in all, then my film from Bangkok, my new blue marker and my keys. Pati gud ako raincoat naapil. Nasayang lng jud ko sa purse.

Second was last night. I was taking the moto from PP Water Park to Hotel Intercon for Ate Jing's affair there. Gidala man nuon ko sa moto driver sa kalibunan! Baho pa jud basura. I got scared actually. Gusto siguro niya moshortcut. Unya kay lapok man didto mao nilubong ang moto! Walk-outan pa nako, nitamak na lng ko sa lapok. Mao jud na sila, they try to scrimp on their service! R5000 gud to iya gipabayad nya duol ra. La na nuon sya kakwarta. God bless us all na lng.

ESL

Yes, I did risk it. I went home to Philippines coz I felt that my time was up in Cambodia. I applied as an ESL teacher yesterday and I got accepted! I think adto na jud padulong akong new career. The director highlighted Western International School in my CV. Then he also verified if my experience in PP was with kids. I think iya ko patudluan kids lng gihapon this time.

Naa lng gihapon in me the desire to hold on to Econ. But I will wait for more signs from God. Syay nakahibaw sa tanan. I keep the faith. Amen!

Close

Today I close a very important chapter in my life. With Mam Ching's email, I know that I am not going back to USC anymore. Di na ko para didto.

It is time to fork a new road. When God closes a door, He opens a window. I keep this faith. Amen.

Teach cguro ko English pohon, kuha ko ESL ceritificate. I am quite good with languages naman di ba? Why did I choose Econ ba all this time? Then huna2 pa pud ko law. Kapoy na na eskwelahan oi. Tama na holding on. The old Heide has gone, the new has come.

It's not too late. While there's life, there's hope. Pray lng gud ta. Amen.

Running Away Again?

I had thought if I am running away again in my decision to leave PP. Dili diay kay dili man gud stable ako work here nya ig January ako na gud kuno bayad Palm Heights pohon. I miss home Lord, and gusto kong makaisip ng paraan kung papano mabayaran ung Palm Heights.

I cannot return to USC anymore. Mam Ching has given me the guidance. Ngita na ko new career pohon. Then I'll look into getting married. God bless us all. Amen.

It's Time to Go

I kept thinking this week that I'd want to quit alrdy. La pa nako istoryaha si Madam Shirley till ako na nuon iya giistorya this pm. Makuhaan daw ug 1hr ako teaching load kay naa may 2 white teachers nga moabot. Kapait sad ani oi, idiscriminate lng mi just because of the colour of our skin! Bantay bitaw ug di maau nang mga putia na. Ah, ilaon na nang ilang school oi! This made me realize that la jud diay stability ang magtrabaho abroad. But then, the once stable post that I thought I had in USC, wala na man.

But I still wanna go home to Philippines. Adto ko didto start anew, in my own country. God bless my plans. Amen.

I'll look to Sg na lang as long, long term goal. I'll wait for more signs. I'm gonna love PP forever, Lord. Asa pa ko ani nga experience di ba?

Going Back

I once read a verse in the Bible that anyone who starts to plow and keeps looking back is of no use to the Kingdom of God. I came here to Cambodia, I do believe God brought me here for a reason. That reason I am still waiting up to now for God to reveal to me. I always get this nagging thought that I should go back to USC; I had a very secure post there, but I didn't take care of it so now I lost it. And I wasn't happy with it anymore --since 2005, I had enough of teaching service courses.

My sister keeps telling me to think of my plans well. Ang iya ra man is the fear that basin di ko katrabaho dayon kay ig January pohon ako na bya daw bayad sa Palm Heights. Or maybe, just like the rest of my family, they don't want me to leave a very prestigious job at USC. Pero unsaon man gud na nako nang prestige if I'm not happy there anymore di ba? I'll just keep the faith. "When the funds are low and the debts are high, don't quit!" Amen.

Return

On Janice's blog she said that she's going back to HK, what she considers her home now. Halos one year ra sya didto sa London.

There really is such a thing as home after all. I may have come to call PP as my home too. But I still wanna go back to SG, for the 3rd time. La man na-approve ako EPEC, not yet time to go. My friend, Teresa has asked me if I'm coming to SG. Told her I plan to, but I still have to save up some money. Na'pa gud ko bayranan NUS. Di mn gud sila pahangyo, di mn jud iwaive. But di n lng cguro to nako bayran oi. Bahala n lng di ko katamak didto balik phon. Mahal baja pud.

When I think of home
I think of a place
Where there's love overflowing
Wish I was home
Wish I was here w/ you
:
:
Come take my hand
Come fill your heart
With all the love you see
You are my home
Though you're afar
You're in my memory
Loving me
:
Chorus:

You're my home
And together we share this love
For us to be happy and free
You're my home
And together, we try to make
This world a beautiful place
To be, for you and me ! :-)

Bangkok

I am now in Bangkok for a holiday. We arrived here last night, mga 830 pm. Sus didto mi gihatod sa mahalon nga lugar oi, sa Hualampong, sa may railway station, kabayad nuon mi $21 for a twin room.

I was impressed by the road network of Bangkok though, layo ra kaau sa PP. All in all, we were on the road for 13 hours and 1/2. Kalibutan ba diay namo nga naay taxi to border? Nagtaxi na lng ta mi.

But today, we got a room in a guesthouse in Soi Rambutri, the backpacker/tourist part of Bangkok. Nahurot na pud namo suroy halos tanan temple ron adlawa. Grabe namo picture didto Grand Palace. Kapalit pud mi souvenir for ourselves ni Ate Jing didto sa gem shop.

Tomorrow we plan to visit Jane in Nonthaburi. I'm excited to see her again. God bless!

Update

I just started the new school term at Western. I am teaching for the whole day now. I can't say that it's all smooth sailing but I think I'll get by. The Lord will sustain me..

Dili jud agree sila Marge et al that kompetensya mi nila. Well, what is, Zaman gud sila. Zaman, very good but also very expensive man gud kaha!

I have attended the CLP of CFC. Of all places na pwede kong pag-CLP-han, sa Cambodia pa. I know may dahilan. Sa 1st session pa lang, nihilak na ko. I am experiencing a real journey of faith kasi. I like it. I know in time, all beautiful things will reveal themselves to me. I'll just hold on, keep the faith!