Haiti Connection

Hey Everyone,

I am further away from this than probably everyone, but it really has hit me here as well. Maybe a month ago now, I had the lucky opportunity to meet some former VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad) from New Zealand who worked here in Cambodia back in 1996 or so, for about four years. In those times, they worked extensively with one of my closest allies here, Siphen, and they come back to visit for two or three months at time, bringing various tour groups with them to her home.

When I met them, I was having a rough time readjusting to things at my host site, some personal issues came up, and they really went out of their way to make me feel like someone cared about me, which obviously I know anyway with the family I have, but the physical presence at the time really made a difference for me as I am living in a country that cant always relate to my experiences.

Where this all connects is this article. The name of the couple I know is Roger and Jennie. Please keep them in your thoughts. I know I continue to do so.

Random Update

I have come to believe that I am really meant to be doing this right now. Maybe I dont know what my next step in my life holds, maybe I dont need to know, but being in Cambodia right now is truly what I need to be doing at this point in time.

I wake up every morning thinking that I have a job to do, responsibilities to helping the people of this country do whatever it is they can think of, and just feeling like I really belong here… even if all the people think maybe I am weird, or whatever it is. I just believe it, and I feel like I have a home here, even if at times it could be labeled as disjointed.

Im sure someday I will figure out what to do next, but I am having too much fun right now enjoying my life and I know it is the right thing for me to be here.

– Ryan

New Photos

Just posted some new photos into my album on bookface. Take a look, either with the link on the right or by clicking this

– Ryan

2010 – A Year of Cambodia

Hello All,

I just wanted to give a more detailed update, seeing as how my last few have been a little spotty. There are reasons for that. I have had quite the roller coaster three weeks here. I am back in Phnom Penh, for the fourth time in the last three weeks. This time not by my own choosing however. As I was going to bathe last night, a bug flew near my ear, so naturally I swatted at it. Then instead of swatting it away, I swatted it into my ear. So my next move was to try to flick it out. Wrong. I only pushed it in further. After all of that I went to shower anyway and to try to get it out, and apparently was successful at that, but not after it had rolled around and possibly chomped on or near my ear drum. So I came back into town to have our doctor check it out and she wants me to stay a night until she can look at it again tomorrow. Two words: Not Fun.

Anyway, I had a good/great New Years Eve, but found out that excessive drinking and H1N1 shots are not the smartest combination, and wound up with a three day hangover. Was not fun, but it allowed me to eat more than I would have otherwise planned, thinking that more food would cure it. Trying to find new places to eat in the Capitol is fun, because my home does not have quite the same selection (sarcasm). Anywho, for those of your concerned, my actions were conducted in a safe environment here, in a place where many foreigners gather, within walking distance of where I was staying. So all need not worry. Plus I was with two of my good friends as well, and we all know we need to look out for one another in this country.

Aside from my celebrating, I have been keeping busy with other things as well. Getting sick would be one of them, but also continuing to work on developing the libraries in my area. Helped to label and organize the books that were purchased through the Books for Cambodia Trust, and also do general manual labor associated with that. As for my club, its been tough to really get that going because of the holidays, but I did manage to show them Kung Fu Panda in English, so that they could enjoy watching something. My school is quite lucky to have a projector and I purchased some speakers to make that all happen. I then found a whiteboard to project it onto, as the usual room was being used for other purposes.

Basketball is going well. I am trying to set up some sort of scrimmage with another volunteer who lives in the Southern portion of the country. Both the boys and girls seem to be progressing, even though I know I need to do more coaching they are doing well. I hope everyone has an awesome holiday, and as I have stated before I continue to miss you all. Feel free to respond back if you want as well. Talk to you again soon!