Malaysian Escapades!!!

(Deserted beach in Bako National Park, Borneo)

Libby and I just got back from our trip to Malaysia.  It was unlike any trip I'd been on before.  Instead of visiting big cities or camping out on beaches surfing, we explored the flora and fauna of the rainforest.  All in all, we were gone for about two weeks, neither of us got sick, and the food was delicious.  I pretended to be an amateur botanist, following in the footsteps of Crow, taking pictures of nepenthes, bamboo, and wild orchids.

(Orchid?  Taylor?)

 (Eating at Chilies)

 

(Opposite view of deserted beach.)

 (A park in Kuching.)

(Tourists and monkey [orang utan].)






(Intrepid explorers of the bamboo jungle.)


(Climbing in KL!)

Climbing in Cambodia?!?

It's true.  We found a little climbing place in Siem Reap.  It's a tad sketchy, creaking boards as you're climbing, but relatively safe.  Libby and I took a small vacation over the long weekend, ate delicious food, and went climbing for a few hours.  Good times.  Next week, Malaysia!

January 26th, 2013

Technically it is still January, so I'm keeping up with about a 1/month post record as of late.  Although, one could make the argument that it's been over 30 days since my last post which is considered by most people to be "a month."  I begin with this disclaimer mainly because I feel guilty about not having anything new on here for a considerable amount of time.

News this month:  I'm back at UBB.  The schedule is as it was before, let's call it dynamic, and I have added a writing class to the classes I had before.  So teaching, grading, and lesson planning occupy most of my workweek, and I try to spend time with Libby too, whose schedule has been somewhat vacant as of late due to a random holiday and the school director's daughter's wedding, which meant that the whole school shut down for a number of days.  I've spent the last two weekends in Phnom Penh, now, fortunately I'm in Battambang which means less time on buses and that I get to go out and play ultimate frisbee this afternoon.


(All dressed up for a presentation on "How to Write Cover Letters", and yes there is a pan on a stool too.)

Specifically related to law schools: I'm in to Santa Clara, Davis, University of Washington, and now Hastings!  I have been working on scholarship essays and fafsa forms trying to determine what will be the best fit as well as what will be viable.  Also, I spent some time last month working on another scholarship for the University of Washington, the Gates Scholarship for Public Service Law, and was excited to hear that everything was submitted!  For those of you responsible for this, thank you again for your help.  I'm looking forward to hearing back from all of the programs so that I can sit down and finally decide.

Readjustment has come and gone.  I honestly believe that it will be harder to readjust to living in California again after having been gone for over 2.5yrs.  Here's a brief pictorial depiction of one such readjustment.

 

(Cambodian Traffic) 

VS.

 

(Driving in the U.S.A.)

Additionally, I'm getting excited for one last bit of international travel while I'm over here.  Libby and I are going to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Borneo) for 10 days, apparently there's surfing and climbing, which I miss!  Also, some national parks with trails and animals.  Happy Chinese New Year!

 

(An end of the semester gift from one of my students.) 

Thanksgiving and other things

Hi!

I'm here at school with a free hour because of yet another schedule change (7am is too early for teaching anyway...)  One of the first things I wanted to do here (after having the schedule changed on me, not to mention the students, almost weekly, was get all of the classes, teachers, students, and schedules online, but, after meeting with one of the IT guys here who had a similar idea, he told me that the school is waiting on a world bank? (possibly different organization) proposal to get a dedicated server, so we're stuck with the changes as it is for now, which gives me the opportunity to update the blog, and of course, listen to Taylor Swift's new album, and abuse punctuation marks.

At school, I've just finished a unit/personal teaching goal on cover letters.  After researching online for jobs in Cambodia, seeing the necessity of the cover letter in Cambodia too, realizing that none of the students had written a cover letter, and that the class I was teaching was called "Business Letters I", I decided to stray from a presentation of British business jargon, e.g., pro forma invoices, loco ex works, tenders, and carriage quotations, and focus on something I hope will be practical.  After grading the papers at a commencement ceremony yesterday (for some kind of center that the deputy prime minister and UBB set up.  I didn't have any hand in the matter, but went for appearances,) I was generally impressed by what I saw, which is always a good feeling for teachers.  In my other classes, we've got midterms this week and next, and then it's back to California for Christmas.

One work related issue that came up recently was a hidden set of limitations on the amount of teaching hours I would be paid for.  I wasn't ever told about it, until I investigated two months in to the job, which was upsetting.  Long story short, I won't be staying here as long as I'd originally planned.  I'll be home for three weeks, come back to finish the semester, and then be home in March until I start law school in the Fall.  I've heard back from Santa Clara, got in!  Still waiting on the other schools, but it's nice to know I'll be going somewhere.

A few weeks ago, we had Thanksgiving at my place, which was great, although I was wiped.  I got some kind of virus directly following a weird leg infection and an ear infection (which have cleared up).  Luckily, there's a real MD in town, who helped and drugged me through the various issues, quotes from him: "health is a moving target." also "take off your pants."  I'm feeling healthy now, back at the gym and running.  I ran into a fellow expat who'd had malaria; count your blessings.

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving from Libby:

Better Quality Films

Sean posted these on youtube from our latest show:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUJ7k5lOUzpSG3CFhHv2nGg

The Weary Kind

Wagon Wheel

Product of the Month

    

    Hello everyone, I'm here to announce that the product of the month goes to fresh local coffee, so finely ground that it doubles as an espresso grind.  A close second is Placenta Shampoo: now with real placenta extract!

I wasn't kidding.  I found this in the dollar store that just opened up.  They also sell Arizona Ice Tea :)

Enfin, an Update

I'm here in Battambang.  Having a coffee and enjoying my protracted lunch.  I am listening to some foreigners talk about their "burning digestive system."  A co-worker was out sick at work today, and I'm happy to have my health.  I am sitting with Libby, she's graciously copying some pictures from the guitar show last weekend.

Here's the set list from that:

April  Come She Will  (S&G)
Don't Think Twice it's Alright (dylan)
Hey ya (acoustic obadiah parker version)
Little Talks (monsters and men)
Blood Bank (bon iver)

___________  BREAK____________

Ohio  (jurado)
Can't Help Falling in Love  (presley/ ingrid michaelson)
A Team (...)
The Weary Kind  (I forget...)
Rivers and Roads (Head and the Heart)
Wagon Wheel (O.C.M.S.)

Life's been good here.  Cambodia normal.  I was finally paid by UBB, although it wasn't what I was expecting and we're trying to work out the details...  I feel like I'm working a lot, but happily there are a decent amount of holidays.  One recent highlight with my students was playing the "continue the story" game.  I started out with a man, from there students continued the story... here's a synopsis: he went to a bank, with a gun, robbed the bank, fled to thailand, and proceeded to give all the money to his girlfriend.  The scheduling is still pretty sporadic and I'm working on a project to hopefully change that, i.e. getting a computer-based scheduling system in place.

(K4s!) 

 

(Lib and I)

(The banjo's debut.)

 

(The after-party)

In the next few weeks I'll be hosting Thanksgiving at my house, excited to be with friends but it makes me miss home a little.  Although, Christmas isn't too far away...

Living the High Life.

First things first, I should disclose that I've gone corporate, Cambodia style.  I started working at UBB, full time, sometimes I even wear a tie.  I had to purchase some new clothes because I felt like the office slob, although, still wearing my TEVAs.


I moved out from where I was living last year, i.e. the box, and am now living with a tad more amenities. 

Here are some pictures of the new place:

 (A poorly lit shot of the living room...)

 (A better shot of the living room.  Note the light up Buddha that came with the house.)

 (A few pictures hanging from the unused cable for a tv.)

 (More pictures and a makeshift bookshelf.)

 (My new fridge, yes, the stickers were included.)

 (My bedroom, complete with a/c, mood light, random necklace, and tiled in whinny the pooh)

 (Not sure about some of the characters here...we've got pooh, piglet, and tigger, but who's on the balloons?)

 (Living room decor.)

 (Kitchen: note the counterspace and places to put things!)

 (Kitchen decor.)

 (Yes, that is a flush lever.)                                               (Here's my landlord installing mosquito nets.)

In other news, I am riding a moto now.  It's a red Honda Dream.  I always always wear my helmet.  I'm even a bit overly nerdy when it comes to helmets, e.g. I brought my helmet from America that is both SNELL and DOT approved, it's called the Scorpion EXO: 

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/626/MNGR/Scorpion-EXO.aspx



(Here's a photo from my desk at UBB.  It's sort of like an office, which I share with 2-3 other people.)

That's all for now. 

Love you guys,

So this is the New Year...

I just checked my flight information and I’ve been here exactly twelve days.  I’m sweating, the temperature is in the 90s with humidity and somehow the ceiling fan doesn’t seem to hit where I am.  The last email I received from U of B in July stated that I would start in early October.  I started working full time last Thursday (9/20).  I taught class on Saturday, and then Monday turned out to be a holiday, so now I am here again.  The first class starts at 7am and I still feel jetlagged.  I am tired.  I was homeless (well, living out of a hotel) until Friday, then spent the weekend organizing and unpacking and suddenly it was Tuesday morning and I was running out of my door to hop on a moto and head to work again.  I left my keys in my door, luckily I have kind neighbors…my mind’s a wreck.  Today was hard.  I could have used the extra week for planning and peace of mind, but life is different here.  I started looking at some of the pictures I took when I was at home and it made me happy.  I am glad that I will be coming home for Christmas and hope to see you all when I return!

 (Josh at the climbing gym)

 (On a woodland adventure with Ian)

 (Recording at home)

 (Hey Jude)

 (My street / stop sign)

 (Handstands)

 (San Luis Obispo surfing!)

 (At Ex^ponent)

 (Golfing with grandma.)

 (Breakfast by the sea.)

 (Out on the farm.)

 (Biologist in training.)

(KIIITTYYY!)