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...