I am here!

I am so incredibly sorry for how infrequently I have posted since coming to Cambodia (as in not at all yet). Time on the internet has been much more limited than I anticipated, which has been kind of a bummer, but hopefully soon I will be able to work out a system that allows me more flexibility with that.

Well, I am in Cambodia and have considered it my home for the last (almost) 2 weeks. I can’t say it feels like home yet and I don’t think it ever will completely, but I am working at accepting that as how it will be for the next year. I got into Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital on Tuesday, September 11 around 10:00pm and went right to sleep after depriving myself of good sleep during the 20 hour plane ride. The first two nights here I stayed with Ryan and Bethany Umble and their three children, who are also missionaries with EMM. They are wonderful and my connection with them so far has been so important for me in learning to adjust to Cambodian culture and also learning how to bridge between the U.S. and Cambodia. After those two days I moved in with my host family. They are a Christan family of 5 and the parents speak English, which is such a blessing to me in this time when I don’t know hardly any Khmer at all. Hopefully soon I will be able to post some pictures of them so you can get to know them a little better.

I started language learning at a school called LINK (Language Institute of Natural Khmer, I think) a week ago and it has been really good so far. The idea of the school is for the students to just sit in class and listen to two teachers talk in Khmer with each other and with the students. The students are supposed to just sit and absorb Khmer phrases and words and only answer in their native language when asked questions. The theory is that the students will pick up Khmer just like children learn a language – by being surrounded by it and absorbing the words and sentences in context with the culture and every day life. There are rarely more than 3 people in each class (each is an hour long) and sometimes I have been the only student.  I am starting to pick up words here and there as I listen to people talk, but sentences and phrases are much more difficult. Hopefully with time that will get better!

I am beginning to learn how traffic patterns (or lack-there-of) work, some Khmer (pronounced Khmei) cultural practices, and how to eat Khmer food. I am developing more of a taste for fish, which is good, and the wide-array of fruit here is delicious! I do miss American food, but I have had some at Ryan and Bethany’s house on occasion, which has been really good. I really like Cambodian culture, but I do miss home and family quite a lot.

My daily schedule this past week looked something like this:

I usually eat breakfast on my own in the mornings and then hang out with the family downstairs until lunchtime (noon-ish). The kids like to watch cartoons (Especially Tom and Jerry) for a few hours each morning, and I’ve enjoyed watching them with them. After lunch, we have a rest time for a few hours, during which I usually sleep a little or read. At 2:30 a designated moto driver (motorbikes are EVERYWHERE in Phnom Penh!) comes to pick me up to take me to language class which is about a 25 minute drive across the city. He picks me up again at 5 and from 5:30 until 7, I usually spend time downstairs with Vanna (my host mom) and their three children. Between 7 and 8 we eat supper and then watch some Cambodian news, James Bond, or other movie until about 9 when everyone starts getting ready for bed and I go upstairs to journal and sleep.

The next few weeks will be a little different as I will be spending the first few days of this week staying at the Umbles’ house helping their day nanny – Ming Thai – to babysit their kids while Ryan and Bethany go away for a few days to celebrate their 12th anniversary. Then next week I will be in Mesang in Prey Veng province visiting for a few days. That is the rural area of Cambodia where I will be living for a few months during October/November/December and teaching English to children.

I would appreciate prayers for smooth language learning, a healthy body, and good relationships with my host family. Please pray for my ability to be present here in Cambodia and really invest in the relationships I am building with people. Please also pray for a renewed desire and ability to trust in God and His plan for me. It seems pretty hidden from my view right now, which I guess is how God usually works, but I won’t say it’s not frustrating.

Khmer fun fact 1: I spend about 98% of my time downstairs at my host home on the floor. I watch TV on the floor, talk with people on the floor, and eat meals on the floor. The floor is really the place to be in Khmer culture! My host family sleeps on the floor downstairs too!

For those of you interested, I finally figured out what my mailing address will be for the next year! I would recommend, however, that you not send care packages. Apparently even small packages can cost about $80! Just letters of encouragement and reminders of your prayers for me will be just as helpful and appreciated as a box of stuff. 🙂

My address is:

Jenna Eshleman
c/o EMM
P.O. Box 1662
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Thank you for all your prayers!

Jenna (pronounced Chenna here in Cambodia. Apparently that’s already a Khmer name!)