WHY AM I SO HAPPY?

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town - June 22, 2011, 10:19 pm
Pat E Lyon

Well, it wasn't as romantic as I had imagined. Mr. Mony called Mr. Sok twice about how to find his house. Even though he has driven to Bos Kralanh Village for years, the crops are different and the roads are bad so we had to find a new route. Mony tried a left turn and went down a cow path that was only wide enough for one cow at a time. It dead ended in a rice paddy of unknown depth. Oh, wait, I guess it was a water buffalo path, not a cow path. In the distance, we see Mrs. Sok motioning to us to go back. Now Mony knows. Our road is one block over but not much better than the cow path. I close my eyes. It feels like we are about to runover a duck.

The greeting is much like I had described. Mr. and Mrs. Sok both know I am offering my sympathy on the loss of their beautiful son to electric shock. Once inside, Sok tells Mony that the women are in the rice fields and cannot come to class yet. They begin to assemble the new sewing machine Mony has brought from Battambang Province. Their point of reference is the other machine, which is a Janome in a Singer stand with a formica top.

But then the women do come to class. I remember their faces. They are probably older than they look. One tells about her headaches and I can see in her eyes that she does not feel well. Two are wearing turtle necks under a jacket. They have long pants and long sleeves. How does this work? It's siesta time. I showed them the purses we would make. They think it is very interesting. Then a women rises and disappears into a side room. She brings back a box, a treasure box. It is FILLED with beautiful flowers that they have made from last year's class. Diana Saw bought some and got them pins and clips to attach. I show how they can put a flower on the purse. Their flowers are exquisite. Much better than I could have made.

Quietly they agree to start class next Monday from 11:00 am to noon. Mony adds: "That way, no family violence." I could not laugh. We do a needs assessment. Two irons, two boards, new whiteboard and markers.

The Soks graciously invite us to stay for lunch. From out of nowhere, Mrs. Sok emerges with amok - fish soup with vegetables. There was a plate for bones and a bowl of rice. It was wonderful to commune with them, but I felt a distinct sadness in the air. Little conversation.

About 6:00 pm, Mr. Kosal brought spaghetti marinara to my room. It was delicious. I took ties apart and continued making its for purses. I fell asleep surrounded by ties. I awoke at 3:15 am. Yesterday it was 11:30 pm. I get up and continue with the ties. Soon I will blend into this time zone. It's good I am doing this now and not disturbing Deanna. But she has never minded.

I try to analyze why I am so happy. And I do not know. I just am!