THE CLICK PURSE

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town - Fri July 8 2011, 4:35 am
Pat E Lyon

Today was the second day of the most difficult purse: the click purse.  It clicks open and shut becuase part of a metal tape measure is hidden in a cuff at the top of the purse.  The idea for this came from an advanced quilter who showed it to my Aunt Marti in Elkhorn.  I am not sure I am doing it right, but the Khmer women love it.  It takes more fabric than the average tie purse becuase of the "cuff" and a large bow on one side.  It also required stiff interfacing.  They all want handles.  But the handles are drapery cords or upholstery trim.  At Jo Ann's $1.26 a yard.  It takes about 1 meter for a handle.  I found a few bargains, but when the handles are gone, they are gone.  So we will have more of the clutch purses.  After click purse, we will have the fourth purse made from a large man's tie.  This will be a little easier to make because there is less fear of running out of supplies for this tie, and they can play with the design.  They have learned to make inverted pleats, side pleats, and gather at the purse top.  One woman made pin tucks.  She has a machine at home and so came very prepared today.

The women would like to sell the purses, but they have told Mony they are happy to come to class to learn the skill of sewing.

And my dear, dear sewing class?  Today one sewing machine was broken.  So they had to wait or find other jobs to do to wait for a machine.  And the very versatile Mony was able to repair the machine.

Sam arrives Sunday night.  Deanna arrives Monday night.  Deanna's bed is nearly cleaned off of ties and linings.  The other side of my bed is lined with "kits" ready for sewing.  Mony went out to look for containers so that we can organize Mr. Sok's inventory of thread, fabric, interfacing, needles, flowers and makings for flowers, jewelry for purses and general chaos.  The Sok family has truly been the most generous of hosts.

Today, cat caught a lizard and left it right under the whiteboard for me.

ANOTHER CREATURE

Dateline:

Siem Reap Town - Sun July 3 2011, 10:21 pm

Pat E Lyon

Another creature is a rat just outside the dining room door. I have seen him three times. He looks like a giant bratwurst with a short tail. Or a weiner balloon. I observe that the Khmer have a less panic-stricken approach to things like this than I do. For now I am trying to undemonize him by thinking up a bratwurst sort of name. Any ideas? And I compartmentalize. And I avoid that exit when possible. And no, I have not yet had a Kodak moment with him so don't look for a jpeg.

MONY ONE METER FROM ANGELINA JOLIE (NO KIDDING)

Dateline:

Siem Reap Town - Sat July 2 2011, 12:05 a.m.

Pat E Lyon

Mony received a last minute notice from an old friend. Did he want to be driver for the party traveling with Angelina Jolie? Are you kidding?

Evidently the beauty movie star icon was in Cambodia to make an ad for expensive luggage. Only the fancy cars carried her family and nannies, etc. But Mony got to drive her make-up artist. He was very close to her. He showed me with his arms. She is very beautiful and very thin. When she comes to Cambodia they close down the entire hotel except for the guests already there.

Actually, he was more impressed with her personal body guard, who had more muscles than he had ever seen. And the body guard shook his hand. How much was he paid? $5.00 US

There is a drink named the "Tomb Raider" at the Red Piano restaurant in honor of her presence here for the filming. In the movie, Angkor Wat statues come to life. By the way, the "Red Piano" which has no piano is no longer painted tomato soup undiluted orange, but now hot pink neon. And they have added a water trough with a rail around it. I am not sure what the purpose is, except coolness. Mony tried to explain over a chocolate Sundae, but I did not get it.

THERE'S A MOUSE IN MY UNDERLINING

Dateline:

Siem Reap Town - Tue July 5 2011, 8:56 a.m.

Pat E Lyon

Mony and I arrived early for sewing class. It was to have been from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon. But really, it is from 10:15 am to 1:00 pm and the women are still sewing when we leave. I began by writing on the whiteboard. We were going to have a meeting at 12:45 to discuss design. I noticed Mr. Sok's cat was very interested in a plastic bag of purse tab underlinings that I had left next to the wall the night before. Mrs. Sok said, "SHHHHH" and tried to scoot the cat away. I naively assumed there must be a cricket in the bag, or that it was a really playful cat. Mony also tried. "SHHHH!" It must be Khmer to "scat". Suddenly the cat found what it wanted. It left the bag with a fat "mou." ("mouse" with Khmer pronounciation) The cat proceeded to chase the mouse all around the house. Mony chaased it into a corner behind the sewing machines. Just then another student came in. She exclaimed about the mouse and cat. I shrieked and cliimbed onto a sewing chair. I was barefoot and wearing baggy crop pants.

The woman strided up to the mouse and cat and took the mouse in her bare hands and carried it outside. She handed it over to a small boy and walked back into the house and began to sew (without washing her hands).

I wondered to myself..."Is this rodent week or what?"

And all the way back in the buried recesses of my mind I thought quietly to myself "EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

I do not know the fate of the "mou". The cat seemed rather disappointed.

THE CREATURES NEARBY

Dateline:
Siem Reap Town - Thurs, June 30, 2011, 10:32 p.m.
Pat E Lyon

The smallest creature is the nearest. It is a tiny gecko about 1-1/2 inches long. He has tried to get into my room for days. I shoo him away from the door because he would sing at night like a cricket. And I once had a terrible experience of stepping on one with my bare foot and do not want to repeat it, especially without Deanna to calm me down. They have put something like weather stripping under my door to keep geckos out. My room is the closest to the rug shaking balcony, and I think geckos use it as a point of entry. But last night I saw that he or his friend had made it in. He scooted across the wall, just above my suitcase. I vowed to keep my suitcase zipped, because it would not be good for him to attempt the flight home. Outside my window is a large lizard...a duk doh that is the sound he makes at night: "duk doh, duk doh."

On National Hwy Route 6, Mony and I sawa dog that had been struck by a car. Its pretty face looked up at me with big German shepherd eyes. Two cars had stopped, with people standing around. The road has become very busy, and has been constructed to have two boulevards. This is a far cry from the lotus ponds and burning rubbish piles of ten years ago. I just prayed and prayed that the dog would not have to suffer. I do not know how it turned out.

There are beautiful white cows along the road to Bos Kralanh Village. I noticed one was especially thin. Its shoulders were caved - its ribs were showing. I wonder why since it seemed to share the same grass as the other cows. Since the roads are very bad from rain, we have to travel slowly. Then I saw two cows tied near a house. Suddenly one sort of convulsed and fell to the ground, upside down. I asked Mony if we should go back. He said, "No, the owner will come." A boy, about the size of Barret came running down the road. When we came back, the cows were not there. I like to think it's all right. But I do not know.

At the home of the tailor, there are many cats and dogs. One dog is very old and blind, but he barks anyway and then retreats under his table. I have wondered why there is just one little kitten. The mother would not just have one, would she? And what of the others? And why was this one chosen? When I was a little girl, I remember hearing terrible stories about too many cats or dogs. I try not to wonder about it too much, but I do.

When we go to the house of Mr. Sok to have sewing class, there are dogs. At first, they barked and made quite a fuss when we arrived. Now they just look up with one eye. They expect us to come.

Not far from here there are monkeys and elephants. Other forest creatures share the same struggle as in the USA. Humans are taking over their habitat. I am told that with bribes, you can work around the rules that protect the environment, and the creatures whose habitat is not protected.

JET LAG TV

Dateline
Siem Reap Town - Wed, June 29, 2011, 10:28 p.m.
Pat E Lyon

Gradually, I am turning myself around so that it is now 9:07 a.m. and not 9:07 p.m. At first I would find myself just treading water and not being able to think because I was tired when I wanted to be awake. Then when I wanted to sleep, I was wide awake. I occupied myself by creating purse tie kits. I matched up a tie with fabric I had brought from the U.S. and cut enough for each pattern piece, depending on how much fabric there was and which style of purse it would become. During this time, I would watch TV beyond borders. There are 84 channels which includes many Khmer, German, French, Korean, Malaysian, Chinese, Korean, Thai, HBO, Star, AXN, and "F" which is a fashion channel. There are also channels that I think are like MTV. The Khmer MTV is very innocent. Slow music with background scenes of Angkor Wat. Sometimes the song is about romance that goes awry. Early this morning I was just perplexed at what I saw. I realize that music videos areartistic expression, but this one struck me as very far away from my American culture. I do not know its origin. There was a singer wearing South Asian clothing from traditional dance, but it had been greatly modified into a rock star two piece swim suit kind of thing. A man dressed a little like Liberace was dancing next to her, but I don't think he was singing. There were many dancers on the stage with her. What bothered me the most was that there was a large group of Playboy bunnies wearing white suits and white and pink ears as background dancers. You might want to laugh, but I take a real Gloria Steinem stance on this Hugh Hefner-inspired stuff. I have seen little grade school girls wearing bunny T-shirts. What kind of charm does this hold in part of the world where children are kidnapped and sold into a world of violence and depravity? Please watch the Demi Moore special on CNN about sex trafficking in the world and do what you can to stop it. Feminist Grandmother

NO LAUGHING MATTER

June 26, 2011
Pat E Lyon

First sewing class begins this morning. I am very excited and a little apprehensive. Your prayers are appreciated.

Please try to watch the Demi Moore special on human trafficking on CNN. The feature is about Nepal, but the problem is big here in Cambodia also. Please encourage others to stop joking about or glamorizing prostitution.

DON'T GO TO THE MARKET WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT

June 25, 2011
Pat E Lyon

I cannot imagine how my daughter would manage to go to the market here. First, you must dodge buses, cars, moto bikes and dogs. You step under a kind of tarp and suddenly, it is dark. As your eyes adjust to the light, your senses are absoluely assaulted. There is a wave of odor that is like nothing else. I remembered it as soon as I entered. The smell of hot humans, babies who needed to go to the bathroom (but could not), fish, fish paste, something being grilled, fruits and vegetables. After you accustom yourself to the smells, be prepared for the sights! Chickens with splayed legs and exposed entrails reach toward me as if to clutch at my arm in desperation. Fish stare blankly into space with flies crawling over thei shiny bodies. Wilted long beans and herbs tied tightly into bundles lay in a basket. Red meat lays exposed on a board with dried pieces hanging above. Stacks of cane sugar wrapped in leaves tempt me. There are large bouquets of flowers. A post is pierced with small sticks holding bracelets made from fragrant white jasmine. To move about, you must turn sideways and try to be small so that others may pass. At your feet there are women squatting, working with what they have brought to sell. And just to your right, a young woman is working at a sewing machine, turning fine silk into a ballgown for a wedding. Ahead is a narrow shop where you can get your hair cut or your nails done. There is very little movement of air.

I am tempted to faint, but avoid it. It is wet under my sandals with all the things I have already mentioned and more.

I move ahead, trying to memorize where to find the material shop and the button shop, and a good place to buy shampoo.

This is the old market. It is one of my favorite places. And I like it a thousand times more than Wal Mart. By the way, at the air conditioned Angkor Market, you can buy frozen strawberries for $13.50 US a kilo. I think maybe the small pineapple and watermelon at the old market is better.

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!

Pat at the Wheel and Out of Control

It's that time again! Sam Pritchett, Pat Lyon and I are preparing for the 2011 Cambodia mission. Sam departs Austin, Texas, on Saturday, July 9, and you can follow Sam on his blog, see link at right on this blogspot. I will depart Chicago on Sunday, July 10, and will continue to post on this blog. Pat departed Chicago on Sunday, June 19, and has landed safely in Siem Reap Town Monday evening about 9 pm Wisconsin time.

Thanks to many of you and other generous people who make the Cambodia mission. All of your generous money donations benefit the vulnerable Cambodian people: clean water wells, toilets, domestic hygiene and sanitation education and training, vegetable seeds and fruit tree seedlings, piglets and pig pens, educational scholarships to post secondary education for poor youth, first aid supplies and training, personal hygiene supplies and training, computer equipment and training for youth, sewing equipment and supplies and training for village women. Costs for travel to Cambodia, immunizations, lodging in Cambodia, visas, interpreters, motorbike and car drivers in Cambodia and whatever else is necessary are paid for by mission members themselves and with money they raise in other ways. Please keep the Cambodia mission and the mission members in your prayers. Pat does not yet have a blog, so I'm posting her emails here. Enjoy!! Deanna

Pat at the Wheel and Out of Control
June 22, 2011 9:31 pm

We have known the tailor now for about 6 years. We found her through Christine and Jnnifer Boehm. She has moved for the third time, but we have been able to track her down. She lives across from place where kill pigs, cows, chickens, etc. Now she has a married son who live with her in addition to her very competent single daughter Rothny who works two jobs as an accountant. Her home is two inches away from that of another family. She has created her own jungle at the entrance of the house with flowers and plants that we buy for house plants. On the other side of that there is a frog pond.

This year, one of my goals is to develop competency in sewing with treadle sewing machine. Hers is somewhat foreboding. It is a Janome, industrial strength type, mounted on a cast iron Singer frame. In the past, she has not wanted to serve in a teaching capacity because she is self taught and very modest. She does not know how much I wonder how she can sew without the help of Vogue, Simplicity, MCall's, etc. But now she and Rothny are very excited that I want to learn. Why, I do not know. About five dogs of varying sizes and amounts of fur move aside. There is a tiny newborn kitten in front of me. A pretty little girl about two years old clings to her grandmother because I am large, pale, and wear glasses. Mony needs a cigarette, but he's watching.

I must turn the large wheel at my right and get my feet going at the same time. There is no plastic here, like with my little Nancy's Notions "Babby Lock". (What a wuss name for a machine.) I turn wih all my might and they start shouting at me. They are probably saying "go, go go!" The tailor pulls me from the chair to show me. She spreads her bare feet a certain way. I try to imitate. I sew a little bit crooked and it makes gathers. The machine becomes un-threaded. Rothny tries to thread it from behind and upside down.

I am ready to give up but they persist. Once again the tailor shows me with her feet and I finally get it. Right-left, right-left, etc. Wow! Exercise and sew at the same time. Left hand must guide and pull fabric. Four body parts all doing something different at the same time. Good thing I'm not chewing gum!

I am measured for a dress and shirt. I point, show pictures, nod yes or no. I shoo Mr. Mony from the room to get measured. This is a probem. We agree to come again for another lesson. Adieu, adieu!

The next night I return at 5:00 pm because cooler. But sewing machine broken. She shows us where a new part is needed. I tell them I am glad it was not me! Pat L