My last full day in Takeo was one that felt like the last day of school/exams in high school. My Saturday before that felt like the last day of school before a big exam the next week. With the half day on Saturday studying, I felt prepared for my exam on Monday. Monday morning came and I went to school at 7:00 to get my coffee and pork and rice before wanting to practice by studying with Yanuth, my teacher. However, instead of studying with Yanuth, I talked to Sovichea for 40 minutes and did not study for my exam (but it was all good, I did well so it is ok). After my 30-minute Khmer oral exam, I went home and washed some final laundry before eating lunch with my host family. This was one of the only times the whole family ate together, including with my host dad who usually does not join us for dinner. It was a nice lunch and I got to give them some of the small gifts I had from the U.S. and then I also gave them a framed photo that I had printed out from when we went to the pagoda together. I am proud to say that this photo now lives next to my host sister's bed.
After lunch, my close group of friends and I biked 30 minutes to a quarry where people sometimes swim (our site coordinator said it was ok to go!) Because it was a school day, there was no one there. It is more common for Cambodians to swim in their clothes, especially women still sticking with a more modest look and so I wore my pants and shirt into the water. At first I did not get in but I walked out to about waist high. The others swam a little further, but I stayed next to the ledge and was DJ for the music. A little later, a cow showed up as well as a man who was enjoying the shade. We also saw a monk and his friend go swimming on the
other side of the water and then also a group of school boys came later to swim. Once it hit about 3:30, we all decided to head back so we could spend time with our families and host siblings once they came back from school. (We did stop to get a tea and I also bought some cooked bananas from a street vendor, as well as getting some ice cream.)
When I got home, my host sister still wasn't home yet. However, while I was trying to do some Peace Corps homework, a group of kids came to my house (some who were my students during the practice teach) and they all decided they wanted to play games with me. I don't know how I got roped into it, but these kids decided to play hide and seek, resulting in 5 kids holding my hand/guiding me where to hide (including them whisper-yelling "mao tinih"-come here). Finally my host sister came home and I whispered to her to help me out and make up an excuse that I can't play anymore because I have homework. Thank goodness for my 12 year old sister telling them that I had homework to do (which I know how to say in Khmer but if I said it I still don't think they would leave.)
For my last night in Takeo, my host family had a small party with Jess and Kaylee's families. We had family style Khmer food and ate and drank and then of course listened to the top 5 Khmer songs that my host family knows and then danced to Baby, the Macarena, and the Cupid Shuffle (those songs will now haunt me forever because they wanted to always dance to those songs.) Going in to the next day, I was all packed to leave but also super sad. I woke up early enough to eat breakfast with my host sister and tell her one last goodbye before having to go to school. I was tearing up when she left but also 6:30 in the morning was too early to process that I was leaving that day. Some PC staff came to my house and were able to pick up all of my belongings to take to my new house and then an hour later it was time for me to leave. I hugged my mai goodbye and I started to tear up and then she started to cry. I know I will miss her so much because she was one of my many Cambodian moms. She is such an incredible woman and was so kind to me (and even posted on Facebook that although we breakup now I will be her daughter forever.)
We headed to Phnom Penh to finish off the trainings before swearing in today. I was able to explore Phnom Penh with my friends, and also endure the crazy traffic that is there as well. On the first day, Kyle cut my hair because she had hair cutting scissors and I thought that I might as well cut it a little before going to site (a true bonding moment in the hotel.) I was able to ride tuk tuks around and also walk with my friends and there are for sure things I need to see in Phnom Penh when I go back! Also while walking, my host sister always happened to call me while trying to go to dinner. We would talk for 20 minutes and then when it was time for me to hang up, she would not take no for an answer. I think we both just miss each other a lot because she was my best buddy.
And now finally coming to today, I swore in as a Peace Corps Volunteer! I got to wear traditional Cambodian clothing which you would usually wear to an important event or a wedding and I felt like a pretty princess with all of the sparkles! There were many great speeches, including from Cambodian government officials and U.S. officials. After the ceremony, we took a lot of photos and then went upstairs to change fast, say goodbye to our friends and teachers, and load the vans to go to our provinces. It was not as tough of a goodbye because I know I will see all of my close friends again in 3 months. As I write this now, some of my friends have already made it to their sites, but I am still in the van venturing to Banteay Meanchey! I am super excited to start the adventure!
You are amazing! what a great opportunity. I admire you! ♥️