So, I wrote this post several days ago, but the internet sucks here, and has been going down whenever I was going to post it. So, here it is.

Hello folks,

Over the past few days, I've gone through in my mind a whole bunch of different ways to start this post. I suppose that self-referential writing is sort of an anti-climactic decision to ultimately make, but it's easy and gets me typing.

So, stuff has kind of happened since I last wrote. Looking back, I realize that the kids hadn't even arrived at the project when I first wrote, three days ago. By now it seems like we've known them for ages. The past few days have been some of the longest in my life, but also, to use an incredibly cliché and perhaps empty phrase, some of the most rewarding. It's been incredible, but the project has gone further than anything I really could have expected.

Unfortunately, at this point it's kind of hard to report on individual events. Things are starting to blur, and it's very late (I'm making myself write this post, though). There have been many really meaningful events, though.

It's funny because in some ways I feel out of place. One factor is that I'm white. Only two other members of our mentor team, Trent and Kevin, are also Caucasian, and of us three I feel least versed in Cambodian culture. Trent, if you don't him, spent five months last year in Cambodia as a monk, is fluent in Khmer, and generally has a great deal of respect and understanding for the culture. Kevin has been very close to Trent for several years, and took his interest in Cambodian culture from him.

For me, on the other hand, I really only gained an appreciation or even genuine awareness of the country this year. As petty as it may seem, my interest stemmed from watching The Killing Fields, about the Cambodian genocide, well before I even heard of SEALnet. I did some research, and when Kevin told me about the program, I decided very quickly I wanted to apply. I'll admit, though, that much of that decision had to do with building my resume. I didn't necessarily know what to expect from the program.

Despite all of this, though, I've ended up not feeling uncomfortable at all. Strange.

There's many things I could go on to talk about, but I think I'll start with my group members, then see how I feel. Simply put, they're incredible. Every once and a while I'm simply struck by how well we work as a group, how open everyone is, and the energy we've maintained. There are some people I feel I've grown very close to rather quickly.

It's also very good to be working with Kevin again, who is one of my best friends from high school. We are co-leading a workshop on public speaking, for which we presented the first of two sessions today. Honestly, I was worried that we would be able to pull it off. Public speaking is an abstract and difficult thing to teach, even without taking language barriers into account. It felt very good, though. It was fantastic being in front of the students and working with them, and I felt that they actuallty took some understanding of confidence, vocalization, etc. away from the workshop. Banished that migraine I'd had for the past day, at least for a while.

I've had my series of issues, sure, some of which I'd rather not share here. Come ask me in person, if you're curious, and I'll probably tell you, though. There are some moments when we have feedback or information sessions when I can just see our time oozing away into the gutter. I spent one recent discussion, a rather lengthy debate over what I thought was kind of a triviaul subject that was actually solved very quickly, doodling a man with a large club beating a dead horse. There have been times where I can't sit still, but I haven't felt the urge to throttle anyone so far, so I suppose that's a good thing.

Another concern I've had, really, is being able to find some common ground between my Western background, which is my only personal frame of reference, the traditional aspect of Cambodian culture our students are familiar with, and the concept of allowing art to grow and evolve to make it relevant to new generations. It's a concept that's hard to articulate. Hah, I've been saying and thinking that very much lately, both about people and ideas. What a group.

I recommend everyone pay a visit to Cambodia at some point.

Tired now. I realize I haven't really writen much substantial. I'll try and talk more about specifics next time.