tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15360094394336827522024-03-13T12:44:39.300-06:00An Expat Family and Their AdventuresChapters 1: Guatemala 2: Abu Dhabi 3: Mexico 4: Phnom Penh, CambodiaBenjamin Barnetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06143931257883543792noreply@blogger.comBlogger448125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536009439433682752.post-89189789464144038362019-01-24T10:46:00.000-06:002019-01-24T17:48:29.628-06:00Donna Rose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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May has always been a special month in my family because so many of the matriarchal figures shared that month as their birthday month.</div>
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My grandmother</div>
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My great-aunt who was practically another grandmother</div>
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my mom</div>
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me</div>
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a cousin ironically named June.</div>
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It always felt really special to share that month with people who were so important to me.</div>
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When I was born, my great aunt turned 50. We always kept up with each other's age that way. Her name was Donna Rose.</div>
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When my mom's parents took turns working day and night shift, Donna was one of the people who helped raise her.</div>
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She was the kind of person who always took care of other people. </div>
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In our recent move to El Paso, I finally got to empty some boxes out of storage that were too special to move with us around the world. There were so many things in there that reminded me of Donna. A quilt from when I was a baby, then one from when I was a little girl, one from when I liked tigers best, another from when purple and yellow were my favorite colors. One from when I got married and she made one for my husband. One from when I had my first baby and she made her one too... no wonder her hands started giving out. I have the recipe book she put together for me when I got married and a collage of all of the pictures she had of me with family members. Finding all of these things reminded me how much she made me feel loved.</div>
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She was my first Sunday School teacher, baby sitter, and person to tell me I was <i>definitely</i> old enough to start wearing deodorant.</div>
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She made us grilled cheese sandwiches by lining up cheese-filled bread on a cookie tray and cooking them in the oven. When I asked my mom why she made it that way instead of on the stove, she said "probably because she came from a family of 8 kids, and cooking them on the stove would take too long."</div>
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We shared a love of bright colors, good stories, and all sorts of good recipes.</div>
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After the oldest child in her family was born, 9 years passed before her parents had any more children. Then, Donna was born. Her 9 year old brother was less than impressed with her ousting him from the only-child category and teased her a lot. </div>
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She never was very self-confident. If you wanted to see self-sacrifice in action, though, she was definitely one to learn from.</div>
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I miss her so much.</div>
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The theme of this blog has always been the "unscripted" way life tends to happen.<br />
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You may, for example, be doing an RV trip to Mexico and all of the sudden life converges, and BAM, you settle down in El Paso. You know, theoretically.<br />
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That's what happened to us. I was dealing with Graves' disease, working part-time, homeschooling 3 kids, and nursing the baby while Ben was working on his doctorate, dealing with RV hauling/setting up/repair, and then got a job as a live-class ,online teacher.<br />
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Sounds fun, right? Know what's even more fun? Keeping the kids from going crazy in an RV while it's cold and rainy outside and your husband is teaching an online class and SERIOUSLY needs them to stay quiet. I'm sure most people would be great at this, ;) but for me it was a struggle.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe enjoyed playing mini golf for her 2nd birthday.</td></tr>
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Ben and I had previously looked at settling in El Paso because it checks a lot of boxes: bilingual/multilingual community, very close to Mexico, dual-language schools, cultural events, universities/colleges, fourth largest city in Texas, mild winters, decent cost of living... you get the point.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elias is taking apart a lawnmower that doesn't work.</td></tr>
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We arrived in El Paso after Ben got hired as an online teacher. My part-time contract job was complete soon after. As we discussed options for me to find another job, Ben decided it was time to enroll the kids in the dual-language program in El Paso so that I could also work teaching Spanish online. Within what felt like a week in November, everything fell into place: the kids started school, we found a house we loved with a yard we could rent, I was hired to teach online, and Ben found a church he liked. It felt like something had exploded, but, in a good way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were able to see family for winter break.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">So, for now, and probably at least until Ben is done with his doctorate and gets settled with whatever he wants to DO with the doctorate afterwards, we are in El Paso, and it feels nice to be back in Texas after 9 years abroad. There are so many things that are new to us again: Libraries! Public parks! Supermarkets! Local phone calls! A working postal service! I think my favorite things so far have been my mailbox, backyard with grass, and a clothesline... and it's nice to be able to drive and see family when we need to, though it is a full day of driving. I love teaching Spanish!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monkeys in the backyard...</td></tr>
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We like that it's closer to Ben's dad, and that he drives through on business occasionally.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have pecan trees!</td></tr>
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My family jokes that we found the furthest possible place to still be in Texas but still be about 12 hours away from them. At least we're in a closer time zone, though. It's crazy how big Texas is!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't have a 3 and a 7 for Ben's birthday, so I used a 4 and a 7...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Look Talia, a dragonfly!" except it ended up being 2 dragonflies copulating.</td></tr>
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Before arriving in Choke Canyon, some important things happened that impacted our stay: On our way to Mississippi (or from? I don't remember now) to see Ben's family, we stopped in Louisiana. The place we stayed had a concrete pad, but with dirt and grass growing on top. This wouldn't have been a problem but for a couple of issues: The starter went out on the truck and it rained a lot. The truck was stuck on the marshy pad and there was nothing to do but for Ben to get under it and fix it. It was super tight and finicky for his beefy hands, but he got it replaced laying on his back in the marsh and after the sun went down and lighting wasn't great and it rained the whole time. The truck starting the next morning was a wonderful sound.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choke Canyon Reservoir</td></tr>
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Choke Canyon National Park is beautiful. It is in Calliham, near Three Rivers, Texas. We appreciated the many trails, showers with good water pressure and hot water, and the friendly staff. And that's just the surface. While we were here our truck messed up again, so we were pretty stuck in the park for almost a month. We used our bicycles to explore all of the trails and to check out the reservoir, basketball courts, and to spot wild animals.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using downtime to knit my sister's birthday present</td></tr>
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Ben thinks the foul conditions of the truck repair lead to a bolt not getting screwed in tight enough. Supposedly it wiggled loose in all of the travel and shorted out the computer. We ended up needing batteries as well. Not fun, but necessary. Because we were park hosts here, we were able to stay for free in exchange for Ben counting cars at differing hours each evening. This could have been extra expensive if we were also paying for a site. I'm thankful for the timing of the issue.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elias at the basketball court</td></tr>
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If you're going to be stuck somewhere, this is a great place to be, minus the distance from any sort of store. I was thankful I had things like lentils and rice in the pantry to cook with, but we really missed eggs for breakfast. Ben figured out how to order groceries from Jet, but still, eggs weren't an option. With the wild turkeys around the park we joked about finding some eggs scavenging, but I'm pretty sure that's a good way to get a fine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild javelinas</td></tr>
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The weather was really nice all the way up to the last week and a half that we were there, then it got really cold and rainy. That was the week the kids and I went to my parent's house for my cousin's wedding. It was really nice to be in the States when something like that happened so that we could be with family.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many butterflies here</td></tr>
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Walking on the trails, we saw trees covered in cocoons. They were everywhere. Of course, this meant there were also butterflies everywhere. One evening when we went to play on the badminton/tennis/basketball court they were so thick in the air we couldn't even throw the basketball or it would knock them down.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_3cbe_65c5_f301_e936" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AxGpls0-QBI/W90kWF-pztI/AAAAAAAADY4/uFwxjY7z8Cstaf1fGx44lNR4z8ELyfSkACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly-friendly flowers like Lantana have encouraged the many butterflies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of the kids' favorite activities at the campsite was to have a bonfire and roast hotdogs and marshmallows. They would spend hours collecting twigs and trash from the campsites and burn it just to watch it disappear. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_6fe3_ccae_ffb1_ecf0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g9tGnz1jQGI/W90kXKjmmOI/AAAAAAAADZI/0O77KvDbbTYe5d-MF1wdImSjDjCKVOLqwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How to roast marshmallows without a stick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was thankful we had invested in a RV washer. The downside of these campsites was the lack of sewer/gray water hookups. Instead, you needed a tank with wheels that would attach to a hitch to empty the tanks into, or else you'd have to take the whole camper to the dump station and empty the tanks. As the truck was in the shop and a fine of $500 was the penalty for dumping gray water on the ground, sometimes it was a challenge to keep them empty. Thankfully, since Ben was a park host, he was allowed to take some classes that let him drive a park vehicle: a gator and a van. This was really helpful. It also allowed him to not get eaten up by the millions of helicopter-sized mosquitoes that were thick in the air every evening when he went to count cars.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_d072_85f2_f3b9_68ac" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bxaIzMqFRaA/W90kYcVkZcI/AAAAAAAADZQ/7sKfs1KI8MIFgoGTSDUxSR-fe4ImOFkxQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a lot of laundry with 6 people</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
While we enjoyed our time here, we all breathed a sigh of relief when we got the truck back and could travel to the next location.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" id="id_c4c2_5976_1ac0_762e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--CMMCWp1aWI/W90kXHlHMKI/AAAAAAAADZM/0QidQb8072I0gFOWjadJWUElkuui9sxawCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer are abundant in this park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Ben heard about a beach where you can boondock (park an RV with no electricity or water hookup) for free on the Gulf area of Texas. It was ideal because it had free showers, picnic tables, and sea shell-packed beaches instead of sand the truck would sink into.<br />
<div>
<img alt="" id="id_ad3_bf12_75b0_a21a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vD3Gyn46P8o/W75uYD96BII/AAAAAAAADX0/1GEV9Vu6Qt4TlqTaRTpbySVExToDSuS3QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The wind from the sea was really strong.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_ce13_bf20_2587_6516" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fhRu5eVe_e8/W75ufpl3ChI/AAAAAAAADYI/nHFFkOjc8kovB5w1-jxp_3cjxKuOzUYvwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The kids liked throwing things for the sea gulls to catch.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_aabc_efc5_cbb3_1db3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rulCHYnC1Ps/W75udvC3XcI/AAAAAAAADX8/ZYvoZ-PIMCsa3hHp-vpF71mYvrUqnIhIwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Of course, investigating cool rocks and shells was fun.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_f3b4_7884_9ab8_c9eb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Efj7shNcHI/W75ud__Vb8I/AAAAAAAADYA/KzC2yqcKHsgVJiNRxN5tK3WhGFMhHgiQgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
And searching for crabs: there were many!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_d5ed_2a00_7250_2a39" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x-QyNvsIwn8/W75ucu_CWuI/AAAAAAAADX4/ckIl-2y0OyU7pM_KNKUEStICIYa5MKgjQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
But the favorite thing to do was to get on the edge of the waves and let them bounce them up and down.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_d15b_ceb5_83c8_e194" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xoJSSbM9M9c/W75ufrvsBvI/AAAAAAAADYE/QkDpmzlyWVMOCRVIXgl3ky2_urMXJ3dYwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Since it was tropical storm season, it rained every thirty minutes off and on, but this beach is in a bay that the storm wasn’t actually coming through. On our last day there, however, the flash flood warnings and tornado warnings were constant.</div>
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We made it out without mishaps.</div>
</div>
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Not long ago a friend of mine was telling me how he didn't know how sick he was until he finally felt good one day after getting treatment for the previously unknown diabetes. I think this is how humans are, generally. We cope and adapt to new environments and body needs for energy and children, until we can't. Then we finally get help.<br />
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This blog post has been a long time coming; you could possibly say a lot longer than the month and a half I've been figuring out what was the problem. I've had these symptoms for a long time:<br />
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Inability to sit still with constant pressure to get something done.<br />
Anxiety, depression, anger<br />
Rapid heartbeat (to the point I could no longer run without feeling like I would pass out.)<br />
Difficulty sleeping. <br />
<br />
Finally, all of the different, seemingly unrelated, symptoms came together in a way that makes sense. I don't usually go to the doctor unless I HAVE to. I went to the doctor this time because sometimes when I picked Zoe up, my side muscle would snap, like a giant rubber band feeling, and I would almost drop her. I also asked at the last minute if we could check the thyroid as another member of my family had seen issues with that. So we scanned the abdomen and the thyroid. The abdominal scan came back normal and I haven't had the issue that pushed me to go to the doctor in the first place reoccur. The thyroid was enlarged to different degrees on both sides. The blood work confirmed that there was a problem. The doctor at the clinic sent me to get a biopsy at a bigger hospital. <br />
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<div>
We went to the hospital to get a biopsy, but the
doctor refused to do it. He said he wasn't convinced that there was a
mass to biopsy and since there were so many blood vessels, it could
cause a problem. They re-did the scans and the blood work. I have
hyperthyroidism and a swollen thyroid, but no cancer. The doctor assumed
that it is <a href="https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/graves-disease/graves-disease-symptoms" target="_blank">Graves' disease</a>: an auto-immune disorder where the body
attacks the thyroid and makes it produce too much hormone, and sometimes
attacks the tissue behind the eyes. The doctor who casually threw out the Graves' diagnosis (no test, but almost all hyperthyroidism is caused by Graves') gave some conflicting information however: don't eat things like shellfish and sea weed because of the high iodine, but do use iodized salt. What!? So I went back to the clinic where they can do a simple test for the iodine and see if I actually need to avoid it or not. </div>
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I don't understand why no doctor here has even mentioned the connection the thyroid has to the diet beside this one iodine issue. There seems to be a lot of online diet claims for thyroid, (mostly hypothoroidism,) and mostly not by people who have any credentials to be talking about it. So, there's a lot of research to do.</div>
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</div>
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I have to wean Zoe to get medication to suppress the thyroid. Zoe does not like that at all. She won't take milk from a
bottle of any sort or temperature. Since she's only 1, she still needs
milk, so I'm trying to figure that out. She's eating pretty good during
the day time, but starting the night weaning is not something I look
forward to. Until then, I'm to take medicine to slow down my heart... but the side effects include things like weight gain and depression. So far I've felt better, though, and if the heart rate isn't controlled it can lead to an enlarged heart and eventual failure.</div>
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In a way, I'm just relieved to know what's behind all of the things I've been feeling, but haven't been able to name. </div>
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January was a month when a lot of things hit at once. I know I can usually eek out a blog post between the kids, and the part time job, and the house work, and the Bible study, and the homeschool, and the working out, but this time it just wasn't happening. But that's for another post. Today I want to celebrate the good things that happened this January.<br />
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On the top of that list, is our sweet Zoe turning 1!!!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_1068_8791_7d92_6661" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Gm08Tcm18Y/WopQ4AuUmeI/AAAAAAAADTc/xJ0dVWSndkkCpXF9L6xGcEJJtnobbA3gQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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I remember when our first child turned 1 and had a party with lots of relatives and gifts. By the fourth child you realize that 1) you don't really need that much stuff and 2) they're not going to remember it anyway. There's always the drawback of missing family while abroad, however.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_a649_c16_10da_e139" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U2sREOMoY4o/WopQ2TG_3fI/AAAAAAAADTU/5Tsg0VjlqkIaeTe8a5IS-O7X9Q8pkIHMgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
We tried this astringent tasting fruit at the market again.<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="" id="id_1b02_620c_39a5_f67" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r6dkty7b8fM/WopQ4fSLKbI/AAAAAAAADTg/EKqpr1QHtUsTIWU4xRgr_-bQBiqq9WW6wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We found a really cool place with a great swimming pool and playground where you can go for free if you buy food. That’s why Talia has rosy cheeks here, she’s a water baby who will stay in the pool until you make her get out!</span></div>
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<img alt="" id="id_1694_42c3_f798_bc0e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fRvnbSInyes/WopQ1-BfIPI/AAAAAAAADTQ/kdPhRpQfMjEaDVtXSvd_25ZldEKO3OIvwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The playground was really nice too.</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="" id="id_b7d3_4d24_c41a_d89" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XUwCo3X1SDo/WopQ6MzxqHI/AAAAAAAADTw/7STMbwu8DIAOq-3HMSAN2f1_hBcyyvUuACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
It’s next to a golf driving range, so everything is covered with a net roof to catch stray balls.</div>
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The kids really enjoyed it and slept for a good 2 hours when we got home! Ben was at an Environmental Summit in Singapore for five days because the group of students needed the principal along for the trip abroad, so napping children meant more sanity for me!</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_4952_b7a4_3eae_e58e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nChpYspuAeQ/WopQ34xAjEI/AAAAAAAADTY/renHqN3crJoq8_Ck2ijDFoyd_GxLsIF1ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Ben came home really impressed by Singapore! It was clean!</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_c417_44ae_40c9_8a9a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FIrAGQufyVI/WopQ5qQ_78I/AAAAAAAADTo/eHPKGW2G4YQg3qDvtvC8604tl371d1iYgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
It had great museums.</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="" id="id_8a5d_9da1_15b7_4de8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bHQyRFvZsaE/WopQ5aZTQXI/AAAAAAAADTk/Rq-26JFXkqQhHUhZDsLszko5PyPhStOSwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
And he especially liked the Singaporean chicken and rice!</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_2bd8_b76a_8565_f2d8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-prfaEvAdj6k/WopQ5-rm4yI/AAAAAAAADTs/lOqDpfhZywIjYXStSfPrxPrG_3ZAg6BBQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
I’m glad he’s back home!</div>
</div>
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Winter break in Cambodia has been a mixture of busy and relaxing.
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<img alt="" id="id_986c_e8f8_d3b4_37e4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HsRfkVTxOXo/WlBSUhhnQgI/AAAAAAAADSg/RwVNukTQWBM6oIiM5Se88qMIu1H_DiLaQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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The kids got money from Grammy this December. They’ve been talking about learning ukulele, so it was the perfect time to get one. (It’s also a small enough instrument to fit in the luggage.)</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_6c0e_c053_a4f4_ba83" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m691RqJAcdY/WlBSPhdzbzI/AAAAAAAADSU/68tjB0WbG74BrWRmkJoUcwC1uM0A9HHdACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
We put a rear-facing car seat in the tuktuk. Sometimes she likes it and sometimes she screams. It’s a good thing to get used to.</div>
<div>
<img alt="" id="id_5daf_633e_88db_3ac5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RAmPDmS4fsk/WlBSTZ5aWzI/AAAAAAAADSc/gVnwx9VHIbInmqotAT4RroE82LRvLRDagCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The kids have been out of school for almost two weeks now. They enjoyed getting things like French toast for breakfast since we’re usually too busy for that (and it has too much sugar! Here, Ezra is licking the powdered sugar spoon.)</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_570e_f5af_bcc3_6c8a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DBSQDyHRUX0/WlBSSUCyuOI/AAAAAAAADSY/yT0sffx1_78w7YlTf0R9vsRFyMiFmGehgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
It wasn’t all sugar, though, Ben made this awesome supper of chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and asparagus one evening! Delicious!</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_4780_1c81_c875_a2c9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HfXJhYbCJ88/WlBSU8HVPkI/AAAAAAAADSk/hKvYPhtBgJ4BaJIZiJuziRhnasLAtncfgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
We were able to take the kids to Kid City for the first time! The older ones loved Clip ‘n Climb and Zoe enjoyed Toddler Town.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_3d2d_176f_4120_e4bc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uRDFDHUJ1o0/WlBSWfZVbcI/AAAAAAAADSo/dh9JlKNrHBIYAvAtjho2mXJKw3cguaoEQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
We visited the “park” and since there were no play places, the kids invented their own. We enjoyed being in the green!</div>
</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lot369/" target="_blank"><u><b>LOT369</b></u></a><br>
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Lot369 is a little pricey compared to other restaurants in Phnom Penh, but by looking at their menu, you can see why. Some of that money goes into paying a fair wage, plus they offer foods that are hard-to-find in other restaurants. When compared to restaurants in the U.S., it is still extremely affordable. Here are some of the options:<br>
<img alt="" id="id_333e_f3a9_b69c_444e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9Wgahy_NXIU/WhuReafYVeI/AAAAAAAADOs/POTp9oYLIagVu5FlglmSanTEC7Y8zvfygCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip=""><br>
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Here is a coconut milk, turmeric latte from Lot369, as they were out of cashew milk. It's great to see non-caffeinated warm drinks available. <br>
<img alt="" id="id_e55f_7806_9d8a_d17a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n_IuRvnBLc8/WhuRcYMzI2I/AAAAAAAADOg/0hrLEelil3AER0hf_CJzRo8U8uZ46YpzgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip=""><br>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We saw the lemongrass and ginger kombucha; but there were several other flavors.</span><br>
<img alt="" id="id_5ec4_bc60_2e4c_f1b1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wc3FIxRtvAI/WhuRciGxmhI/AAAAAAAADOk/ELoPyBO4j9wIBHCD_fOdgsb-9tGefIHbgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip=""><br>
Lot369 has vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. They have an environmentally-sustainable mindset. They had re-usable coffee cups for sale if you wanted a drink to go, bamboo straws and recycled plates and cups. The furniture was made from pallets. We chose to eat in the upstairs room, because it was connected to......<br>
<img alt="" id="id_ba86_bfeb_6943_43a1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iAMN6Ghql7c/WhuRd4GotrI/AAAAAAAADOo/goAbszJw1GonwlGpiuqhlottg8xU4zX1gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 236px;" title="" tooltip=""><br>
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The all-too-rare-in-Cambodia kid's playroom! It was amazing to sit and talk with Benjamin while the kids were enthralled with new-to-them toys for a good while. Going on dates in an international setting with kids can be tricky, so this was a great find! They have kids-eat-free day on Thursday, so we’ll have to try it again.<br>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kilik-Bakery-Shop/437136156444947" target="_blank"><u><b>KILIK</b></u></a><br>
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<img alt="" id="id_d352_36b_4a1b_860d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YlmADQM3SII/WhuRfGDt94I/AAAAAAAADOw/QzFDvQ5GTh4s9JdL9awVPb96Jq-vhppPgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip=""><br>
At Kilik bakery and cafe, you can buy the drink of your choice, averaging at $2 and receive two pastries free. In addition, they bring a free cup of iced/hot Jasmin tea. This means we can order two drinks for adults and one or two (they are BIG) for the kids to share, and get enough pastries for everyone! With the tea thrown in, it's a great deal. Our favorite pastries include chocolate croissants, apple bread, banana bread, berry filled pastries and cupcakes. They have recently started offering sandwiches as well, so we can get out of there with lunch for under $10. (That's insane with a family of 6). Plus, the staff is friendly and competent, and there is comfortable seating. Kilik also has an air-conditioned meeting room closed off from the main seating area if you need that kind of space.<br>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CYCLOcafe0911/" target="_blank"><u><b>CYCLO CAFE</b></u></a><br>
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<img alt="" id="id_6ce3_2412_c2e5_3870" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GZJ701IMvwA/WhuRf-um54I/AAAAAAAADO0/Q_YcP5CC0x8ospY5B-KeIOxr6CwDi8mwgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip=""><br>
The Cyclo cafe was an interesting place. They have several seating options, including an outside area up stairs.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_ede4_b35b_c404_276f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n0d4FwcLik4/WhuRhV0IDwI/AAAAAAAADO8/3kcDImJuZ-wiQN-MTpvESpaVH-mGDo5bgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip=""><br>
It was almost part museum, part cafe. The boys enjoyed modeling the rickshaw. This is a really fancy rickshaw compared to the ones we see near the riverside that are often a beaten up red or green color, or like <a href="https://youtu.be/HE2LQFpJAL4?t=2m49s" target="_blank">this one</a>.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_7c3b_89a9_d9f3_2ba5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x4EbdEiO6h0/WhuRgML0u7I/AAAAAAAADO4/6ythCXH-Kgwro-vgKJDtl7gvmz_DBsuZwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip=""><br>
Cyclo cafe has many drinks around $2, and they are a good size, too. This was a framed Cambodian stringed instrument. it is similar to <a href="https://youtu.be/G44wEweBfq4" target="_blank">the one played here</a>. In the bathroom, there were these sprouting seeds. They are similar to these <a href="https://youtu.be/Gpvh-CzhynE" target="_blank">avocado</a> seed sprouts, but I couldn't tell if they were for sure. What's your best guess?</div>
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<img alt="" height="300" id="id_ddd7_8bd9_f3dd_d65e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ALc8SUJ8ZiA/WhuRikD2CqI/AAAAAAAADPA/2hy_EPtfY4AZ5WhJE6QPqJGrkb1rI5fUwCHMYCw/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" width="400"><br>
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So, if you are looking for a sustainable variety of food, great value, or a cultural experience, these places are a great place to take a break and recharge with family. We hope you try them and enjoy them as much as we have!<br>
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(This is not a sponsored post. We only share it because our first month in Cambodia, we pretty much lived off of peanut butter because we couldn't 1)find food, and 2)find our way back home from said food, and 3) it was frustrating to find affordable options that were good for a family of our size, hygienic and tasty.)</div>
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Thanksgiving abroad can be depressing if you don't actively create your own celebration; even better if you add friends. Last year we didn't really know anyone (especially from the U.S.) to celebrate Thanksgiving with. I was also really pregnant and we were saving for the baby. A turkey is pretty expensive here, so we just had a simple dinner at home. This year, however, was better! Friends from my bible study group got together and had Thanksgiving. The five families who were there all had a few kids each, and they had a blast together running around outside in the (rare-to-find) garden play space. We enjoyed chicken, stuffing, salad, broccoli and cheese, quiche, and many desserts along with great conversation.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_5a0c_b89d_ec73_648f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lJWTmtGXbm8/WhuLHjuz15I/AAAAAAAADOM/3BnxfeO2rvAY4l2cabUFG3QsK-PofZbqACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 317px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Thanksgiving also fell on Ben's birthday this year. I find that appropriate! Not because he's a turkey, but because we are thankful for him. ;) We celebrated a day early with apple bread and sweet potato pie. I also made him cinnamon rolls the next day to take to the Thanksgiving feast, and made sure he got one. Ben likes plain vanilla ice cream most of the time.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_d39b_ba94_9178_5633" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ISgyJRUycn4/WhuLISjZPYI/AAAAAAAADOQ/oju8A5CpRkIpQhnxLZOrQlFRWiZOmUYlQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 259px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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At the store we had to dig through flavors like sweet corn, taro/yam, cheese, durian, jackfruit and ruammitter, before finally, at the bottom, we found plain vanilla! Vanilla ice cream with apple bread is amazing.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_d74e_a067_b55f_e0b8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_x4mF0wB5bM/WhuLFjDzCsI/AAAAAAAADOI/JKBtuwQtt6QkluKJLDKswJUQoXmMS54kQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 254px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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I'm thankful to not be pregnant this Thanksgiving but rather to have all of my children where I can hug them. I'm thankful for my husband who takes us on so many adventures. I'm thankful for you, because if you're reading this, you're probably family who cares.<br />
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When it rains, every once in a while, it comes in under the roof with strong wind and seeps down the walls, pooling in the boy’s room.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_1f34_f960_e546_2615" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZhgV4PFTJks/WgvTDC6FJII/AAAAAAAADNY/rlxudX8jaaARIjxerGxWZz2l--l-0bx4ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Since he reads himself to sleep and then kicks books off his bed, this book got really soggy. I tried to help it dry in the toaster oven. Rainy season is supposed to be finished, but it still rains fairly regularly.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_4ab0_1c97_e2ef_7e90" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0190jLntUi0/WhJ-GMJemCI/AAAAAAAADNs/TTVtsRiMGocqZWeQ99ngSVyQFPuVa_dtwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Some friends from New York came through and we made them Khmer curry.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_2d60_b468_7536_61eb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G0mxLLyRCWQ/WhJ-GsYARfI/AAAAAAAADNw/yz3QrdFuHPQ-T8SQV5H2OuyQVNfDiAREwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The kids loved playing, reading books and then watching a video about the cargo ships prompted by the book.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_4ca4_587d_4b77_37b6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-syGSkCnM834/WhJ-HJ_Dk7I/AAAAAAAADN0/MgznGJKmlMkWRHGuINIwscqN50gHO3v6gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The next morning we got them breakfast from our favorite (fresh) street vendor. I noticed they used a type of rocket stove to cook the rice and boil water for tea.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_387c_8c76_d92a_c976" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vpJDBQAIImg/WhJ-FN1i7fI/AAAAAAAADNo/WWbSyMUrXWoBQxEVOiTdOjJY34hfiBupACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The kids (and I) were excited that our guests brought chocolate! Thanks!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_6f65_1402_ae5e_9c2d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n9iOiAvigq8/WhJ-IvJsiFI/AAAAAAAADN4/7-nNkavvnz4hQmYx-s9NcWLoXzkaeGOiACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
In other news, we are interviewing for several places and some of the feeling of being in limbo may be lifted or prolonged depending on the results. Until then, we’ll appreciate the time we have in Cambodia.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_b97b_574f_f536_9da5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j9TBFUZwSxM/WgYwOgg_CSI/AAAAAAAADMQ/fcCu7Qa-ryMT4hw7OSoWzxyQATWV96B_ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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When we scheduled a visit for Zoe to see family, we were fortunate to be able to squeeze my cousin’s wedding in! It’s these sorts of things that we normally miss. Today I will miss my grandfather’s funeral.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_9f37_ef90_15c9_1b15" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hGaCvB-z19g/WgYwOYkGMRI/AAAAAAAADMM/1Jgr72idtqcEcCn6x1bURj64lIgChNr7gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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This guy taught me how to fish, and took us for rides on his pontoon boat. Sometimes I even got to steer. He had a great batter recipe for fried fish. Grambo took me to the driving range, and man was whacking a golf ball as hard as I could, fun! Once I got to go on vacation with Grambo, my grandma and my cousin.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_d1e_cd97_858_a3f4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o_oD_Cv-P60/WgYwOz1ZdlI/AAAAAAAADMY/JwvpWFoHpv4xVLLhqMM5xei-TLHNbpmEACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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I’m not at all the only one who got to do things with him. Here he was teaching my brother to fish.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_bb82_52d7_b608_f221" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9OluGCEmAZs/WgYwOsDERZI/AAAAAAAADMU/ZwcpnuNKFsgz2SyAfEuC2NjZUXg1JHEkACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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He was the guy looking out for people on that side of the family. When Parkinson’s slowly took away his physical abilities, he got better at listening. Many of his grandkids went to him for advice. He showed us that it didn’t matter what one could DO; being there and holding the space as a caring influence in the family was enough. Physically, life is about reductions, and that he was a good example of, but spiritual life grows exponentially to life’s reductions, and I think he showed that too. We’ll miss him.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_1750_259b_9faa_56fb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MQ9qXfHEbc8/Wf04qCKkG2I/AAAAAAAADLA/EcgY3eOYIJkFzePurHE-Z2xSTvdf_4-0wCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Water Festival is a big deal in Cambodia. The kids and Ben got a whole week off of school for it. We wanted to go somewhere with more nature than we have normally, but not drive for hours trying to get there.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_4b4c_ea8d_20f6_eee7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UyW8TNECWYc/Wf04ql8fovI/AAAAAAAADLI/5o-R_QadUZ4l_eFWYXwJ4cWBGo6LFji9gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Ben decided to take us to the White Elephant hotel on the edge of town. It’s about 15 minutes driving if you have traffic and has plants everywhere. It feels like you’re in a garden.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_43f1_710b_2e82_9496" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FzrfzkVEuKk/Wf04rPLBSWI/AAAAAAAADLM/26V-oE2pjW06im-hIO3u_z_Be3kw7y8vACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The kids loved the river-shaped pool best of all, especially since in had a bridge going over the middle. Elias got on the bridge and we threw the ball back and forth over it while he tried to catch it. Since there weren’t many people, it was a good game.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_43b8_5552_fb78_4816" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDZLoSZqwQg/Wf04qQFEJbI/AAAAAAAADLE/Wx_0HetYtZQXciaQrmjclCtSVd2VqTPJwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
I enjoyed trying new Asian foods. The cashew chicken was amazing and is now my new favorite dish!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_9f04_219e_2a06_cc5e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pwyvelKCNi4/Wf04t36a8-I/AAAAAAAADLQ/yzqnzZLx8B88UlISk4olVNc2dbcrCnDewCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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The kids liked exploring the garden and finding statues. There were huge statues of a camel, dolphin, dragon and this horse. The White Elephant is definitely a place I would recommend, especially for families.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_af2b_2789_18c0_3383" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3dMYRxJR6pQ/WfMOIg9K-wI/AAAAAAAADKs/DbDyFFVbF0cTFrinojuYUXY5b2eDipE-QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
I’m really excited to have a family vehicle again! And, not a clunky car that can’t fit down narrow streets, but a tuktuk! (Here it was book character day at Ben’s school, which he took to mean wear-your-kandoora-from-Abu-Dhabi-day! You should have seen the looks he got from Cambodians wondering why the big guy in the tuktuk had on a dress.)<br />
<img alt="" id="id_1ae0_3def_1ee0_d8cd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g2HnyF3L54E/WfMOIocCf-I/AAAAAAAADKw/i3Lhgqdb0fQaAQshpyHcTvm9PIS5dmaDQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Three people fit in the back seat, then a middle seat flips down for three more, plus the driver. If you add in more fuel efficient and waaay cheaper than a car; no down side. Well, there may be just one downside: it’s a little top heavy, so you have to tackle inclines head-on rather than sideways. Ben has had multiple people trying to buy it from him already. One dude followed him home and walked around it when he parked in the driveway all the while talking in rapid Khmer. We still don’t know what he wanted. We highly recommend this type of vehicle for families in Cambodia.</div>
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I suppose it’s kind of fall. It was only 86 degrees Fahrenheit today with a nice breeze, so that counts for something. Talia and I have taken advantage of the cooler temperatures to bake; (though the heat didn’t really stop us before, as there’s no central AC so it’s always hot in there.)<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_6f71_cd4e_9b69_9199" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pf-WxGRcBF0/WfF89dooTaI/AAAAAAAADKU/nc_KX31gqpAxuqX-cL2KgLncsOBwzSFcwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
When we got a pumpkin at the market we made it into a pie (for once, instead of portioning it out for soups.) Here, what is called a pumpkin is a bumpy, green acorn squash at home. It tastes the same as pumpkin, though.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_ccbc_efff_e362_bd74" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EbjVI9msPPY/WfF89-uSotI/AAAAAAAADKY/Stka8LGMfEYHm-g8Fl_UxieBSWGGLBs2ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Our friend said Khmer people do something that tastes similar to pumpkin pie: hollow the seeds out of a pumpkin, fill it with a mixture of eggs, coconut milk and sugar and bake it letting the pumpkin be the crust. It sounds like it makes a custard-like filling. I'm up for trying it!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_4011_3a45_263b_fd8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vI0vfZTR5KA/WfF88hJ3vEI/AAAAAAAADKQ/_hq5szOuIQ8b94dYCfALa9F1e0kxppDZACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
We also made black bean and potato empanadas. The electricity went out around 5:30 that night, so we enjoyed them by candlelight as that’s when it’s been getting dark lately. I suppose it’s a good thing that it gets dark so early so we don’t miss good places for the kids to play so much. It’s dark not long after the boys get home from school.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_17aa_1bf9_1fbe_ed08" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--sD25AmA0ts/WfF87v58YCI/AAAAAAAADKM/5KOZwNnn02EnobKsI5L4GMct1Ted_1JMACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Talia enjoyed incorporating learning how to flood cookies with icing for a homeschool lesson.</div>
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Here’s our new-to-us fruit for this time: rose apple.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_f20b_bb8d_a1c3_64de" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ysEFlC-sHTY/WfF8_AMfqoI/AAAAAAAADKc/_dwXChoOlRE8NUPij-84TRWJvIPuCybfQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Have you ever tried one?</div>
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It's that time of contract where we are having to decide: Do we stay in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, or do we move on? There are several things to consider:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pgPuMvb_W8/We7QlJ1g2uI/AAAAAAAADJ0/Z86fsIajH5o7P5MYbEdfk9tgqvFo66LfwCLcBGAs/s1600/rose%2Bapple%2Brestaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pgPuMvb_W8/We7QlJ1g2uI/AAAAAAAADJ0/Z86fsIajH5o7P5MYbEdfk9tgqvFo66LfwCLcBGAs/s320/rose%2Bapple%2Brestaurant.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating at an outside restaurant covered with arbors.</td></tr>
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If we stay we have more stability for the kids, less moving expenses, and continuity of friendships we have taken the time to build this year.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtTq2Gfj5GI/We7QLAkYzmI/AAAAAAAADJw/urIK1VtiQskLKhKoVeha9XvHNrzyAzoRACLcBGAs/s1600/jahzel%2Btess%2Belias%2Btalia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="960" height="238" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtTq2Gfj5GI/We7QLAkYzmI/AAAAAAAADJw/urIK1VtiQskLKhKoVeha9XvHNrzyAzoRACLcBGAs/s320/jahzel%2Btess%2Belias%2Btalia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If we go, there are more options for Ben's doctoral thesis topic, healthier places to raise the children, and "easier" places to live culturally.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_dWW6TzRGs/We7CZf4GJdI/AAAAAAAADIs/LMTE6bFV4pgmd86eMXqTQIZh-PlkpMypQCLcBGAs/s1600/phnom%2Bpenh%2Bat%2Bnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F_dWW6TzRGs/We7CZf4GJdI/AAAAAAAADIs/LMTE6bFV4pgmd86eMXqTQIZh-PlkpMypQCLcBGAs/s320/phnom%2Bpenh%2Bat%2Bnight.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phnom Penh fountain from a tuktuk at night.</td></tr>
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Since educators have to turn in a decision towards the beginning of their last school year our time has come around. This divides things mentally: we either have about 8 and a half more months left, or, an indeterminate amount based on the contract that would be signed. This is the part of the cycle of international teaching that's a bit bittersweet, but also exciting. Do we stay in this place, or move on?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_QQZF_qxlk/We7RDKJe8HI/AAAAAAAADJ8/SSRZBnC7jBYxrOpvJO068zdqikfuhMQVACLcBGAs/s1600/phnom%2Bpenh%2Broad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_QQZF_qxlk/We7RDKJe8HI/AAAAAAAADJ8/SSRZBnC7jBYxrOpvJO068zdqikfuhMQVACLcBGAs/s320/phnom%2Bpenh%2Broad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of Phnom Penh city.</td></tr>
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Of course, as a mom, I think about how Phnom Penh has impacted my children.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cwh-ByaP4KI/We7CRcxFZuI/AAAAAAAADIg/-_g1Ef84HmM8Tq9fUja_drVuiFL6K2_NACLcBGAs/s1600/Zoe%2BTalia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cwh-ByaP4KI/We7CRcxFZuI/AAAAAAAADIg/-_g1Ef84HmM8Tq9fUja_drVuiFL6K2_NACLcBGAs/s320/Zoe%2BTalia.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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This will always be where Zoe was born.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FwL7tuaZMtc/We7CcoJ_NRI/AAAAAAAADIw/mmJjcqTutQYQyP4IDKqGCLEu-hZRqWeAQCLcBGAs/s1600/talia%2Bfishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FwL7tuaZMtc/We7CcoJ_NRI/AAAAAAAADIw/mmJjcqTutQYQyP4IDKqGCLEu-hZRqWeAQCLcBGAs/s320/talia%2Bfishing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Where Talia learned to fish in a muddy river<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8nL-eI8EXaY/We7Nh-jkDpI/AAAAAAAADJA/owoiq2AcL_gLmuyUn5jYOz0zxQi7791lACLcBGAs/s1600/fishing%2Bmondulkiri%2Binsta%2527d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8nL-eI8EXaY/We7Nh-jkDpI/AAAAAAAADJA/owoiq2AcL_gLmuyUn5jYOz0zxQi7791lACLcBGAs/s320/fishing%2Bmondulkiri%2Binsta%2527d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And experience Mondulkiri.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f9q_CaBj_80/We7NqT9pStI/AAAAAAAADJE/9r0R2Qvd_uUr5MJmm2Zs-XFSZqhaJ_RCgCLcBGAs/s1600/Elias%2BGraduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="706" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f9q_CaBj_80/We7NqT9pStI/AAAAAAAADJE/9r0R2Qvd_uUr5MJmm2Zs-XFSZqhaJ_RCgCLcBGAs/s320/Elias%2BGraduation.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
It is where Elias graduated from Kindergarten.<br />
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And Ezra frequented the hospital (thank God for $10 appointments) with bronchial trouble due to pollution.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EJBQIPEgyk/We7N9ULZyAI/AAAAAAAADJM/fmhQwr1tUG4k9TKBzZcjW23Sc2n4lD5ZgCLcBGAs/s1600/Ezra%2BRhena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EJBQIPEgyk/We7N9ULZyAI/AAAAAAAADJM/fmhQwr1tUG4k9TKBzZcjW23Sc2n4lD5ZgCLcBGAs/s320/Ezra%2BRhena.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And fell in love with his teacher "Mena".<br />
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It's where we've discovered tons of new-to-us fruit.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KcrU0qGyP8M/We7OS04E8sI/AAAAAAAADJY/-1tAhBYptCw7i2CMmSEfnHANShl1jSlrgCLcBGAs/s1600/family%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KcrU0qGyP8M/We7OS04E8sI/AAAAAAAADJY/-1tAhBYptCw7i2CMmSEfnHANShl1jSlrgCLcBGAs/s320/family%2Bphoto.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And Ben has had a wonderful opportunity to be a principal in a great school.<br />
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But is it a place we would want to stay in for longer?<br />
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That is the decision.<br />
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I used to think flowers were frivolous.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_60a1_ffad_30d_466b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rl_CB6b0DF0/WetiPTfLpXI/AAAAAAAADHg/svQPCpUC5jcp6pCW-Dg7N8EmbnJraLQPACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
I even told Ben when we were poor(er) and courting to just send me pictures of flowers instead of forking out money for something that would die.<br />
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Or even better, spend that money for pizza!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_8057_30a3_e9ce_c896" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a5ra69Larj0/WetiPc-S8YI/AAAAAAAADHk/3wOoQRysIcc3OuEXN9Kuxjsp6H6MVACSQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
But now I have a different criteria: flowers are beautiful, but I’d rather have some that I can plant.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_a354_d534_6631_e361" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K7YZiIOAfkw/WetiTIy3sXI/AAAAAAAADHs/1DMWGYRbiawS985ZW2JZLjlWbNC7ItBwACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Seeds or plants with roots create a seasonal beauty that I really appreciate.</span><img alt="" id="id_59c5_4ba8_1e5a_be9e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V-oX4nfOBik/WetiTn0ewyI/AAAAAAAADH0/XpgO_4mfc8ANQoS4vCPSIyRhZUQc0NGgACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Living in deserts and cities has really amped up my love of nature.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_f774_3f6c_4c93_b850" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gfvqWPWlEkU/WetiTclDAvI/AAAAAAAADHw/lJ95X0tp9O0jvufJ8np8F5cvuh1xW30oQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
I suppose my dream would be to one day be able to settle somewhere I could have a garden, both flowers and vegetables.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_fd59_3b8d_a427_8a18" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xUdo6QXMrHI/WetiT-jlyeI/AAAAAAAADH4/9aaLik_ZAfU-J3CO4zy5vEnHqYyB5LQWACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
When I saw these bursts of color on my visit to Texas during Pchum Ben, I had to take pictures.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_d70_491c_27c2_8eff" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x3R6-IBsT0c/WetiXaOFP7I/AAAAAAAADIA/Mo0A9wDvmhQOz4vR7nDRG5F5lXKcS4x7gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Children and flowers fill my phone memory now. I suppose that’s a good thing.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_6a83_3d16_a1d9_746d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2OWzqVreyC0/WetiXuQVZyI/AAAAAAAADIE/kYIP4MzDKnkggTDsyeUuZGKMPHjIaTDMwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div>
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In the Incheon airport in South Korea, there were orchids all over the place.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_144f_fde4_b479_2dd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9Rkte_gvRGM/WetiWja0yVI/AAAAAAAADH8/LBcZ4vSqICYhxxZAe_XZ4YAIb2Gd-bSywCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
It was a nice combination of beauty in a sea of functional; like the morning glories I saw climbing up a stop sign. </div>
</div>
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I know there are some people who completely disregard the fact that some
actually have very real symptoms when they consume gluten or dairy. It
would be nice if we lived in a world where pesticides and genetic
engineering of food, hormone injected cows and the protein from
Holsteins, didn't cause reactions in some people. Especially my sister.
When my sister eats something containing gluten or dairy, her body is in
so much pain she can't get out of bed on her own. My sister is one of
the strongest people I know, not to mention considerate, generous and creative. One of her favorite desserts used to be layered pudding. (I've heard it called Four Layer Delight and Possum Pie as well.) Unfortunately, that contains.....<br />
<img alt="" id="id_7d8c_95cf_8b37_9095" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9efFONEMNoM/WeBHo4fK8ZI/AAAAAAAADGo/b82K7n2PcpYTTY7XwyMu2OKEzp4U3N_swCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Flour, butter, cream cheese and milk! So, I was determined to create a version that didn't contain gluten or dairy for our early family Thanksgiving when I visited home. I had to start with the base:<br />
<img alt="" id="id_fc55_3fa5_4b5e_35dd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WS3DBsrz2ig/WeBHpKquthI/AAAAAAAADGs/bpjRCmw65hoENqgjUU6_21dh-Tyo3ht7QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
For the base, I ground up enough oats to get 1 cup of oat flour and
combined that with 1/2 cup of coconut oil and a cup of cut up pecans. I added a dash of almond flavoring.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_1417_b293_8745_c590" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nNswqadFszw/WeBHtHoIqGI/AAAAAAAADG8/51KNIJSzZ9MeQCgoPHBG6p5zUbtnze4ggCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Of course, coconut oil cooks differently than butter, as it bubbles up a lot more when it bakes, but it came out ok:<br />
<br />
<img alt="" id="id_8011_b3b2_ede5_149f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2-H58fCQ9-g/WeBHtgJEb3I/AAAAAAAADHE/rQ_k0WtIDKInEzQECZlDShiSDQRDYBxLQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
The next layer was tricky, a cream cheese layer. I decided to go with a cashew cream cheese. First I soaked the cashews overnight. The next day they were ready to use.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" id="id_aa94_c7cf_8417_2813" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SWB8GTlIItc/WeBHpZQ5-YI/AAAAAAAADG0/2g2ZiNr1Tc0dDWkQNKHrxaV5_vNp6yezQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
I followed <a href="https://minimalistbaker.com/7-ingredient-vegan-cheesecakes/" target="_blank">this recipe</a> to make the cheesecake flavored layer. It calls for:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 1/2 cup of soaked/drained cashews</li>
<li>1/4 cup of lemon</li>
<li>1/3 cup of melted coconut oil</li>
<li>1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons full fat coconut milk</li>
<li>1/2 cup agave/maple syrup/honey</li>
</ul>
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<br />
<img alt="" id="id_d942_16bb_54bb_1165" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BEAAbas7TyI/WeBHsiysRAI/AAAAAAAADG4/qTpybbGVpr4-Jo18u6-mc2AnEvdUUzCuACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
I then blended it to the smoothest consistency I could get, gingerly spread it over the brittle crust and let it chill in the freezer while I worked on the puddings.<br />
<br />
I searched through the brands of pudding looking for one that didn't have diary or gluten. Most of them were gluten free, but many contained milk powder; especially for the vanilla flavor. Jello was the brand that didn't have either of the unwanted things. I was planning on making a home-made version with corn starch and coconut milk if I couldn't find one. This is just such a multi-step process, that I was running out of time! However, with the Jello mixes, I used cold coconut milk and let them set. I layered the chocolate pudding over the hardened cashew layer and then returned it to the freezer to chill. When that was hardened, I added the vanilla layer on top. Repeating the freezer step each time proved to be important as they never got all the way firm without it.<br />
<br />
The top layer of layered pudding is the whipped cream. I thought store-bought whipped cream was probably just made out of junk and not real milk, but I was wrong. They actually used milk! So, I used <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/240475/whipped-coconut-cream-vegan-whipped-cream/" target="_blank">this recipe</a> that turns coconut cream into whipped cream. Yummy!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_55eb_3e5d_ce3f_7419" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oxq19DJT8wk/WeBHpONsXBI/AAAAAAAADGw/ji1-rsUXKA4fg_WXflm961NjPV9OLzhawCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
It called for:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 14 oz. can of (refrigerated overnight) unsweetened coconut milk (I used what we could find in the picture above)</li>
<li>2 Tablespoons of sugar (I omitted this step because what we had was already a bit sweet)</li>
<li>1 teaspoon vanilla</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" id="id_c631_78ec_c2bc_1313" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NG9ghmyUJPg/WeBHwALvckI/AAAAAAAADHM/v6iN5_mFxgoAhoShqSXtjPQu05XB3d0xwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
This was really tasty! I spread it on top of all of the layers and added a few crushed pecans.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_ea37_b4f4_185f_4241" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ehrfiAXn9Xo/WeBHtSJjTFI/AAAAAAAADHA/FsjPrWI2npoKe0LsNtlUVE0bhqHYgMBMQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<br />
There you have it! My dairy-free, gluten-free layered pudding!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" id="id_487e_bcf3_3e8b_3932" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aWKHK0q3uYA/WeBHvTzQnnI/AAAAAAAADHI/RidVb72ETRMWLgX3ezeKMC3TJYl_VmUfgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
I love my sister. I was happy to make something so that there would be a dessert she could eat too. Let me know if you find a better way to make this, but this one turned out really good! It definitely tastes like coconut, but in a delicious way.</div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0NpeTIjch8/Wd2nUOItaqI/AAAAAAAADGI/JHfw61sTCEwko21f6Ytfjto5PzeWWLkwwCLcBGAs/s1600/6138759647_ac22655d1c_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1280" height="210" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0NpeTIjch8/Wd2nUOItaqI/AAAAAAAADGI/JHfw61sTCEwko21f6Ytfjto5PzeWWLkwwCLcBGAs/s320/6138759647_ac22655d1c_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Wednesday, October 4 2017 was the Moon Festival. Although this is typically a Chinese/Vietnamese celebration called Mid-Autumn Festival, many people in Cambodia have adopted it and I've only heard it called Moon Festival. "Who doesn't want another holiday to eat cake?" was the reason my neighbor gave me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6yEp5doSdT0/Wd2nVOX6P6I/AAAAAAAADGM/gzrJShzp6PAJ-ZcgGu06KtgHtHke2jPbQCEwYBhgL/s1600/6175362212_2b0311f344_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6yEp5doSdT0/Wd2nVOX6P6I/AAAAAAAADGM/gzrJShzp6PAJ-ZcgGu06KtgHtHke2jPbQCEwYBhgL/s320/6175362212_2b0311f344_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I noticed something new hanging over their door, but didn't know what it was until a few days later when the neighbor's daughter came out with something white in her hands. The neighborhood kids have been playing with pieces of Styrofoam lately, so I thought that's what she had. When she started to eat it, I hurried to ask her mom if it was Styrofoam. It turns out it was Moon Cake. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Mid-Autumn was first celebrated as a festival during the Northern Song
Dynasty (960–1127). Like the emperors,<a href="https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/mid-autumn-festival.htm" target="_blank"> ancient people believed worshipping the moon </a>and eating together round a table would bring them
good luck and happiness." </blockquote>
</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-To03sOb-I1Q/Wd2nYCXBFYI/AAAAAAAADGY/OS9wacR6LEovfcYxzY3tGP5tjjzsN87dQCLcBGAs/s1600/2854875777_192aecfd6b_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1304" height="218" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-To03sOb-I1Q/Wd2nYCXBFYI/AAAAAAAADGY/OS9wacR6LEovfcYxzY3tGP5tjjzsN87dQCLcBGAs/s320/2854875777_192aecfd6b_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Suddenly, little things I had been seeing around town began to make more sense. In the little market near our house, there was a giant, circle cake with Chinese characters on top in front of a shrine in the back. (Compared to the entire giant pig at New Year, I thought that was quite tame.) My neighbor said the Moon Festival is a time when the family will get together and eat and then they wake up at midnight and say a prayer to the moon for health and wealth.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IyHvvRy0J_M/Wd2nVQ_Q02I/AAAAAAAADGQ/2_VazwpbJ8gLdMdDLju3aKl6o36u3z4ZQCLcBGAs/s1600/35360493194_b24a0c22c3_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IyHvvRy0J_M/Wd2nVQ_Q02I/AAAAAAAADGQ/2_VazwpbJ8gLdMdDLju3aKl6o36u3z4ZQCLcBGAs/s320/35360493194_b24a0c22c3_h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Another friend said that while there are many Chinese people in Cambodia who celebrate Chinese holidays, typically Vietnamese and Chinese celebrate the same holidays, while Thailand and Cambodia celebrate the same Buddhist holidays.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oa8Rc4-W0rs/Wd2nXDy5TrI/AAAAAAAADGU/nPDkpZdHKjo2qGb1LGhkTKFDQs9dbEqUgCLcBGAs/s1600/moon-cake-mid-autumn-asian-chinese-festival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oa8Rc4-W0rs/Wd2nXDy5TrI/AAAAAAAADGU/nPDkpZdHKjo2qGb1LGhkTKFDQs9dbEqUgCLcBGAs/s320/moon-cake-mid-autumn-asian-chinese-festival.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The Moon Festival was something I had never heard of before, so I thought I'd share it with you.</div>
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<img alt="" id="id_5bd_f7c_b78c_541c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4N_gq3kOLio/WdXIjBGZT9I/AAAAAAAADFQ/K5EylX2UmRg4V8Ci_-fyqbQkpn3YejlPACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
I’m so thankful that I was able to fly to the States for Pchum Ben this year. Ever since Zoe was born in Cambodia we’ve been trying to figure out a good time to introduce her to family in the States. We wanted to do that while she was still a baby... and she’s growing so fast it felt like time was running out. She is more social than some babies I’ve introduced (cough*Elias*cough) to family. Look how she’s studying Papa!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_2c45_a6b3_9812_6667" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C2XLFi5qPEc/WdXIlYf1ENI/AAAAAAAADFU/uvqvxMa_52sksHUfcunt7r3vZLTxR4riACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
It was so nice to be in Texas again.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_cef_484a_e166_efa1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7gKZ7mCjv5o/WdXIlvFMlsI/AAAAAAAADFY/Z5oIt-JfgHEYGHnA1CpmvOe3bz4fBAQDACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Of course, it’s easier to just sleep than be social.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_df6d_a590_6446_69fc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tihS7qMCvc0/WdXIlypAQZI/AAAAAAAADFc/yfQ8i3ipBkMHksQpJpPF7e5agzmfmfBoQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
How much loving is too much?<br />
<img alt="" id="id_7caa_85bd_856a_a4b5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Abgt_yIiVvQ/WdXInriOflI/AAAAAAAADFo/qgrqoo4o3voENjS-pd9oFkDIXZ7xMAnhwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<div>
She sure has a lot of people who love her.</div>
<div>
<img alt="" id="id_1a03_183f_f22b_9d77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vadJigqLe8A/WdXImSG19qI/AAAAAAAADFg/87IE7kwQIaww39f2vRFeXNYU5y5miqhjwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
So now she’s met her Mississippi family and Texas family, all before she’s quite walking. That counts, right?<br />
<img alt="" id="id_773c_ab3_e4b_7728" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nRmP7erR-jg/WdXInWDv_DI/AAAAAAAADFk/fSHiynyFEtI_Z9WM-itqxGPl2l-oP1k-ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
We are so blessed to have most of our great grandparents for our children still alive.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_c8dc_63ab_8185_5bb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QR6wEj0vpZw/WdXIoIfty2I/AAAAAAAADFw/0xWx5Gp8wAI49rf2oWpQN1ojE3gfwPx6QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
We even got to attend a cousin’s wedding and see more grandparents and relatives there.<br />
<img alt="" id="id_4a08_692a_8fdf_7ec3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KhzREQ1OFbE/WdXIn4w5LTI/AAAAAAAADFs/q4_S7ZlDo0A9b1QMuyB4sg85YlQfXWp7ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Besides the people, it was nice to see green grass!<br />
<img alt="" id="id_f6b6_b09d_83db_3ea5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cqfQbdfEmn8/WdXIpdsUfQI/AAAAAAAADF0/HZp-wom2BwAiSQESXHxAlxAaVwFb6eDtwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
Zoe loved exploring this new green stuff.</div>
<div>
<img alt="" id="id_4dd3_1afc_378_9489" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HV4Hbmedo_w/WdXIq6BZG1I/AAAAAAAADF4/9HFzcHTuG7oknXmRW0KHAUMWYvDtlNdhQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
But coming home to the loves we couldn’t afford to fly with us was special too. Now the balance is between appreciating the opportunity to go home and battling the homesickness that surges afterwards. I actually got published on this topic on a website dedicated to helping expat Christian women. I don't share this to say I am anything, but maybe my hard-to-learn-lesson about homesickness will help you too: <a href="https://velvetashes.com/homesickness-feels-uncannily-like-grief/">https://velvetashes.com/homesickness-feels-uncannily-like-grief/</a></div>
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On her actual birthday she got to have a pizza date with Ben.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bgU6HQaq9bc/WbI0q12YX-I/AAAAAAAADEU/jOjoqjUSElEH1fafkQUCNC5Ihk90IgGMACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--22771578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bgU6HQaq9bc/WbI0q12YX-I/AAAAAAAADEU/jOjoqjUSElEH1fafkQUCNC5Ihk90IgGMACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--22771578.jpg"></a></div>She was embarrassed when they played her the birthday song and gave her a slice of Oreo cheesecake to share in front of everybody, but she enjoyed her prize as long as we were trying it. She's very uncomfortable with keeping something yummy to herself. We didn't mind tasting a little either. ;)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cTiQhZTnNMg/WbI0ttRob6I/AAAAAAAADEY/hV4PfJIfycYrTYWVnk5NEqBSidMhaIDjgCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--1984639797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cTiQhZTnNMg/WbI0ttRob6I/AAAAAAAADEY/hV4PfJIfycYrTYWVnk5NEqBSidMhaIDjgCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--1984639797.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>A few days later, her friends took her to Blooms, a cupcake restaurant in Phnom Penh that helps train women and gives them a job. For the business part of Talia's homeschool she wanted to actually run a business. She decided to focus on cupcakes and make a website and YouTube channel about making cupcakes from whichever part of the world we happen to be in. Her fellow homeschool friends knew this, so Blooms was a great place to investigate!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C1ylR1qouAA/WbI0oLO-qrI/AAAAAAAADEQ/Xml_vJnc48s4p-vkrd0Xph5UIiWXL4gQwCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--532118181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C1ylR1qouAA/WbI0oLO-qrI/AAAAAAAADEQ/Xml_vJnc48s4p-vkrd0Xph5UIiWXL4gQwCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--532118181.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div> As soon as we entered the restaurant we were greeted by a gargantuan decorated styrofoam wedding cake. It was taller than we were! The case was full of fancy cakes decorated in Noah's ark, super heroes, Disney tales and much more. Then we got to the counter and had to choose which cupcake to try. There were many!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LFoocbUbahY/WbjAFYbewGI/AAAAAAAADEw/6BsMOFemKkMRByOTeHXbXkkZudwvPKk3QCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--1280029304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LFoocbUbahY/WbjAFYbewGI/AAAAAAAADEw/6BsMOFemKkMRByOTeHXbXkkZudwvPKk3QCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--1280029304.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Talia chose a rainbow cupcake, dressed in her favorite colors of lime green, purple and blue; it was fitting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uMLktAYKeYk/WbI0ysplPSI/AAAAAAAADEg/DpGpZy4PdScFr7FU5i9dCG5HWcvo4O5kgCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--960991399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uMLktAYKeYk/WbI0ysplPSI/AAAAAAAADEg/DpGpZy4PdScFr7FU5i9dCG5HWcvo4O5kgCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--960991399.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I chose a salted caramel-stuffed chocolate cupcake with cheesecake icing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4mTW7Zzn6TU/WbjATu6ugdI/AAAAAAAADE8/30RnGsZatsMBEGynEYpil0H18szPjzImgCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--1900021454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4mTW7Zzn6TU/WbjATu6ugdI/AAAAAAAADE8/30RnGsZatsMBEGynEYpil0H18szPjzImgCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--1900021454.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'll just say: one is plenty for one day! They were delicious!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iMCxxIz-yCs/WbjAJu9zo7I/AAAAAAAADE0/aE5e03CvTHwwjBQep857O1Y3GMTPYNkuACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--1461487591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iMCxxIz-yCs/WbjAJu9zo7I/AAAAAAAADE0/aE5e03CvTHwwjBQep857O1Y3GMTPYNkuACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--1461487591.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Plus, look at the cute decorations. This one was a jam-filled "doughnut" cupcake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mc9bXguH0W0/WbI0wAXSNbI/AAAAAAAADEc/tuXiQKPbbY85DMJRc7jviMsiFdXnG_3kACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-831480483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mc9bXguH0W0/WbI0wAXSNbI/AAAAAAAADEc/tuXiQKPbbY85DMJRc7jviMsiFdXnG_3kACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-831480483.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Besides cupcakes, her friends have her gifts of beginners knitting supplies; something she's been asking for for a long time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KNL1tUCGXf0/WbjAOvn9IdI/AAAAAAAADE4/ZGoxyV8aiBQtIdQHZyWljkH3J3Qg4svfACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--244638718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KNL1tUCGXf0/WbjAOvn9IdI/AAAAAAAADE4/ZGoxyV8aiBQtIdQHZyWljkH3J3Qg4svfACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--244638718.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Talia is very blessed with friends and family and she fills our lives in return with love and laughter. Welcome to the double digits, Talia! We love you!</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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I can't believe the not-even-2-year-old we took with us as an only child has now transitioned into double digits and many more countries and siblings. In honor of her birthday, I interviewed her on her favorite and least favorite things about being a nomadic child and each country she has lived in.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cCjBhPFjQ8E/WX_lJulTnWI/AAAAAAAADBM/CfW3ax82S6cy2jsOVKrfO7yGjpgBUIbeACLcBGAs/s1600/Mayan%2BRuins%2BJuly%2B28%252C%2B2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cCjBhPFjQ8E/WX_lJulTnWI/AAAAAAAADBM/CfW3ax82S6cy2jsOVKrfO7yGjpgBUIbeACLcBGAs/s320/Mayan%2BRuins%2BJuly%2B28%252C%2B2009.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cCjBhPFjQ8E/WX_lJulTnWI/AAAAAAAADBM/CfW3ax82S6cy2jsOVKrfO7yGjpgBUIbeACLcBGAs/s1600/Mayan%2BRuins%2BJuly%2B28%252C%2B2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<b> Do you remember anything about Guatemala? That's where you were 2-3 years old.</b><br />
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<li>I remember playing with sidewalk chalk and one time watching the ashes from a volcano explosion. I remember playing in a kid blow up pool. I remember Blanca; I miss her.</li>
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<li>I did not like that in the rainy season it rained so much our food or clothes got moldy easily.</li>
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<b>What are your memories from Ruwais and Abu Dhabi?</b><br />
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<li>I loved Abu Dhabi! There were lots of nice parks, the streets were really clean and the people were nice and the houses were big and clean. It was easy to make friends there. My friends Jaden, Tasneem and Elias live there.</li>
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<li>I sort of enjoyed the heat, but I didn't like the call to prayer. It was long and mournful and it felt creepy.</li>
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<b>Do you remember visiting Spain and Portugal?</b><br />
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<li>YES! I liked the greenery and the farms, fruits and vegetables! And there was a mouse that ran up the wall of our cabin, in Portugal. I sort of liked him! </li>
<li>In Spain it was hard for us to get food at our normal supper time.<b> </b> </li>
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<b>How about San José del Cabo, Mexico?</b><br />
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<li>I liked Cabo because I met the best friend I've ever had there, Melissa. It had a nice climate and we could go to the beach!! There were several beaches close to where we lived. I liked the food, too! We never rode a horse on the beach, but we saw them several times and if we go back there I would like to ride one. I liked that they spoke Spanish, and I could communicate easily.</li>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-De-vjPPp44A/WX_nwkkif_I/AAAAAAAADBU/U1hUSFZfLpQWsSafnVSrLhybOVmL11j5ACLcBGAs/s1600/Talia%2BBeach%2BMexico.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-De-vjPPp44A/WX_nwkkif_I/AAAAAAAADBU/U1hUSFZfLpQWsSafnVSrLhybOVmL11j5ACLcBGAs/s320/Talia%2BBeach%2BMexico.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<li>There wasn't very much grass and it was really rocky in our yard, so we had to be careful when we ran and played.</li>
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<b>What do you think about our current country of residence, Cambodia?</b><br />
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<b> </b><b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w93viubar38/WX_pR89crcI/AAAAAAAADBc/y_OdAZoueswufwMauNEWPUcmu3DjU_RxACLcBGAs/s1600/Talia%2B4th%2Bgrade.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="638" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w93viubar38/WX_pR89crcI/AAAAAAAADBc/y_OdAZoueswufwMauNEWPUcmu3DjU_RxACLcBGAs/s320/Talia%2B4th%2Bgrade.jpg" width="320" /></a></b><br />
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<li>People are really nice here and I like all of the new fruits. Things are cheaper here compared to other parts of the world. <b> </b></li>
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<li>There is a lot of air pollution and trash everywhere. And they dry rotten/fermented fish outside and it smells really bad!<b> </b></li>
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<b> </b><b>What are some benefits to traveling around the world?</b><br />
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<li>We get to learn lots of new things and see new places instead of staying in one place our whole lives like a toad on a log. We get to learn new languages and try new foods and make new friends.</li>
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<b>What is something you don't like about traveling?</b><br />
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<li>As soon as I make friends, somebody moves away. I miss my family in my home country.</li>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GGdeN6VABKs/WX_k5NlfLPI/AAAAAAAADBA/VBSgMzFdpfcMvp9jRyrPHENyppbPgQ0XwCLcBGAs/s1600/Roman%2Bwall%252C%2BLugo%252C%2BGalicia%252C%2BSpain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GGdeN6VABKs/WX_k5NlfLPI/AAAAAAAADBA/VBSgMzFdpfcMvp9jRyrPHENyppbPgQ0XwCLcBGAs/s320/Roman%2Bwall%252C%2BLugo%252C%2BGalicia%252C%2BSpain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Which countries are you interested in visiting again/next?</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I would really like to visit Sweden! They have lingonberries, fikka, foraging and snow!<b> </b></li>
<li>I would like to go back to Portugal. I like all of the natural parks and hiking trails and animals.<b> </b></li>
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I've learned several new fruits and vegetables lately. I thought I'd share them with you.
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Below you see the water lily stems that take special talent to harvest. When you pinch off the stem, if you are not careful, mud will be drawn up the stalk. The Khmer lady who sells these has four children depending on her at home and something happened to her husband. She walks around town with a big basket of these carried on her head calling out the name of them in Khmer. Our neighbor said she uses these to make a salad with thin strips of the water lily stem, chicken, lime juice and herbs.</div>
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Water spinach, or morning glory, are the stems of the sweet potato plant. They are used in soup the same way you would use spinach and with a similar taste. Many times it is used in a soup with rice noodles.</div>
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I had no clue what these were when my friend gave them to us. My Vietnamese friend helped me out with the Latin name: <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diospyros_decandra" target="_blank">Diospyros decandra</a>,
or a type of persimmon. One way the Khmer eat these is with the flesh
mashed in a mixture of milk, sugar, and chia or basil seeds. The pulp is
pretty astringent in the mouth, so all of that can be pretty necessary!<br />
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Here you see a guava. These were really popular in Mexico, but the ones I saw were smaller, many times made into preserves. Here guava is enjoyed dipped in salt, sometimes with garlic powder, chili or sugar.<br />
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The kids all tried a bite and thought it was good, but even better, the pasabulong from our Filipina friends who came home from holiday and were so kind to think of us:<br />
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<span><span>The biscocho is from Iloilo and the piaya is from Negros Occidental.</span></span><br />
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Yep, it was yummy!<br />
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Elias had fun trying on his father's shirt... it'll be a few years before it fits.<br />
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The boys love to help cook! Here they were making cinnamon rolls: </div>
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One of them wants to be a fireman who owns a restaurant on the side when he grows up. The other one wants to build "helico'ters." I can't wait to see what they become!</div>
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If you had asked for my thoughts on Cambodia before moving here, I would have told you about the movie I saw in school <a href="https://youtu.be/uDYBQzsEYf8" target="_blank">The Girl Who Spelled Freedom</a>, about the generation I have heard retell experiences from the neighboring Vietnam war. My perception would have included poverty, war and jungles. When I arrived in Cambodia, even from the air looking down over the giant, muddy river and then Phnom Penh, I could tell some of my perceptions were wrong. Instead of jungle, miles and miles of corrugated tin in varying degrees of disrepair or opulence met my view. A myriad of electrical wires snaked between them. Phnom Penh is a concrete jungle for most people. The lucky have a yard, but most yards have been concreted in so they don't turn into a muddy mess during rainy season. </div>
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When our neighbor went to visit his sister in France, he brought back a surprise gift for the neighborhood, tulip bulbs! All of us who received them have potted them and have (as you can see above) sprouted. Hopefully, they will be blooming soon! Ben's boss gave him many shoots of the plant you see below:</div>
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Our neighbor gave me dried pieces of coconut husk. It's spongy and helps hold water for these little hanging plants. I lined the bottom and sides with it, and it does seem to retain water better.</div>
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It's amazing how much of a difference tiny, green, growing things can make! Looking at the plants in the stark contrast of their concrete environment makes me happy. Our landlords have more growing on the balcony above, but we have added these plants in the main area where we see them the most.</div>
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Plant therapy! It's a real thing. </div>
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should when you are in "survival" mode, and I was definitely in survival
mode when we arrived. However, I would recommend taking language courses if you can! <br><br>
Our neighbor has taught me several things about Khmer culture lately. I thought I'd share a few with you.<br>
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-When a woman gives birth, they take the leaves from the turmeric plant and make something like a tea with it. Then, it is rubbed all over the woman's skin to restore health and vitality.<br>
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-Cradle cap in Khmer is translated "water buffalo poop." She laughingly explained it comes from the old times when people would jokingly say that the mom had left the baby unattended and a water buffalo had pooped on his head. She also said doctors don't recommend scrubbing cradle cap off of a baby's head because it is so delicate.<br>
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-Turmeric leaves are really big! The ones she showed me looked like the banana leaves you would use to wrap a Khmer version of a tamale. These leaves are chopped very fine and used to season... frog! This was the example she gave me, but I'm sure there are other dishes, too.<div><br>
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As Talia is homeschooling this year, she offered to teach her a simple Khmer lesson in the afternoons. Talia writes down the transliterated words next to the English and then comes home and teaches me. It's amazing how many words you can pick up from daily life but once you've gotten used to that and are in the frame of mind to learn, it is also amazing how helpful it is to learn more words to integrate with daily life from a bilingual person.</div><div><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TLOxuLr82Us/WY9GUYxsYHI/AAAAAAAADDo/td6gtGIxxZwOS6MjNSQm2HAPigrrFj3FACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-1561256707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TLOxuLr82Us/WY9GUYxsYHI/AAAAAAAADDo/td6gtGIxxZwOS6MjNSQm2HAPigrrFj3FACHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-1561256707.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(The boys have started back to school too. Elias takes Khmer at school this year.)</div><br>
Some must-know words in my opinion are these:<br>
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ah-nee-man: how much?<br>
sadam: right (for giving directions in a tuk tuk)<br>
schvey: left<br>
soo-sah-day- good day <br>
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Then the numbers to 10 which you will notice are worded on a base 5 pattern:<br>
muy- 1<br>
pee- 2<br>
buy- 3<br>
buon- 4<br>
pram- 5<br>
pram muy- (5+1) 6<br>
pram pee- (5+2) 7<br>
pram buy-(5+3) 8<br>
pram buon-(5+4) 9<br>
dap-10<div><br></div><div>-One of the first things I like to know about someone is their name. The neighbor explained that here, it's different: people often call others as "mother of -----" using the child's name as an indicator. This reminds me of Abu Dhabi where Ben's students called him "Abu Ilyas" or "father of Elias." She said sometimes people don't learn the names of their neighbors until there's a big wedding and they go door to door finding out names for the invitations!</div><div><br></div><div>Who knows what we'll learn next!<br>
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