twenty eleven, in review: cambodia

Upon reflection, the second half of this year came to pass alarmingly fast.  Startling so.  Even now, it seems that I can scarcely believe that I spent the final five and a little months of this year living in a new country.

July

On July 2nd, the day after Topher and I finished work, we drove down to Carolina to spend some final time with my family.  My parents took us and my brother and his wife to dinner at the locale that has quickly become our family's restaurant of choice for all momentous occasions.  It's right on the water, and quite perfect at sunset.  And the steaks, normally something neither Topher nor I crave, are dripping in butter and so.freaking.good.

While in Carolina, it also began to sink in that in two short weeks, we'd be flying away from these lovely people, and even our child-dog.  Some days, it felt like this.

After some time with my family, we trekked back up to spend a final few days with Topher's family, including attending a goodbye party thrown by his mother.  Here, we say goodbye to Topher's cousins.

We also took Scott and Jenny out to dinner at our favorite cheap Italian eatery outside of DC, and it hit me how much I'd miss these two.

Near the middle of July, we said goodbye to Topher's family as they left for the cruise we were supposed to join them on, save for the fact that we were invited to Cambodia in July, instead of being sent abroad in August as we were told.  Here we sit at a typical Sunday morning haunt of a diner where I've eaten more chocolate chip pancakes and bacon than I care to remember right now.

Actually, I'd kill for some chocolate chip pancakes and bacon.  And a cruise.

That very afternoon, my parents took Topher and I to our last baseball game for two years.

Over beer, we celebrated a O's win over my dad's team, the Indians.

To prepare for a completely changed way of living, I cancelled my credit card and cut it up for good measure.  Mostly for dramatics and the fun of it though. I even documented it to write a blog post about it!  Here you go!

And then it was time to go.  For our final meal in America for many, many moons, another planned blog post on the joys of Whole Foods' many ready made foods. Including three desserts of chocolate mousse, strawberry frosted white cake and cheesecake.  Plus some fruit and greens in there.  

August

And then, we were here.  Our new life was a hot one, full of learning new languages, riding bikes, and meeting wonderful new people.

One of the most memorable parts of August was a bike trip I took with Topher and a few others to a nearby Killing Fields Memorial.  

That month, we also studied a lot, practiced teaching in a Khmer classroom, and got to see the King, who bears a striking resemblance to one dear husband.

Or is the other way around, since the King was born (way!) first?

September

There was a lot of this in September this year.  Hours at the wat (pagoda), discussing the ins and outs of teaching with the Volunteers who came before us.

September was busy.  I only had time and internet to update once.  But! I did take my first trip to a wonderful little place called Kampot town and got a pina colada!

And you'll be pleased to know, I'm sure, that Topher and I remained the same, despite becoming sweaty Peace Corps Trainees.

October

And all to quickly, it was October and we were wearing itchy clothes (or was that just me?) getting sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers.

We thanked the man who gave us the powers of communication- our language teacher, Savin.

And we moved to site, and got very familiar with our new home, including the joys of the three air-conditioned marts.  Having just traversed to each of these three marts just today, I can now tell you I am a true resident of this town, because I now know: The I Love You Mart has the cheapest Coca Light and nicest atmosphere to sit and read, the Tela Mart has the best ice cream selection, and the Cool Mart has the largest selection of juices and goods in general.  Cool Mart also has the choco-pies, which is important.

Then, in October, Peace Corps allowed us to attend a TEFL Conference in Phnom Penh. 

I was lucky because I got to spend my twenty-sixth celebrating with friends and champagne.

At the end of October, we attended our very first Cambodian wedding, wherein the beer flows like the Tonle Sap...

and sparklers are brought out at the same time as the silly string, fire hazard concerns be damned.

November

In the eleventh month, Topher and I hit a bit of stride in teaching and learning. Many hours were spent doing the above: riding a bike in a skirt.

We took our first trip back to our training site, which helped re-set my mind and focus.

I also started volunteering a decent amount of time at a new library in our town and realized how much I love doing simple things like organizing books.

I even learned how to make one of the most challenging Khmer recipes: curry!  I've yet to make it on my own at home, but I think you'll see the fruits of that in twenty twelve.

November was about learning to love the speed of life in Cambodia, and not project my American need to be overwhelmingly busy onto my new world.  Lying in hammocks is quite a part of this speed of life.

December

And then it was the final month of the year and I was doing crazy things like planning and executing my first workshop...

...traveling to Kampot town (i.e. eating brownies and barbecue) for a weekend adventure with the hubs...

...heading to Phnom Penh for meetings but indulging in a real movie theater and enjoying that which is the fourth Twilight movie...

...and going to the Embassy in Phnom Penh to admire garish light shows, while battling giardia.

You know, it was your typical holiday season.

Of course, we spent Christmas Eve and Day at this little place, on the Gulf of Thailand...

...with these beautiful people.

And then, Topher went out on his bike, after his shower, to buy a internet card for me so I could tell you all about my year.  And all he requested was that I blog about it, because clearly, he's a dang good husband.

To which, I had to say, I agree most certainly, and golly, anyone who reads this here year in review would know its truth.

And that's how you have six and a half months of complete normalcy and and five and a half months of a completely upside down version of all that you've known, with just a few remaining constants: love, family, friends, and human compassion.

Happy Twenty Twelve everyone!

twenty eleven, in review: america

Last year, I returned to a regular flow of blogging by writing my year in review.  This year, I've re-lived my whopper of a year by going through these photos.  It's an amazing thing, too, because my twenty eleven was, in essence, divided almost nearly in half.

Today, we'll discuss the what-once-was-my-norm half.  January through June. Twenty Eleven. Let's go.

January

I rang in the new year the best way I know how: with champagne, family and not going out into crowds.

On January First, Topher's beautiful and generous mother gifted myself and my favorite Jenny a very luscious pedicure.  What's better to say hello to 2011 than a French tip pedi?

Also in January, I began posting my favorite recipes and giving in to my favorite thing to do on a Thursday (or any day of the week ending in -day) each Tuesday. 

Rounding out January was a meetup with some fellow bees in Annapolis, one of my favorite cities.  If you live near Annapolis, please go to the General Store and get a peanut butter cookie dipped in chocolate.

FInally, in January, I marked a few blogging landmarks, including hitting 100 followers and creating my own header.  I also started Vlog Fridays with some blog friends. My favorite videos for the project may be these out takes, though.

February

This second month was the first lover's holiday that Topher and I spent as a married couple.  To celebrate, the hubster made us a delicious, multi coursed meal.  It was really amazing, and makes my stomach literally hurt thinking about it's deliciousness here in the land of no-such-thing-as-this-food.

Though I didn't write about it until July, this was the month that I met up with my amazing teachers and we played laser tag.  I also may have accidentally made a kid bleed and cry on his birthday. Not my proudest moment of the year, we'll say, yeah? 

February was also the month wherein I really felt like I found a semblance of my written voice.  I wrote two of my all time favorite posts that month: Pretend and The Neverending Stories.

Oh yeah, and then Topher and I found out we were moving to Cambodia. No big deal.

Also, I should mention, I'm quite excited for this February, in the oh-twelve.  It's a leap year, you know!  I'd love to have a child born on February 29th.  Then I'd make the birthday super special and for three years, we'd celebrate on the 28th AND the 1st!  Future February child, you lucky dog, you!

March

In the ides, we headed north to Rhode Island to visit my uncle and godfather.  The oft-discussed and long-awaited trip was fantastic and included trips to the Breakers, some delicious lobster, a little bit of Newport and lots of bumming around.

In March, I also posted one of my most popular Gooey Goodness recipes for homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies, with a twist.

April

Come springtime, I took a trip wherein I only took four photos, the above being the best of the bunch (meaning, heads were included.)  That's the Guinea Pig and me, goofing around the French Quarter in New Orleans with a group of amazing bee friends.  

I also was getting quite nostalgic for my then-current job, workplace, and co-workers and snapped a few blackberry photos of the desk that will (tear!) never be mine again, likely.  It was in such a good spot- facing the much-traversed pathway, with a window to my back, and a heating/cooling vent just above. Le sigh. It's sad to miss a desk area, isn't it?

Oh, and for Easter, I ate a giant chocolate bunny, which is standard tradition around here. Topher heads to Safeway to find the biggest, baddest one around.  Except he knows it can't be Dove or Russell Stover, because I don't like their chocolate all too much.

(Really, I like the cheapest Balmer bunny you can find.  Something about it.)

Let's be honest, I usually end up with two giant bunnies and I eat them both with no shame.

May

Oh May! What a busy, celebratory month you were!  Topher and I spent an entire weekend celebrating our one year anniversary, and I'm pretty sure this is about the only picture I didn't share from our night out in the Capitol Hill area celebrating.  We're riding the Metro.  God, I miss the Metro!

Topher and I also visited a dairy farm for the anniversary, which was an adventure in itself. I look forward to going back someday in 2013 or so!

And then, we were ridiculously adorable enough to get each other nearly matching cards.  Mine on top, his on bottom.  I expounded on our ability to laugh at ourselves in this one year update post I wrote for Weddingbee.

Also in May, Topher, little bro-in-law Scott and favorite (Scott's gf) Jenny and I all traversed to Andrews Air Force Base for the annual Air Show and Open House.  This is pretty much the only picture I took that included planes.  It's becoming a tradition, and I can't wait to pick it back up in 2014!

I also kept this little gem to myself...Topher, uncle John and I all braved a pretty hellish 5k run for the Warrior Dash.  This clearly comes from before the race, as were lost to mud afterward.  I think the last trip through mud and the high-powered spray trucks afterward were my favorite part.  Plus, doing it with Toph and John!

I also made one of Topher's favorite cakes for his birthday in late May, and made it better by adding a caramel glaze.  It was in May that I discovered how much I like making caramel sauce- and how easy it is!  Seriously, sugar, butter, water and a heat source? Ok!

Hubserino and I also took in a last Nationals game in the hottest day of the year with some friends.  I kept telling myself "It'll only be hotter in Cambodia! Get used to it!"

Guess what? I was right.

June

June. Oh June.  It was a crazy, hectic, busy, overwhelming, sad month as I spent my last weeks in my job executing the welcome week for new teachers I'd been planning since January and prepared myself to say goodbye to this group of amazing teachers.  Even now, I find myself thinking about each one of them, especially as the majority- even those beyond their two year commitment- are still teaching. I often will think "I wonder what my corps members are doing this Friday?  If I were there, I'd love to arrange a bowling extravaganza to celebrate the end of the year!" Or some such nonsense.

That same month, Topher and I attended my last TFA party for the time being.  I hadn't missed a celebration for four years running, and it was crazy to think that I wouldn't get to ring in the holidays with the region or welcome the new alums the following June!

To avoid being overly sad, Topher took me to Denny's after the celebration, wherein I drank a giant Diet Coke and ate chocolate chip pancakes.

Clearly, he's a genius.

And so, we've come to the nearly final moments of America-Kate.  The second half of 2011 introduced me to Cambodia-Kate.  She's exactly the same, except she's much sweatier, fifteen pounds lighter, and can speak a tiny bit of a relatively unknown language.

July through December coming tomorrow.

Also, is it crazy for me to want a Leap Year Birthday Child?

And, what really are your thoughts on air shows? I hated them growing up (my neck hurts! it's hot!) but I have a deep and abiding respect for them now.