to town

oct.29
i had a delightful evening not grading today. when finished with my after school math class, and finding that my pupil was not there for english tutoring, i biked home. i changed into street clothes and headed downtown. i had a miserable time earlier alternating between my three dry-erase markers, trying to persuade one of them to write the information i had to share with the class. so, i just had to go to town and find new ones. but today, i decided not to take a moped taxi. it's really not that far, so i biked.

eventually, i got to sorya mall (i didn't exactly take the most direct route). there i witnessed the stark contrasts of cambodian society and the large gap in wealth. just four days ago and less than a few hours away, there are people who live and work in open rice fields and sleep above their animals, the most valuable things they own. children run around naked and others are clad in rags, kramas, or sorongs. there at sorya mall there are 5 escalators and 6 levels of western culture for sale below a large glass dome. asians and foreigners walk around in their newest hip clothes. i picked up 3 pirated computer programs for $2 each and a dvd of amalie, a master of cinematography. i simply asked the man where each was and he knew their exact location out of the many shelves. at lucky grocery, i got some much needed groceries. i tried to find a set of silverware for my new home, but couldn't find a complete trio. i bought a kitchen knife instead of a butter knife.

next, i half looked for the right way home and half looked for a school supplies store. eventually i found both. i got more than enough markers (i don't want to run out again), some pens, paper, and enough folders for each class. the best part of riding around for hours was passing a boy on his bicycle. i passed him going opposite ways on the same side of the busy street. we met eyes and smiled. after a while, i decided i was not going the way i wanted and turned around. riding along, i looked up to the smiling face of the same boy on his bicycle--both going opposite ways again but on the other side of the street. that's the best.

another time when turning around (almost home), i was able to buy a dragon fruit AND a pomegranate for 1900 reil. i usually get gypped in the fruit department, so i felt pretty good about myself getting two fruits for less than 50 cents! "yeah, that's more like it," i said as i rode off. thus, i got all but one thing on my list--a tuner for my violin student. i think i did pretty good.

finally, i found myself back in my neighborhood and stopped (for a quick look) in the internet shop. i told myself i'd leave by 9...then 10. well, i didn't leave until 11, but i had a fulfilling time writing and arranging words and mending the lines of communication with my friends around the world.

i had a certain satisfaction as i turned onto my bumpy 'street' and looked up at the bright moon. it had been a while since i had seen it. a trail of yapping guard dogs went up behind me. the bags and goods jostled in the full basket of my inherited rickety green women's bike as i rode through the puddles and over unseen rocks in the dark.

and here i am writing my thoughts once again. no sleeping or grading is being done. nor will i be able to wake up for the sunrise. but i feel much better and my long vacation to town will get me through the next half of the week. breakfast will taste much better as well, even if i have to get the peanut butter out with a kitchen knife.