Kampot

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Hello everyone!

Lots to tell.

We've decided against motor bike rental as tuk-tuk is inexpensive and the roads here are very rough. Yesterday we had a rainstorm in the afternoon-poured for an hour then beautiful again. We were tucked into a cozy restaurant with a bowl of fish amok and a plate of fried shrimp with Kampot Pepper. We climbed 203 steps to a cave of limestone, viewed a salt plant, fishing village, and pepper plantation. The plantation grows the famous Kampot Pepper which is a must if you ever see it on a menu. The "plantation"is what Dad would call a garden! We spent a few hours in a town called Kep on the Gulf of Thailand and ate fried shrimp and crab. Lovely.

I had my introduction to my school here in Kampot. I am assigned to a Khmer teacher who teaches two classes-one beginner level and one more advanced. I only observed my first day. The students were allowed to ask me questions. They asked where I was from, my age, if I was married, what my job was, how I traveled to work, and what time I get up in the morning. Khmer teaching style is very different from the US-lots of shouting. The boys kicked each other, threw each others books out the window; the girls talked constantly and tried to slap the boys whenever possible. ISES was a very good training ground for me! Tomorrow I teach on my own-I actually went and bought some candy for my lessons (Karen-you KNOW what that means!). It is going to be a challenge but I feel up to it. I do enjoy a classroom-I know I have chosen the right career path. The students followed my tuk-tuk almost all the way home. More stories later.

The Fantastic Four are coming to Kampot tomorrow-our fellow travelers from Nairobi. We are looking forward to seeing them again.

Tonight is some kind of ceremony on the river-there is a tent with chairs set up-we aren't sure what it is but we will be checking it out. A few notes:

Mom-you gave me the best travel advice ever. I will send a private message later!
Dolores-The little town of Kep reminded us of Tarpon Springs. 😊
Karen-WHERE ARE YOU? I NEED YOU IN MY KHMER CLASSROOM!
Dad-you will love the pepper plantation pictures.
Ed-we've got your girl.
Jill and Lisa-miss talking to you both.

Love to everyone back home-we are healthy and happy.

Suzie and Steven.

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Photos

Follow the Red Dirt Road
Typical road in Kampot.

Fishing VIllage
Yes, our fishing village on our tour.

My entourage
These boys followed us up-they had nothing else to do.

View from Cave White Elephant Cave
Climb 250 steps and this is what you see!