Portlandia: Episode l

Hello! Is anyone still with me after that Miley Cyrus/kale/Greek yogurt rant in the last post? I don't know what got into me. I believe that is an illustration of what reverse culture shock would define as “the rejection stage.” My sincerest apologies for that. I will try not to let it happen again.

So, you might be wondering what Garrett and I have been up to/how we’ve been faring since we made the big move up to Portland in September. Well. We have yet to throw each other’s things out of the window in the middle of the night or surreptitiously change the locks at an advantageous moment... so I’d say we’re doing pretty well.

Our apartment is tiny. Like, so tiny that we have to carefully plan how to execute the maneuver of moving around each other when both of us are “in” the kitchen. Let's just say a lot of things are dropped in the process.

Portland is lovely. We can see a line of food trucks out of our apartment (potentially dangerous, although we’ve been pretty good about limiting ourselves due to the budgetary concerns). We are about ten minutes from most places we want to go downtown, and I am approximately a two minute walk from all of my classes, which is pretty much idyllic since I’m not the most astute person when it comes to keeping track of time (blame Cambodia).

Six days after we got to Portland, while we were deep in the throes of assembling/screaming at/throwing around our IKEA purchases, one of our very good friends from Peace Corps came through Portland on a cross-country road trip and stayed with us for a few days. We had hardly had a chance to discover anything of Portland for ourselves at this point, but we puffed up our chests and acted like we knew the best places to show BP, and in the process ended up stumbling across some awesome places and free events (a free, very eclectic concert by Pink Martini and the Van Trapp siblings). I guess I should probably rewind a bit though, because not writing about Garrett’s and my trip to Arizona would be doing a disservice to this lovely place he calls home.

I had never been to AZ before, and in my mind it was plain ol’ desert. Not one tree. Not one green thing. As it turns out there is quite a bit of green, along with much diverse wildlife/flora/fauna. Here are a few pics to illustrate:

Cacti along the way to Mt. Lemmon in Tucson

It rains in AZ! Who knew? Here is a monsoon we had a pretty unbelievable view of on our drive

I had no idea how mountainous it is.

Ok ok, I know this is not flora or fauna but this was seriously the most amazing pancake I’ve ever had in my life, so I need to share it with you if only to ease the burden of this incredible secret off of myself. The place is called “Bobo’s”- a little hole in the wall, slightly shady place you would never look twice at if you didn't already know about it- in Tucson. This pancake… It is a banana pancake with caramelized brown sugar and cinnamon on top… Basically heaven. They grill the bananas on a skillet first, then pour the batter over top, finally topping it with the cinnamon/brown sugar mixture. Go there. Seriously.

Also not flora or fauna, but just look at this adorable babyyyyy. This is Garrett’s cutie-pie niece, Britta, snuggling with her new bison, straight off the Konza prairie.

We took a day trip to Sedona with Garrett’s parents. (Some of these pics are from Instagram which is why there is a border).

Garrett’s lovely parents and us

Rock made of something I can't remember ("Red?" That sounds right)

At this point we are about out of AZ! Oh yeah, just ooooone more thing…

Hehe. So, after our visit in Arizona it was time to go. Time to start our new lives in Oregon!! We were really, really excited. So excited actually, that Garrett accidentally left my wallet at Einstein Bro. Bagels *lit'rally* before we even left Phoenix. Heh. (Remember that scene in Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion where the car keeps stalling? This was our that moment). His mom sent it to us by mail, however, and all was well with the world and Garrett was allowed to stop paying for all of our IKEA purchases (really, I didn't mind...)

The journey was long—23 hours in total—but we had a contact in San Francisco whose apartment we stayed at so we broke the trip up over the course of two days, lots of coffee, and so much sour cream apple crumble and chocolate bark (Thank you, Lorie).

We saw a bunch of wind turbines along the way

And there was this eerie, other-wordly view as we got in to San Fran

We went to the wharf for clam chowder, of course

Okay, so now we're finally entering Portlandia territory. We got to Portland and pretty much the first thing we did was go to IKEA to get started on furnishing our apartment.

As those of you who have been to IKEA know: it is overwhelming. Like... I am very surprised everyone isn't just hyperventilating and grabbing on to the walls at all times in there. We had already spent three hours in this store in Tucson, and I honestly don't even want to admit how many times we've been to the Portland IKEA. It's actually really embarrassing. Anyway, we got what we needed (eventually) and now our apartment is a spectacular model home for IKEA if they ever want to feature a 550 sq. ft. apartment in their advertisements. So there.

Our apartment did look like this for a long time, though.

Other things we have done in Portland (I'll try to keep it brief)- went to Voodoo donuts, a Portlandia establishment:

My recommendation is the classic yeast donut (complete with pretzel voodoo stick jutting out of it) or the chocolate peanut butter cake donut. There is also a maple bacon donut. That's all I'll say.

We smelled the roses at the International Rose Test Garden with our friend BP

It was raining so the roses were all dew-spotted and lush. Don't even think about picking them, though (which of course, I did)- plucking even one can result in a $500 dollar fine (glad I didn't go past thinking about it).

We became official Portlandians when I bought this awesome portable grocery carrier.

We took a day trip up to Mt. Hood and hiked around the lovely and scenic Trillium Lake

The day was crystal clear and the air was soooo crisp. Here we see an exemplary moment of when I am not homesick for Cambodia

This is only an hour's drive from us

Aaaaand that's all I've got! Sorry this post ended up being a lot longer than I meant it to be. I will try to be better about limiting myself in the future (although we've all seen how good I am at this over the course of my posting).

I'll also try to post a bit more regularly, if the evil dictator that is grad school allows (really though, I am liking my classes... ;)). For now, I hope this post finds you well and that you are all getting excited to pass out candy (or foot cream as Garrett once encountered= real thing that happened) to the young'ns on Halloween. Or just eat it all yourself if there are no young'ns to give it out to, like Garrett and I will probably do.

Sending you our love from the lovely state of Oregon,

Leah

Damp Mild American Summer

Hello! Some of you have been asking what my impressions of America are since I’ve been back, so I thought I’d give you a little update as to what’s been on my mindbrainbutt since I’ve been home and what some of my general observations/feelings have been on what I’ve seen.

First of all, let’s talk about this girl:

What is everyone's deal with her? I don't know about you guys but when I see these pictures the first words that come to mind are “CLASS” and “ROLE MODEL.”

Second of all and more importantly: what is up with greek yogurt and kale? They are NOT THAT GOOD YOU GUYS. Kale tastes like grass and greek yogurt tastes like sour cream mixed with margarine. Just sayin'. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go make myself a greek yogurt coffee and kale pancakes. (These cannot be be real. Tell me these things aren't real).

Also... Smartphones. I tried to talk to my mom the other day about this really bothersome golf ball sized growth I have under my armpit? She shooed me away and told me to come back later when she wasn’t playing Candy Crush. Sigh.

Anyway, I can tell you that I have reveled in not being forced to get up at 5:35 AM every day to run for fear of melting in the past 8 AM heat. Eating cereal with cold milk at 10 in the morning, having water with ice in it, going to the grocery store at midnight for an emergency cookie run… These are all luxuries I have missed dearly and can say in all confidence that I have welcomed back with open arms, at least for the time being.

I have also greatly enjoyed seeing my family and friends, despite the occasional fantasy of strangling them and/or buying a one-way ticket to Iceland leaving in the middle of the night.

As for summer travel: I will have covered about ¾ of the U.S. by the end of the summer geographically-speaking, having been to TX to visit my maternal grandparents, AR to visit my paternal ones, gone up to MN to shove Sarah out the car door to go to college (wheels screeching as my mom and I lifted up our shirts screaming "SPRING BREAK!!" and drove over the horizon), and to AZ here in a couple of weeks to meet Garrett's family. Being adored is exhausting, you guys.

Here are some of the highlights from my travels: 

It is a requirement of living in TX that you take a picture like this at some point, so grandma- you're now covered.

I ate it all. Along with two diet pepsis. Impressed?

Proof

Discovered this in my grandparents' home. It explains a lot.

I hung out with this lovely human.

And cooked lots of yummy things with her. #notpaleo #notcleaneating #nogreekyogurt #kalefree #longhairdontcare

nom

My family moved out of its current home and into a new one across town.

We made sure to pack the essentials

I found these old pictures

Come on, mom. We both know I am too cool for you to take this picture, now let's get me to kindergarten.

 #matchingswimsuits #notcool

We had this lovely dinner for my dad's birthday in AR.

And then this happened.

And this. I love you grandma but I will never again tell you when my feet are cold.

My mom and I kept it classy, as always. #bathroompictures #GeorgeCostanza #notclassy

Sarah and I got to play.

#naturalbeauty #nofilter

I took this beautiful selfie outside of Joe's Crab Shack in Des Moines

And this one when Garrett asked me to send him a picture of myself before I went to sleep.

WHEW. Are you still with me? I won't blame you if you've left already, but if you're still here, WAYTOGO and YOU ARE THE TRULY DEDICATED. So, for those of you who may be wondering, Well, what is next for this polite young lady?: you would be right to wonder this as I haven’t told you. Get this: prison. Just kidding, you guys! Grad school! I am moving to Portland, OR to start my MA in teaching English to speakers of other languages (or “TESOL” as we in the field like to call it) at Portland State. How does she expect to jump into a grad degree after napping in a hammock for the past two years? you may be asking yourselves. And you would be right to ask it, as I haven’t told you this either. This, you guys:

Because if this face isn't incentive enough to get out of the apartment and go hide myself in a library cubicle, I don't know what is.

That's right: somehow I managed to convince Garrett to come to Portland with me, where he'll be continuing to work on his pre-requisites for nursing and whip me into grad school shape by turning the heater on full blast in the summer and force feeding me white rice all day every day.

As the truth will have it, we figured out that we kind of like each other while we were in Cambodia and figured the mere fact we didn't claw each other to bits while we were there shouldn't be ignored. Why not see how we work in the land of plenty? 

I’m afraid that may be all I have to say for now, folks. I will be sure to keep you updated as things unfold for Garrett and me in Portland, and I will try to stay honest on this blog. I apologize in advance if some of my observations offend you (kale sucks. Sorry but it's true. I will try to find ways to choke it down because "antioxidents" and "cancer prevention" and whatever but I just hate it), but I hope you’ll stay with me on this journey and continue to give me your feedback as you read of my readjustment/future ‘Merica travels/grad school endeavours, etc. Sending you much love from the Manhattan, KS library (prime place for people watching…). :)

xo

Leah

Final Days in Cambodia (and a few hours in Seoul)

Hey you guys. It's me again. FROM AMERICA. (What??) How is this possible?? you are wondering to yourselves. We thought she just existed in Cambodia. Well. So did I. But here I am: eating veggie corn dogs for breakfast and staying up reeeealll late watching lifetime movies with my sister. It's glorious.

So, for this post I thought I'd sum up my final days in Cambodia as one final look into that part of my life (for now). Inevitably, you will have to deal with hearing about my feelings and reflections about my experience as time goes on (sorry) and I am able to process it more fully. For now, I'll stick to the facts and the most immediately memorable moments.

Library Project

As a final summation of my library project, I thought I'd share this very special picture, taken on one of my last days of working in the library.

Nothing says "reading" like a soccer ball in a bowl.

In fact, the library project did end on a very good note. The students had ample use of the library every day of the final month of my service, and as I've mentioned before- the hope is that the new volunteer whose placed at my site will take over the project. Time will tell.

My librarian and I also ended with a positive vibe between us. Remember how he shot down every good idea I had in the beginning? Remember how he was the biggest naysayer? Remember how is name was (and is) "No"? Well, we made it and I think the two of us even managed to retain the slightest scrap of respect for each other in the end. A big thanks to all of you whose donations made this project possible. It would never have had a chance to succeed without your help!

... Next up on our journey through my last days: Final Visit to my Market

Of course before I could go I had to say goodbye to the people who feed me (second to my host mom), namely my fruit lady- Ee Bo- and Ohn.

I stopped by to see my fruit lady first. She's so happy! Bo gave me lots of free fruit over my two years in Cambodia, always making sure to throw in a couple of extra rambutan or sapodilla despite my protests.

Next, I went and saw Ohn. She asked me if I wanted an iced coffee and knowing this could be one of the last sickly sweet, tooth rotting, disgustingly delicious ones of these I could get, I said yes and we made our way over to the new coffee shop, owned by this shirtless guy:

This really funny moment ensued, which I will just narrate as it goes along. All you need to know is the shirtless guy is trying to get Ohn to get closer to him cause he wants it to look like they're engaged (which, he seems to think they are).

Shirtless guy: Do we look in love? Ohn: ...

Shirtless guy: Come on, baby... Ohn: OMG

Next up is family. I spent a good amount of time with my host family in my final days, hanging out around the kitchen table talking when the power would go out (which was about 5-6 hours every day towards the end of my service) or laying on grays, wooden beds inside the house- me sprawled out and fanning myself in vain as Tona, the older of my host mom's grandkids, periodically opened the refrigerator to peer in and take in some of the residual cold.

Deck of cards. Cell phone. Empty metal box. Leah's beanie baby. Who needs anything else?

This became one of Banya's favorite toys. Right below the water bucket and the name card for the coffee I drink with the elephant logo.

And what do we have heeeeerre...

This picture makes me really happy. Tona (front) liked me approximately three times throughout my service, usually only when it involved me giving him Oreos or toys. This was one of those rare occasions in which I didn't have to bribe him to give me a smile.

Safety first.

That concludes my time in Cambodia (for now!). We are now entering into layover territory in Seoul, where I spent nine hours on my way back to America. My flight got in to Seoul at 7:00 AM, having left Cambodia at midnight. What do you think the first thing on my mind was when I got there? I'll give you three guesses.

If you said exercising, you were wrong. If you said food, you were right. I ran around the massive Incheon airport and stopped at the first Dunkin' Donuts I found, devouring a kimchi burrito (recommendation courtesy of Garrett), and a mango cream-filled donut, along with a large iced Americano. That done, I found my way OUT of the massive airport, and searched around for public transport into Seoul. I'd put my stuff in a locker for the day so I'd be burdenless for 'splorin. Found a bus for $10 and made my way into Seoul, periodically taking in the scenery and napping from a donut- induced coma.

Around 10:00 AM, I got dropped off at Gyeongbokgung palace. This place is beautiful. And huge. I don't really know any of the history and don't feel like looking it up (sorry), but if you want to, you should read about it! And even better, go see it!

When I first got there, a changing of the guards ceremony was going on. Click here to see a video. Skip to 0:45  if you don't want to wait for them to get closer.

Next it started pouring really badly so I got stuck under this portico with this nice lady from Brazil named Paola.

As it turned out, Paola didn't have an agenda like me, so we decided to team up and  take on the little bit of Seoul we could see before I had to head back to the airport together. We walked around in the rain and window shopped, stopping to eat at a tea shop at one point.

Paola let me share her umbrella. I swear, who lives in Cambodia for two years and doesn't learn to bring a rain jacket?? (this girl, apparently)

At about 1:30 PM I found a bus back to the airport (actually called an "airport limousine," although it is very clearly a public bus), and arrived with ample time to catch up on some e-mails and wander around until I found the FREE SHOWERS available to anyone in the Seoul airport with a longish layover.

I will refrain from posting pictures (I did take them, let's be honest), but suffice it to say that I was amazed and felt so refreshed and ready for my fifteen hour flight and just loved everybody. So, thanks Incheon.

I will leave you with a final picture (for now!) from Cambodia, and the first picture I took upon my reentrance in the Dallas airport.

Final image of Cambodia. I will never understand these shoes, but I will also never fail to be amazed and impressed by them when I see this picture.

America!!

That's all for now. I've got leftover Mexican food in the fridge and an entire night to dedicate to Lifetime movies so if you'll excuse me...