Getting into a Routine

So my daily routine is beginning to look something like this-

Wake up at 6 30 and appreciate small window of coolness.

Copy up notes from yesterdays class in blue book (I have serious moleskin envy which has entered my wish list along with nice soap, lotion without skin whitener, Cotton tops that cover all appropriate areas and an external hard drive to cadge other people’s film on).

Take a cold shower, hot not available in my room unless you count the drip of lukewarm water from the pipe and the ant’s nest in the showerhead.

Go to Hotel lobby to access Internet, check emails, facebook, BBC & download podcasts (Archers of particular importance, got to keep abreast of Ambridge).

Go for walk and have a Kafe-teuk doh ko-teuk kok - Khmer iced coffee with condensed milk - LUSH.

Find a cheap $1 breakfast - eat it.

Sit in cafe making one lime juice teuk kok last 3 hours.

Try to learn khmer language, test each other and be lulled into a false sense of security that you might actually be progressing.

Cycle to class, sweat (alot).

First hour - realise that you know none of the words you thought you did in your own private study but appreciate air-con and take 30 minutes just to cool down.

First break, cycle to cafe - drink Kafe K'moa - black khmer coffee AKA rocket fuel and eat noodle soup.

Second hour lesson - learn new words+/grammar at such a pace that your head implodes.

Second break - stand on the veranda outside of class stunned whilst being stared at my Cambodian pupils of University and trying not to offend any near by monks.

Third lesson - reach hysteria, laughter better than tears but both options are available.

Cycle home - stop on way and eat cheap Khmer dinner. Try not to drink Angkor beer as suspect this is negatively impacting on language learning.

Cycle past Cambodian Aerobics and man practicing tapak takraw on the banks of the Mekong.

Skype/revise/watch film in make shift cinema (laptop in someone's room)/listen to podcast/read/laundry/chat.

Give up on beer abstinence and go and sit on pavement by Mekong River drinking beer PRN.

Cold Shower.

Bed.

Repeat 6 days a week until fluent in Khmer.

My biggest regret is I still haven't made it to the aerobics.

Maybe tomorrow......