Ok, so I'm sure you've all been dying to hear about how school went. First of all, though I thought I would just really quickly recap on last week.
Cinnamon Rolls! Yes, I indeed made cinnamon rolls. I was dying to bake something and cinnamon rolls had been on my mind. They are gluten and sugar free, and yes, made in a toaster oven because we didn't know how to work the oven. They weren't the best, but I can see a future filled with lots of cinnamon roll experiments!
I also had the opportunity to go out with some sister missionaries, Sis. Loy (native) and Sis. Solorio (foreign) one afternoon! It was so much fun! It was my first time riding a bike too, which was thrilling! We first talked to a young man who is 20. We then went to a young women's home who is 14. I really enjoyed teaching her. I shared my thoughts on the importance of scripture study especially at our age. She was really fun and open with her thoughts and questions. Last, we visited a family that was baptized the previous Sunday. It was harder for me because the Sisters weren't translating as much and I was super tired. I did bear my testimony about the priesthood in my home though. It was really a priceless experience that I intend to do again!
And now...
SCHOOL!! Surprisingly I was so excited for school! I was sick of sitting around home feeling unproductive. The school is an IB school, however I am not doing the IB diploma because I wasn't here for 11th grade (thank goodness!). There are 28 kids in my grade and they are all very nice. They have all been in my shoes before because being expat kids they've moved around a lot. In my grade there are lots of nationalities like: Cambodian, Korean, Polish, Dutch, Australian, Malaysian, Indian, and more! They were quick to welcome me, and they were very good at making sure I got to all of my classes. I found out that one girl from Canada is Christian as well. That was really nice to hear! I feel like my world has completely turned upside down. I went from hearing stories in young women's about kids in schools with no other LDS members to the one IN the story. I'm still trying to comprehend all that's going on. Everyone swears here. I even heard a 4th grader swear. It's really hard for me to listen to. I feel like a cold wave hits me in the face every time. I don't quite know what to do because I really don't want to become "immune" to it. The teachers swear too and sometimes talk about questionable things. I always think of Lone Peak and just laugh because it's exactly the things that would get teachers fired at home.
I've had several interesting conversations as well. In one of my classes two of the girls starting asking me where else I had lived. I said no where. They were so confused why we would just pack up and move to Cambodia of all places. I then explained about my parents being presidents over a group of missionaries for our church. After determining that I was Christian they just flat out asked me if I was going to do any immoral activity before marriage (although not in that language :). I said no and they both just stared at me with their jaw open. It was so funny! As we kept talking they were shocked that dad got no income and such. That's the short version. It was really a neat conversation though.
I get privately tutored on Khmer for one of my classes and during one of my classes the teacher found out that we don't drink beer. He was very surprised and asked me if we never did our whole life. I said no. He said, " not even just a little slip?" I said no. He was very impressed and shocked. He said that's what the monks did although they often slip up. :)
Anyway, it was an interesting week. My classes are going pretty good. It's a lot harder than I thought. I feel like I'm coming in the middle of the year because it's a two year program so basically the classes are a two year course. The teachers just start where they left off last year and don't explain a lot. They've been really good at working with me though. Sorry for the long post! Have an excellent day!
BYE BYE!
