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Goshen College

Karaoke! Meditation! Just not together!

January 18, 2016

Andrew and his brother, Bong Veasna, making the waffle and pancake delivery.
Andrew and his brother, Bong Veasna, making the waffle and pancake delivery.

Sunday was a day with family. The Koop Liechtys had the privilege of having delicious waffles and cookies delivered (ordered via Facebook) by Andrew and his host brother, Bong Veasna. Andrew had helped his host mother make them that morning at the market near their house. Those and a Nescafe are a great way to start one’s day.

In the evening, we had a group get-together. The men met Dan and Cormac at Tamarind Restaurant. We had a wonderful  meal on their beautiful roof. The women met with Jill and Elsie at Brooklyn Pizza. They all sampled pizzas and calzone and had a great time connecting.

Afterward, we all ended up at a mall for some family karaoke and arcade time. We decided to go there because some karaoke establishments offer illicit activities having little (okay, nothing) to do with singing. As a Westerner, it’s hard to distinguish between the two types so we went for the safe route.

Today, we had a diametrically opposed experience when we met at a local wat (temple) to learn more about Buddhism and have a meditation experience.  We met with the venerable Yos Hut Khemacaro. He lectured on Buddhism and then led us in a short meditation.

Tomorrow, we have an afternoon lecture and then we end the week with a series of field trips and a weekend trip outside the city, where we’ll get our first group experience of village life.

Andrew making pancakes with his host mother at the market near their house.
Hannah learning to cook Khmer food with her host family. She says the food at her house is the best!
The men on the rooftop at their dinner. Levi was on a trip with his host family.
The women are ready to head out for dinner. Carley met them at the restaurant.
Jill rockin’ Bon Jovi at the family KTV located at a local mall.
The karaoke was fun and loud.
Wat Langka.
Daily beautiful flower click.
Wat Langka
Thank goodness for cushions!
Pagoda roofline.
The Venerable Yos Hut Khemacaro, Wat Langka priest, showing the students the grounds of the wat.
Levi finding a comfortable pose to focus on the here and now.
The Venerable Yos Hut Khemacaro explaining meditation techniques to the students.
One more group shot at Wat Langka.
There were many beautiful sculptures at the wat.
Group meeting at the wat gate.
Carley!
Marco and Hannah rocking their shades.
Cormac and Sam. Sam is looking dashing in his new school shirt!
Elsie and Armarlie.
The guys planning their next move.
Jack securing a tuk-tuk, with Independence Monument in the background.