Two weeks ago was like a breath of fresh air! I really needed a day off. I feel like I’ve had so much that could or should be done recently that I just haven’t had time to rest well. Between teaching the kids, doing computer work for Dad, and doing other jobs around the house, I feel like I just haven’t had time to rest well.

So when Dad suggested that the boys go to Phnom Penh, to pick up Friedreich’s and Lanita and renew their license. I jumped at the chance to take a day off of teaching and go road tripping!

After hours of driving, we finally made it to the mall. A couple days before, we saw on the news that in Phnom Penh now, you need to have proof of vaccination to be allowed into the malls. The mall is the only place that you can renew licenses. So we just hoped and prayed it would work out!

We walked into the mall entrance, and there was a checkpoint by the door. “Can I see you proof of vaccination?” the security asked. “Uhhh, we don’t have the vaccine.” Dallas replied. “You don’t have the vaccine?!?” He asked, astonished. “I’m sorry, you can’t come in then.” Dallas explained to him that all we needed to do is just renew they’re license, that was all. “Ok, Well, let me ask the boss first,” he relented. A couple minutes later he waved us through and told us only this once!

After renewing the license and picking up some goods for mom, we were famished! We decided just to get KFC. After looking over the menu, we decided on a box meal. The meal consisted of fried chicken, fries, sandwich and ice cream with caramel sauce. Our food came out, and we sat down to eat. We were so disappointed! Our “ice cream” was actually mashed potatoes and gravy! It looked exactly like a sundae with caramel sauce on the menu! After getting over the surprise, it tickled us, but was still very disappointing! Then I bit into my chicken, and I hit something very hard. Upon inspection, I realized it wasn’t a drumstick, but rather the chicken’s ribs. Dallas’ seemed to be mostly bone too. I guess they just chop the whole chicken into chunks Khmer style.

After finishing our lunch, we were on our way to do some quick fabric shopping, when Renita messaged and said they were finally released from quarantine. I quickly scanned over the rows and rows of fabric and bought what I wanted. Then we headed over to the hotel.

Once again, they made a big fuss about us not having the shot! I was worried that they actually weren’t going to let us in, reluctantly the guard let us through. Once inside, they got all our full names and our license plate number since we weren’t vaccinated. All that hassle just to drive in, load up everything and leave!

It was so good to have them back! We talked a good amount of the five hours home. I almost forget what it’s like to have people like that around.

That pretty much sums up our day off, it was a good break from the daily routine. It was a long, but quite interesting day!

Now Lanita is getting back into the daily grind of things and Friedrich’s are staying with a Khmer family in Prelingeang, they wanted to get a real Khmer experience and get to know people out there before doing much else. It sounds like they’re enjoying themselves, and learning Khmer really fast!

Heather for the Helmuths

Well, Covid has hit home! After a year of the government trying so hard to keep it out, it has finally found it’s way in. Now a year after the states has had it and is pretty much back to normal life, we are going through it all over again.

Just this past month it has went rampant in our city! Siem reap had avoided spreading it for a long time, but it is nigh impossible to keep it shut in forever!

A month or two ago, one of the staff men stayed home with his sick wife for a week. They went to the hospital then and had to get tested. He tested positive and she tested negative. So, Seyha had to stay in the hospital for two weeks, while his wife went home freely. She tested again later and it ended up she did have it after all! Poor Seyha! He had to quarantine two weeks in the hospital, get tested, go home and quarantine for another whole week!

Now almost all of Siem Reap is red zoned. Thankfully, it hasn’t affected us much at all! The closest town to us with a big market is closed, but there are other ones that we can shop at. Out here in the village it is pretty much normal still. We’re so glad we moved when we did!

Recent happenings

Changing the subject, we finally have other Americans around! The holderman missionaries from Phnom Penh brought down the new replacement family and their teacher. It was so refreshing to get together for supper with them! I was looking forward to getting to know the teacher better, but since they’re stuck in town, that hasn’t been able to happen.

James’ (on Alam Board) got out of quarantine three weeks ago. They’ll be here another couple weeks before heading back. Lanita and Friedrich’s just started their two weeks of quarantine on Friday. Friedrich’s committed to 2-3 years of work, so they will be around for a while!

It has been raining a lot the last couple weeks. It rained all night one Saturday, the next morning, the water in the rice field came up a lot! Right along the bank was crawling with worms heading for higher ground. It was amazing how many there were!

Then this last week it rained again, on and off for two days straight! The creek filled up fast! From 2 o’clock to 6ish the water came up close to a foot! The next morning the bridge had water flowing over it.

The bridge became the village hang out spot. I wanted so badly to go over and wade in the water but there was not a minute that there wasn’t people there! It is entertaining watching them though. Someone will drive down to the bridge and see that it has water over it. Then they stop , put their kickstand down and give the moto a good washing, right there in the middle of the bridge, before going on about there day.

Other’s come and park the moto on the side of the road, pull off their shirt and jump into the water, swim a couple minutes, and go on their way.

The water is pretty deep! I decided I was going to swim out to where Dallas and the children were. Half way there, I needed a little breather. Well, It was a lot deeper than what I thought! I could just barely feel the bottom with my tippy toes, and my head barely out of the water!

Other than that life has been pretty much normal. Right now I’m busy teaching the children’s school, Dallas is still going drilling, Austin has been getting Friedrich’s house ready for them, and Dad is busy with some of everything!

Till next time.

Heather for the Helmuths