Saturday, Day 14: Graduation! ... and maybe a nightclub...

Today was the big graduation day!!! What an amazing thing to be a part of - easily a highlight of my time in Cambodia. Before mentioning the ceremony... can we talk about the shoes?! First of all, all of the students were so well put together (I constantly feel underdressed here) but the ladies were to the nines! Some of them had elaborate formal dresses made just for this event... and paired them with 3 inch heels!! One of the faculty members even commented in his address that with all the excitement, students should walk slowly up to the stage to avoid tripping up the stairs in their fancy shoes. :) The ceremony was a full morning and included some lovely comments from faculty who shared encouragement as the birds flew from the nest and from program advisors who spoke of the seed dying so that the tree may grow. There were a couple of slideshows - one with photos from the last 4 years of the first graduating cohort (some of which were from our weekend in Siem Reap avec UW students!) and another slideshow created by 3rd year students giving their wishes and hopes for the graduates. The latter made me cry... it was so touching to see just how powerful this program has been in affecting the lives of all involved and how much care and attention has been given both to quality education and to supporting students in their journey as young people and professionals. It reminded me a bit of my last graduation too - my BA in Human Services where my cohort of 24ish folks all stood, held hands, and walked in a connected line up to the stage to receive our diplomas to the Awwww-ing of the attending crowd. It was a wonderful way to recognize the strengths of Cambodians as people and as organizing groups as they work to address a myriad of social problems before them.

After graduation the students invited us to lunch at... wait for it... KFC. Yes, despite the harmful effects that a fast-food western diet culture is having on diabetes and hypertension rates in the country, it is yet considered a sign of affluence. Gross. Funny part - chicken cutlet served with rice instead of mashed potatoes. It was... quite bad, actually. Given a choice between ANY Khmer dish and KFC I will ALWAYS choose the stuffed frog or fish soup... But, the company was great. It was just another venue for the billions of pictures that Cambodian youth like to take. Did I mention Vicheth yet? Or, as we call him, Cambodia's Next Top Model? Most of the students have learned to pose like pop stars but Vicheth will go to great lengths to set up the perfect frame and tell you exactly how he wants the photo to look. He's a ham and we love him for it.

After lunch was a quick nap (so tired) and then some relaxation time before family dinner with the SWD (Social Work Department) faculty and their families. We sat outside underneath lanterns and ate broiled fish with tamarind sauce and glass noodles with fish sauce and soup and braised morning glory... so delicious (better than KFC). Shelby and I sat near Bora's children and they practiced their English with us talking about sports, school. music, and anything else you can get 3 teens to talk to you about... which is hard enough when you speak the same first language. The best part of the night had to be the babies. So many cute babies. We fought a little bit over who got to play with them... then their parents took them home - sad. I got to chat more with a lovely couple from Tazmania - Mara had been working at the SWD for 18 months and she and her partner came to celebrate graduation with her first students, all grown up. Her partner is an artist and teacher at another university and she was great for conversation - I think I convinced her to come to Bellingham for a micro-brew (have one ready, Brian!). I, of course, now have a standing invite to visit Tazmania... who wants to come?! Mara also gave me a fun new gift... a bike!!! She had one when she lived here that she left at the school and has now handed to me for my use while in Cambodia. She delivered it to dinner and I took a long ride home through my neighborhood (with a helmet and light... just to assure you Mike & Mom). It was great to move swiftly through the city and see parts of BKK (my hood) that I hadn't seen before. I haven't ridden much since then but will venture out more when I have the time and want to explore. 

When I got home the gang was tired - it was a very long day after a very long week. So everyone just settled in and went to sleep early... except me. I wanted to get out and play... so I walked myself toward town to a nice gay club that I found online - yes, PP has gay clubs! Well, gay like Rumors gay... but gay. Actually, PP has a Pride! I just missed it in May but I met a woman recently who helps organize it... more on that later. I showed up, got frisked, got a drink, and found a place on the second level with a view of the dance floor. Pretty soon a Khmer couple asked to join my table - Samnang and Sovanh - they shared their Angkor beer and before long I was toasting with a group of Khmer men and making new friends. We eventually made our way to the floor and found myself dancing and sweating even more than usual for the Cambodian heat. I made another new friend, Devo (like the 80s Whip It band...). He's an accountant for a microfinance organization, originally from LA, recently arrived after working for a bank in Australia. He's a good dancer and quite funny... and helpful at keeping some of the grabby boys away. I left after 2 and had a pleasant walk home - it was a great end to a full day... and made me really miss my BBFF...