A Drive Through Phnom Penh - Glog

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Cambodia - quick update

Just a quick upate. We have made it safely to Cambodia. We spent the past week in the village with Phal's family. We moved into our new house yesterday. It's a 3 story, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, spacious rowhouse near a major market. Only $400 a month! Its a bit noisy, but we like it.

I'll be posting more info later, and the kids blog should be up soon.

Original Cambodian Rap?

I was digging through an old box of videos and found the recording of a Cambodia Rap I performed for Khmer New Year in Long Beach in 1996. I believe this was the first public performance of a Khmer Rap to be broadcast on the Cambodian Cable station, and certainly the first by a White-and-Nerdy boy like me. The Cable station played this over-and-over for about a month after the New Year Peformance, and copies even made it over to Cambodia. During that time, I couldn't go anywhere in Long Beach without Cambodians stopping me on the street going, "Hey! You're that Cambodian Rapper guy!" Even old ladies in the Cambodian Markets would walk by me repeating lines from the Rap and giggling.

My performance was meant just to be funny skit. It's been fun to watch Khmer Rap become a serious medium.

The video and sound quality is horrible. Unfortunatly, the only copy I had was on a damaged video tape, so this was the best capture I could get. If anyone has a better copy of this, please let me know!

2008 Wright Family Christmas Letter

If you like to read sappy, boastful, generic family Christmas letters, then click here for our 2008 Wright Family Christmas Letter. If not, here's the short version:

Everyone's doing fine.

We'll be in Cambodia for six months starting the first week of January. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

They're on to me! Catherine's Letter to Santa

The other day, Michael and Catherine came up to me, and Michael said, "Dad, we're on to you!" He went on to outline their elaborate plan to stay up late and see if Santa Claus really comes to on Christmas Eve to deliver the presents.

The next day, Catherine gave me a letter to mail to Santa Claus. Since I don't have his address, I'll post it here in hopes Santa reads my blog:

Dear Santa,

I know you don't exist. I know I won't get coal. Did you know that celebrating Christmas is celebrating Jesus's birthday? Do you know why we get presents? I do. Becase the three wisemen gave precious gifts to baby Jesus. So Christmas isn't just all about you, it's about Jesus. I want proof that you are real. And don't write back unless you are real!

Sincerely,

Catherine

p.s. Do any penguins live in the North Pole

I'm proud of my kids who understanding the true meaning of Christmas!

Jeffrey's Christmas Concert

Jeffrey performed with his middle school band on December 18, 2008. The holiday concert, featuring the school's bands, orchestra, and choral groups, was held at a nearby church in the large sanctuary barely large enough to contain the hundreds of family members and friends in attendance. We knew this would be a special concert when Jeffrey came home with a tuxedo to wear.  

We couldn't help but be impressed with how handsome Jeffrey looked all decked out in his tux. Jeffrey was quite taken aback at his new duds as well. He declared that while he was wearing the tuxedo, he would only speak in a formal manner, and insisted we all speak to him formally as well! 

The concert was great. Jeffrey and his band members, most of whom have been learning their instruments for less than two years, sounded great. 

We feel blessed to have such a great son who is developing one of his many talents.