I am basically a stunt woman

Today I fully integrated into Khmer culture.   Well, not really, but I might be one step closer!  So, a few days ago, a couple of trucks came away and took most of our stuff with them, including our bikes, in order to take our things to our permanent sites (I find out where I’ll be spending the next two years on Thursday!)  Most of us have been fortunate enough to have our families lend us bikes, since that’s our primary form of transportation.  However, there are a few of us who do not have bikes, so we improvised. 

This is the story of how this happened:

My friend, Jodi, and I were sitting at her house on a slightly rainy afternoon when we heard that a few of our friends were down the street, hanging out.  FAR down the street.  Now, my family was able to let me borrow an extra bike, but Jodi was, sadly, without.  We didn’t really want to walk all the way down there, seeing as it’s about a half hour walk.  It was then that I proposed something I had always wanted to do (since coming to Cambodia).  Cambodian children are commonly seen riding on the backs of their friend’s bikes.  There’s even a little rack that allows them to sit above the back wheel.  Nifty, huh?  So Jodi and I set out to see if we could be as cool as Cambodian children. 

I grabbed my bike and we started our adventure.  I decided I would try pedaling first….but this did not go well.  My lack of balance was really apparent when trying to ride with someone on the back, so we decided to switch positions.  This was also not working.  Turns out it’s really hard to get started pedaling with an extra person on the bike.  Our little adventure wasn’t exactly off to a good start.  It was then that we decided to try and lower the seat, hitting our heads together during the process (don’t worry, we were wearing our helmets!).  Seriously, we looked like idiots. 

Suddenly, Jodi pauses and says, “Kelly, Cambodian children usually jump on the back while the bike is already moving.  That might help…”   I was not convinced.  If any of you have seen me try to function on a daily basis, it is pretty apparent that jumping on a moving bike probably wouldn’t be my forte.  But I tried it anyway. 

And it worked!  I managed to get on the seat on the first try and off we went!  Well, I guess in the interest of full disclosure, I did let her pass me the first time because I chickened out.  But the first time I actually jumped it worked!  Take that, hand-eye coordination!  I felt like Tom Cruise (not exactly sure why that celebrity comes to mind when it comes to stunts)!  

Turns out children usually ride like that because their legs are short enough to comfortably withstand that mode of travel.  Mine are not.  So after a slightly uncomfortable 5-minute bike ride, we arrived at our destination and I enjoyed a delicious orange soda.  Ahhhh, the sweet taste of victory. 

Oh, and thanks, Jodi, for hauling me around town today.  You were an excellent driver!