Baby, it's Cold Outside

It rarely feels like December here in Cambodia, but today was a day full of nostalgia for snow days, sweaters and christmas cookies.

I woke up around 4am to what I thought was the pitter-patter of little mice feet, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it was the pitter-patter of fresh, glorious rain.  We're entering the dry season, so it hasn't rained in almost a month, and yesterday was quite the scorcher.  I went back to sleep looking forward to a cool morning.

When my alarm went off at 6:20, it was still raining.  And anyone in Cambodia can tell you what rain during the day means:  a rain day!  It's a lot like a snow day, but with rain.  I called my co-teacher to double check, but I was pretty sure the rain meant no class this morning.

I had grand plans of sleeping in, but like any excited kid on a rain day, I was so excited about not having class that I stayed up and finished reading a book I'd been working on for a few days.  I taught one class mid-morning when it stopped raining for a bit, but then the rain returned and there was no school for the rest of the day.

Some of you might be thinking, "What, they can't just handle a little rain?", which was definitely my thought during my first "rain day".  But think about it.  Riding your bike in the rain when you don't have a rain coat, or a rainproof backpack, on a muddy road for half an hour just to get to school seems like enough reason not to go.  That and the fact that the school roof is made of tin, so even if you did make it to school, chances are you aren't going to be able to understand the teacher over the "ping!  ping! ping!" of the rain drops.  Not to mention the holes in the roof, leaking water all over the classroom.

Now the original purpose of this blog was just to tell everyone how cold it is!  Since the sun has yet to grace the day with its presence, it has been a cold one*.  I'm currently sitting here wearing socks, a thick skirt, an undershirt, dress shirt and sweatshirt.  And I'm not sweating!  It's truly a Christmas miracle!

Mirror selfie!  

So please excuse me while I make myself another cup of hot chocolate and look at things on pinterest while I listen to Michael Bublé's Christmas album.  Winter has come to Cambodia!

*Truth be told, I think it's only about 70 degrees, but it feels like at least 65!