Define: "home"

approximately two years ago (ok, so we're a couple month off, but let's ignore that right now) I wrote a somewhat organized blog post about my trip to Cambodia to bring speechless to the Cambodian people. Well, it was sort of about the trip, the main point about the blog post was the conflict that I faced when I returned home after our 12 days in Cambodia.

back then the challenge was returning was starting down the new road that lay ahead of me (recently graduating high school). I had my friends that I wanted to stay in contact with, figure out how I was going to get a job, which school I was deciding to go to, etc. etc.

fast forward a few years (to today) I've just returned from a trip (about 4.5 days short of a month) to Vietnam and Cambodia. This time around I'm returning to jobs (barista at Kéan coffee, part time freelance photographer, internship at post production studio) bills, and still figuring out what I'm going to be doing in my future. To clear some things up, school is looking like it's not going to be happening (unless a few million dollars fall into my lap and I am a complete failure at finding a decent career) I've decided to learn on my own because I don't have the money for school, and don't want to bother with figuring out the scholarship/student loan path (also don't want to have to pay off a student loan)

ok, baseline stuff aside, I've been trying to figure out exactly where I'm going to be going forward from now (the main concern is how am I going to fund all my grand plans). When I returned from this trip the biggest thing that is harder for me to get used to is being home, I'm so ready to be back over seas. Whether it's going back to the countries I know like Vietnam and Cambodia, or whether it's going to new places, there's this strange feeling that even though this house I'm living in has been my home for the past 12 years I feel that I left my home behind when I got on the plane to come back "home". It feels so natural being over there, people act like people should, kind, serving, always smiling.

I think the main reason for feeling like I was leaving my home is the relationships I have built up over the past 5 years of visiting Cambodia. It's really hard for me to explain all of the different feelings that are running through my head but it's like running through a ridiculously long roller coaster with no apparent beginning or end.

In the long run, it's really a challenge for me to accept the fact that this is my home, I really would like to go back, and spend all the time I can traveling the world while I'm young. Please pray that God makes it apparent where I'm supposed to go and how I'm supposed to get there

well, I can blog from half way around the world (because there were people interested in what I was doing) now lets see if I can keep it up while I'm back on US soil

until next time
Soli Deo Gloria
Brandon Goodyear

They still speak a language I don't understand

Having two days since we finished our last English class, it still seems to be a bit on the not quite real track. Our last day in Saigon was an awesome way to finish the trip, we started out the morning by going to a Vietnamese church (it was nice, they had a translator). We got to experience something pretty cool, there were 3 families that were dedicating their children to God, as well as a family of 6 Accepting Christ for the first time. =) Either the preacher talked a little bit too fast for the translator or the translator got caught up in the sermon because the translator would stop for a few seconds, then stutter in translation. 

After morning church we stopped at the hotel to get ready for some shopping at the central market. This market was very similar to the central market I've visited in Cambodia, lots of shirts, clothes, shoes, jewelry, food etc. I got a pretty good deal on some dresses, and an absolutely horrible deal on some "tom's" breaks even right? Didn't evaluate my assets and missed this opportunity to buy a ton of souvenirs, so I'm gonna have to get stuff in Cambodia (mainly cause it's cheaper). With our shopping itch fulfilled and bags stuffed to the bursting point, we stopped for a taste of home at the coffee bean, enjoying some shakes and air conditioning we caught our breath. We decided to head back to the hotel and rest up before we headed out for dinner. While the rest of the team was relaxing at the hotel Tuan (our local connection) and I borrowed the hotel's motorcycle and went out for a ride around the city (of course I brought my camera, took about 32GB of video). While we were on the far side of the city we pulled up to a moto repair shop, turns out it's Tuan's mother's house/repair shop. His sister runs the repair shop. Right across the street from the shop was a small market, we walked around a bit to see the market, then hopped back on the moto to take the tunnel under the river back into the city.

Our last dinner was quite enjoyable, I got to finally have some Phó (we had some once, but not on a regular basis). After dinner we went out to get some ice cream for a cold treat on the town. Following this I headed out with Tuan again on the moto, this time to a bridge on the edge of the city to get some awesome photos of the city lights at night.

We got all our bags packed then headed off to sleep, we have a long day of traveling ahead of us (the team heading home).

Breakfast was delicious as usual (got to have Phó again ^_^) packed our bags up on the van and headed to the airport. While at the airport we found out that our (my dad and I) flight to Siem Reap was cancelled, no worries, they automatically transferred us to what essentially was the exact same flight (not sure what the behind he scenes stuff was, but we had a flight). The flight from Ho Chi Minh to Siem reap was the shortest flight I've ever been on, literally just like the Tim Hawkins piece (google it) took off, cruised for 10 minutes, then began our decent. 

Once we landed in Siem Reap we got our visas, grabbed our luggage, then proceeded to the most relaxed customs clearing I have ever been to (seriously, even previous times to Cambodia were more patrolled) basically it was a small bin that you put your customs paper in, then walk out of the airport. 

Right outside the airports they have stands where you can pick up SIM cards for your phone (to make phone calls, text, data etc.) I picked one up so I can post on the go (and keep tabs on any important messages from home). 

We got lunch at the Red Piano, walked around the local market, went for a swim at the hotel pool, ordered our bus tickets, then spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing (me finishing up importing pictures) 

Our bus leaves at 9:30 tomorrow for Battambang, looking forward to seeing our friends ^_^ 

Soli Deo Gloria 

Until next time 

Brandon Goodyear 

You guys can wait a couple weeks right? I've been going crazy trying to have at least one picture for the blog, I want to rest a bit while in Cambodia so pictures will come when I get home (back in America)