I guess you could say I began writing this blog on a
Thailand hangover. My mind was still drunk off the thoughts of spending long
nights talking to girls in the bars, forming relationships with people at SHE
and with Thai people in general. I compared anything and everything about
Cambodia to Thailand. So, after
the first week of being in Cambodia, my “recap” blog seemed more like a
negative, condescending, disgraceful rant. But I don’t want to completely erase
it and act like I’ve always enjoyed living in Kampong Speu (a small village two
hours outside of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. I want people to see the
transition my mind has made coming off the “Thailand high,”
Only in Kampong Speu, Cambodia
- You
wake up to cows coming up to your tent - Rats
and geckoes lull you to sleep at night - Cobras
swim out of puddles - The
chicken running across the street is literally your dinner for the next
night - You
will have some kind of mysterious meat at almost every meal (I just say it
is chicken or pork for my own sanity) - The
rice on the ground is gathered up to make your breakfast, lunch and dinner - Ice
comes in large blocks that are wrapped up in dirty towels and smashed
against the ground where chickens, dogs and possibly children clean
themselves off and poop there, then served to you in your glass that
smells like raw meat - You
WILL find ants in EVERY part of your body and in EVERY nook and cranny of
your stuff (as I’m writing this, ants are crawling in and out of my
laptop, which will probably end up killing my laptop and there’s nothing I
can do about it…) - Your
bathroom consists of a squatty potty (a glorified hole in the ground) a
bucket where you throw away all your used toilet paper, a large stone
square that holds all your water for the day and a pitcher to scoop the
water out onto your body (swamp showers are preferred) - You
find larvae swimming through your drinking water and pray at least two
times every meal that the food and drinks will not make you sick. - You
are ALWAYS sweaty because it is inappropriate to show your shoulders so
you have to walk around in the heat with sleeves on. - You
travel 2 hours away on your off day JUST to sit in the air conditioning.
And that is only the first week…
Only in Kampong Speu (week two)
- There
is an oasis only 20 minutes (walking distance) away from your house where
you can swim in a secluded lake surrounded by palm trees. - The
children in English class adore your presence and adore your teaching even
more. - I saw
the most beautiful sunset I have seen since being on the race in my
backyard. - Everyday,
there is a new letter, card or present for me from one of the children,
telling me how much they love me and will miss me. - I’ve
learned to appreciate the little breezes that come through our empty house
at night. - Gathering
around the laptop at night to watch an episode of “Lost” becomes a bonding
experience. - I have
a newly found love for hamburgers and french fries. - Long bike rides, with the students,
through dirt roads that lead to nowhere are the best times to soak in the
beautiful scenery and become the BEST part of your day.
