Spill the beans! Pit toilets? No toilet paper? Cold showers? We all want to know if there are trials and tribulations associated with plumbing and hygiene.
– K Barnz
Toilets here vary drastically depending on where you find yourself. In our host home, we have regular toilets, and because there are so few of us we are able to flush our toilet paper! (That may not seem like a big deal but trust me, that is a major blessing here.) If your out and about pit toilets are pretty common and toilet paper is always a gamble. I’ve learned to check for it early before… committing. Our showers are in fact cold, which is also a blessing, since the temperatures here are scorching.
Are you sleeping under mosquito nets? Do you have fans at night? Have you tried the durian yet? How is your chicken cut up? What’s your favorite street food?
– Roseann Sachs
When we choose to sleep inside there is no need for mosquito nets. However many of us choose to sleep in hammocks strung to the balcony of our second floor and drape mosquito nets over top. Yes I have tried the durian and yes it smells terrible but somehow tastes amazing. Still confused how that works. Our chicken is cut every way imaginable: shredded, cubes, chicken salad, you name it I am a fan. My favourite street food is a little stand on the corner of the main market. Inside is an elderly woman who sells spring rolls and fried tofu for 500 reil each (about 13 cents). The stuffing is a magical combination of cloves and fried mushrooms that reminds me of thanksgiving stuffing. I have made it my personal mission to become a regular.
What’s with the gym that Brendan posted on Instagram? What’s the oddest thing you’ve seen on the back of a moto? Who is doing the best with learning the language? What’s your favorite Cambodian food?
– Matt Holliday
There is a gym not too far away from our host home, and for 30 cents a visit you can work out to your heart’s content. In true Cambodian fashion the dumbbells are simply spread around the floor and you have to play a game of matching to get two of the same weight but that’s part of the charm.
The other day I saw a man zooming on a moto with a 30 foot piece of 6 inch square metal tubing over his shoulder. It was almost comical if I wasn’t a bit scared for everyone who found themselves on the other side of his giant pole.
Brendan is the most determined to learn Khmer though I would dare to say I’m not too far behind.
My favourite is the spring roll lady mentioned above.
1 have you seen a McDonald’s in Cambodia?
2 what is the oddest type of clothing the locals wear ? And so they think you Americans dress funny ?
3 is it safe to eat any street food like the Roti we hear about ?
– Wendy
1. I have not, though I have seen quite a few Kispy Kreme, Pizza Company and KFC.
2. The locals here where anything and everything. Among the funnier things are the common t-shirts with s “english” words on them that make absolutely no sense. It is also unbelievably common to see people in Supreme, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and other fake designer clothing.
3. Generally the street food is actually safer than restaurants, because you can actually see how the food is being prepared. Generally the rule of thumb is to stick with what’s popular among the locals. They know what’s safe and what isn’t.
If you went home tomorrow would it have been worth it?
– Luis
Yes. Though I haven’t learned all that I hoped to yet, and my relationship with the Lord hasn’t grown to a place of full trust, these first two months I have learned how to connect to the one who can satisfy both. I have learned to continually come back to the arms of my Loving Father, because through Him all things are possible.
How do you do laundry? When I was in Uganda we washed by hand and I was TERRIBLE at it- are you faring better than I did? Do you guys sleep on air mattresses every night? How has that been? When are you normally asleep and when do you wake up?
– Cody Sherry
In the beginning we all did our laundry by hand. (Or simply ignored it and hoped for the best) About a week in however, we discovered a woman just down the road who will wash, dry and fold two pounds of laundry for a dollar.
The two most common sleeping arrangements are air mattresses and hammocks. Both have positives and negatives, but neither is a struggle to fall asleep in after a day of ministry here.
Typically I wake up around 5:30 in the morning and spend some time with the Lord before breakfast at 6:30 sharp. Our nightly team times usually end around 8:45 and I am proud to say I am usually in my hammock around 9:00.
