We’ve flown into Phnom Penh International Airport, the main airport of Cambodia. Walking along you see a Dairy Queen to your side and get excited. Yes, the airport does have a Dairy Queen, as that is one of the first international franchises to have opened in Cambodia. You’re feeling a bit more at ease knowing that at least Dairy Queens exist in this country, but besides that, you know very little.
You recall some of the “facts” you learned prior to this trip-population of about 14.5 million, over 96% Buddhist, official language is Khmer-but none of this is helping you know your surroundings. Suddenly the fact that this country is slightly smaller than Oklahoma just, doesn’t even matter to you. You’re just more concerned about not losing your group!
You hear your stomach growl and you start wishing you would have had some of that Dairy Queen back when you saw it. That’s ok, you think to yourself. We’ll get some snacks soon enough. One of your teammates must have read your mind as you find yourself suddenly stopped in front of a local vendor. Soon your stomach starts to do flips and your gag reflex is activated. Is that what I think it is? You pray to God it’s not, but it is. Cambodia is teeming with fried crickets, deep-fried a-ping (tarantulas-which some believe stop breathlessness), fried kantes-long (a black beetle), deep-fried kantea-touk (a menthol tasting beetle) fried mea phleang (winged termites), fried pupas, dried clams, lie (freshwater clams), kchorng and kchav (types of snails).
The lady selling them waves you all over, insisting you try these “delicacies.” There’s no way out of this one. You don’t know the language so you can’t tell her no. You don’t want to offend her. But the thought alone of eating these six-legged snacks makes you want to hurl. You take a deep breathe, swallow, and politely take your “snack” from the woman before you. One of your teammates suggests closing your eyes and the two of you agree to take your first bite together. When in Cambodia, do as the Cambodians, right? Here goes nothing. Crunch. It’s surprisingly not…that…bad. You thank the lady once again and walk away.
This is going to be a long, yet fast, interesting year you think to yourself as you simply walk away recalling what just happened. Oh the life of a World Racer!
