This is my 4th day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I'm still in the process of overcoming jetlag. I'm adjusting to the heat (or at least learning to live with it). I'm learning about the city and I'm proud to say that I can find where I am on the map! I know how to say "thank you" (akun), "no" (ah te), and "yes" (jaa); but honestly I haven't been focusing on language learning yet. That will come soon! The first few days in a new place come with lots of stories! So, I'll start with day 1, build from there, and start painting a picture of life in Cambodia!
Stepping Off the Plane
I arrived around 11am at the Phnom Penh airport after 30 hours of travel and three layovers. I could feel the heat as soon as I stepped off the plane! I applied for my business visa at the airport, obtained it right away, picked up my two bags (at 49.5 lbs. each!), and eagerly made my way to the exit to meet the only two people I knew: Kate and Kerstin. Kate Pieper has been in Cambodia for almost two years and volunteers with World Relief as the Church Partnership Coordinator. Her job is the one that I am filling in for when she leaves at the end of the summer to head back to the states to finish her PhD. We met back in January when came through Indianapolis on a Partnership visit. She's the "resident", knows her way around, speaks Khmer (pronounce Kah-mye), and has her Cambodian driver's license (and driving here is quite an adventure!). Kerstin Pless is on staff with World Relief at the Headquarters in Baltimore. She works in the Communications Department and is now working in Cambodia for one year on the Life in Focus project making videos and collecting stories about ministry in Cambodia. She just arrived as well—two days before me! Kerstin is my roommate and fellow adventurer for the next 8 months! If I write about "we" in my blog, it's probably me and Kerstin!
My First Day
One of the great things about an extended stay in a foreign country is the freedom to take it easy when I first arrive. There is no need to rush around, keep an itinerary, or feel pressured to see everything in one day! I have 8 months to get over jetlag and experience Cambodia! So, my first day in Cambodia included moving my luggage into Kate's house (where Kerstin and I will live for the first 6 weeks), a drive around the city, lunch at a cute café, and a quick trip to the grocery store (that sells lots of Western goods—like cereal, chocolate ice cream, and Pringles!). After our outing, the girls dropped me off at the house while they went to the WR office for the rest of the afternoon. I unpack my bags a little, find some cooler clothes, turn on the fan in my room, and prepare to read and rest a little—but I really wanted to follow the getting-over-jetlag rules by not taking a nap. Well, two minutes later the power went out! (I had heard this was common occurrence here.) Without a fan, it's too hot to do anything but sleep—and being completely exhausted from my crazy travels, I gave in and slept…for 6 hours! I work up to the voices of Kerstin and Tess (Kate's roommate—she's from Michigan and is teaching here in Phnom Penh for two years). I could not believe that it was 8pm! But I felt so much better and awake!
My first day in Cambodia ended with a dinner of baguette and cheese, talking to my mom on Skype, getting an email out to friends and supporters, and heading back to bed at midnight. I had arrived in Cambodia. Let the adventure begin!
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