Cambodians like to wear Pajama Sets...in the daytime.

It's true. There are silky PJ sets, animal prints, cartoon characters, and florals on Cambodian women everywhere. And, no, it is not nighttime.

Anyway,
Arati and I got to Phnom Penh safely after a very long journey from Kuta in Bali to Cambodia on Thursday. The 6hr. layover in Kuala Lumpur was particularly exciting (not), but I did stock up on some good snacks as I tried to spend the last of my Malaysian ringgit leftover from our last time in Malaysia - score!

From the airport, we crammed into a tuk-tuk with our big bags and 2 other travellers (one young French art buyer, Farid, and one air force kid from Utah, Brook) and we were whisked away to the Angkor International Hotel, where we checked in. For $5 each, Arati and I got new toothbrushes and TP with the room...but there was a slight (okay, really gross) mold problem...I guess you win some, lose some, right?! Ughhh...

Anyway, after a quick face washing, we ventured out of the hotel and through some serious chaos and a big food market to get to the Mekong River area for dinner. On the way, we ended up getting our first big dose of the smells (seriously potent) and strange foods that are all over the place here. Skinned frogs, baby birds, spiders, snakes on a stick, HUGE animals on spits, etc. Basically whatever you can imagine was and is available for consumption.

Sidenote: While I definitely did try a wide array of random street baked goods while wandering over the next few days in the city (taro ice cream and pastries are at the top of the list!), I didn't go for anything with eyes or lungs...still not quite THAT adventurous (or just didn't want to pay for it later...).

The main impressions I have of Cambodia so far center around the definite contrasts that exist here. There are really nice/upscale/organic (mostly NGO-sponsored) shops and cafes, ornate architecture on the Royal Palace and National Museum, wide French boulevards, and decent places to stay...and then there are tons of begging street children, really poor and flooded neighborhoods along train tracks, people bathing, fishing, washing, and peeing basically beside each other in the Mekong River and the haunting Khmer history. There is a very weird and emotionally challenging element to the place to say the least. I'd say I've hit a few "walls" in the past few days, and I am fairly certain that this dichotomy that exists has played a role in those feelings.

Anyhow, once we settled into our hotel, most of the 2nd day (and 3rd too) was spent traipsing all over the city to talk to NGOs about short term volunteer options, as Arati and I decided that Cambodia might be our best bet at finding a place to do something like that. Needless to say, I walked a lot and talked to a LOT of people, but there is a lot of red tape and need for referral from the US and/or previously established NGO connections. HOWEVER, I did not give up, and I also asked the hotel for a Christian church (thinking that there might be a connection to some charities there), and I ended up at a big, Mormon (yes there are Mormon Cambodians) church in Phnom Pehn that actually led to something, yeah!

Long story short, Elder and Sister Nelson (very sweet couple on a mission from Utah) sent me to Steve's Steakhouse down the street because the owner, Steve, has many English schools for Cambodians...
We talked...
We bonded a little...
Then, Steve drove Arati and I with his wife and son to the Southwestern coastal city of Sihanoukville on Sunday...
He set us up in an apartment in the school building...
AND, we are staying at the school for the week and volunteering/observing/participating in child and adult English classes

It is certainly crazy how things transpire when your options are open and you talk to lots of people. Really good, genuine people seem to keep popping up for us along the road as well...

I'm still using lots of ellipses aren't I? Sorry...

Anyway, it's definitely been very interesting talking to Steve and his wife, hearing his story, and actually experiencing one of the MANY English schools that are sprouting up all over Cambodia. Teach for America, go global - they need you here! Today, I got to sit at a little desk and observe teachers and students today...oh how the tides have turned. I must say, I was not jealous of the teachers, but the kids are a million times more respectful, EVEN the teenagers!

We are staying here until the end of the week and then taking the bus back to Phnom Penh and then to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap (I'm so excited for that!). Also, exciting news, we got our Vietnam visas today (in a grand total of 7 minutes or so) at the embassy here...so in case you ever need to get that done, do it HERE.

More later...
Thinking of you all :)