So.
Today is my first day back in the Phnom Penh office after three weeks of travelling to and fro. I spent one week, give or take, in each of the following places: Anlong Veng, attending a training for the FH staff there; Siem Reap, a mid-Cambodian city, meeting with my contact person from FHUS; and in Phuket, Thailand, for a vacation with two friends. At the moment I am glad to not be on a bus, plane, or taxi, even though occasionally those forms of transport were air-conditioned and quite comfy. I was even actually cold on the airplane, imagine that. I enjoyed it; I don't get to have goosebumps very often anymore. During some of my hotel stays I also got to enjoy luxuries like hot water. And television. In English. And being cool enough at night to sleep under a blanket. I walked on a carpet.
And then there are moments like landing in the Bangkok airport to transfer to our flight to Phuket, and realizing that there is an Auntie Annie's soft pretzel shop. I've never wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time just because I get to spend ten bucks for a pretzel and some lemonade. Thailand also has world wonders like Burger King, Pizza Hut, Au Bon Pain, Starbucks--I don't even drink coffee, but I was still happy to spend some time at Starbucks. The wonders didn't stop there--at the grocery store, I bought cereal for only two dollars a box, not eight. The mall sold real live Nike and New Balance and Reef shoes. Every road we drove on was not only paved, but smoothly paved. We played frisbee on the beach.Those may seem like small things, but if you have never spent extended time out of your home country, it would surprise you what what things can take on a happy, meaningful poignancy.
But here I am back in Cambodia, catching up on e-mail and convincing myself to ramp back up to start language tutoring again tomorrow. It is an interesting feeling to have left the country after being here five months, but only to have gone elsewhere in Asia and come back.Even so--Happy Easter to you all, and here are a few pictures of happy vacation memories: a few beach shots, the lights and sights of FantaSea (think a toned-down Asian Disney World, minus the rides but plus lots of elephants), and water fights on the street in honor of the Lunar New Year (celebrated in many SE Asian countries).
