Cambodia life...day 1

So I got into Phnom Penh airport late last night. Luckily, the US Embassy sent someone to help arrange for the proper visa and he pretty much handled it all. I followed him around like a puppy and kept an eagle eye on my passport that he kept handing to different people. He pretty much kept cutting everybody in line, which was pretty funny to me. After that we went outside where David, one of my mentor's in the program, was waiting with his wife to pick me up. They were very nice and drove me to my hotel. I don't have much to say about the ride because I was so exhausted that everything was like a blur. Fortunately, they had already arranged hotel accommodations and David already had a cell phone and an Embassy welcome packet ready for me. They told me that the next day (today) a couple women from the office (Sokha and Bory) were going to come pick me up and take me to look at another serviced apartment to see which one I like better to live in.

So today, I woke up naturally at 7 am and couldn't go back to sleep. Decided to talk to my parents online for a while and update them on my life here. After doing that, I was tired again and went back to bed until 1 pm. I had to get up then and get ready for Sokha and Bory and they were here promptly at 2 pm. They took me over to the Garden mansion which is lovely and showed me the 2 bedroom apartment. I love it! Its really spacious and has 2 balconies, one which overlooks the pool. Across from one of the balconies is apparently where the Spanish Ambassador lives, which excites me (someone to speak Spanish with!!). Its brand new and they are willing to do anything to it that I would live. For instance, in the second bedroom, there is a door with a window in it that is not terribly secure, but they have agreed to put a solid door in for me. Also, they are going to get me a new desk, and it does have a flat screen tv in it. So, I'm living the high life. :)

After seeing the apartment, Sokha and Bory took me to David's house where we picked up his wife to do some shopping. We went to City Mall which was interesting in that it didn't have shops like American malls do, but more of stalls just set up wherever. Everything, of course, is way to small for me as I am a big, white, blonde giant over here. I'll have to find someone to hand-make my clothes. Some girls came over to me and were just staring and talking excitedly and Sokha told me that they were admiring my skin and that they really liked it. That was weird, but nice. I then ate a "fried chicken burger" at a "fast-food" restaurant. It was strange, and I expect that I may get sick from it, but c'est la vie, oui? They, then, took me to a Lucky supermarket which was actually a pleasantly surprising experience! They carry many American food brands like Kellogs, Post, Smuckers, Lays, Haagen Daas (although it was $12.50 for the small container), Kleenex, Ragu, Campbell's, Laughing Cow, Skippy, etc. I f0und many good things and am excited that I can find things that I like to eat.

Anyway, its about 7:12 here and I'm exhausted already. I need to go make some dinner (a PB&J) and then try to stay up till 9 pm. Thats my goal. Au revoir!