Mosquito nets and cold showers: Living the dream

Last weekend I went to the beach! I'm slightly jealous of everyone in the states complaining about how cold it is, because honestly I think my body has physically forgotten what it feels like to be cold. IT'S SO HOT HERE. I'm always drenched in sweat, which definitely helps my professionalism when I arrive at work after my 30 minute bike ride with sweat dripping off my head. The one good thing about this perpetually miserable temperature, is that a long weekend at Sihanoukville beach is always an option

It took a 4 hour impossibly cramped van ride to get to Sihanoukville, where we stayed in a bungalow complete with mosquito nets and ice cold showers. Okay okay I said I forgot what it was like to be cold... I think this shower put my body into hypothermic shock.

The weekend was spent lounging on beach chairs, reading and getting my nails painted, as women selling tropical fruit from their head patrolled the beach, preying on my weakness for mango.

I've been in Cambodia for over 2 months now! I've moved into an apartment with a fellow American teacher, I have a bike, and two English teaching jobs. I'm settling in nicely here, but don't worry...however "smooth" my life goes, I still humiliate myself daily as I get used to life here in Cambodia.

Holiday in the Countryside

Recently, Cambodia celebrated their largest holiday Pchum Ben. Everyone usually returns to the countryside to be with their families. 

One of my favorite former students invited Melissa (my new roommate) and me to join her in the countryside to celebrate. It was about a 2 hour tuk tuk ride away from Phnom Penh

Her house was in a small village, and she had a whole bunch of family there! They were so nice and excited for us to be there. We were equally as thrilled 

We went to their local temple to feed the spirits and pay our respects. It was fun but it felt like we were at the zoo...but we were the animals to see. Everyone stared with the same why-are-these-two-white-girls-here-I've-never-seen-anyone-who-looks-like-that expression.

After the temple, we returned to their house to eat! The food was...edible. They eat on wooden tables that double as beds at night time. It hurt just sitting on it, I can't imagine how they sleep there. 

 This is about half of the family 

This little guy was my favorite

That was one of the coolest things I've done since I've been here. 

My favorite part of this country? Their ability to do nothing and just chill