How to be an adult in Cambodia

The title is a joke, by the way. I have no idea what I'm doing or how to be a grown up...but I doubt any of you know how to do it either. 

It feels like I've finally hit my stride here in Cambodia. It's strange that my first experience with grown up life is in a third world country. By grown up life I mean that I have a real job and a real apartment...in CAMBODIA. What?! My life before Cambo was living in a posh on campus apartment with two of the most incredible roommates, where we had weekly dance parties, cranked the AC to subarctic temperatures, and my obsession with them became borderline unhealthy.  The cost of my rent here would get me a closet in the US, and the exterminator would visit the house every other day (I swear these ants reproduce 10 offspring for every one I kill). The temperature lingers in the mid 90s, and AC is a no-go. Southwestern living was a dream world.

I've got 2 jobs and a bicycle to keep me busy and moving around the city. This my bike in front of my apartment. Oh shoot...sorry I forgot to put the welcome mat outside our metal gate and padlock. I usually pedal for about 2 hours every day. My jobs are on the opposite sides of the city, each about 20-30 minutes away from my apartment. Remember what I said about the temperature? Mid 90s. Transportation? $30 bicycle without gears. Work wardrobe? Slacks and button ups. Result? More sweat than a 5 game college volleyball match. When I show up to work I look good enough to be the cover girl for awkward family photos. (www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com )

In the mornings I teach kindergarten to affluent half Chinese half Cambodian children. They are hilarious. English is their third language, so you can just imagine what our classes are like. I've been working 2 months and literally have never successfully carried out a lesson plan. These are 2 of my favorites/ biggest trouble makers. 

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In the evenings I am a PROFESSOR of BUSINESS ENGLISH at a UNIVERSITY. Oh no, that's not a joke. I actually teach college classes. Who let that happen?! My students are awesome. Their teacher? Not quite there yet, Cher. On the first day of class, I fell out of my chair. In the second week of class, I wrote on the white board with permanent marker. Classic. Rookie mistake Professor, rookie mistake. I like this job a lot because I feel like I'm really helping my students make a better future for themselves. 

I've far from figured it out. I would like to think I look as normal walking down the street as these Buddhist Monks...but instead my days are filled with alarming miscommunications, awkward encounters, and culturally questionable interactions. Oh and buckets and buckets of sweat.  Strangely, this feels comfortable now. It only took me 13 weeks to somewhat get it together over here, and surely my last 10 will be a cake walk. That's totally not true, I just wanted to reference cake because I really miss it and could use some right now...

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Welcome to Cambodia Mr. Obama

Two weeks after he was reelected, President Obama came to see me. Aaaaand the rest of Southeast Asia. It was the first time any US president has ever come to Cambodia! While abroad, I'm usually I'm a little embarrassed to say I'm American. Anyone who has traveled outside the US has most likely also felt this way many many times. This was the most national pride I've ever felt outside of America. People here were SO EXCITED for President Obama. It was such a big deal that all schools, many roads, and most businesses were closed. Surprise 4 day weekend? This is my kind of country.

Cambodia hosted a huge pan-Asian conference that fell in conjunction with Obama's visit. Police were EVERYWHERE. Both ends of my block were monitored by police officers, while hundreds more lined the streets. They would temporarily stop all traffic on main roads to allow faceless Asian diplomats in the sleekest black cars I've seen in months, drive down the road straddling the double yellow lines. Right, because they need all 4 lanes to drive down the street. Then again, it's not like anyone respects those double yellow lines...ever.

It was really cool to see the swell of pride from the local Cambodian people. Before school one morning my TA said "I hope because Obama is coming, the whole world will know of Cambodia". The people here are so proud of their country, and the giant strides they've made in the few decades following their dark period of genocide. That being said, corruption is alive and well in Cambodia, and there are countless problems that remain within this country.










I have the same wish as my TA. I hope that Cambodia will continue to develop, and the world will begin to look at Cambodia not with pity, but with open arms, recognizing the enormous amount of work left to do, but appreciating and encouraging their crusade to progress.