Finding Comfort!

I made myself sleep in until 10:00am today. MADE myself! Can you believe it? This is coming from the girl who doesn’t think the day starts before 11:00am! I kept waking up but I wanted to sleep so I was well rested and so I didn’t spend the day doing nothing.

I decided I would feel better if I unpacked, so I spent a fair amount of time in the morning doing just that. I turned on my computer and listened to music which was very comforting.

I then decided I would go into town for the day. My plan was to spend the afternoon at the Blue Pumpkin (the Starbucks of Siem Reap). I knew here I could get a good meal, speak English and use wifi, which is exactly what I felt like doing. I called Maureen to ask her how I should get into town and where I could do laundry. She told me I could do laundry here (well they do it for me). I am pretty sure she said 50 cents an “item” but I think she said they do it outside. I am not against hand washing clothes, but I could do that myself. My problem is, since it is so hot I always seem to be changing clothes and by the time they air dry I am out of clothes! So anyway then she told me that I should call one of the three numbers she gave me for tuk-tuks. Well, one rang and rang and the others just didn’t work. I figured I would start walking and see what happened.

It wasn’t far into my walk that I got a “motorbike madam?” Now maybe this wasn’t the smartest idea, but I told the guy where I wanted to go and he said $1 (which is what it should have been). I also knew the direction we should go, it was light out and there were enough people around that my instincts were telling me it was fine. And it was! He didn’t EXACTLY know where it was but like I have said I do have confidence in my ability with directions so I felt comfortable telling him the way.
I went to the upstairs section of the Blue Pumpkin because it has AC. Oh my dear, dear AC how I have missed you! They have these really comfy sofa/bed things so I got one of those. The downside is there are no plugs so I knew my time was limited. But I got a tea for my cough (ehh it’s still ok) and a cheeseburger! So strange but since I have been in Asia I have fallen in love with cheeseburgers! If I get nothing else out of this experience at least I won’t feel awkward at cookouts anymore!

I spent some time blogging, uploading pictures (I managed to get about 20..oh Cambodian wifi) sending emails, etc. It felt so comforting to be connected to the internet, as silly as that sounds. I was enjoying the AC, the English, the food, the comfort.

My computer was starting to die so I had to move downstairs which didn’t have AC so it was very hot but I was still enjoying the wifi. I decided though I should take a walk around town before it got too dark. My first stop was the cell phone shop to add some more money to my phone, since I used up most of it crying to my parents last night..oops! and because I will have to use my phone a lot (just to call coordinators..tuk-tuk’s etc.) I felt much better after adding money. I spent some time walking around and doing a couple of circles and it definitely looks better in the light. There are a ton of restaurants and bars (a whole street called Pub Street).

I was on the lookout for laundry and saw a sign that said “Laundry”. Perfect, I thought, but then I remember reading about a bar that was called Laundry! And that’s where I ended up. Seeing as I didn’t want my clothes washed in beer, I moved on. Almost right next to it was another sign that said laundry, so I thought I’d check it out. It was a bit down this alley and there was a big sign out front that said, “Open at 7:00pm” so I figured it was part of the bar or something like that, until this couple came along. They said something about clothes so I jumped right in and asked them if this place washed clothes. They probably thought I was an idiot (DUH! It says laundry) but hopefully they knew there was a bar next store called Laundry! They said yes so I am excited, but will have to figure out how to get my clothes there, when to get my clothes there, etc.

I wasn’t too hungry (I had a very late lunch) but knew I wanted to finish up on the internet and I had to eat something. I checked out a couple of menus, but I either didn’t like it or they didn’t have wifi so I went back to Blue Pumpkin. It was my safe haven for the day. I got fruit with yogurt (SO GOOD) and I actually didn’t spend too long because I was nervous about how to get home.

I called the one number Maureen gave me that worked, but I think he said he was busy. So I went downstairs and showed the address to the first guy who said, “Tuk-tuk Madam?” He seemed confused so I had him call the homestay but nobody picked up. I then called Maureen who told me Tom was in the area (at this juice bar they own) so I should stop by and have him help me!

I found him (woo hoo for learning my way around) and Songim was with him as well so they tried a few numbers but they didn’t work. The three of us went to ask the tuk-tuk’s and the first one wanted $3 but I guess I shouldn’t pay more than $2! So Songim found me one and I also wanted to stop at a grocery store so he said he would do that as well!

We were on our way and he actually spoke enough English that I could understand him. We stopped at the grocery store so I could get some water, milk and cereal for the morning! I was trying to gauge if this was a bike ride I could do by myself and the answer is, NO WAY! Granted I do try to look for an excuse not to exercise, but I don’t think this is an excuse. I MIGHT be able to do it during the day, although it would be a bit far and it would just depend on the heat/sun.

As much as I complain, I DO like exercising (ok well I don’t -- but I know it’s good for me) but I also don’t want to pass out because I am working out in this heat. Anyway it is definitely not a bike ride or walk I would do alone at night. After you get out of the town it is still a main road but there’s not much around. Then you turn on to that “once paved road now rock road” and again, really nothing, no street lights and locals just hanging out. Maybe they are fine and harmless but I am not going to find out. THEN you turn on to the dirt road which NEVER sees tourists (except me of course) and that makes me nervous even WITH a tuk-tuk driver! So at least I am figuring out when I need one.

It amazes me how even little kids are driving motorbikes. Tom was telling me that you don’t need a license and I see these 12 year old boys just motoring around! Crazy! And I realize now why a cab didn’t pick me up..THERE ARE NONE! I think there might be a few but it’s ALL motorbikes and tuk-tuks.

So my guy got a little lost but I was fine with telling him where to go. Since he now knew the way I asked for his number (it felt like a date) so that I can hopefully use him in the future! I also couldn’t figure out how to get in the gate (because it was pitch black) so he helped me with that as well. He texted me five minutes later asking “Who is this?” and I explained who I was and he said, “Oh yes well have a good night.” It was funny! So hopefully he will be my new friend and I can call him whenever.

When I got back I went to put my milk in the refrigerator. There is a common area in the courtyard which I think is the family’s dining room. I ran into Payal who was volunteering here, but is now just here. Long story short, she is 23 as well and goes to “Uni” (college) in Sydney. She is from Kenya and has been here for about 2 weeks. She was volunteering but has a friend from Korea coming tomorrow so I think they are going to travel together. She had been to the orphanage I am going to in the morning and said it was ok, but she liked her afternoon placement better so spent her time there. I was going to do the same afternoon placement as her but I guess the kids are on vacation so that’s why I am doing the Temple tomorrow.

I was telling her how I volunteered in Vietnam and she goes, “Wait with Hang?” I guess she had left volunteering in Vietnam about a week before I arrived! So that was funny and somewhat nice to know we had kind of experienced the same thing.

I came back to my room and took a COLD shower. Oh man it was a quick one! I realized they don’t have hot water because it’s HOT here..and I don’t want to take a HOT shower..but freezing showers are tough!

I then used the tape I bought to put up my pictures. It really makes my room very homey and comforting.

Also..I am working on updating pictures in the Ho Chi Minh album, more to come soon! I will be updating videos SOON (I know it’s crazy busy with Christmas but make sure to check them out before I have to delete them!)

I am definitely nervous for tomorrow..more so than at my other placements, so we shall see how it goes!

Hugs and kisses from Cambodia.