Happy Anniversary!

One year ago today (ish, depending on what time zone you are in), I left the United States of America and departed on this chaotic Cambodian adventure.  I traveled for way too many hours, with way too many delayed flights and snafus, I basically didn't have a January 3rd or 4th, yet somehow made it here.  While doing my annual holiday cleaning (wish I had the before and after photos to show you how chaotic my room had become),  I happened upon this self-evaluation on anticipation and expectations of mission.  I thought I would share some of them with you (and, it is scary how well I actually understood what I was getting into on this adventure and also how naive I was)...

For the positives, I was looking forward to learning a new language.  And, that still holds true.  I have even been lucky enough to learn two new languages (Cambodian Sign Language and Khmer).  Plus, thanks to some great friends...

Including these lovely ladies

I have been able to speak Spanish more here than my last year in DC.  My American Sign Language is getting a brush up (read as: I have forgotten or confused almost all my ASL but am now starting to relearn some) and, thanks to French visitors, I am again getting practice reading and listening in French (though, will still never claim any knowledge of this language, unless I have Google translate close by).

I also said I looked forward to stretching myself to learn a new culture and try new and different things...  On good days, I still enjoy that.  Though, there are definitely times I want to scream (usually when the culturally acceptable way of driving is involved).

My co-worker Makara preparing Ambok.  It is basically dried, pounded rice that you mash a banana into and eat.  Interesting experience.  

Part of the wedding crew.  Definitely a new cultural experience.

Another thing I was super excited about was sharing this experience with all of you!  Honestly, the hardest part has been figuring out what is worth sharing when I sit to blog.  I truly could not have made it through all the challenging times without the emails, messages, texts, skype-dates, and of course...

all the 'love letters' that you all gave me before leaving the USA to bring over here.  Many times these have motivated me in tough moments.  I just need to reach into the drawer and find a little message from a friend (I have about 1/3 of them yet to be opened)

Now for the challenges, these crack me up.

My biggest worries were:

1. Missing important events at home (well, four weddings and a funeral and counting, but life goes on)

Attending Grandma's funeral via Skype.  Now I just need to attend a wedding by Skype!  Or a birth...  That'd be exciting ;)

2. Physical injury/damage or loss of property (knock on wood, it wasn't worth the worry)

3. Inability to adapt - well, I can't really judge that but I think I am doing ok.

What will you miss most:

1) Freedom of movement (true, true, true!  Every invitation involves thinking: Do I bike? Will it be dark when I come home? Do I need to call a tuktuk?  Should I have the tuktuk wait?  Can I just walk out my door without people staring?!?!?! ;))

My co-workers were worried I would melt in the rain... So they gave me rain gear to borrow.

2) Ability to run

Half Marathon, baby!  Great to run at Angkor Wat.  Though, this may be the last run in the country so I can stop with this....

No caption needed

3. My people (Amen to that, though, the upside is all of y'all visiting and all my new 'people')

4. Cheese/food diversity (I plan to eat the entire month I am home, cheese is an essential part of every meal I have requested)

5. Wilderness (YES)

This brief trip to Mondulkiri just wasn't long enough...

Looks like Oregon!

And, these were my favorite... things you will miss least (aka things I thought I could escape).  How naive I was!

1. Constant connection (ha.ha.ha.)  I think I am on a computer more now than ever before.  It is my job to keep people connected, plus I am now keeping in touch with family and friends only through my computer.  I make phone calls through my computer. I text through my computer.  For the first time in my life, I feel like I am missing my third arm if I am away from my computer for more than six hours.  Yikes!

2. Being sized up for accomplishments, marriages, babies, etc. (please repeat your laughter).  Well, the DC "What does your business card say, then I will decide if I want to talk to you" is not so much here but I don't think I have gone one week without being asked, if I am married, why I am not married, when will I be married, etc.  My favorite is when this is followed with listing all the reasons they see that I should be married (usually starting with physical features and characteristics like I am very polite, and kind).

3. Consumerism - the green monster of greed and envy exists everywhere.

4. Self-centered lack of awareness of the world (aka Taylor Swift attracts more attention than famine or drone attacks).  This one sadly is true worldwide.  In Cambodia, actual world news coverage is even less than in the USA so if it is not trending on Facebook, it is not in the collective conscious. Though, I would still argue, here it is a bit better than the US, as here information is not as available where as in the US it is often ignored.

5. Feeling the need to conform to some societal expectation... Conform?  What?  I have always had this dress...

Wedding in the morning.  I feel this caption should read, I want to thank all the little people.  Never realized how 'large' I am until coming here ;)  You can dress her like she belongs, but she will always stand-out.