Thanksgiving Abroad - Part 2

I've been overseas for over a year.  Let that sink in.  The anniversary actually hit while I was in Bali over Water Festival, but having another Thanksgiving away from my family made it real.  Sure, I've lived away from home before, but I have always been less than a 26-hour flight away - and thus able to hang out with my family, be inappropriate with my friends from high school, and eat all that delicious home-cooked food over the holidays.  I miss that.

My Board vs. CutiePatootie Instructor's Board

But I guess life isn't so bad. I mean, I *DID* get to learn to surf in Bali.  and it was awesome.  Bali is beautiful, the people are nice, and the challenge of learning a new sport definitely helped channel my sadness over SuperMarine's departure.



It's only been a few weeks since he's been gone, but it feels much longer.  Making long distance work is hard, especially with 15 hour time difference and terrible internet connections on both ends. But we'll make it work...or at least I really hope we do.  It helps having something to look forward to on the horizon - and the time in between jam-packed full of visitors and tons of work to do.  It also seems I've developed a new hobby. I just can't stop baking! It's kind of weird.



SuperMarine, prepare yourself for a baked-goods-filled summer.

"bittersweet"

This year's water festival brings the Marine Corps Ball, a short workweek, and a trip to Bali...and one big goodbye (for now). 


"bittersweet" would be an understatement.

Success!

The dance studio is a success! Or at least it's doing its job.  Most of the time it's just me and the instructor, but it's all good - at least I get to dance again!

Dancer? Dansez!

I just received word that the new studio is open!  I'm going blitz on this place starting tomorrow...

...and if this fails, zumba is still an option.

Holy cow, it's been a long time

I'm sorry blog, I sort of forgot about you.  It's just that, you know, I've been busy.  


So much has happened since my last post, I don't really know where to start.


Let's go with this:


I've become even more thankful for the amazing friends I'm lucky enough to have made in Boston and DC (and K-town).  I got to see a few of them in during their travels - Gordacio and ST in Singapore; Cookie and TeethMoney in BKK; LC and Sleepy in PP, Laos and BKK - and many more during mine.  


I took my R&R just over six months into my tour (crazy) and spent some time at home with my family, up in Boston with some friends, and most notably, in Minnesota celebrating the lovefest of two meathead friends.  The jetlag was brutal, but the time with friends and family (and the frequent flier miles) made it worth it.  I was  reminded how unusually lucky I am to have met and befriended such a fun, motivated, silly - and of course ridiculously good-looking - group of people.  I know I made the right decision with my job, but seeing all of them made coming back to PP more difficult that I predicted.  


This became particularly obvious when I "celebrated" my birthday without them.  It's in quotes because it was kind of a disaster, but that's neither here nor there.  To be positive, it was inspiring.


Since then, I've been trying to branch out of my PP routine.  I think I've been doing a good job on trying out new restaurants and bars, more successfully since I've changed my attitude towards the people with which I choose to surround myself.  If they're holding me back, they've got to get left behind.  


This, unfortunately, is limiting.  In every other stage of my life, I've found refuge within the dance community.  Friendships are easily made, and the people tend to be adventurous goofballs - aka: my type of people.  PP just doesn't have that....yet.  I've heard rumors of a hip hop dance studio opening imminently, but I think I'll have to believe it when I see it.  I really hope I see it.  


The holidays this year are once again going to bring drama in my personal life.  I'm glad my family will be around; I think I'll need them.  For long-term sanity, however, I need dance.  Let's hope the Frenchman opening this studio pulls through.  right. now.


I'm a glutton for punishment.

A very expat Christmas

I've been a bit negligent with the blog...my bad.  I'd say it's because I've been too busy, but I think it's because this is starting to actually feel like home an unnecessary to blog about.  Either that, or I've just been putting off writing about spending the holidays overseas, away from my family and the traditions and the cold weather...I don't really know how I feel about it yet.  Despite the dancing saxophone Santas and lights all over Phnom Penh, there's something about the 80 degree weather that made the holiday season surreal.  I couldn't go home for Christmas, so instead I spent the long weekend in Bangkok with some friends, relaxing poolside and enjoying the finer things...you know, public transportation, real stores, walking on sidewalks without getting harassed, etc.

It was a great weekend, but it didn't really feel Christmas-y.  More like the Disney version of it.  Bangkok's Christmas trees, light displays, and constant blasting of holiday music juxtaposed with the country's own Buddhist traditions and hyper-modernism made the whole thing take on a fakeness that I don't think even the US could do without Mickey Mouse.  But all in all, it was a necessary trip and left me wanting more of a city best described to me as the Asian love child of New York and Las Vegas.

And then there's New Years...

Getting away two weekends in a row wasn't really possible... so while half the expat community went down to the beach, I rang in the new year Phnom Penh style: KNG, PCV, MSGs and DD.  It was good times all around, complete with great friends, fireworks way too close to DD, and a giant bag of popcorn.

And now it's 2011.  I'd like to reflect on the differences between the beginning of this year and the beginning of last, but I think so much has changed that it would just be an exercise in spotting the differences.  Back then, I was a little lost - trying to settle into a new apartment, new job and a new life.  Even though I've found myself in the same situation, it seems much easier this time.  I may be far away from everything familiar, but I feel at home...something I never quite got to in DC.  OK, so maybe not *so* much has changed, just my perception of it - but isn't that what really counts?

Kittens are not the answer

I've been in Cambodia for a month...

...just let that sink in for a moment.

The last two weeks have gone so by so incredibly quickly, but I guess that's what happens when you're busy.  Work's been a bit insane - I've been traveling around with a visitor, so it's been catch-up time since I've been back. Plus, there's fun to be had!

All work...


My trip up to Siem Reap and Poipet was interesting.  I got to stay in a 5-star hotel in Siem Reap...

...which looks like this:

And the nicest place in Poipet...which includes a toilet in the shower...

Ironically, that was exactly what I needed at the time. The food poisoning also helped me sleep for the entire 12 hours I was there (but not working). So nice, they don't accept reservations or any form of payment other than Thai Baht (we were in Cambodia).  Sometimes I guess eating street food has its up sides!

...and All Play

 Siem Reap wasn't all work.  I managed to carve away some time to get to the famous Angkor What? (bar), see the temples with PCV... and ride this guy...

It was strange being at the temples again.  In 2006, the last time I was there, there were no safety precautions.  No handrails, fences, or tourist-friendly stairs.  Back then, there was no one else around, and we were able to climb on anything and everything.  These days, restorations are underway and the whole place has been a bit Disney-fied...which is a little disappointing but probably for the best.  Angkor Wat and the rest of the ruins are beautiful, amazing relics from the past and tourists running around with reckless abandon are probably not the best thing for sustainability.  

My return to PP was bittersweet.  AF went home to Hawaii, so there were lots of farewell parties (fun) but now no AF (sad!).  New friends entered the scene, and we found the best burgers in Cambodia - or at least in Cambodia after 0400 - so that's fun too...but the sunset cruise on the Tonle Sap was a bit less fun when we passed the Himawari...

As for the title of the post...

...if you recognize that, know that there are always options. even in Cambodia. And that's all I have to say about that ;)

Sad news

You may have seen news stories about the tragedy in Phnom Penh last night - hundreds dead in a stampede during Water Festival...first of all, please don't worry; I'm fine.  I was safe at home when this happened, dealing with tons of scared Cambodians dialing the wrong number in search of their loved ones.  Secondly, I'm not so surprised that something terrible like this happened.  Millions of people flooded into a city lacking the infrastructure to deal with them.  Too many cars, tuktuks and motos literally clogging the streets by facing the wrong direction leave no room for pedestrians who have to resort to walking in the street in this sidewalk-less city.

Just like the Bowdoin Rooftop...except with palm trees

where to begin?

Let's start with work

After my first week on the job, I can honestly say I'm excited. Everyone is friendly, smart and capable.  Brain function is encouraged, and there is no expectation of being in the office just for the sake of being there.  All in all, it's nothing like EY!

Now to the fun stuff


The jetlag was a bit brutal during the week, so I didn't end up doing much else aside from working and sleeping, but I did manage to locate a gym (which I have not yet joined), find my building's pool (which I have yet to swim in), and make some dance contacts (some of which I did actually meet!).  Other than that, I basically fought the Water Festival traffic and enjoyed my bed until Friday night when things started to get silly.

A side note on Water Festival - Water Festival is the Cambodian equivalent of Mardi Gras.  Millions of people come to Phnom Penh to celebrate the time of the year when the Tonle Sap changes direction, signifying the end of rainy season, and causing massive traffic jams and parks full of sleeping families.  and lots of fun. End note.

OK, now to Friday night.

I volunteered to help KNG with a concert she was putting on for work because (A) it's the nice thing to do and (B) Pou Khliang!!! plus Meas Sok Sophea and an American band called Johnny Rogers Band.  Pou Khliang and Meas Sok Sophea are kind of like the Cambodian Kanye and Taylor Swift, so it was actually kind of awesome. The crowd was huge, the concert was fun, and there's nothing like being backstage with the bands!

After the concert, KNG, a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV), an Air Force guy (AF), some Marine Security Guards (MSGs), and I headed over to Darlin Darlin (DD) at Naga World and then a few other places via a lights-and-sirens Suburban so we could actually make it through the crowded streets.  That night, I discovered a few things:
1. The best way to get over jetlag is to stay out late enough to be able to sleep in
2. Cambodian bathroom signs look like this:

Saturday


KNG and I braved the insanity and went over to Soriya mall so she could find something to wear to Bar JoeEyeng (BJE).  If you've never seen large groups of people trying to figure out how to use an escalator, come to Soriya during Water Festival.  hilarious.  I also bought a super silly super chinese pink cellphone to replace the boring one I got from work.  I'd put a link up for it, but I'm pretty sure the model doesn't really exist. seriously.  The only non-chinese writing on the box says it's a Nokia ES20, but google says that's a camera...

Anyway, after that, KNG, PCV and I stopped by BJE before meeting up with AF and an MSG at a jazz lounge called Studio 182.  That place is cool, but the couches were way way way too comfortable for a night following DD.  Someone knew of a great place called Saint Tropez where we could either get a table to be chill or dance inside. Obviously we opted for the dancing where we caught sight of this gem...

PP may just be the best city in the whole world for people-watching.

Sunday

KNG, PCV and I went over to the super-local market where we were the only expats to buy KNG an outfit for a Khmer wedding in Kampong Cham. so fun! The fabric ladies were so nice and funny! I think when we go back to pick up KNG's outfit, I'll get one made just for funsies.  

Of course, we couldn't spend the whole day shopping, so we went over to the Himawari where AF is staying to chill out at the river-front pool.  Since the roads around the river were all blocked off, the tuktuk could only take us part way so we got to experience the craziness on the walk over! 

After some quality pool/jacuzzi time, we made it back to home base and thought it would be good to have a relaxed evening watching the fireworks with food and beverages on the rooftop.  That's how it started.  It ended with the MSGs realizing the holiday on Monday meant their curfew was 0500 while we were hanging out with the security, managers, staff and band at DD. That means the only thing I'm doing today (Monday) is getting a great $10 massage at the spa across the street and watching some of the DVDs I got at Soriya...

The moral of this story is that I get to spend the next 2 years living a lifestyle I would never be able to lead back in the States.  And I think I'm OK with that.

First weekend In the Penh

To answer your questions, this is what I've been up to since Wednesday...

Thursday and Friday - Flying, flying and more flying.  


After the long DC - PP trip, I was greeted at the gate by a nice Cambodian man that ran around the airport with my passport getting my visa and ushering me through customs.  When I say "ran," I mean it.  I flew through customs like it didn't even exist with a visa in my passport that just magically appeared.  Of course, this was totally unnecessary since my third bag was the last one on the belt.  After we finally got all of my bags, I was escorted through Phnom Penh to my apartment - which, btws, is kind of ridiculous:  2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 3 balconies.

The view from one of them:

yes, mom. those are palm trees!

Saturday - Lucky


After waking up at 6:00AM (thank you, 12 hour time difference and loud monkeys), I unpacked a little bit before connecting with Kitty Non Grata (KNG).  It's so nice having a friend that lives in my building - especially one that's already been here for three weeks and knows what's up.

We decided to walk to a place called The Living Room for brunch where I got a Vietnamese iced coffee and perhaps the most delicious omelet I've ever eaten...cheese, mushrooms and BACON nom nom nomnom nom...

After brunch, we headed over to Lucky Market to get some supplies and a $15 spa mani-pedi.  be jealous.

One quick nap later, it was time for dinner and people/gecko-watching at the FCC. Drinks at an Irish bar called Paddy Rice on the Tonle Sap quay came later, where we ran into an acquaintance of KNG.  We decided to join him and his friend at a swanky martini bar called Metro before finding our tuk-tuk driver and heading home for the night.

The view from the FCC balcony:

Things I learned during my first day in PP:

1. No one walks anywhere during the day
2. Crossing the street is a feat of strength, but not impossible
3. Things are oddly priced...some things are cheap, some are really expensive
4. It's really hot here
5. Geckos are cute

I think the plan for today is to get to the Russian Market and maybe a massage to get myself ready for my first week of work!