TBIF (Thanks Buddha it is Friday)

Friday, July 6^th

Although I was dreading another long flight to Asia, the one to Phnom Penh has been the best so far. I must thank the melatonin supplement I ingested, which cured my natural inability to sleep in planes. In addition to this fortune, in the leg from Seoul to Phnom Penh I sat by the right person. The man was thrilled when I told him I came to teach English in Cambodia (or Thailand?). He happened to be the director of one of the campuses of the Beltei International Institute, which is currently recruiting for several English teacher positions! Sitting by his side was the director general of the institute and he asked me to come for an interview as soon as I could. Not too bad, getting a job interview even before putting a foot in my new home!

Hello Phnom Penh!

Seeing the long line of people trying to obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport I felt grateful for having gotten mine in advance. It had taken me only a couple of short trips on my bike to the Cambodian embassy from my home in DC. After grabbing my fatty suitcase I stepped outside and smelled it, felt it… Hot, humid, smoky, charming South East Asia. Mr. Khavi, the owner of the guesthouse where I would be staying was waiting for me with a sign with my name on it – I love that!

Thanking melatonin again, I woke up after sleeping eight hours with no evidence of jet lag. Probably the fact that the first room they gave me had a brick wall a few inches from the window, which did not allow any light to come in it, helped. The first thing I did after showering was to ask for an upgrade to a room with a real window; after all, we are not in New York City!

I did some walking at the most melting hour of the day, when the temperature was in the low nineties. My first lunch was a river fish with veggies and pineapple at a restaurant in front of the Mekong River. At a market I passed by I bought rambutans and an avocado, which later became my dinner. I tried to find other food items at a place that was listed as a supermarket in the map, which I found out, is actually a shopping mall where they sell Asian fashion, jewelry, and imitation perfumes. 

I went to bed with the sounds of rain and fireworks.