Let's get riel...

For starters...the currency here in Cambodia is the riel. Now the title seems clever aye? For every $1, you get 4,100 riels. Just a little bit of currency training for you all. Now...time to get riel and fill you in on the things that I have yet to adjust too...nor do I think I ever will.

1. The traffic pattern; or lack there of. There are no posted speed limits and every time you go out on the streets it is like a game of chicken. Whoever is faster or larger has the right of way. Some of the streets are "divided" by a paint line but that doesn't mean that a car (lan), truck (lan tom), motorcycle (moto) or biker (gong) won't end up driving the wrong way down that road. Be alert!

2. 10 year old kids driving motos. They teach them young here! Not only does the child drive a moto, but they also tote around their friends and siblings as well.

3. A family of 4 riding one moto. No lie, I have seen a mother breast feeding her infant while her toddler sits on her lap and the dad drives the moto. No one here uses car seats, seat belts or helmets!

4. The amount of people/materials you can fit on a moto. I have seen 4 grown men riding on one moto. It is crazy to see how much you can fit on one moto. It is normal to see a driver at the front of the seat, bags of rice piled 4 high behind them with someone sitting on them. Talk about balancing skills!

5. Torrey packing skills. A torrey is basically a van that you can hire to drive you to different cities. According to my host sister, a 10 person torrey should hold 20 people and their bags. I have also seen a packed torrey with another 15 people sitting on the top.

6. Children smoking. This happens in the states too...but I am always caught off guard when I see a young boy smoking on the side of the road.

7. Squat toilets and no toilet paper. I am sure you can all figure this one out...no need for details. Needless to say it is a different experience. 

A few people have asked me what my favorite parts of Cambodia are so far...it is so difficult to say at this point. I love learning a new language, experiencing a new culture and learning something new but it is still all so new to me that it is hard to pin point one thing. Hopefully as time goes by, I can give more specifics...but for now you will have to deal with generalizations and random lists of information! Cheers!

In's and Out's of Mail

For those of you that have read my prior posts, you saw that I had posted an address where I could receive mail and packages...the address has changed! I will post the corrected address below...you can use it as you prefer. 

-One thing to note, typing the address and taping it to the box may be the best approach; especially if your hand writing is poor. 

-We have been told that some Cambodian mail ends up in Columbia because of messy writing. 

-Also, things can be expensive so check the price of Fedex/UPS first...and it is ok to have them take their time delivering it. 

-Be sure to write US Embassy in large print so that they do not open up the package. 

-Mail will be delivered to me once a month...the timing varies

Address:

Erica Ewald

Peace Corps

PO BOX 2453

US EMBASSY

Phnom Penh 3

Cambodia

Asia

The Top 15

It hasn't even been a full 48 hours that I have been here in Cambodia, but I have learned so much! I can not wait to go through this experience and be able to share bits and pieces will all of you! This post will be rough and to the point since I am not sure how reliable this internet is right now...it keeps jumping in and out. As of July 21st I will be in Takeo for 2 months during the training stage of my service and living with a host family. Internet will be very limited during this time because of the fact that we are kept super busy, my host family will not have the WIFI capabilities that the hotels do, and for acclimating purposes I prefer to spend my free time practicing the language and being with my host family. So, for those that may be interested, I plan on making Sundays (Saturday for those of you in the US) my internet days. I will do my best to blog, email or facebook during that time!

So here it is...the top 15 things I have learned in the last 48 hours:

1. It is hot and humid here...but I do not sweat much which I truly appreciate

2. The staff here is spoiling us by the types and quantity of the food they are serving us...think buffets! When we get to site, it will most likely become monotonous and smaller portions

3. The Peace Corps uses A LOT of abbreviations...this is nothing new, as education and CTE uses tons of them

4. Cambodia is 11 hours ahead of those on the East Coast and 13 hours ahead of my Colorado readers

5. There has been so much information thrown at me in the last 2 days that I will probably still be processing it for at least a few more days

6. Don't make eye contact with monks

7. Pedestrians have NO rights...not even at marked sections in the street

8. There may be written traffic laws, but each individual has there own interpretation of those laws...I will have to post a pic at some point of what this exactly looks like

9. It is best to have your back to the tuk tuk driver (cart attached to a motorcycle) so that you can watch the flow of traffic behind you rather than in front...with everyone doing there own thing it is quite scary watching your driver trying to maneuver. I much rather watch those behind me!

10. People in Cambodia don't typically use toilet paper...think bidet. Luckily, since we are in guest houses we have toilet paper

11. People talk about their bowels and the issues associated with them...it is common practice...I will try to save you from hearing to much of this. I don't make any promises though ;)

12. You can buy anything on the street- tarantula on a stick, snake on a stick, dogs, clothing, etc...the options are endless

13. Cambodian bakers rock at cake decorating...if I wouldn't have gotten in trouble for trying to take a pic I would have. Some of these things are amazing!

14. In order to have your electricity turn on in your hotel room, you have to insert the room key into a slot in the wall...so much more energy efficient since you can't accidentally leave the lights on when you are away

15. I am excited to be here and I am excited for what I am getting myself into...but I am also nervous, anxious, worried, etc...so many emotions!