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!