About Me

Boise, Idaho, United States
Currently a graduate student, I am about to embark on an adventure across the great Pacific. I am not the most experienced traveler, which will, I promise, make for hilarious posts in the future. What is taking me so far away from home, where all is familiar and comfy, you ask? An internship with SISHA (South East Asia Investigations into Social and Humanitarian Activities) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Arrival

First and foremost, I would like to extend a “Kudos you!” to Korean Airlines. Hands down, the best traveling experience I’ve had so far. Fantastic flight attendants who come around at least every half an hour to offer beverages and such, personal video screens with newly released films even for those of us who will only ever be able to afford "economy class," slippers, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and decent food for being 30,000 feet in the air.

Rating – 2 jazz hands!


Now, about the city-
I have been in Phnom Penh less than a week and have already experienced so much. Traffic that appears to flow seamlessly despite the overcrowded streets, filled with motos carrying entire families (3 adults and 2 children…no joke), bicyclists riding casually as if they’re oblivious to the fact that they could easily be taken out at any moment by something with a motor, and tuk tuks transporting foreigners to their next destination. It seems as though the laws of the road are more like unwritten rules…quite a sight to behold. There is somewhat of a sense of peacefulness among the chaos. And then you try to cross the street on foot. If you're religious, you pray and if you're not, you hope that you have enough good karma stored up to help you make it safely to the other side.


With all of the moto and tuk tuk drivers around the city trying to make a buck, visitors are likely to be asked time and time again (this is a euphemism for harrassed) if they need a ride. “Tuk tuk?” I hear from a Khmai man as I step out onto the street from a friend’s apartment. “Moto, you need ride?” I hear from another man. “ot te, ot te,” I reply…the first Khmai word I learned which means “no.” I can’t count how many times a day I use that word, but maybe I should. Yes…yes, I will do that and put it in a future post for my readers because I know that you’re just dying to know.


Pictures will be coming soon!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Preparation H

Preparing to move to another country for an extended period of time can be a daunting task if you let it...so daunting in fact, that you procrastinate everything as long as possible...waiting to pack until 8 pm the night before your 7 am flight. I mean, what's the fun in not stressing out about things you don't have to not stress out about. ( In this case, a double negative does not equal a positive.)

I do have to hand it to the creator of the "space bag," although I think it should be called quite the opposite, considering it takes up, like, no space! It's AMAZING! I'm gonna call it the fantastically-wondrous-you-can-fit-everything-in-anything-when-you-suck-all-of-the-air-out bag! Because of this glorious creation, I only have to schlep one large bag with me across the globe. I want to make it as easy as possible for all two of my followers to find out more about this thing called a "space bag" so I have put a link right here
for you to purchase your very own.You're welcome.