Likes and Dislikes

Throughout the last 6 months here, I've been creating quite a lengthy list of likes and dislikes of Cambodia. While I am forever grateful for both aspects I found it necessary to help you get a better picture of what it's been like to live in Cambodia. Some points can easily fall under both categories but it's too complicated to include them under both. Each of these points represents the people I've met, lives that I've been touched by, experiences shared, and difficulties that have taken place over the last 6 months. I decided to let you in on a few of my favorites. Enjoy :)

What I’ll be missing

-fresh fruit and vegetables

-little children on the side of the street yelling “hello!” every day I pass them by

-getting repairs on my mode of transportation (a bicycle) for $3

-weaving in and out of traffic on our bicycles (with helmets)

-friendly honks from vehicles

-living with Aimee and Jenny in our house

-young children taking care of their younger siblings

-girls’ long straight hair and lots of braids

-seeing the sunrise/seeing all of the people in the city wake up in the early morning

-feeling a breeze that makes the heat just bearable and sustains my ability to breathe

-tuk tuk drivers, enough said

-free delivery

-learning new versions of Uno and yelling MANGO when you win a game

-limited television

-ICA and The Trotter’s

-ice cream song playing in the streets (2 different versions)

-seeing kids and adults of all ages exercise in the wee early morning running, stretching, yoga, dance, etc

-extra large double beds

-naps

-$1 ice cream

-Indian food

-balconies

-walking to the market

-bargaining (sometimes)

-toaster ovens

-abundance of ethnic foods

-small businesses/family owned restaurants

-diversity

-my weaknesses being easily and quickly exposed living in a developing country

What I won’t be missing

-wearing a helmet

-waking up before 6am to run on the streets b/c that’s the ONLY time possible to run in the city

-plugged toilets

-very limited sidewalks and grass

-the raw meat market

-rats

-thick dusty air

-PP traffic and construction

-at least one ant on my body during every point in the day

-men ALWAYS peeing on the side of the road

-hot season and power outages

-untouchable dogs and cats

-biking for 10 minutes in the heat of the day and sweating for the next 3 hours

-water on the street (pretending it is clean)

-language barrier

-bed bugs

-bus rides

-DVDs never working or skipping

-stares and gawks