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May 18, 2006
Humidity!
We made it. After almost a year of planning and almost thirty hours of travelling, we finally made it.
Phnom Penh is an amazing city. It's full of extremes--traffic alternating between slow and manic, tradition juxtaposed against modernity (e.g. a Buddhist institute being right next door to a huge, brand-new casino--as I wrote that, a Buddhist monk just walked into this internet cafe), and a constant clash between Khmer and foreign culture.
Our friend Tele (a cousin of a Cambodian friend at U of M) picked us up at the airport and toured us around last night. He tooks us to a Khmer restaurant on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and we ate all kinds of good food, including frog.
Emma and I don't start work until Monday, so we are going to explore the city this weekend. We are staying at a guesthouse across from Tuol-Sleng, so we'll probably start there.
Emma and I stick out a lot in this city, but the people are very friendly and kind. We both realized how much we need to start Khmer lessons here though!
I'm anxious to start our project. We've gotten invitations from UNHCR, MSF, and CARE to come learn more about their work here in Cambodia, and we also have a great academic sponsor--The Documentation Center of Cambodia.
The adventure has only started, and we're incredibly excited and grateful for this opportunity.
Posted by laraf at May 18, 2006 09:10 PM