Life in the Tropics

Things they don't tell you about living in the tropics

(or if they do tell you, you don't believe them)

Gulf of Thailand in Sihanoukville

• You will sweat, 95% of the time. Not nice, lady like perspiration, oh no, full on pouring sweat. Walking down the stairs? Sweat! Riding your bike to the market? Sweat! Sitting in the office? Sweat! And because the air is so humid it won't evaporate off your skin like it's supposed to, so it won't make you any cooler.
• The sweating will make you want to shower constantly. You will understand why the words for "beautiful" and "clean" are the same in several languages.
• The 5% of the time when you're not sweating? You will be freezing cold. Not because it's actually cold, oh no, it's only around 75F, if it's even that cold, but because your body will be so confused as to why you are not hot enough to sweat anymore.
• Ants are everywhere. Mini ants, red ants, normal ants- you name 'em, they're around. Think it's safe to leave an empty mug on the table while you finish reading? By the time you pick up the mug again there will be ants.
• It will be both humid and dusty. These things seem like they don't go together, but it is true. You will constantly be sweeping the dust off your floor or coughing from the dust when riding on a moto.
• You will probably want to wear a surgical mask while riding a moto, in order to deal with the

  

  Rain over the river in Phnom Penh

  previously mentioned dust. They do wonders, even if they make it difficult to breath.
• You'll see more lizards than you've ever seen before. They will be around, all the time. They'll come into your house, and climb on walls, and just kind of chill. Sometimes they will eat stray grains of rice that are laying around.
• The aforementioned lizards also make noises, loud ones if they're big enough. The first time I heard one I thought it was a bird, then some one showed me the lizard hanging out on the back of the cabinet and I was shocked.
• When it rains it pours. Light drizzle is not a thing. You will need to carry a raincoat with you at all times during rainy season, just in case.
• When it rains it floods the streets. So, even though you are wearing a raincoat you will still be

  

  Pool in Phnom Penh

  soaked to the bone. Also, you will have to drive through the flooding, which may or may not flood the engine on your moto.
• Most building have tin roofs, this means that when it's hot it will be especially hot inside. And when it rains, it will be loud enough to make you want to put a pillow over your head to muffle the noise.
• While there is an abundance of tropical fruits (papya, mango, banana, pineapple, dragon fruit, durren, mango stem, milk fruit...) sometime you will miss the fruits and berries you grew up with. Buying them will cost you an arm and a leg though.
• While you think tropics equal all around pool season, it will either be so hot that any time spent not swimming will need to be spent in the shade to avoid instant sunburn and sweat, or it will be just chilly enough that you can't fathom going into the water.

Phnom Penh and Prey Veng

 I can't believe I've been in Cambodia for more than a week. I also can't believe it's been only a little more than a week. I spent the first week in Phnom Penh, getting oriented to MCC Cambodia and to the city, then I spent the last few days out in Prey Veng.

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is different than any other city I've ever been it. It's very.. hectic. The streets are super narrow and dirty. The buildings are really close to the roads, with big fences and gates, and each building varies drastically from the next. There'll be a big multi-story new looking building next to a tiny tin roofed shack. There are always cars and bikes and countless motos driving in every direction. I haven't figured out geography yet. I'm normally pretty good at geography, but this city has me constantly feeling lost.

Prey Veng

Prey Veng is a town out in the country. It's a beautiful town, with grass and trees everywhere, only a few of the road are paved. It is surrounded by rice fields, which are flooded this time of year.

I went out to Prey Veng with this year's group of SALTers, MCC Cambodia's Yamen participant, and their Program Coordinators. While there I stayed with two of MCCs Service Workers. We explored the town, climbed a very small mountain, visited a Wat, had Khmer BBQ, tried dog meat, visited Monkey Island, got an introductory moto driving lesson, and talked and talked. It was interesting to get a quick glimpse into rural Cambodian life. I hope to be able to visit Prey Veng again soon.

Ba Phnom

Later today, I am moving in my host family, who I'll live with for two months. Then tomorrow morning I start Khmer (pronounced ka-mai) lessons. Here's looking forward to a busy, intense week.