After purchasing our visas and gliding through customs with ease, we stepped out of the airport and were immediately blanketed with 90 degree, intensely humid air. Mind you, this is still morning and we're entering what natives consider to be the "cool season." I guess those sweatshirts I packed "just in case" will be remaining in my suitcase for the duration of this trip... Then again, it is the cultural norm to cover knees and shoulders at all times and, in order to prevent malaria, typically long sleeves and pants are worn. Looks like I'll just be glistening all summer long :)
In addition to the heat, we were greeted by one of the men who coordinated this trip as well as two Indonesians who are interning here and with whom we'll be living and working. We all piled into a van and somehow managed to survive weaving in and out of the chaotic traffic. Looking out the window, I was immediately reminded of the Philippines: so many people bustling about, bright colors, vehicles of all forms disregarding any traffic rules, little shops outside of small homes and tall, cast-iron gates and barbed wire barricading the larger ones, garbage and rats- both dead and alive lining the street, and skinny dogs and adorable children running everywhere you look. There are no jeepneys, but small motorcycles and tuk tuks (pictures to come!) fight for the road and a Buddhist, as well as French, influence definitely defines much of the architecture.
The rest of the day was spent with many introductions, a few delicious meals, a quick tour of the city and some of the places we'll be, and a brief orientation to what we'll be doing, but we were all so jet lagged and exhausted I'm not sure how much of it will be retained.
Here's a view looking down on Phnom Penh:
In addition to the heat, we were greeted by one of the men who coordinated this trip as well as two Indonesians who are interning here and with whom we'll be living and working. We all piled into a van and somehow managed to survive weaving in and out of the chaotic traffic. Looking out the window, I was immediately reminded of the Philippines: so many people bustling about, bright colors, vehicles of all forms disregarding any traffic rules, little shops outside of small homes and tall, cast-iron gates and barbed wire barricading the larger ones, garbage and rats- both dead and alive lining the street, and skinny dogs and adorable children running everywhere you look. There are no jeepneys, but small motorcycles and tuk tuks (pictures to come!) fight for the road and a Buddhist, as well as French, influence definitely defines much of the architecture.
The rest of the day was spent with many introductions, a few delicious meals, a quick tour of the city and some of the places we'll be, and a brief orientation to what we'll be doing, but we were all so jet lagged and exhausted I'm not sure how much of it will be retained.
Here's a view looking down on Phnom Penh:
Oh, and on the plane from Taipei to Phnom Penh, I sat next to a girl who grew up in Amherst, MA and is going to be a senior at Mt. Holyoke. Cliche as it may be, it's definitely a small world!
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