In to Cambodia

 Having been in Cambodian two previous times, I figured I would be ok getting through passport control and customs. I was wrong.  

It occurs to me now that the process of entering the country has been different each time.  But the last time was just over a years ago so it shouldn’t be that different. Oh but wait, I’m at a different airport and it has been a year so… yeah I had no idea what I was doing.  You know all that visa nonsense should have been a hint that more was to come. 

For people coming off the plane who had their e-visa and entry card it was smooth and fast.  I was in that group so I sped through the passport control but was curious if I could maybe get my type-k visa (the permanent) that I used to have.  

Turns out not yet.  Because I already entered on my current e-visa I could change my status this trip.  Ok fine, I can do that.  

So off I was to claim my suitcase and get a ride into town. Next thing I knew I was outside without my suitcase looking lost and confused.  

I somehow missed the baggage claim area. So I had to be led back through the airport by a security officer.  She looked really bothered by me.  I know all too well what the face of a woman who is bothered by me looks like…this is really the only thing I know for sure in multiple languages. 

When she left me by the carousel I said,  I turned to her offered her a sampeah (palms of my hands pressed together chin level) and said orkun (thank you) her hard experimented to a lovely smile and she returned the gesture   

Kindness and gratitude can go along way.  I image her job is pretty thankless so maybe me being kind made her day, or she thought I was like a cute puppy doing a new trick.  

Pictures and videos of leaving the airport…without my luggage and me riding a tuk-tuk to my home stay  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Leaving for Cambodia Again

Image
Leaving for Cambodia for my longest stay…in a while. I must admit that I am scared.  I am returning to Cambodia to do some work with Reconnecting Cambodia/DNA Cambodia.  Our mission is to collect DNA samples from as many people as possible from Cambodian population, to help families find each other.  Many have been separated for over 50 years, don’t know if their lost relatives are even still alive or if they were among the millions killed during the genocide.  Others, like me don’t know if there are family members out there…or even who they might be.  The work is important; to a forgotten group of people and to all the individuals who just don’t know. I know how important it is and am super happy to help in any way that I can.  I’m also going alone this time…for six weeks.  I haven’t been away from home on my own for a little more than a week at a time for thirty years.  That was when I was adventurous and full of life.  Now I’m a person...
Read more

Healing is a community process.

Image
 I  have a lot more to tell you about our first night with Tree. But have to take a pause on that. Our entire group arrived and we started the tour. We stared our first day with a visit to the King’s palace. The King is rich and his palace is amazing. The throne room is covered in gold and you are not allowed to take pictures of the inside. The is also a building called the Silver Pagoda that holds some of the riches of the King including gold Buddha statues, ruby encrusted jewelry, and just about every other form of treasure…but alas you are not allowed to take pictures. Our next stop was S21 Toul Slang genocide museum. This is in my opinion the worst place on the planet. I don’t want to relive how it feels to move through such an evil filled place. My feelings are the same about this Highschool turn into torture prison used the Khmer Rouge to torture confessions out of innocent people. An estimated 40,000 people were imprisoned, and tortured at this prison. ...
Read more

What I've Learned This Time Around

Image
With full transparency I am writing this post at home.   I have been physically home for three days, but I am still in Cambodia too. I believe I always will be. I feel more at home there than I have in most other places.  I cannot express how good it feels to be surrounded by people who look like me.  For most people on this planet, they get to grow up with people who look like them, stay with the people who look like them, or get to return to those same people even if you visit somewhere where people look different.  It is a big deal to me, and it makes Cambodia feel more like home...I don't feel noticed there...I don't feel out of place and I don't feel judged.  Except for my own personal fashion choices.   Just like my last trip home, this time I learned so much I can't possibly cover it all, but I might as well take a shot at it.  1. My skin feels amazing in the heat and humidity of Cambodia.  I thought that skin is always supposed t...
Read more