one month mark!

I realized this afternoon that today is my one-month anniversary in Cambodia! I am surprisingly far more oriented than I expected (though not without many awkward and insecure moments).  I can get around town, am settled into my home, am making dear new friends, able to shop for and cook food independently, and am starting to have brief, shallow conversations in Khmer. :-)  It has been an exceptional month, with many fun moments. Let me share some favorites:

• Learning to ride side-saddle on a the back of a motorcycle
• Discovering the hard way to have always bandaids and toilet paper handy
• Being exposed to a whole new level of humidity (sweat. change clothes. sweat. shower. sweat. give up.) 
• Watching a moto driver whizz by carrying an enormous pig strapped horizontal on his backseat. Yes, pig.
• Frequent lunches at the "$1 place" around the corner with co-workers
• Moving in with dear Aimee (redecorating fest. long talks. laughing. and much cooking involved.) 
• Learning how to make my own coconut milk! 
• Waking up at 4am to the world's loudest thunderstorm
• Exploring the markets (crowded. sweaty. sensory overload. random. love it.)
• Watching a man transporting a huge bouquet of helium-filled balloons as tall & wide as a semi-truck through thick traffic....on a bicycle!
• Eating chicken stomachs
• Seriously obsessing over and setting personal purchasing limits on the $.75 Cambodian scarves (called "krama"--serves as hand towel, sweat-wiper, skirt, or sweater depending on the situation)
• Getting to call men who are older than me, but younger than my dad--"boo" 
• Hearing 2 drivers say "have her pay $1" in Khmer and understanding it enough to interrupt and bargain for less
• Discovering acrylic paints and oil pastels at the local office supply store after hearing they were difficult to find (I was truly beyond myself with joy)
• Repeating to myself over and over my boss's wise words: "embrace the sweat Jenny, embrace the sweat."

I can't wait to see what makes the list for November!