Let me say it was nice to be in Phnom Penh for a few days before swear in to unwind and buy some stuff that I need (instead of getting a stove I bought a guitar, sorry mom). However the unwind session soon turned into everyone fitting their goodbyes into a few nights and some early mornings. One thing they don't tell you about Peace Corps is that training is not walk in the park. Even on your days off it seems there is an insurmountable amount of work to do to either wash your clothes or study the new language. Now it is all over and I can finally settle into site and have some free time.
Today was my second day of observing classrooms and one of the girls at my school came running up to me very excitedly. She told me that she was sad because the fortune teller told her she could not marry me but was excited to study English with me. Never met the girl before in my life but she apparently saw me yesterday (who didn't? I'm the only white person around 6' in this country) and ran to her local fortune teller to ask about her future. I told her I was making an English club and she was welcome to come anytime, and walked away nearly crying I was laughing so hard.
That was not the strangest thing that has happened to me this week though. The most uncomfortable I have been since I arrived in Cambodia was not due to heat or bugs, but surprisingly with a close encounter with a man who got a little too friendly.
I was sitting on a bench in Phnom Penh outside a bar waiting for one of my newly minted PCVs when one friendly Cambodian man came and sat next to me.
Now the culture and friendship of men here is different and they like to touch each other and really get up in each others business. I am not a fan. That being said you can tell where this is going. He moves closer to me speaking broken English and I am trying my best to speak Khmer to him and telling him he speaks good English. Well after I complement him on his English his hand goes straight to my upper thigh and I wince a little because I don't allow other guys to touch me too often (even for hugs). So I remind myself of where I am and the customs here and slowly lift his hand and put it back in his lap.
His hand goes right back to my crotch. I take it off and put it back in his lap and stand up. Now he slaps me in the butt and stands next to me hand remaining on my butt. Just walk away Bret. So I start away and he kind of lingers on my path for awhile and finally goes his separate way.
Other than some bugs, heat and gross misunderstandings everything has gone pretty smooth so far. I moved to my site, finally am able to settle in. Pretty much have my own tile floor apartment, and looks like I have a pretty supportive staff at my school. I miss the other PCVs that I went through training with but seem to have no problem finding awkward situations to occupy myself.
My market is very big and I have met a lot of nice people who are always interested in the foreigner. I walk through the market and time seems to stop for everyone. Its actually kind of amusing but I'm sure it will get old when I have been here for six months and still get gawked at on every corner.
This weekend I have a trip to Kampot (the beach town, woot!) to get my bike, why Peace Corps could not send it to my site I will never know. But any excuse to go relax for a day is okay with me. Next week I have a little more observing to do and then I begin teaching. Wish me luck and now that I have some free time I will be able to start blogging more often,
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