A Great Hobbit Day

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Adventure of the Day: It's so hard to say goodbye

I hope everyone had as great a Hobbit/Lost Day* as I did. Though it's real bittersweet being my last full day in Phnom Penh and having to say goodbye to Sara and Tabatha who are staying in Cambodia and Vietnam bound Mike, Allegra, Jay, Zoey, Ed, and David, it was also a pretty great day. Last classes of the session. I got to explore the amazing Russian market, had some speedy tuk-tuk rides, enjoy a fabulous and all too short river cruise, and finished off the day with a group karaoke dinner party. And tomorrow those of us going to Thailand will be out the door by 7 A.M.

It's difficult to fathom how much has happened since I got here 12 days ago. It's difficult to believe I only arrived 12 days ago. The time has flown by and yet I feel like I've been in Cambodia and Phnom Penh for ages. It's such a completely different environment and the people, streets, and experiences have affected me forever.

When I first arrived Dara, a Khmer employee of Language Corps and the hotel, gave me a city map. Just a simple double-sided paper one. It lists tons of restaurants and bars, as well as the major sites. I've gotten to or seen: the Central Market, the Russian Market, the Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Monument, the Independence Monument, Wat Phnom, The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the Riverside, Tol Sleng Prison, the Killing Fields, Siem Reap, and the multiple temples at Angkor Wat Park. And all week I was in classes 9-5:30 learning about warmers and modeling, minimal competencies and phonemes. I've been so busy blogging has been a struggle, but all these experiences will be addressed.

I'm beyond excited to get to Thailand, find a job, an apartment, and begin a real life here. But Phnom Penh has been a great city. The food has been stellar and the people kind. Despite my reservations about coming to Cambodia, I've fallen into a great affection for this city and country. But how sad can I be to leave when I'm going to the island paradise that is Ko Chang, Thailand? And how can I really say goodbye when I know I'll be back?

Now off to bed, falling asleep to LOTR. Because it's Hobbit Day, and I'm in the middle of my very own journey. 



* September 22 is the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings and was the premiere date of Lost. Thus my obsession.