Week two, in brief

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During the week, most days don't quite warrant a blog post all of their own. So here is a week of mini blogs all together

Tuesday
I'm not sure why, but it seems that Cambodia starts very early in the morning. If you know me at all, you will know that I do not operate in the same way. This is presenting a bit of a challenge. Today for example, at about 5.30am I awoke to what could only be someone banging a hammer on a large metal pipe, over and over and over and over again, but in an irregular pattern that made sleep impossible. I was beginning the think the person must be sitting right outside my door but apparently the sound just travels well.

After my early start, I set out to the Savanna shopping centre (a modern style shopping mall) to attempt to buy some work clothes. Sadly, I didn't actually have a whole lot of cash on me and at the point where I was about to make my purchases I discovered that be it at the local market or an expensive shopping mall, in Cambodia cash is king. Indeed, it is the only option. And so the rich westerner had to ask the staff to put back many of the items she wanted to buy... Lesson learned!

Wednesday
Today is my first official day in the office. I had spent a fair bit of time over the weekend finalising the training session for today, but was glad to have an hour or two in the morning to put the finishing touches on it. I was really impressed by the induction process at the company. There was one other new starter, a Cambodian lady, and we were both given a company polo-shirt, 2 vouchers for the weekly team lunch, some business cards, company stickers and everything else you could think of. All nicely presented in a gift bag. I was really not expecting so much!

As is the custom in most parts of Asia, people remove their shoes when coming into the office. It is actually kind of weird but really comfortable working in bare feet. Though perhaps since my poor toes are not yet conditioned to this level of exposure, I found that actually they were getting a little bit cold after a few hours with the air conditioning. Time to toughen up!

Thursday
Today I caught a motodop for the first time. For my first day of work I had enlisted a tuk tuk driver who speaks English and can read a map (most of the motodops and tuk tuk drivers don't read maps) as I didn't actually know where the office was – but today I went via motodop and gave directions in sufficiently understandable Khmer to get there safely. Sadly, due to an unexpected downpour of rain my moto ride ended with mud all over the back of my jeans. I'm not sure how other people manage not to get muddy. There must be some technique I am missing. Perhaps it is because lots of the women sit sideways on the bike rather than straddling it. Apparently most Cambodian women would not sit with their legs apart behind a motodop or someone they don't know well. In there interests of not falling of the traffic though, I've been advised that it is ok for me to sit as I normally would. However it is not ok to hug the driver if you get scared. That is what the little rail at the back is for.

Friday
I really love travelling via moto. Maybe because the traffic here is much slower and there are so many motorbikes that people are more aware of them than at home, so somehow it feels safer (though actually it probably isn't). If I came here again, I'd make sure my travel insurance would let me ride a moto myself. I mean how hard can it be? You just have to drive on the other side of the road (mostly), never apply the brakes, give way to all traffic bigger than you, intimidate all traffic smaller than you, and be watching in every direction at all times. Piece of cake...

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Comments

[Craig]

When you come back to Australia make sure you bring back with you the custom of working barefoot. Love it!

[shells]

@Craig: I would like to, but I'm not sure I can in the winter!