Transitioning back to life in the United States after spending five months in South East Asia presented some challenges. While no longer sweating every second of the day and being able to understand conversations around me was nice, some other aspects shocked me. People talk a lot about culture shock in terms of going to … Continue reading Reverse Culture Shock… Again
Tag: backpacking southeast asia
Why I Stopped Volunteering Abroad
Where have I been? That is an excellent question. About ten months ago I finished up my volunteer trip early, spent two and a half weeks traveling Thailand, flew back home, found a job, moved to San Francisco, and pretty much abandoned this blog. My life turned upside-down, inside out, and became very different and … Continue reading Why I Stopped Volunteering Abroad
Five “Weird” Things I do in Cambodia
Before I came to Cambodia, I read countless blogs from other travelers to learn as much as I could about the country, what to pack, and how to do things once I arrived. The same things seemed to come up every time: save as much money as possible before coming, haggle on prices, pack light; I … Continue reading Five “Weird” Things I do in Cambodia
Cafés Where I Like to Hide from the Sun
With complicated homesick emotions, a lack of duties from the NGO, and rising temperatures, I spend most of my days hanging out in cafes in Phnom Penh. While the city boasts many cute and interesting looking spots, many that I have tried and failed to convince myself to pop into, I tend to return to the same few over and over again. I am a creature of habit and tend to be indecisive. As such, I have limited myself to only a few options for where to spend my afternoon hours. Time and time again, I ride my bike through the sweltering heat and arrive sweaty and red faced to my favorite locations, desperate for a cool beverage and a sweet treat. Since these places have brought me so much joy during my time in Cambodia, and especially in the last month, I thought I would share them with you.
What Happened in April?
The emotional roller coaster that has been April presented me with some of the most conflicted and complicated emotions I have had since coming to Cambodia. I felt calm and stressed, exhilarated and defeated, grateful and yet desperate to leave. A lot of enjoyable things took place in April, but I also found myself feeling … Continue reading What Happened in April?
Motorbike Misadventures at Bokor National Park
“Have you ridden a motorbike before?” “No, I haven’t, but I can do it.” “If you do not know how to ride one I am unable to rent it to you.” “Oh no, actually I have ridden one before. It has just been a while.” I could feel the blood drain from my face as … Continue reading Motorbike Misadventures at Bokor National Park
A Day in the Life of a NGO Volunteer
When I first imagined working for a Cambodian NGO, I could not help but wonder if it would compare to when I worked at the Scottish Parliament. As a parliamentary intern, I managed emails, wrote motions, conducted research for reports, and a slew of other tasks. Sometimes my days consisted of sifting through emails and … Continue reading A Day in the Life of a NGO Volunteer
Cambodia Weekly Rewind 7 & 8
Two months, eight weeks, 62 days... When I first arrived, I wondered how I would make it through the first two days, and now after two months, I find it hard to comprehend leaving Cambodia. While at times I long for the comforts of home, and more than anything a hug from my mom, the … Continue reading Cambodia Weekly Rewind 7 & 8
Dear America, I’m Still Hungry
Dear America, About a year and a half ago, I confessed my love for your food. After months of stuffing my face with Scottish pastries, my stomach began to long for the sweet treats of home. I yearned for the processed, sugary goodness of hazelnut coffee creamer and other delicacies, promising that if I could … Continue reading Dear America, I’m Still Hungry
Les Restaurants Des Enfants
A few times on my blog, I mentioned my going to a childcare placement on my Saturday mornings. I spoke about it during my first weekly rewind, noting it as an incredible experience that I promised to elaborate on later. The following Saturday I went there again, and explained my frustration and complicated feelings about watching donors … Continue reading Les Restaurants Des Enfants
The Traveling Smith 