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: cambodia
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
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
Cambodia Weekly Rewind 5 & 6
The past two weeks came and went so quickly that, despite all my good intentions, I failed to post about their events in a timely manner. I would apologize, but as I continually mention when moments such as these happen; I would rather live and experience everything going on around me, than pause to write … Continue reading Cambodia Weekly Rewind 5 & 6
The Elephant in the Room
My heart pounded so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest. I could feel my palms growing cold with sweat, and my feet suddenly refused to move and remained anchored to the jungle floor. A wave of shock and disbelief washed over me, and I tried desperately to grasp hold of some remnant of … Continue reading The Elephant in the Room
Cambodia Weekly Rewind 4
How quickly time flies! I can hardly believe that four weeks, one whole month, have past since I first stepped foot in the Kingdom of Wonder. When I first arrived, I wanted to run home unapologetically. Now, the idea of leaving in five months seems nearly impossible. After being in Cambodia for one month, I … Continue reading Cambodia Weekly Rewind 4
The Traveling Smith 