Things I may or may not miss...

With such little time left, the nostalgia is slowly creeping in. But it'd be a lie to say I'd miss everything in Cambodia, as there are some things I am perfectly happy leaving behind. Here's what I will miss and not miss:

The constant hello's
Verdict: Not miss

While in Indonesia for 2 weeks, I noticed how quiet it was and I couldn't quite put my finger on why that was. Then I realized that the barrage of hello's from natives was noticeably absent. It was SUCH a nice reprieve from people shouting at me everywhere I go, even if they've known me for almost two years. I love that Cambodians are friendly, but by just flashing their awesome smiles, enough warmth is exuded to take the place of obnoxious hello's.

Sense of community
Verdict: Miss

Within neighborhoods (and in more rural areas, the entire town), everyone knows everyone. En route to your house, the neighbors will ask, "Where are you coming from?" If they see something in your basket, they'll ask you "What did you buy and how much was it?" While this might seem invasive by Western standards, I've come to really appreciate this greeting. People are curious about each other and the information they glean from these typical exchanges will usually appear when you least expect it. For example, the other day I was riding my bike back from the market when one of my favorite ladies in the neighborhood saw that I had bought ripe mangoes. The next day, I went to buy something from her stand and she handed me a bag of ripe mangoes, telling me that she knew how much I liked them so she wanted me to have them. This is just one of the many instances when Kmai snooping has pleasantly surprised me.

Thinking inside the box
Verdict: Not miss

I've harped and harped about lack of critical thinking here, but really...I can't stress this point enough. One of the things I appreciate about the good ol' USA is its diversity, not only in ethnic backgrounds, but also people who come from all different walks of life. A seemingly mundane errand back home, like a trip to the post office or a grocery store, might result in chatting with someone interesting who has a different outlook on things. You just never know what a conversation might give rise to, which is part of the fun. But here, I know EXACTLY what the conversation will consist of with random strangers. It's a pretty scripted dialogue, usually involving the following questions: "How long have you been in Cambodia? How old are you? How do you feel when you come to Cambodia? Are you married? Have you eaten rice yet?" Although there is something charming in living a simple life, this is just annoying and monotonous. Someone please just throw me one curveball and I will rest easy knowing some critical thinking is going on here. In a country that is virtually the model for homogeneity and communality, I can see why the questions don't vary much (this is a gross oversimplification concerning why questions don't vary; there are many other factors that tie in). But I foresee this being a HUGE roadblock in Cambodia's future path to overall development.

My host family
Verdict: MISS THE MOST

The hardest part about leaving will be saying goodbye to my host fam. Enough said.

Peaceful dispositions
Verdict: Miss

I've rarely seen a Kmai person angry. When they are nervous or angry, they generally laugh. I will refrain from psychoanalysis on the reasoning behind the ever-present laugh and just say that I like it. I am not looking forward to getting the bird from some disgruntled 9-5 worker and the constant scowls spread across many miserable American faces.

The weather
Verdict: Not miss

It's way too hot here. See my last post.

Rice
Verdict: Not miss

I am sick of eating rice with every meal. And if I change my mind and decide that I do miss rice, the advantage of living in the consumerist behemoth of the world is that I can get it. Wherever and whenever I want it.