Observations about Cambodia and the Dorm

Clothing:

Cambodia is an interesting place. Even though man of the men sit around with bare chests, only wearing shorts, women are expected to remain much more covered (even though this is beginning to shange). The girls at the dorm sometimes wear long shorts or skirts to their knees in the dorm but never outside the gates. Apparently Vanna the dorm manager does not let them, though it probably is a good idea and I doubt any of the girls would even if they could. Everyone stays pretty covered, though I think in part is because they actually think it is cool at times. This is something I cannot believe!!

It appears that I have done a good job picking out clothes, though. Some of the girls have told me that they like my shirts and that I dress like a Khmer girl. Yay! I definitely don't think they would have approved of my tank tops and shorts back in Arizona :)

Skin and Hair:

Even though the young women int he dorm all seem very sure of themselves and confident, their beliefs about skin color are very interesting. Light skin is highly valued and many of the girls use lightening/whitening lotions, cremes, and body washes. They keep saying that I am so beautiful (I have never been told that I am beautiful this often!), but it mostly is because (1) they are just very nice and (2) they value paler skin.  I wish that they would find themselves beautiful (in all of their skin variations), too, because they are!

Sound:

It is never quiet here!  During the day there are motos and people and sellers walking down the street hawking their wares, from noddle soup to duck eggs to little clams.  There also can be the sporadic (and three day long) Buddhist funerals that involve non-stop chanting for the duration.  And, of course, there is the piercingly loud karaoke both day and night.  The people here love it, and see no problem with blasting the music and their very off-pitch voices throughout the neighborhood.  Once night hits, you get barking dogs and all other sorts of night noises.  Just as you are never alone, you are never in a totally quiet place.  It can be kind of nice in a way because it is hard to feel lonely when so much living is happening around you.  At the same time, sometimes you just want to shut yourself away from the noise (mostly just the karaoke!).

Weather:

Talk about hot and sticky.  The moment I stepped off the plane and left the airport, it was like my clothes were permanently stuck to me.  Coming from Arizona brings a whole new level to the hot and humid season here in Cambodia.  Showers three times a day are a necessity, and it rains almost without fail around 2 or 3pm.  This is a relief though (as long as you are not out in it) because it cools things off for a bit.  I wish I could see things here in a different season though.  By the end of my time it was starting to get a little cooler and slightly less rainy (either than or I was just getting used to it but I am pretty sure the weather really was starting to change), and it was just so much more livable and comfortable!