These activities help me relax after teaching and stay balanced. Drawing and reading allow me to slow down and reflect. Working out helps me stay healthy and energized. Spending time with family often includes talking, eating together, or simply sitting and sharing space. Free time here looks different than it did in the US. It is quieter and less scheduled. I’ve learned to appreciate slower moments and simple activities.
I speak English and Khmer. Before moving to my site, Peace Corps provided ten weeks of training. During this time, we focused on learning Khmer and practicing daily conversations to help us communicate in our communities. Learning Khmer has been challenging but rewarding. Even knowing basic phrases has made a big difference in building relationships. Saying “hello” in Khmer is “Sous-dey.”
In the United States, I have a pet cat and a dog. In Cambodia, I do not have any pets of my own.
I live in a rural area, but I have also traveled to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, the two main cities in Cambodia. Visiting these places helped me understand how life can look very different depending on where people live.
Phnom Penh is the capital city and feels busy and fast-paced. There are more cars, taller buildings, and a constant flow of people. It is where many students attend university and where many people go for work. Siem Reap is best known for the Angkor temple complex, and while it also attracts many visitors, it has a slower, more relaxed pace than the capital.
