As i sit with my legs cramped against my face and sharing the seat with a jack fruit and durian. I start to reflect on where I've been and what's been happening.
It's probably been just about 5 years since I started my love affair with Cambodia. However, anytime anyone asks I always seem to find myself replying 3 years. Perpetually stuck in 3rd year syndrome. To know a lot about a place but can still find something new to appreciate and be surprised about. It's true as I can now appreciate that I hate sharing a seat with a spiky jack fruit and the slight smell of vomit; don't know if that's the durian or the vomit of a small child suffering from motion sickness.
5 years in, I knew when I came back that I was here for a long while. But 5 years with a sandwich year of England in there has gone quick. So much has happened, much beloved friends have come and gone, I have gone and come back. But the constant has been the kingdom of wonder, people I meet here still get enchanted by the place, to us long stayers we are realising that Phnom Penh is losing some charm but the people are still just as enchanting and warm. That can't be bought by the Chinese as much as they'd like to! However the invasion was always going to happen, it's too sweet a city for it to not happen.
I always said I'm happy with my feet on the ground here but I didn't realise I could be happier. I'm settled socially, I realise I'm much like my father, happy with constant football. I remember his Wednesday night five a side. I'm now playing Monday night 8 a side, and Thursday night 8 a side and Saturday afternoon, 8 a side. Although I don't remember him doing quite so much as me. However his legs were much older than mine then! The fellas I play with are a great bunch so it makes it very easy to go and join them and have a laugh.
On top of this, I'm working as a coach. I coach and play football most days. I may not have completed the dream of being a footballer although I'm still young! Ian Wright made his breakthrough at 26 so I have time. But coaching football is scratching that itch. It can be tough and especially now in these next few months being very hot but we work around it. I know what I want to do now and it involves coaching. It's nice to have something to aim at with a long term goal. I'll get there, no rush yet though. Just an interruption into this blog post - I've now been shoved into the back to share a seat with an above average sized lady meanwhile my roommate sits in my previous place all on his own! He's 4 seats to 1 person. We're 4 seats to 8 people!
Next month, my brother comes so we will be going to the beach together that'll be a nice midpoint between going home for my sisters wedding and now. It's his first time here and thus far everyone that's come has loved the country especially my mum so hopefully them coming will add another enchanted to the list.
Right now, however, it's khmer new year and we're battling the heat with intermittent power cuts due to drought but the EDC (Cambodia's electric company) said for holidays they won't turn off the power. So at least for a couple of days the heat will be durable. Just before the KNY kicks off i have been to my roommates province because he wanted me to go and meet his family again and spend time there before he has to go back to work on Monday 15th. So we've been there for 2 nights and 3 days. Much, much cooler than the city. Using a fan was fine rather than in the city air con and fans aren't enough! However travelling there and back has been a pain. No private taxis so have had to ride khmer vans with motos strapped to the outside and sharing a seat with 3 other people or if you're lucky sharing sweat! It's been fun!
And to end on a final note, my roommate has just had 3 people shoved into his seat so we're both suffering now! Revenge is sweet after all.
All the best
G
P.S.- the slight smell of vomit wasn't vomit at all it was the 3 live chickens that just got out with another family. Must be a sacrifice to Khmer New Year...
P.P.S and his flip flops just got vomited on.
