The Callow Rambler: Cambodia?

After recently visiting home, I have realized my evident failure in discussing my upcoming travels with pretty much everyone around me. This lack of knowledge in most minds is common, as I do not believe I even really know what exactly I am about to get into. Saying that, I am nervous, terrified, or as people like me like to call it, "scared shitless" of what exactly my future holds. In order to cope with my upcoming trip and not lose full communication with all of you, I have decided to start blogging my experience. Unfortunately at this point, you have missed my exciting period as my trip is around the corner, but maybe by supplying you with some of the information of why the hell I am even going to Cambodia, you may be excited for the both of us.

If you didn't already know, I am currently getting my Masters in Public Health.* Since I have decided to follow a Global path with this whole shenanigan of a degree, I had three places that I could be shipped to in order to complete my Master's Field Study: Bolivia, Ethiopia, or Cambodia. Being that Cambodia is the newest choice and we are piloting this program, I chose to take this route. I know, I know, most people think "why the hell would anyone want to go to Cambodia?". My only response will be my own experience and my own pictures that I will have of and in this beautiful country. We are also conveniently located close to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, among many other countries that are a cheap plane ride away. Don't worry, if you think you would never have any interest in exploring Southeast Asia...I will work very hard while I am there traveling and taking pictures to change your mind...

So here is the current game plan. I leave August 23rd at 1:20 am in the morning from San Francisco International.** As time gets closer I will update you all on my flight stats, but for now, I will spare you the insipid details. All in all, I land in the great city of Phnom Penh August 24th at 6:25 pm. I am traveling with 4 amazing girls in which I am sure you will get to know well throughout this travel blog. The wonderful thing about this group is that they will help me acclimate. I am the one that is scared of living in Cambodia while they are really only scared about coming back with my accent :).

For the first 10 days, Meghan, my Arizona buddy, and I will be staying at Rory's Pub and Guesthouse while the the other girls will be staying at another local guesthouse. We will spend this time starting our field study at a local NGO called RACHA (Reproductive and Child Health Alliance) and trying to find another possible guesthouse for us all to stay in for the remainder of our time in Cambodia. We are really only concerned with finding a safe place that is not over the price of 8 dollars a night (no typo there, and they follow the dollar!). I currently have no idea what my title will be at the NGO, but I have a feeling it will probably have to do with HIV/AIDS and my love of indigenous vaginas.*** The most I know about the position itself is that I will be working from 7:30am- 5:00pm with a 2 hour lunch break in between. Either way, I am happy to help and very excited to potentially make a difference.

I will have a phone while I am there although I do not really know exactly how it will work yet. On top of that, I will be about 12-14 hours in front of most of you. To try to make myself as available as possible, I added a Skype app (feel free to call!) and added my Twitter to this blog. Most of you can just expect for many inconvenient phone calls...but remember, revenge is sweet.

I am realizing how much more I could continue on about my travels and may be writing a bit more in the coming days. I will get back in the states on November 6th or 9th, depending on if we do a 3 day layover in Hong Kong or not. Regardless, need not worry my family and friends, as my Granny once said, "I can fight of a bear with a stick". Hopefully my stick also works for leopards, tigers, and panthers...oh my.