Day 3

I’ve only been here 3 days but boy does jet lag got a hold on me. I’m overseas in a place that’s 14 hours ahead of my body and I am definitely struggling on catching up. Yesterday I ate an early dinner around 4PM and it felt like I was eating a really late dinner at midnight! Walking around the city for a few hours each day in the sweltering heat has been wearing me out and I bet it's not helping the adjustment all that well. Sadly my internship start date has been pushed back to the 29th now, but on the bright side I bet I’ll be right on ‘schedule!' *nudge nudge* Sleep-wise that is.

So there's actually an error in my 'Day 1' blog. I was about to delete the mistake I posted when I realized something. I think my mistake proves an important point that I should keep in mind; that this trip isn't going to be easy and there's going to be lots of difficulties throughout the next 90 days. You can't just hop into an unfamiliar country and culture and expect to ease in comfortably!

There is a national holiday here in Cambodia this week BUT it is not the water festival. I started reading into information about this festival and it sounded very popular. What I read mentioned a huge boat race right here in the capital, Phnom Penh. Well, I started thinking, 'Why would everyone be gone for the holiday if the main events take place right here?' So after some further research I discovered that this week is NOT the water festival but a different holiday called Pchum Ben Day. During this holiday, people travel back to their homes to pray and give offerings to their dead relatives and ancestors. The water festival, also called Bon Om Touk, will take place in late October, early November.

Silly me and miscommunication. However this small misunderstanding helps remind me that there is going to be a lot of that during this trip and I can't wave it off. I can't just delete misunderstanding like I can delete a mistake from a blog post. But I can learn something new and I can move forward. I know, sounds a little kindergarten cheesy, but if that's true then I think the 5 year-olds are on the right track.