Day 5- Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

Oh my goodness, such a great change has happened! It may not seem huge but my spirits are raised and I am feeling more confident and excited to be on this adventure. It's just a simple thing but it has set off something great that will only continue to grow as the days and weeks pass. I think if you are open-minded enough, it's almost always the little things that begin something great.

For my first few days in Cambodia I've been pretty much stuck on my own in my apartment, only walking as far as a half mile or so to get a better sense of what's around me. But again, since there's a holiday, almost everything has been closed. However, just the other day, a Cambodian staff member from my internship site came by and took me around a bit. We went to the store so I could buy food (I kinda haven't eaten much since I've been here... oops) and we did a drive by of some of the big attractions here in Phnom Penh. I sadly forgot my camera on this trip but now I know where these places are and I don't doubt I'll be back soon. 

After a couple days I was feeling restless and I needed a nudge of some sort to give me the courage to step out of my comfort zone. My biggest problem here that I've discovered is ordering food at a restaurant. I know, sounds pretty lame, but ordering food in another country where people speak a COMPLETELY different language is a lot harder than you think. Plus it's really nerve racking cause you don't know what's good or if you will make a mistake. Well, today another staff member of COCD, an expat or a person temporarily living in a country outside of their country of origin (I'm an expat too!) from Australia, and the Cambodian staff member from my first trip came by and this time they took me on a drive by tour of restaurants and shops. That was my kicker, knowing that it's okay to just try a place. It's almost like I needed permission. Well, after that trip today, I strolled out of my apartment this evening, on my own, walked around a bit, spotted a place, and just walked in. I did it. I ordered some food. And it was fantastic! Oh, the silly things that we worry about.

So all I needed was a little thing, like someone touring me around restaurants. But I think it has changed everything and I feel ready for whatever comes next on this adventure. 

I finally have internet in my apartment so here's some photos :) (my camera is not doing so hot so some of the pictures are a bit blurry, I might need to get a new camera)

Do you like my cell phone? Because I do.

Here's the view from the balcony of my apartment. I'm on the 2nd floor so it's not the best view but it's a small, beautiful window into the big city. 

So this isn't Cambodian I know, but it was on TV and I've never seen sumo wrestling on TV before!  

Don't worry, they hugged it out :P

I hopped on a tuk tuk all by myself for the first time here in Cambodia!  

RESTAURANT #1: So this was the first restaurant I went to and it was perfect. Funny story, when I walked in, there were two red-heads sitting at a table. A waitress looked at me a little confused, and kept looking back at me and at them. I think she wasn't sure if I was with them or not! I pointed to an empty table and she seemed to relax while she walked me over to it. All of us red-heads must know each other :P

Here was my first meal at the restaurant! The drink was sparkling water with lime and mint (virgin mojito). The glass came with the lime juice and mint leaves in it and I was given the can of soda water and small cup of sugar water on the side for me to pour as I please. It seemed really fancy and I certainly wasn't expecting that when I ordered it. It was just one of the cheapest things on the menu! :P For Dinner I had sweet Khmer noodles with coconut cucumber sauce, and pan-fried pork. The flavors were delicious with the sweet and salty and I think it looked pretty easy to make. Yum!

Just down the street from where I live is the Russian Market or Phsar Tuol Tom Pong. It's called the Russian Market because it was popular among a large Russian population 30 years ago. Really, it's just a Cambodian market to buy lots of stuff like food, clothes, souvenirs, household goods, ect. These are just pictures from a side street but there's a confusing maze inside the market that I have yet to venture into.