The fam
I forgot to tell you how great my host family was while in Phnom Penh.
Living there are the parents, one daughter and 2 sons (all in their 20’s) and
Brother drives me to work
the grandmother. They have another daughter who is married with a son that lives close by.
Traditionally you live with your parents till you get married there. The oldest son was my age. The grandmother was a bit senile, so she seemed a little confused when I walked in the door each time, but when I would stop to say hello she would grab my hands and
Cambodian wedding (trying not to look so tall)
tell me how beautful I was.
They had a lovely 4-story house (a typical style for middle class) and I had the entire 3rd floor to myself with a patio in the front and the back. I had a big empty front room to do yoga in the mornings.
They cooked me loads
Out on the town
of delicious Cambodian food and packed me lunch on work days. Fresh fruit (many of which I’ve never seen/had before-yum!) and cold water all the time.
The daughters were so sweet- took me out on several occasions, one of them invited me to a wedding of her husband’s cousin, the
Lunch
other took me to the S-21 museum on the weekend. I experienced my first 3-person scooter ride and a small scooter crash with each of the sisters. It’s not a true Cambodian experience without either of those events it seems. The youngest son drove me to work and picked me up every day. Only the daughters and the oldest son spoke limited English, so I couldn’t really communicate with the parents or the grandmother, but so much can be said with a smile and a bow.
The mother gave me a beautiful blue silk scarf with the traditional Cambodian checker print. She must’ve asked her daughter how to
My front room for yoga
say “A souvenir for you” as she handed it to me.
There were some tears when I parted and I hope I will see them again. Maybe I can come back when Pheap (the youngest daughter) gets married. 
Sunset from my back patio