Monday, Day 3: What does RUPP stand for?

I am in a cafe in Phnom Penh. It's an ex-pat place but it has wifi, close to home, and open late - hard to find. Today was the first day of work at the Social Work Department (SWD) of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) - good but stressful thinking about the work ahead... so many moving pieces and not a lot of information to go on. Oh well :) Time to sink myself back into work. I am realizing that the tourism part of the trip is going to be mornings and evenings, before and after work, and weekends. Other than that I think I will be working hours pretty similar to my time back home - day at school and evenings at home or in cafes working on projects and doing research. There is something comforting about that while I do wish it might be a bit lighter... I will make time though :) 

We are planning a trip with the graduating students to Siem Reap this weekend - a nice 4 day break. We'll go bike riding to the oldest temple ruins in SE Asia, the Cambodian Cultural Center, a mountain hike to a lake, a sunset hike, and other fun stuff. I am promised monkeys... I hope so. :) I am looking forward to it very much... and checking into gay resorts/spas in the area to stay at... why not, right?!

I was up at 6:15 this morning!! We got more street food (congee - SO GOOD!!) before going to work and I had 2 meetings before 11am! The heat seems to help... something about night showers too... good sleep hygiene. :) I love being without a cell phone, generally... so I am buying on tomorrow. It will be good when we are separated, especially the texting. Mostly, I want to collect Sim cards from around the world... "call me on my Cambodian phone number..." It just sounds so pretentious, I love it! :) 

Life with a roomie is good. The quirks are coming out, quickly, but we are both good about check-ins and talking about how we both act, how we react, what our needs are, etc etc. It's very healthy. Actually, I have not felt more comfortable openly and honestly processing with a group in this way, maybe ever. It seems really easy to say... ""I notice this... I feel this... How are you feeling... can we talk about what just happened..." It's cool. I hope it lasts when I get home :) Oh, and we have two double beds... no sexy times :(

Street food: AMAZING! No illness... friends impressed with my willingness and seeming well adjustedness. Language has been ok - many people have some English, school operates in English, two of my cohort members speak Khmer, USD is accepted the same as local riels. We had Chinese hot pot tonight... SO FREAKING GOOD! Ok, I am loving the food.