Life in Siem Reap

I have not had a good connection to the Internet for the last month, so I have not had an opportunity to make an update.

I am currently living in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  I tried living in Phnom Penh, but I found it was too chaotic, with crowds of people, terrible traffic, and lots of pollution.  I had been in PP seven years ago, but it has changed a lot in only a few years.  So for now, I am settled in Siem Reap, famous only for the fact that Angkor Wat is nearby. 

I have a job at a local language school.  I have been working part time for them, but a new term will start next week and I will be working semi-full time.  (I will be teaching three classes a day, they want me to teach four, but that would be thirty hours a week and that is more than I can really do.  For every hour you teach you spend at least an hour outside of class planning, marking papers and attending meetings.)

I rented a studio apartment this week in a new building near my work.  The apartment is nice and has a balcony with a pleasant view.  I do worry about the cost of electricity, which is quite expensive here in Cambodia.  I have to run the AC at least some of the time, due to the humidity.

The weather here is atrociously hot and humid.  It is supposed to be the rainy season, but due to the El Nino effect, it isn't raining very much.  There are plenty of western style restaurants, although they are expensive.  Coffee is very expensive, which makes life hard.  Khmer restaurants are much more reasonable, and the food is good, as long as they have an English menu to allow you to order.

Shopping is difficult, as a lot of things simply aren't available here, or are very expensive for someone on a teacher's salary (which is on the low side).  I have bought some things at local markets, but I don't think I will ever be able to find dress shirts or slacks in my size here.  Anything electronic is imported and very expensive, including for example, a coffee maker.

I will begin posting pictures and more stories as my life gets more settled.