Debriefing

Top 5 Work Moments:

5. "Date night"my first week on the job in Sihanoukville. The "show" was young men pummeling each other during 5 hours of kickboxing (interspersed with 'hey! don't torture monkeys!' public messaging). The dinner was candlelit, beachside, pepper fried prawns for 4: my boss, her boyfriend and Swifty (my age, male coworker) and me. My boss is the one who made the double-date joke. Just the first of many instances of borderline (and often prosecutable) sexual harrassment in the workplace.

4. After reviewing tons of resumes, interviews, and reference checks I make the call on which candidates are hired for 3 key managerial positions. Lump the two or three other moments when I accomplished actual work and contributed in some way in with this one.

3. Sharing the big room with Sathy and Saven and occasionally Samal, especially when they trashtalk each other about their upcoming snooker games: "So far I have fattened him like a chicken and tonight I will make the slaughter" - Samal re: Sathy.

2. Spending the day with Nick and Cheata at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, meeting the lady elephants and Baby Chhou, meaningful eye contact with Mr Macaque, etc.

1. My sojourn at CADP, a.k.a. religious experiences on a farm. Motorcycle lessons and being pseudo-courted by 2 20 year old Israeli youths among the careful tracts of cucumbers and ground nuts.

Top 5 Cambodia Slices of Life:

5. The ferry at Sre Ambel, i.e. canoes tied together, covered in planks, powered by a couple outboards, loaded with trucks and people, puttering across the river next to the bridge that is 99% constructed but not in service unless your car has Armed Forces "special" plates.

4. The time Kimhour, our nightguard, had his brothers and friends over for a fishhead soup and rice wine party in the front of our house. 8 men drunk in under 10 minutes. Fi brought out fruit and I held off the Dengue another day to toast with them.

3. Wandering Sorya Mall - where you can rollerskate on the top floor, eat Swensen's ice cream on the ground floor and nowhere buy branded goods that aren't fake.

2. Walking the three blocks home from work to the big house, past the open field of drug use to the little lane that leads to my street, where the construction worker families live. Literally being greeted by joyful children yelling hello! every day.

1. Mixing with the local scene at the Red Cow beer garden (appropriating the Laughing Cow cheese label), where the uniformed representatives of Tiger, Anchor and Angkor serve their brews on ice, accompanying the spicy eel, chicken larb and sweet and sour fish. Mmm.