I can hardly believe that I am actually here. In Cambodia. Breathing thick Cambodian air that is seasoned with a tinge of both delightful cooking herbs from market food stalls and the not so delightful stench of exposed and still sewerage juices. I can hardly believe that I am actually here.
I arrived yesterday afternoon at 4:32pm on an Air Asia flight from Don Mueang Airport, Thailand.
I had spent one night in Bangkok, after arriving at 9:30pm the night before on a 9 hour flight from Sydney. I'm not even sure what day of the week it was, so I'm unable to say...the past few days have just kind of run in to each other...
Earlier this week, preparing for my departure, everything was so seemingly smooth.
I'd had my vaccinations on Monday, and they hadn't affected me very much at all. I'd been able to hang out with Laura on Monday, and that was good fun as always. Monday night had been our end of year break up for the Youth Music Team, at which I was spoilt as well as fed and entertained.
Tuesday my washing was sent to the local laundromat. I spent the afternoon with my nana, during which I was spoilt again (thank you Westfield St. Lukes for existing). By the time I arrived home in the afternoon, my washing was home and ready to be put in to my suitcase. Tuesday night of course was Youth Perspective Evening, at which I wasn't at all helping or assisting Paul, and so was cruisy as for me. Once I got home, I skyped my Aussie Family, and they helped me decide which clothes to bring and not to bring to Cambodia. They even helped me pack my bag in a space efficient way! Go space efficiency!
By Wednesday my bags were packed, and I was ready to go. I went to Paper Power to take some passport photographs to have spare for my visas on arrival. Mum came home early from work, which was a bonus. Suli came over in the afternoon, another awesome bonus. Eros, Aaron, and Mikey joined us later on. Freddie, Elle, Sofeni, Kane, and Amaris (<3) joined us later later on. It was a lovely way to spend my last night.
And then the Calendar flipped over one and it was time for Thursday; D-Day!!! We woke up on time, mum and I shed some tears, they were necessary but didn't last long because we both knew that time was a ticking. We arrived at the Airport at 6:25am (I don't actually know that, I'm just making it up). Tim and Talz had come to see me off, which was so nice of them. While I was in line waiting to check in, Eros, Aimee, and Suli arrived. Aaron, Teina, Josh, and Mike had already been there since 5:45 (weirdos, bless! :-) Tasi and Violet came later on as well.
So anyway, I was in line, which was just fine, I had done it many times before. The line was moving slowly because there were maybe 2-3 (if that) check in assistants operating to begin with. But I eventually got to the front, chirpily pushed my trolley to the counter. After handing her my Passport, she asked to see my itinerary. This was the first sign of trouble, because they never usually ask for anything apart from my Passport. So I handed her my itinerary, which she stared at and read for what felt like 10 minutes without a word. She then went on to say "Now, you do realise that Thailand only offers 30 day visas, yes?" (I flew in to Thailand and then from Thailand to Cambodia, as it saved me about $700).."Yes," I replied, "but I am only in Thailand for one night before heading to Cambodia. "Oh, but it doesn't say that you're flying to Cambodia on this itinerary..." So I handed her my second itinerary, under an entirely different booking. She stared at that for what felt like three days, and then said she had to go and check with her supervisor. So off she went to see her dear, dear Supervisor for what I'm pretty sure was 25 minutes. Meanwhile, my friends that had come to see me were waiting, some had work to go to. When the lovely assistant returned, she said "Yeah, it says on our system that you're only allowed a thirty day visa, and it says here that you are over there for three months, so that's just not going to work. You're going to have to change one of your tickets so that it looks as though you're only going to be in each country for thirty days."
This is what went through my mind in the very split second after she said that... "My life is over! It's not going to work! This has all been a test of my character, and God isn't actually sending me at all! What am I going to say to all the people that gave money to my mission? What am I going to say to my Kiwi-bodian family that is waiting for me to arrive?! My destiny is over! Am I going to be able to show my face again? I will have to spend the next three months in hiding! God, waah waah waah!!!" Hahaha it's funny now, because everything is funny in hindsight.
Any who, so I went to the ticketing counter, and initially I was angry with the assistant that sent me away, but then all the emotions just swooped in and hit me at once, and there I was...crying. Of all times. You see, I'm not really much of a crier... But I guess I am when there are lots of people around. Good thing they are supportive people. I'm so blessed with them!
Long story short, they checked me in all the way to Bangkok and said that once I arrived there I'd have to call Air Asia and change that flight. But when I got to Sydney Airport (stop over) and free wi-fi, I emailed my Kiwibodian family and they said that it is only Auckland Airport that tend to be pedantic with things like that and I would have absolutely no problem in Bangkok. And I didn't, praise God!!!
Because of how my trip started, I was already feeling quite on edge by the time I got on to the plane. But God always has His ways of reminding us that everything will be fine. I was sat next to two Christians who encouraged me that "the devil only attacks those that are a threat to him." What a timely reminder! Thank you Jesus! I was missing my friends, my family, upset that I hadn't even been able to sit with them at the airport because of how pressed for time I was. So when I got to Thailand, although I was in a pretty boss hotel, I was feeling sad, lonely, distant, and alone.
But I'll tell you the truth, once we hit the ground in Phnom Penh, it was an almost surreal feeling. Once the exit opened and I was greeted with a Khmer smile, everything started to seem okay. Once I walked through to immigration and was surrounded by the Khmer workers jabbering off in Khmer, I was comforted. Once I went through Passport Control and was asked "where you born? where you parent born? You look like Chinese", everything kind of returned to the near-normal line. Once I was in that traffic where there are no rules except 'Get beeped at, move', and 'Beep, and they'll move', somehow life seemed a bit more ordered. Not too sure how that one works haha... Once that smell of sewerage hit me, I knew I was right where I was meant to be...
Once the girl in the van next to us smiled, I felt at home.
So, it is only early days and I still have no idea what to expect. My Kiwi-bodian family are awesome, they're so genuine and welcoming, it is as though I have known them all my life.
God, continue to teach me and show me things that You want me to see!
Blessings,
Traveleina Khmer ;-)
I arrived yesterday afternoon at 4:32pm on an Air Asia flight from Don Mueang Airport, Thailand.
I had spent one night in Bangkok, after arriving at 9:30pm the night before on a 9 hour flight from Sydney. I'm not even sure what day of the week it was, so I'm unable to say...the past few days have just kind of run in to each other...
Earlier this week, preparing for my departure, everything was so seemingly smooth.
I'd had my vaccinations on Monday, and they hadn't affected me very much at all. I'd been able to hang out with Laura on Monday, and that was good fun as always. Monday night had been our end of year break up for the Youth Music Team, at which I was spoilt as well as fed and entertained.
Tuesday my washing was sent to the local laundromat. I spent the afternoon with my nana, during which I was spoilt again (thank you Westfield St. Lukes for existing). By the time I arrived home in the afternoon, my washing was home and ready to be put in to my suitcase. Tuesday night of course was Youth Perspective Evening, at which I wasn't at all helping or assisting Paul, and so was cruisy as for me. Once I got home, I skyped my Aussie Family, and they helped me decide which clothes to bring and not to bring to Cambodia. They even helped me pack my bag in a space efficient way! Go space efficiency!
By Wednesday my bags were packed, and I was ready to go. I went to Paper Power to take some passport photographs to have spare for my visas on arrival. Mum came home early from work, which was a bonus. Suli came over in the afternoon, another awesome bonus. Eros, Aaron, and Mikey joined us later on. Freddie, Elle, Sofeni, Kane, and Amaris (<3) joined us later later on. It was a lovely way to spend my last night.
And then the Calendar flipped over one and it was time for Thursday; D-Day!!! We woke up on time, mum and I shed some tears, they were necessary but didn't last long because we both knew that time was a ticking. We arrived at the Airport at 6:25am (I don't actually know that, I'm just making it up). Tim and Talz had come to see me off, which was so nice of them. While I was in line waiting to check in, Eros, Aimee, and Suli arrived. Aaron, Teina, Josh, and Mike had already been there since 5:45 (weirdos, bless! :-) Tasi and Violet came later on as well.
So anyway, I was in line, which was just fine, I had done it many times before. The line was moving slowly because there were maybe 2-3 (if that) check in assistants operating to begin with. But I eventually got to the front, chirpily pushed my trolley to the counter. After handing her my Passport, she asked to see my itinerary. This was the first sign of trouble, because they never usually ask for anything apart from my Passport. So I handed her my itinerary, which she stared at and read for what felt like 10 minutes without a word. She then went on to say "Now, you do realise that Thailand only offers 30 day visas, yes?" (I flew in to Thailand and then from Thailand to Cambodia, as it saved me about $700).."Yes," I replied, "but I am only in Thailand for one night before heading to Cambodia. "Oh, but it doesn't say that you're flying to Cambodia on this itinerary..." So I handed her my second itinerary, under an entirely different booking. She stared at that for what felt like three days, and then said she had to go and check with her supervisor. So off she went to see her dear, dear Supervisor for what I'm pretty sure was 25 minutes. Meanwhile, my friends that had come to see me were waiting, some had work to go to. When the lovely assistant returned, she said "Yeah, it says on our system that you're only allowed a thirty day visa, and it says here that you are over there for three months, so that's just not going to work. You're going to have to change one of your tickets so that it looks as though you're only going to be in each country for thirty days."
This is what went through my mind in the very split second after she said that... "My life is over! It's not going to work! This has all been a test of my character, and God isn't actually sending me at all! What am I going to say to all the people that gave money to my mission? What am I going to say to my Kiwi-bodian family that is waiting for me to arrive?! My destiny is over! Am I going to be able to show my face again? I will have to spend the next three months in hiding! God, waah waah waah!!!" Hahaha it's funny now, because everything is funny in hindsight.
Any who, so I went to the ticketing counter, and initially I was angry with the assistant that sent me away, but then all the emotions just swooped in and hit me at once, and there I was...crying. Of all times. You see, I'm not really much of a crier... But I guess I am when there are lots of people around. Good thing they are supportive people. I'm so blessed with them!
Long story short, they checked me in all the way to Bangkok and said that once I arrived there I'd have to call Air Asia and change that flight. But when I got to Sydney Airport (stop over) and free wi-fi, I emailed my Kiwibodian family and they said that it is only Auckland Airport that tend to be pedantic with things like that and I would have absolutely no problem in Bangkok. And I didn't, praise God!!!
Because of how my trip started, I was already feeling quite on edge by the time I got on to the plane. But God always has His ways of reminding us that everything will be fine. I was sat next to two Christians who encouraged me that "the devil only attacks those that are a threat to him." What a timely reminder! Thank you Jesus! I was missing my friends, my family, upset that I hadn't even been able to sit with them at the airport because of how pressed for time I was. So when I got to Thailand, although I was in a pretty boss hotel, I was feeling sad, lonely, distant, and alone.
But I'll tell you the truth, once we hit the ground in Phnom Penh, it was an almost surreal feeling. Once the exit opened and I was greeted with a Khmer smile, everything started to seem okay. Once I walked through to immigration and was surrounded by the Khmer workers jabbering off in Khmer, I was comforted. Once I went through Passport Control and was asked "where you born? where you parent born? You look like Chinese", everything kind of returned to the near-normal line. Once I was in that traffic where there are no rules except 'Get beeped at, move', and 'Beep, and they'll move', somehow life seemed a bit more ordered. Not too sure how that one works haha... Once that smell of sewerage hit me, I knew I was right where I was meant to be...
Once the girl in the van next to us smiled, I felt at home.
So, it is only early days and I still have no idea what to expect. My Kiwi-bodian family are awesome, they're so genuine and welcoming, it is as though I have known them all my life.
God, continue to teach me and show me things that You want me to see!
Blessings,
Traveleina Khmer ;-)
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