Things We've Learned in Cambodia

1. Cambodians do not know the street names or numbers. Like, AT ALL. There is basically NO REASON for the streets to even have any names, because nobody knows them.

2. Every time a waiter serves you something, they tell you to "please enjoy." So at one meal you may hear: Please enjoy your drinks! Please enjoy your bread! Please enjoy your noodles! Please enjoy your porridge! Please enjoy your fruit!  :-)

3. Gender roles are very defined and followed pretty closely. See number 4 below.

4. Accounting is nearly 100% a female occupation in Cambodia. The only males who go into accounting here are actually gay. 

5. "Hello buy something?" may be the only English that person knows. And it's pronounced: "hel low bye sum sing?"

6. Scam: women will come up to you with a baby in their arms and beg for milk for their baby. She will protest "I don't want money, only milk for my baby." But if you buy the milk, she will then promptly return it to the store and split the money with the store vendor. We read about this in advance so we didn't fall for it, but it was definitely tried on us.

7. Outside of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh (the major cities), Cambodians live in truly abject poverty. It's one of the poorest countries in the world. Living in huts made of palm leaves, only one water well (or sometimes NO water) for an entire village of 20+ families, hours commute for the kids to attend the nearest school (and so many do not go), etc.

8. Cambodians are some of the friendliest, kindest and happiest people we've ever met.

9. Families are very close knit and look after each other. Our temple guide had 26 people, all family members, living in one small house with only 2 bathrooms. He works to pay for his niece, nephew and daughter to attend school.

10. There are around 8-10 MILLION landmines still active and laying around Cambodia (left over from decades of wars). Still today, every year there are hundreds of people injured, maimed or killed by active landmines. It's quite terrifying to think about and there are some amazing relief efforts going on (we had an opportunity to visit with this group: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/29/cnnheroes.cambodia.demining/ )

11. The Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot were fucking terrorist assholes.

12. The ancient temples are over 1,000 years old and you can still see some of the writing/inscriptions and intricate carved details in the stones. Really beautiful and amazing!!!

13. The USD is the main currency here.  When you go to the ATM, US dollars come out!