Good Morning Everyone!
It is 5:30am here and I am staring out my 3rd story window watching a Cambodian sunrise. Rich colors bursting through a quilt like patch of clouds - breathtaking!
For most of us it hasn't quite "hit us" that were in a different country. After 14 hours of being in the air and two layovers in between that (one in Narita, Japan and an overnighter in Taipei, Taiwan) we touched ground in Phnom Penh, Cambodia around 10:30am yesterday. Though, I say "yesterday" it is still today for you all in America. We are 17 hours ahead of Hawaii Time.
Gary had us catalog our "first impressions" upon our arrival here. One of the most noticeable aspects is the heat - even I have to admit that it is "warm" but the most common adjective is "hot!" It is currently an innocent 75 degree, however there is 94% humidity. This will take a lot of "getting used to" on our part. After getting our Visas approved Keat Kove met us immediately outside the airport and loaded us up into a Hyundai Truck with an exceptionally long, truck bed were all our suitcase and selves sat. We learned that street lanes, lights, and directions are merely suggestions as the multiple motorcycles, cars, bicyclist, and pedestrians traverse the streets. Honking here is simply a way of declaring "I'm here" or "please don't hit me!" to the larger vehicles.
Our destination was the church, New Life in Christ Church, where we are staying for the next two weeks. As soon as we pulled up near the driveway we saw about 200 children nicely lined up. The second we realized they were waiting for us we all looked at each other in shock. They cheered for us as we walked down the driveway saying "Hi" in English. They even had a yellow rose for each of us. We gave a few high fives.... and then they suddenly swarmed around us and gave us the biggest hugs! I was speechless. I was thinking to myself, "this is for us?" We were able to talk to a few, in English, but they needed to get back to their classes.
We then settled into out living quarters, which is much nicer than any of us expected. Fans, big comfy beds, warm showers, plumbing, electricity, a complete kitchen... it is wonderful!
I've been taking videos but I don't have time to edit them yet... so here are a few pictures of our first day.
