Day 2 of Quarantine: Arrival Excitement

After a year of learning to read and speak Khmer, a month of hanging out in Durham, a few tearful goodbyes for Jacques, and a penguin hug (don't ask, it's a family thing!) with my parents... it was time to go! 

The trip took about 26 hours: easy quick flight from Durham to Detroit, then a long, tedious flight (13 hours!) to Seoul, South Korea. Quick layover, and then a last five hour flight to Phnom Penh. I was ready to NOT be sitting or on a plane any more after that!

There were a few of us on the plane that are foreign service officers, and we were met by some Embassy local staff who helped us through customs, local government COVID testing, and then into separate vans to take us each to different residences. The house I'm staying for my mandatory 14-day quarantine is huge, which is nice because it gives me something to explore while recovering from jet-lag. My social sponsors, friends I served with in Bamako, stocked my kitchen and got me set up with internet. 

This morning I woke promptly at 6am, and could not for the life of me get back to sleep. I stepped out onto the screened in balcony on the second floor - an area that could easily fit about a dozen queen beds, to give you an idea of size - and watched the construction workers across the street. They were waiting for the foreman to let them into the site and joking around with each other. One, a young man, seemed to be performing for the others, though I couldn't tell you exactly what he was doing. They were all laughing and shaking their heads. Once in awhile, a man pulling a cart full of coconuts would wander down the street, or a tuk tuk would zip past. 

For breakfast, I had passion fruit, toast, and an egg. For lunch, a salad. I'm pondering whether to cook for dinner, or order out - which is easy to do. Last night, I ordered from Pepe's, a French bistro, and had a lovely burrata salad and truffled risotto. 

The time difference between family and here is going to take getting used to - I keep have to remind myself not to text friends in the middle of my day, because it's the middle of their night. I did yoga this morning, and plan to do some kind of workout this afternoon. And maybe take a nap. 

Work starts tomorrow, even from quarantine: there's training to do, and meeting people via Zoom, and checkin in online with various offices. 

Between the boredom and the jet-lag, I find myself filled with excitement. I'm here! I peek out my windows to see as far down the street as I can, but see nothing beyond the construction and a coffee shop. After my quarantine, there'll be no time to explore the neighborhood, as I'll move into my apartment in a slightly different area. 

Can't wait!