Last Country: Cambodia

Hello Everyone!

It's almost April and I will be back in the states in 26 and a half days! Our trip is finally down to a vacation length, but I don't think either of us fully grasp that the end is approaching. This has been our life for quite a while now and there aren't really any preparations that will make it sink in (we've packed a bag every day for the last 330 days). On April 24 we will go to an airport instead of a bus station, and then we will fly home to see the first familiar faces in a year. We are both very excited! The trip has been a wonderful experience that has taught me many things that (I hope) will allow me to live the life I want live, but each passing day makes me more certain that I should be at "home (wherever that ends up being)." I feel like I should be at my "home" not simply because of frustrating cultural differences, missing familiar things, or the long time away from friends and family, but rather because traveling has started to seem like such an unnatural thing to do in this world. Having met so many people with greater ability but less opportunity has made me excited to get back to the real world (where people have to work to feed themselves) and into the thick of things; there has been an increasing feeling of guilt, and I guess the best way to put it is that traveling for this year has made me feel an enormous desire to get back and repay the world for this opportunity. I hope it doesn't sound like I'm whining, I still would not trade the lessons learned in the last year for anything. This year of travel is most definitely the best decision I've made. It's just time to get home, move forward, and truly appreciate the things around me that I used to take for granted.

Right now I find myself in Kampot, Cambodia. The last three months have taken us through China, Tibet, and Vietnam. The next few weeks will be spent in Cambodia with a final brief stop on the Thai beaches for some relaxation and (hopefully) scuba diving. Just like that we will be a world away from the history that Cambodia holds and relaxing on peaceful beaches. The countries we have been lucky enough to visit have all had a turbulent recent history to say the least. Seeing the effects of history and politics in these areas has been confusing and sobering. I don't want to get too serious in this message, because I'm hoping that you'll look forward to seeing me again after reading this email and not think that I've gotten even more boring and serious over the last year (though I probably have). :) The one thing I will say about our travels is that even with the turbulent recent histories in the countries of Laos, China, Tibet, Vietnam, and Cambodia is that I was a bit shocked at how normal everything seemed, how normal life is during and after war and famine. Life in these countries, at the superficial tourist level at least, isn't that different from life at home. Life is filled with more extremes (ie poverty), but the general feel is the same. I don't know what I was expecting, but the lack of major cultural barriers was strange to me. I think people in the USA have an image of life outside our borders as totally different from the lives we enjoy, but, I guess if there's one thing I've learned over the last year, people all over the world have very similar desires, problems, and frustrations. The degrees are very different, but people are very similar all over the world no matter if governments or ideologies try to convince you otherwise.

Enough of that. While I may try (very hard, believe me) to sound like I've had this profound experience grappling with all of the world's problems, those of you that know me well probably can see through it and know I'm only showing one side. In the end, if you would ask me: 'what's the best (and most useful) thing I've learned in the last year?,' my answer, without hesitation, is to learn how to use chopsticks like they were a natural extension of my hand. I can pick up two peanuts at the same time with ridiculous ease. It's the simple things that make life interesting, and I have enjoyed every single meal over the last three months for the simple fact that I got to impress myself with my mastery of chopsticks. Forks and spoons are much more useful, but NOT more fun. :) I was given a fork to use the other day and I fumbled... I really forgot how to use it more effectively!

We are still unsure of the exact date we will be in CO (sometime around Mother's Day) but plans will come together sooner or later; we look forward to spending lots of time with Jason's family and all of our friends there once we arrive. Then we will head to MN and WI in July to visit the rest of my family and friends at the Hart family reunion and Cassie's wedding! For those of you who have dispersed further we will have to talk about meeting up somewhere! I love you all very much! Please take care of each other and I look forward to seeing you all very soon!

I hope this message finds you happy and healthy and getting excited for spring thaw. Only 26 and a half days! I can't wait to see you all again; we have A LOT of catching up to do. Take care of yourself!

Oh and Jason and I are going to put together a list of our favorites and mosts (e.g. favorite national park, most exhilarating bus ride, favorite dish/what I ate for dinner, biggest screw-up, what my current hotel bathroom is like, etc... like the ones you did in college when you were procrastinating reading... if you don't know what I am talking about let me know and I will forward you one ;) ) to help us process some things and then send it out just before we get home... so if you have any questions you want answered (anything and everything)... send them our way in the next couple of weeks and we will add them!

Much love,

-m-


Phnom Penh, Capital of Cambodia:



Kampot and Bokor Hill Station:




Battambang:




Boat Trip from Battambang to Angkor Wat: