Why I Love Coffee

Living in Cambodia only a few years ago was difficult. There were no places to escape to other than your own house or a completely different country altogether. My family used to spend our summers and Christmas holidays either in Switzerland, or travelling around southeast Asia. I remember one of my favorite treats was going to Bangkok, a city I came to really fall in love with when I was younger, and going to Starbucks. It was like a dream, going to big, westernized coffee shop, ordering a superb coffee that, although overpriced, was totally delicious, and sipping it. It was like a relief, after all that terrible stuff we witnessed and experienced in Cambodia. Coffee was a part of my moment of peace, outside the country where there didn't seem to be anyplace to calm down and relieve my senses.

Nowadays, I'm so blessed with the abundance of coffee shops Cambodia has to offer now. We have literally hundreds of them now, dotting the street corners, especially in the more tourist-packed areas of the city. Phnom Penh has come a long way these past few years, and the arrival of these coffee shops is one of my favorite aspects of it. Now, I no longer have to travel by plane for an hour and a half to get to Starbucks; I have a lot wonderful, not-as-overpriced coffee shops right in my neighborhood!

I'm not saying that Phnom Penh doesn't still have the stressful aspects of it that it had many years ago - there are still times when I feel like I just need to go home, or get out of the country for a while. But usually that isn't possible. And that's when coffee is yet another part of my "escape", a way that I can "get away" from the stress and hubbub of everyday life in Asia, settle into a comfy chair in my air-conditioned bedroom and sip coffee from my favorite mug. Coffee makes me feel like everything's going to be okay, starting with the wonderful taste of it on my tongue.

I absolutely adore coffee. I drink mine fairly simply: only a generous dash of semi-skimmed milk in a mug of fresh, steaming black coffee is enough to satisfy me. It's how I start off every day.

Another glorious invention that entered the more-developed Phnom Penh was this: decaffeinated coffee. For some of you, this may not make sense. Many people around the world drink coffee for the caffeinated buzz it brings to keep you awake or help you stay alert at work. For me, I just drink coffee because it tastes good. That's the only reason I need. Which is why the decaffeinated stuff doesn't bother me. Same taste, and I can drink it at night. Doesn't that sound great?

Almost every night ever since my mom discovered this stuff first at the supermarket, she brews a small pot full of decaffeinated coffee at night, just for the two of us. It's our solution of how to calm ourselves down at night to escape from the stress of the day and think of more beautiful things. Some people like a glass of wine, or a hot bath. I drink decaffeinated coffee, and it's superb.

So yeah. Coffee. Caffeinated or not, it's definitely my favorite drink on this planet, and I love it.

About Airports and Flying: From the TCK Perspective

For people growing up in other countries, travelling sounds pretty exotic and colorful. I'm sure you people vividly remember your first plane trip to Spain, or your first road trip across Europe, or whatever. You remember exactly what it felt like to buckle those weird silver seat-belts for the first time and recall the fear that came with the rattling and whining of a plane speeding down the runway ready for takeoff.

Fortunately for me, travelling is something I've grown up with. I don't remember my first plane flight, because it happened when I was only a few months old. I don't remember the first time I crossed into a new continent, because it happened then too. For me, airports and planes are the norm. Or at least, it's something that doesn't scare me. In fact, I find take-offs and landings exhilarating. I love the feeling I get in my stomach when the plane lifts off the ground for the first time, like my stomach is still on the ground but the rest of my body is being carried away by the plane. It sounds gross, but I absolutely love it.

My entire life has been like a cycle of being in one place and then being transferred to another by an airplane. Like going through puberty, flying must have been something that freaked my parents out at the beginning, but now has just become something that is normal, and still mysterious, bizarre and awesome at the same time. But for me, having been flying regularly for as long as I can remember, airplanes aren't on my list of things that scare me.

I'm not sure exactly what makes me love airports and flying so much. But I think part of it is that I'm just sort of used to it. I'm used to the anxiety and fear of it all, and I think that growing up with it has helped me to push past that, into a realm where I feel at home at an airport, and I feel so excited and happy in a plane that I feel like I'm about to explode.

As a third culture kid, you tend to not associate your "home" with anything specific. 

For me, I feel "homesick" for both Switzerland and Cambodia, depending where I am. I don't know where my "home" is. In fact, "home" seems like a metaphysical word to me, something that I've never experienced or known in my life.

And I think that's another thing that makes me love planes so much. I love the idea of not being in a specific place. I love the thought that, when I'm in a plane, I'm not in Switzerland, or Cambodia, or anywhere else for that matter.

I'm just in a plane, thousands of meters above sea level, in no particular place. And I love to think that that's how I feel about my home - not being in a particular place, just with particular people, or at a certain time.

Being in a plane helps me to sort of make sense, for a short while, of what my real home is like, right there, above the clouds, not anywhere, but still a thing that I feel in my heart when I'm with my family or friends.

You might not understand. But it's something that I feel, up there, in a plane above the clouds. When I'm in a plane, it doesn't matter what I'm leaving behind or where I'm going, even though that thought does excite me a lot. What matters is that in that moment, I don't have to worry about whether the place I'm in is worthy to be called my home. And I love that.

Airports. Back on track here. Why do I love airports? Well, I love a lot of things about them. I love the little things: the way they can be stress-filled and relaxing to me at the same time, the variety of faces to see, the international environment I'm so addicted to...

But the main thing I love about airport is this:

I love the idea of thousands of people from all around the world coming together in one place. 

My entire life I've grown up in places like that. My school, for instance. We have 32 nationalities total. Ergo, we come from pretty much all around the world. And I love how that is similar too, in an airport. There are thousands of people there, each person with their own story - where they've come from, where they're heading - and they're all coming together in one place, at that airport. And I'm a part of that. It's also fascinating for me to think that they're also only there for a short time, just like my friends and I are only at my school for a short time each day, and about to embark on another journey, each person a different one for themselves, spreading out into different places again, all over the world.

Call me a culture nerd. But hey, that's how I feel. And it totally fascinates me!

So yeah. Airports, airplanes, flying across the world... in only a few days, I'll be doing just that. And I'm really excited, because it's one of the things I love most in the world. And as a "culture princess", I'm so blessed to be able to experience it over and over again.

When Your Older Sister Graduates from High School

This morning I woke up to the usual 30-plus degree-Celsius Cambodian weather and thought, 'In less than a week, I'll be elsewhere.' The thought hit me: I'm flying to Switzerland in five days. It was a totally bizarre thought. Time has been going by way too fast this year, but I think part of the issue lies with the fact that my sister is graduating. And I'm beginning to realize it.

Today was a day spent doing pretty much the usual since we moved into our new house less than two weeks ago: helping my mom with whatever she needs to get done before the summer. But then she asked me to pack for Switzerland. And reality kicked in.

As I was packing, I realized how normal the thought of 13-hour plane rides is to me. 

If I had grown up in a "western" country, I would probably be nervous, excited and probably a little stressed out as well, to be flying the long distance between Bangkok and Zurich. And yet, I'm only the excited part of the package. Why? Well, honestly, I love planes. I love travelling. And I love airports. And even though I do, it's still something that is strangely normal for me, to be heading back to my home country in the summer.

Other years I would have counted back the days since the school semester started in January. But this year, things are strangely different. The excitement is different. It's tweaked with a bit of anxiety, and a whole lot of sadness. Not because I'm afraid to fly, or because I'm going to miss Cambodia. It's because my older sis is graduating on Thursday. And I don't think I'm quite ready for it yet.

It feels like only yesterday we were little girls in Phnom Penh, happily playing with our huge collection of Barbies, barely aware of the fact that we were going to grow up eventually! And yet, the time that's passed since then has flown by so fast! It's so mind-blowing to think that I only have two years left of high school, and that I started high school that same amount of time ago. And yet it feels like only yesterday.

Time just goes by too fast. 

That's all there is to it. I wish that there was some button I could press to make it slow down when I want it to, and speed up when I want it to. But no. Time just goes by the way that it does - usually not the way I want it to. But it's all in God's plan.

It's true that it's only a matter of time before Jael graduates, and she's out the door. But I also know equally well that there is a lot to look forward to in the days to come - in the near future, and the not-so-near future. God's got a lot in store for my older sis, and for me. There are days when I'm not so sure why God's put me here, where a lot things I wish I had are not within my reach. But at the same time, I know that it's my sisters that God has put right beside me that I should be really, really thankful for. I would be a totally different person were it not for their love, honesty, and inspiration throughout my life.

Jael has been such a unique example for what I want to be like when I'm older. She's shown me what it's like to be a really, really great older sister, and I hope than once she's gone, I'll be able to be that same comfort to Maria, my "baby" sister. It's still a little scary to think that in a matter of days, I'll be the "older sister", the "leader", the one who is supposed to experience the world first. And yet, I've had someone who experienced it before me, helped me to see the challenges before I've had to face them myself. And I'm so blessed to know that that someone is in good hands now - in God's hands. She'll be just fine. And so will I.

5 Reasons to Fall Head-Over-Heels in Love with Cambodia

So, I've done my basic introduction to the place I live. Cambodia. A country in southeast Asia.. blah blah blah. But no, I have yet to convince you that it's a beautiful, amazing place to be. So, here is my lovely list of why you really should get over here to experience (and fall in love with!) this stunning country for yourself.

1. It's cheap. 

If you've ever been a tourist in Switzerland, you'll have experienced the usual 25-dollar meals and 100-dollar train tickets up the Alps. Expensive, I know. But you'll be shocked to come to Cambodia and find that you can get five t-shirts or four lunches for the price of one in Switzerland. Yep, Cambodia is cheap. And if you come here finding that it's NOT, let me just tell you that you've been ripped off. Big time. You can go to the movie theater for 3 dollars, for goodness' sake.

2. The people are friendly. 

One of the first things that people notice about Cambodia is the fact that everyone smiles at you! Wherever you go, there are kids screaming "Hello!" from the sidewalks and old ladies giving you crooked smiles from their shady street-side shops. The Cambodians are beautiful, in the way they smile and laugh, and I guess it's probably the one thing I love most about this country.

3. The scenery is actually really beautiful.

It's true that the dusty, flat Cambodian landscapes are nothing compared to the mountainous, green scenery you'll experience in Switzerland. But I guess that once you get out of the city, Cambodia can amaze you in many ways - and one of them is that the landscape can really make you speechless. For as far as you can see, there are endless fields of luscious, green rice fields, dotted with palms, and it's really amazing. Cambodia may not have the mountains, the snow, or the amazing forests, but it's got a beauty of its own. If you just take time to get out of the city, you'll be able to see it.

4. The weather is always warm.

Although I've never actually witnessed snow fall from the sky before, I can only imagine how dreary the winter months must get in those non-tropical countries of the world. Although some of you probably tend to stay away from hot weather as much as you can, it must be a real relief to be able to come to a country to defrost for a while. Enjoy the sunshine. Get a tan. And indeed, Cambodia is the perfect place for that. As long as you don't come in the rainy season, you'll have the guarantee of at least a few days of brilliant sunshine during your stay. Cambodia is hot sometimes, but the results are worth it. Even I can get a tan here! And that's saying a lot.

5. Cambodia is culture-rich.

It's probably the main reason so many tourists come here each year, and honestly, Cambodian culture is definitely not overrated. Asia in general amazes me so much in the way that every single country manages to have it's own unique and beautiful culture. And Cambodia is yet another example of the brilliance of Asia's adversity. In Cambodia, there is art, music, dance, food, but also smiles and little things that will leave those tiny impressions in your memory that will last a lifetime.

There is so much to do, to see and to taste here, but I think one of the main things that makes me so in love with this place is that it's the only thing I've ever known. Cambodia is one of the many places I can call home, but I think that in the end the one thing that I love most is that somehow, there are little bits of heaven everywhere I go.

20 Things You May Not Know About Me

At last! That moment has arrived when you few readers get to know me, as a human being, who can be just like you in so many ways. Maybe you and me have some of these things in common. Or not.

Enjoy!

1. I love classical music. Mostly I just love the more modern classical music that's been around lately. Ever heard of the Piano Guys? Ludovico Einaudi? Mark Mancina? Look them up, they're AMAZING!
2. My favorite book (at the moment) is "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Greene. As far as classics go, my favorite would be "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. No wait, scratch that. It's "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier.
3. My favorite color is purple. Mostly I just like darker shades of purple with some red or pink in them such as mauve and magenta. 
4. I am 5'11 (1.78 m). And, just so you know, that's the same height as Taylor Swift and Blake Lively. Just saying...
5. I love to bake. That's all.
6. I've never worn high heels before. In public, that is.
7. I took voice lessons in middle school.
8. An unknown hobby of mine (that many people don't know about) is that I like art. Drawing, painting, photography...the whole package.
9. When I grow up, I want to become a teacher. My dream is actually to teach TCKs in Asia, at schools just like the one I go to now.
10. One thing I dislike the most about living in Cambodia is that you can't buy decent books here. No good classics, and definitely no decent teen fiction. And it's all overpriced.
11. I'm a neat freak. If my desk isn't tidy, I can't do homework. If my room isn't clean, I can't go to sleep at night. If my word documents don't look professional, they aren't worthy of being looked at by other people. And that's just me.
12. I've been keeping a journal since I was 8. I took a break for a few years because I ran out of things to talk about, but started again when I was 11. I have been writing in my journal ever since.
13. I have never seen snow in my life. Sure, I've been on mountains, but that doesn't really count.
14. I've been playing the piano since I was six. 
15. I'm terrible at soccer. I mean, seriously! That's what, um, HANDS are for...
16. I LOVE coffee. Absolutely LOVE it. My mom and me alike. She always has coffee available for me to drink, and I adore her for it.
17. I've been on the school swim team since I was in third grade.
18. I have a terrible sweet tooth. In other words, give me a plate of cookies and I will eat them all.
19. At the moment, I have three besties, and they're all from different countries. Maggie's from the USA, Jasmine's from Australia and Eden's from the UK.
20. On the school volleyball team, my position is middle blocker. I love to spike, though, so I've played as outside hitter too.

Before the Storm

I love that moment before the storm.

The world is a grey, gloomy mess, the harsh, excited wind stirring up dust and debris everywhere, allowing the curtains of every house to flap around like raging idiots. The trees are alive, swaying around like menacing beasts int he sharp tug of the wind. The grass is a like a crowd on crack doing the Mexican wave.

And then the rain comes.

It slams its loud, demanding presence down onto the earth in torrents, wiping away any last sign of that raging debris in the air, weighing down on the suddenly fragile-seeming trees that buckle under the immense weight of the pouring rain. The world is still gray - only a lighter, hazier hue, like rapidly moving fog in the air.

My world is crisp, clean and comfy, and as the world is seemingly ending out there in the demanding harshness of the rain, I am here in my room, watching its familiar menace like a fascinated stranger.

New Month, New Yays

If I were living in a Western country, I would be running around like an idiot wishing people a happy first of October! Why? Because I would be totally happy that it's autumn, that the leaves are turning yellow and red, that I can wear stockings and boots (finally!) and drink cinnamon spiced tea all day long. Sounds pretty incredible to me.

However, let me just remind you that I live in a third world country, where the coldest temperature I've ever experienced was 22 degrees Celsius (and that was freezing), there's a constant humidity of about 90, and the trees are either green or dead. I only drink tea when I'm sick, and fuzzy boots and leggings are pretty much out of the question.

Ha, so much for autumn. 

So, as a TCK living, well, here, I get to look forward to different things in the month of October.

Cambodians offering food to their ancestors

The first thing would be the "Pchum Ben" (pronounced Pa-choom Ben) holidays that are going on right now. It's basically the holiday when all the Cambodians go to the temple and give offerings to their dead ancestors. We don't have school for an entire week, which is pretty awesome. I get to go on Blogger and Pinterest all day long. ...and maybe do some homework. If I have time.

And, on October 15th, we have another one-day holiday for "King's Commemoration Day" (I think it was the day the king's dad died). And it's my sister's birthday! Yay! Which means that we get to do something super fun while the rest of the city is crying about their king's dead father. Which reminds me, I have to get my sister a present sometime soon...

Also, on October 18th, my whole school get's their mid-term report cards. Woopee. I'm so excited.

On October 29th, there's another one-day holiday for "Coronation Day" (whatever that means), and then on the 2nd of November (which I still consider to be a slight part of October), our school volleyball team has a tournament! Yay! 

Now that I look at it, October is pretty uneventful. There's a lot of lazy-day stuff to look forward to, I guess, but otherwise, ew. October, you're gross.

So, just so you know, all you people out there who live in a country where the word "autumn" can be used and people actually know what it is, consider yourself lucky in this month of October. You guys out there have cinnamon spiced tea, Ugg boots and  pretty leaves. All I get to look forward to here in Cambodia is a dead guy's memorial day, for goodness' sake. You guys are privileged, no matter how sucky or uneventful you think your lives are. I would love to experience autumn sometime in my life, because in all the Octobers and Novembers of my life, I've never once worn Ugg boots. And the truth is, I really, really want to.