Category: Daily Life in Cambodia

Where are we?!

You could be forgiven for thinking that these sale items on display might be in a grocery store in the US but the photo is from a “supermarket” for foreigners here in Phnom Penh today. Kraft macaroni and cheese, Skippy peanut butter (both creamy and super chunk you’ll note), and Hormel Spam. That’s rather American! (The ketchup bottles at back left are from France.)

What is going on?

One of the conundrums of life in Cambodia is interpreting what is seen on the street. Is the woman above living on the street? Is that where she is sleeping and eating? Or is she cooking on the street? Is she there every day? Why ten different plates and bowls and pots? What is going on? A local might be able to evaluate the situation immediately. For us foreigners, it is usually a lot of questions and very few answers.

Bank Hours

Today I had to meet a St. Vincent de Paul Society client to talk about his needs and I suggested an easy-to-find site in a Phnom Penh mall. While waiting, I noticed that the bank hours for this branch extended to 8:00 PM in the evening! Is that something common in the US? It certainly didn’t happen when I was spending my time there!