Home sweet home...almost
So here we are in Cambodia - specifically Phomn Penh.
It started with a very early morning flight - 7 am - which required getting up at 4am, not one of ms. cook's strong points. But after only just a little grumbling and whining about the fact that it was still dark out, we were on our way. We met up briefly with Jed at the airport, although he couldn't be on our plane due to some visa difficulties for Theary. (A quick note for those of you who don't know... Jed is the owner of The Warehouse and Theary is his wife.) But he told us to rest assured, since Theary's mother would be waiting at the arrivals gate with a sign and they would only be an hour behind us. So after a quick flight, we arrived in Phomn Penh. Arrivals is interesting - on the spot visa applications of the quasi official sort. After securing our business visas (a $5 difference from the tourist variety) in a sort of cattle call situation, we collected our luggage and headed out the door. And there indeed was Theary's mother...and her father...and a few siblings...and friends....and grandparents....all in all I would say we were descended upon by about 20 or so thrilled Cambodians. Which is not to say they were all there to see us, although I think many of the Westerners on our flight were a bit confused and maybe even jealous at the welcoming party. Theary has actually been in America with Jed for about 6 months, so with eager anticipation we spent another hour waiting for their plane to arrive, which was followed by many tears and hugs...
We were all quickly whisked off in a caravan of cars to the city and spent the next few hours exploring this new country we'll be calling home. Dinner was a magnificent adventure in which we were joined by the airport welcoming committee as well as another 20 or so neighbors for dinner at Theary's parent's house. A lovely treat to get a taste of the local food and life.
This morning we spent some time following Jed, Theary, her mother, her sister, and her father to the local market to begin outfitting Jed for the upcoming wedding. (Jed and Theary were married this summer in Vermont and our now repeating the ceremony here in Cambodia.) But even as I write this, repeating seems like a poor choice of words. Cambodian weddings are a different story all together from their American counterparts. Theary will wear up to 15 dresses, Jed will wear around 7 suits, and the whole event will be over the course of several days. Puts some of the extravagant events I've seen in the states to shame. However, I am happy to report that I witnessed some universal truths surrounding wedding planning. 1 - The bride and her mother will disagree and bicker at some point. 2 - Even though the groom is told he has some choice and can voice opinion, he can and will be overruled if its not what the bride wants. This second truth is the reason it looks like one of Jed's suits will be a fabulous sherbet orange...
Tomorrow we leave for Siem Reap, so our next posts really will be from home sweet home. And I promise the pictures will appear in the next few days!
It started with a very early morning flight - 7 am - which required getting up at 4am, not one of ms. cook's strong points. But after only just a little grumbling and whining about the fact that it was still dark out, we were on our way. We met up briefly with Jed at the airport, although he couldn't be on our plane due to some visa difficulties for Theary. (A quick note for those of you who don't know... Jed is the owner of The Warehouse and Theary is his wife.) But he told us to rest assured, since Theary's mother would be waiting at the arrivals gate with a sign and they would only be an hour behind us. So after a quick flight, we arrived in Phomn Penh. Arrivals is interesting - on the spot visa applications of the quasi official sort. After securing our business visas (a $5 difference from the tourist variety) in a sort of cattle call situation, we collected our luggage and headed out the door. And there indeed was Theary's mother...and her father...and a few siblings...and friends....and grandparents....all in all I would say we were descended upon by about 20 or so thrilled Cambodians. Which is not to say they were all there to see us, although I think many of the Westerners on our flight were a bit confused and maybe even jealous at the welcoming party. Theary has actually been in America with Jed for about 6 months, so with eager anticipation we spent another hour waiting for their plane to arrive, which was followed by many tears and hugs...
We were all quickly whisked off in a caravan of cars to the city and spent the next few hours exploring this new country we'll be calling home. Dinner was a magnificent adventure in which we were joined by the airport welcoming committee as well as another 20 or so neighbors for dinner at Theary's parent's house. A lovely treat to get a taste of the local food and life.
This morning we spent some time following Jed, Theary, her mother, her sister, and her father to the local market to begin outfitting Jed for the upcoming wedding. (Jed and Theary were married this summer in Vermont and our now repeating the ceremony here in Cambodia.) But even as I write this, repeating seems like a poor choice of words. Cambodian weddings are a different story all together from their American counterparts. Theary will wear up to 15 dresses, Jed will wear around 7 suits, and the whole event will be over the course of several days. Puts some of the extravagant events I've seen in the states to shame. However, I am happy to report that I witnessed some universal truths surrounding wedding planning. 1 - The bride and her mother will disagree and bicker at some point. 2 - Even though the groom is told he has some choice and can voice opinion, he can and will be overruled if its not what the bride wants. This second truth is the reason it looks like one of Jed's suits will be a fabulous sherbet orange...
Tomorrow we leave for Siem Reap, so our next posts really will be from home sweet home. And I promise the pictures will appear in the next few days!
posted by Darcey at 5:23 PM
2 Comments:
hi there
good to hear having fun in phon p
we are doing same in paris
luv u
thepapa
Yeay for almost being home! D - glad to hear that things are going well. Can't wait to see pictures!
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