of lately, timely items.

yesterday, i rode the bus (for the first time by myself!) to phnom penh.  approximately 77 minutes in, i had rediscovered the joy that is nsync's "it's gonna me be" and also was assaulted with a terrible, sickly sweet smell.

the child in the seat directly in front of me had thrown up.

we still had a good forty minutes to go, so as the stomach-convulsion-invoking scent drifted back toward me, i grabbed my cardigan to cover my face.  as i glanced around i noticed that my fellow khmer bus riders had all reached for their handy face masks they carry with them at all times and were pleasantly enjoying the ride as if nothing had happened.

have i mentioned that face masks- like the surgical ones doctors wear- are all the common rage here? for when you're sick, or afraid of getting sick, or avoiding dust, or, as it turns out, for the random horrible smell you attempt to avoid onboard a bus going to phnom penh.

in other news, the other weekend, i decided it would be easier to climb under a table instead of asking three people to stand up so i could use the restroom?

in the same vein, i am now seventeen again instead of twenty six?

and finally, you should know two incredibly important things came of the last 36 hours in phnom penh (outside of the work completed for a committee i am on, which was the purpose of the visit anyway):

one.  i ate a delicious cheesesteak. except it was on a hamburger roll? but the roll was toasted and squishy and perfect so it was ok.  and i drank a delicious free coca cola with it. yes, yes i did.

two.  i get to bake amazing things on sunday? like in a real kitchen, that is already pre-stocked with "all the necessary items to bake chocolate chip cookies" i am told.  friends, this is hands down amazing!  i have not seen butter in nearly seven months!  the heavens are opening and archangles are descending, singing their glorious heavenly strains! in the name of butter and baking!

results will be shared forthwith, as will the amazing photo i captured of my khmer friends wearing their masks, and me trying to make it work with a cardigan from old navy.

in the mean time, i am off to find macaroni and cheese with bacon. because i can when i'm in the capitol.

cheers to your weekend!