Re-entry
Re-entry is a word often banded about among missionaries. And spacemen, I believe. Must be cos I've just google-imaged it and 99% of the pics are of planets and spaceships. And handy adverts for things like this:
So thinking about it, I guess re-entering another country is like re-entering another planet. A place that, in spite of being tried and tested and proved liveable, still has its unique atmosphere and own set of challenges to get used to again and re-embrace. And it often takes longer than you think.
For this, my fourth re-entry into Cambodia, it would seem I'm getting better at it. Coming in via a different route with space to rest has helped a lot. And staying in a slower-paced place like Siem Reap has helped too. It's made me realise how much I like/need/thrive on slowness to start with. And as long as I allow myself to be the proverbial tortoise and not the hare, it's a lot easier to adjust to and re-embrace life here.
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So today. 12 days in...... Well, I'm still in Siem Reap. Decided to stay longer because of the Pchum Ben festival/public holiday (see last year's Pchum Ben post for info) and no meetings/gatherings to get to in Phnom Penh just yet. So just been enjoying an extended time of mooching, sleeping, writing, cycling, chatting with locals and a friend who was up for the weekend and generally just being. So grateful for slowness and space and the chance to re-enter at a measured pace.
So thinking about it, I guess re-entering another country is like re-entering another planet. A place that, in spite of being tried and tested and proved liveable, still has its unique atmosphere and own set of challenges to get used to again and re-embrace. And it often takes longer than you think.
For this, my fourth re-entry into Cambodia, it would seem I'm getting better at it. Coming in via a different route with space to rest has helped a lot. And staying in a slower-paced place like Siem Reap has helped too. It's made me realise how much I like/need/thrive on slowness to start with. And as long as I allow myself to be the proverbial tortoise and not the hare, it's a lot easier to adjust to and re-embrace life here.
.jpg)
So today. 12 days in...... Well, I'm still in Siem Reap. Decided to stay longer because of the Pchum Ben festival/public holiday (see last year's Pchum Ben post for info) and no meetings/gatherings to get to in Phnom Penh just yet. So just been enjoying an extended time of mooching, sleeping, writing, cycling, chatting with locals and a friend who was up for the weekend and generally just being. So grateful for slowness and space and the chance to re-enter at a measured pace.
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