WHERE'S THE NOVOCAINE?

One of the side effects of my trip to America has been a refreshed eye for the strange. Strange (by American standards) things happen all the time in Cambodia but you forget that they are strange, and forget to see the humor, after a while. For example: last weekend I went to buy a bus ticket to Siem Reap and instead ended up on a motor oil selling expedition. Before I went to visit America I would have thought nothing of it. Now I recognize that that is in fact strange.

Other things to appreciate include violent food poisoning on my birthday. Thanks Cambodia. Now in America this would be oh so depressing. In Cambodia it means an extra night in an air conditioned hotel room with wifi guilt free. Score!

On another note; this week I was in Phnom Penh for mid service medical exams. I got a clean bill of health except that the dentist told me I had SIX, cavities. I didn't believe him so I went back the next day with our Peace Corps Medical Officer and they did x-rays. I only had two cavities (much better than six) which I had to have filled. So, yesterday morning I got two fillings from a khmer dentist, without novocaine. Ouch.