A Skip, a Hop, and a Tuk-Tuk Ride in Phnom Penh
I embarked on my journey to Cambodia a few days after exams wrapped up. After twenty-two hours in the air and two airport transfers, I finally arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport. Luckily, the customs process was relatively quick. I was a little surprised by the lack of direct flights to Cambodia from the United States when I was booking everything a few months back. This might be the last year that international flights arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport since the first phase of the new Techo International Airport is scheduled to be completed this year. 
Cambodian Convenience Store
After getting settled in, I wanted to grab a bite to eat so I made a quick stop to a nearby convenience store. Every country seems to have a slight variation on the commoditized convenience store experience. From onigiri at a Japanese konbini to fried chicken in South Korea, each country has its own convenience store quirks. The first convenience store that I wandered into here in Phnom Penh was a 7-11. 
The first thing that I noticed was the security guard sitting outside in the parking lot. He was directing traffic, organizing the moped parking, picking up litter, and serving as a valet to cars that pulled up. Many businesses here have a security guard that sits outside the entrance for similar purposes. Most have been very friendly when I am walking around town.
The 7-11 also had a shrine next to the parking lot. This is another common feature in this majority Buddhist country.
When I went to pay for my food, I was a bit surprised to see multiple currencies on the check-out screen. As I would come to find out, both the United States Dollar and Cambodian Riel are in wide circulation here. The exchange rate is unofficially pegged at 4,100: 1, but it usually gets rounded down to 4,000:1 to make the math easier when purchasing from a street vendor. There is also a heavy preference for US currency in pristine condition. No crumpled one-dollar bills allowed.
Phnom Penh’s Central Market
One of the city's most iconic landmarks is the Central Market. The Art Deco architecture and distinctive yellow dome certainly stand out in Phnom Penh. The market was bustling when I visited a few days ago. As I wandered through the market's tight corridors, I encountered a dizzying array of goods and food. It was sensory overload at times.
As Anthony Bourdain once said, “good food and good eating are about risk." That quote has run through my head a few times since landing in Phnom Penh. More on that in future posts. Back at the market, each food stall was serving up slight variations on local dishes. Eventually I plopped myself down on a plastic stool, said hello to the owner, and pointed at one of the photos on the placard. The owner gave me a nod of the head and then resumed frying behind the stovetop. A few minutes later, the owner handed me a delicious plate of bean sprouts covered with beef strips and a few other vegetables. After scarfing down the meal, I continued my walk through the market.
Open Development Cambodia (ODC)
On my first day at ODC, the team invited me to a local restaurant for lunch. The restaurant staff brought a wide variety of communal dishes. It was a great way to meet the team and try a few new foods. It was fantastic to learn about the various ongoing projects at ODC while trying, and mostly failing, to correctly pronounce the names of the various dishes. Over the next ten weeks, I will be researching data governance and privacy policies in Cambodia. I will explore the relation between those policies and future stages of Cambodia’s economic growth. I am extremely excited to conduct research and assist ODC with its mission this summer.