Why do I love Cambodia?

Surprisingly, this is a very hard question to answer. Of course, there are the beautiful beaches and the unparalleled Angkor Wat and surrounding temples to consider, but that's not it.

I even try to grapple with the answer as I walk or moto through Phnom Penh--a bustling city but nothing like New York or Paris or Madrid.

So what is it? Well, I think it's the people. And the smells. And the sunshine. And the warmth--from the sun and from the people. And the breeze. And the ease of getting around. It's all of these things.

First, the people. I am currently assisting with testing new students for CWF's next semester, and there is one question I ask potential level 4 or higher students: "If you had $1000 what would you do with it?" The question, a simple one that gauges a student's ability to speak English with a bit of depth, is my favorite to ask because of all the answers I receive.

But if you're reading this, then you probably have spent a $1000 on useless shit: a TV, a phone (gasp!), or something else of the like. And if you're reading this, then you're probably thinking that $1000 is nothing. I know that I would need a dollar figure much higher to really stop and think about how my life would change with such a gift.

Yes, some students' answers range from a new car to a new laptop, but most respond with a sigh, a glint of hope in their eyes, and talk about how they would give their parents money, or open a business, pay for school, study English more, start a NGO where they would help street kids or the elderly, pay for books. And they're so many more answers where I see their hearts open, their hopes soar, and their voices crackle with the potential to have their lives changed.

This is why I love Cambodia. It's the people and their answers. It's the perspective they give me that encourages me to be a better person and to value what I have. It's the smiles I see on their faces as they look at me. It's the constant love and attention they give to Sila because he is a person they feel as if they can connect with, someone who isn't entirely lost to the Western life and who would probably scoff at such a question if he were 10 years older.

It's also the weather. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love sunshine and warmth and maybe a slight breeze and rain. Thankfully, Cambodia has all of this right now, which reminds me of home but yet makes me feel at home.

So there you go. Cambodia, I love you so.