Regrets The Decision To Move To CAMBODIA?

The speaker, Sarah, from England, has been living in Cambodia for six years and expresses a strong preference for her life there over her life in the UK. She highlights that Cambodia offers a better quality of life due to better weather, nicer food, friendly people, and more convenient systems for banking and delivery. She also appreciates the outdoor community life in Cambodia, contrasting it with the indoor, TV-watching culture she experienced in England. Sarah first visited Cambodia in 2012 as an 18-year-old and found it to be her favorite country among those she traveled to in Southeast Asia. This positive experience led her to recommend Cambodia to a friend, and after visiting her friend there in 2018, Sarah realized Cambodia offered the lifestyle she desired. She decided to move there in January 2020 with plans to stay for six months, but the onset of COVID-19 led her to secure a job as an English teacher and settle down. During her time teaching, Sarah discovered that none of her female colleagues were aware of period underwear. This observation inspired her to start a side business importing period underwear and educating local women about its benefits, such as reducing waste, saving money, and increased comfort. She also began conducting period workshops with local women and younger girls, teaching them about menstrual health, managing periods, and reducing the shame often associated with the topic in Cambodian culture. This initiative involves working with Khmer colleagues to deliver bilingual workshops in Khmer and English. In addition to her period underwear venture, Sarah co-founded a dance school where she teaches gymnastics, a sport she has been involved with since age 13. Both the period underwear business and the gymnastics program have seen significant growth, allowing her to support young girls and boys in developing strength and flexibility. She notes the limited access to gymnastics facilities in Phnom Penh, with only two full bars in the entire city, and expresses her excitement about contributing to the sport's growth and accessibility. Sarah attributes her love for Cambodia to its welcoming atmosphere, the ability to be herself, and the opportunity to learn about Cambodian culture. She highlights the linguistic diversity, the variety of delicious food options (both local and international), and the natural beauty of its beaches, forests, rivers, and lakes. Phnom Penh, in particular, offers numerous opportunities for growth and development. She finds Cambodians to be very friendly and feels safe there, recounting how people are supportive and helpful in everyday situations. Her landlord, for example, has become like family, fostering a strong sense of home. Despite her positive experience, Sarah's biggest struggle in Cambodia is managing her allergies to bell peppers and chili peppers, which are common ingredients in local cuisine. She has learned to communicate her allergies in Khmer to ensure her food is safe. She emphasizes her gratitude for being able to live in Cambodia, a country she prefers over England, and tries to maintain a positive outlook, viewing minor inconveniences as part of the experience. She has learned to adapt to "Cambodia time," where punctuality is less strict, and believes the positives of living there far outweigh any negatives, citing convenience, opportunity, and community support. Cambodia also offers a supportive environment for entrepreneurs, allowing people to start small businesses and experiment without severe penalties for failure, which she contrasts with the more restrictive environment in England. This freedom to try new things and make mistakes is something she values greatly. Her current monthly expenses are around $1000, which includes rent, food, social activities, and pet care, allowing her to live a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle. Sarah shares her intention to apply for Cambodian citizenship, driven by her desire to register her gymnastics gym with the National Cambodian Gymnastics Federation, which requires her to be a citizen. She is prepared to meet the requirements, including living in the country for seven years, passing reading, writing, and speaking tests in Khmer, and demonstrating her commitment to the community. She hopes to obtain dual citizenship and continue building her life in Cambodia for many years to come. She also describes the unique cultural experiences, such as Cambodian weddings, which she finds fascinating due to their elaborate traditions and long celebrations. She appreciates how Cambodian culture explains the world in a beautiful and different way compared to her upbringing. When asked for advice for those considering moving to Cambodia, Sarah recommends doing thorough research but ultimately encourages people to "book your ticket and come." She emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset, finding one's passion, and being willing to try new things. While acknowledging the need for a plan, she reassures potential expats that moving abroad is less daunting than it seems, and the worst outcome is simply deciding to leave if it doesn't work out. She credits her own success to a combination of luck and hard work, having been financially independent since age 13 and actively pursuing her dream of living abroad. Her message to Cambodians is one of gratitude for their welcoming nature and for allowing her to build her life there.