7 Things I love/hate about my house

I was feeling a bit wistful about my last weekend in my house...

I am moving tomorrow to my 'penthouse suite'. It is going to be a big change living in a third floor, brand spanking new cement style house with a wrap around balcony. There will be some modern conveniences there, as well as excesses (two bathrooms! big overhead fans! Nine huge windows!). I am sure that it won't be complete paradise in Kratie, but I am still very excited to move.

I am a sentimental person, so I am definitely going to miss some things in my old Khmer wooden house. So here's a little list of the things I'll miss...and those that propelled me to move in the first place.

Things I will miss about my wooden Khmer house:

Banana and boiled peanuts to accompany my electricity bill

1. My lovely, generous and open landlady, her English-speaking daughters and her extended family. They all speak to me, even if I don't understand. They're just a lovely family that has made me feel at home - and they feed me, too!

Sixteen years old and going strong

 2. The dogs, little Cloe is cute with her trick of standing on her hind legs, but it's the 16 year old semi-toothless wonder who really loves me. I'll even miss the relatives' 2 year old dog next door - a big puppy who loves to play, but will take your shoes from right off your feet if you aren't careful!

The two year old pup next door

3. The call to prayer: I've gotten quite used to it and enjoy how it marks the passing of time. It is also nice to see the Cham men walking to the mosque to pray with their caps on.

4. The heavy, wooden furniture. I know other expats complain about this, but I love that it's so heavy you have to bring friends over if you dare want to rearrange the furniture!

The stairs to my house

5. Being surrounded by green. The fruit trees and flowers are one of the main reasons I wanted to live in the suburbs. We definitely have more space to roam here, and it's much easier on the eyes.

My 'living room'

6. The little things: shell decorations; my hammock; my mattress (it's a thick foam mattress with extra ridged foam on top - very comfortable!)

7. The geckos - who will I talk to now?

The view out my bedroom window, midday

8.  Opening my shutters in the morning to see the sun rise. My room is (usually) quiet and the cross breeze is unmatched.

Don't ask me what I did with them

Things I won't miss about my wooden Khmer house:
1. The rats
2. The dirt road blowing red sand into the house; the muddy road when it rains that is slippery when driving my moto (I've come away with a pant leg, foot, and sandal covered in mud more than once. It's not very convenient on the way to work); and I can't even entertain the thought of taking my bicycle out after it rains heavily
3. The dogs barking, howling and yelping so loudly that I can't hear anything else....T.V., music, my thoughts...
4. How hard it is to clean this place. To be honest, I've pretty much given up
5. The gecko poop on my moto. It's really hard to get clean. Not to mention that gecko droppings in the house.
6. How dark it is at all times (but I think I'm getting used to that because I hardly notice any more...and maybe that's why I don't clean. What you don't see can't hurt you?)
7. The high school kids that rent rooms at the house next door. They are directly out my kitchen window. They play horrible music - loudly - and are always looking to see what the barang is up to...

Can you find the cat?

Once the move is final, I hope that I will visit my landlady and keep up my Khmer with her. I also want to chat with the daughter to help her out with her English. There's nothing like talking to a 17 year-old to find out what life is really like in Kratie.