Downshifting to a programmer? Cambodia, the survival experience and life experience

Hello, dear readers. I must say that I am a bit strange man and my experience is not acceptable to all and often face misunderstanding, both by relatives and by the absolute strangers. It's about how I dropped everything and left with $ 300 in his pocket in a new country, seemed to me something wild and unknown. In the discussion of one of the posts I casually mentioned my experience and I was asked to write more.

The source data ​​h4> I'm 21 and I'm quite a secondary professions. Russia has been working on the position of Senior PHP-developer had experience as a system architect and lead programmer. Had 3 working simultaneously, allowing self-learned and gained much needed me software development experience in different areas. Worked literally 20 hours a day for nearly four months. Higher education I have, because the road to many foreign offices with interesting from my point of view I closed.

Ordinary spring day in the weekend, I was sitting at home and thinking about how it was time to leave, because I was not a holiday for over a year. Frankly, until I did not even know where to Cambodia. And now, my eye catches some small note of Russian tourists visiting Angkor. Types of Angkor I certainly hit, but even more fascinated me the article link that was in the discussion of the notes. The article was about the time of Pol Pot. From that moment I was consumed entirely by Cambodia, I read books, watched editions of the program "World inside out", studied forums expats in Cambodia. It's only been a week, but I was determined that I would go to Cambodia is not just a vacation, I go there for a long time. It is worth noting that the experience of an extended stay in another country I already had. He lived for a year in the Czech Republic and in that time has seen quite a lot. Even try on the skin of the homeless, needy, hungry emigrant.

Hello Cambodia! H4>

Slightly more than a month to read the notes that I was at the airport. With him was a one way ticket and about 400 - 450 dollars for the first time. This may seem very desperate things, but my thoughts were about the "I have arms, legs, head and even a laptop, with famine shall not be gone" - and after all is not lost.

Fly to Cambodia on a direct flight is not a very smart move, this is best done through the popular tourist destinations, from where it is easy to get to Cambodia by land. At that time, the cheapest tickets were to Bangkok - 11 000 rubles to one side, quite democratic price. Arriving at the airport in Bangkok and after passing through passport control and decided to take the time to assess the situation slowly. Walked around the building, went out and spoke to the taxi drivers and found out that the airport has a train \ railway station, from where easy and cheap, you can get to the city. Where to go in the city had absolutely no idea, because I bought a badge to geographically central stop and went there.
The first night was the hardest. I purposely did not buy anything but simple and cheap food, walked on foot in search of cheap housing, but such a walk with a backpack is very tiring. The first day ended almost overnight on the catwalk some statues, but just took the remnants of energy into his own hands and went to the driver of the motorcycle, said that I have no money, I'm hungry and I need the cheapest accommodation. The driver took me to a hostel, for which he received his deserved dollar. Spent a few days in Bangkok studying it, walking on foot.

Train ticket from Bangkok to Aranyapraheta (border town with Cambodia Thai side) costs 50 baht ($ 1.3 approximately). By the time I bought the ticket, as a result of an unfortunate incident and reckless spending in airports I have left 300 $.

difference h4>

The first thing you see arriving in Cambodia - devastation. If Aranyaprahet still Bole-less manicured city with adequate roads, the Poi Pet (border town with the Cambodian side) just knocked me out. Poverty, trash, smells, heat, broken road - all this gives the first impression of Cambodia those who travel there from Thailand and then said that Cambodia - uninhabitable country.

In fact, most people who come here have never seen, and probably will not see the real Cambodia. The laws of the market economy and the development of tourist business in Cambodia puts an indelible imprint on popular tourist town. Rouge has not yet learned to keep track of where they live and create attractive conditions for tourists. They usually do not think about the long-term development, and want to fill their pockets here and now. This travel realities of this country. With some training with it can be very easy to handle, in the end, we are all humans.

The real Cambodia is far from the popular tourist destinations and resorts. Cambodia makes real people first. Unselfish, sympathetic, cheerful, all this despite the suffering that this nation endured and the fact that many of them are below the poverty line, earning over $ 60 per family (!) Per month. They do not look in your pocket, they are watching with interest to you, waiting for your stories and ready to help you in almost any subject. That's why I came here.

Get to the point h4> Lyrics lyrics, but it's time to write about why I believe this country attractive for living \ visit \ telework.

The economic situation h5> Kampuchea is now at the stage of formation of the economy, is trying to attract foreign capital, just learn to conduct business. Legislation and its enforcement in Cambodia worth a separate post, but briefly: You will not interfere as long as you do not move the boundaries of reason, you will not force anyone to do unnecessary things. What they say, wanted to sell food - Exit and you trade, everything. This may seem strange, but here it somehow works well. I often ate in outdoor places, which, of course, no one inspects, but the quality has always been very good and some even poisoning speech could not be. And in Russia, like SES and there, and people are poisoned ... A case in point of how the law works, "If you cross the double solid and no one is hurt, do it safely, you will not be fined».

People h5> This is what I have already written, this is a major plus in this country.

Education h5> In Cambodia, a huge number of foreign universities, schools, colleges, such as the US, Canada, Australia, France. For prices, align I can not, I only know that it is not very cheap. Local people grabs knowledge with special force. In times of Pol Pot, as you know all the educated population to be destroyed, because now the country is experiencing a real shortage of specialists. To get an education for the local population - a good chance for a better life. Habré was a wonderful series of posts ( tyts , tyts ) about building a mobile network in Cambodia, which was uncovered and many characteristics of the population and the country, including education.

Prices h5> For me, a very important point. Living in Russia, I just do not see how to buy an apartment, or a good car without going to the bank for a mortgage \ loan. Not's boasts sake - I had a very good salary, but you know how much I have accumulated? Not much ... Here I can defer 3 \ 4 earned money.

Eat in the cafe on the average costs $ 3, go to the movies - $ 3 rental bike - $ 40 a liter of gasoline - $ 1. The only thing - utilities and medicine here are quite expensive.

Sea h5>

Cambodia has access to the Gulf of Thailand. From the capital on a bus to go somewhere for 4 hours. At sea, there are a few towns, one of which is popular with tourists, and the other, which I chose for himself - a small, quiet, provincial town, where it seems everyone knows each other. I love him and are called «Mister Russia», all asking how I was doing, sometimes invited to visit and tasty food. In response, I show beautiful pictures of Russia, talks about her and just exchanged stories of life. It's very nice.

Job h5> Find a job to a foreigner in Cambodia easier than local. Local business requires a "white", this is the reality, not only in Cambodia but also Southeast Asia as a whole, as far as I know. Nevertheless, much still preferable to have remote work as a local work = local salary, yes, higher than that of the indigenous population, but the foreign company will pay you more.

Language h5> Khmer. In tourist cities, almost all of the population speaks English, away from the centers to find English-speaking population is more difficult. The older generation in schools taught Russian, some speak French.

Lodging h5> Living there for every taste and color. For $ 100 \ month can shoot decent odnushku or studio in the center of Kep. For $ 400 a villa with a pool and a mango grove in the yard. Problem finding housing usually does not occur too, I have always acted according to this scheme:

• come to town
• stay in cheap guest-house (no more than $ 5 \ day)
• I asked the local, watch ads, go around the city in search of shelter. Usually takes no more than 3 days
  

  Crime h5> This section could be large, but fortunately I have the phenomenon, at least dangerous to the health or welfare of the material is not encountered. My personal opinion - it's hard to find a country more dangerous than Russian. Generally, in the tourist areas are quite developed. In towns such as Kepa not, here everyone knows each other, everyone is always in sight. On the other hand, I walked on foot at night in all major cities of Cambodia and any problems I have not encountered, but they say that it is better not to do the same.
  
  

  Internet h5> 12 $ \ month for 3Mb NL \ sec, have 3G, master 4G. The coverage area - the whole country.
  
  

  About $ 300 and as I did it h4> It's very simple. Coming to a new place it is necessary to give yourself a clear statement: "not to buy anything." At the new place you are not familiar with the reality in which you have to live, will want to buy everything, try everything. No need to hurry with this, all have gone.
  
  Yes, the first time had to hard. Lived in a dorm-room for $ 2 a day, while looking for suitable housing options. Eventually found a wonderful one-bedroom apartment with a large balcony for $ 100 \ month. Month was enough for me to pick up at least some money. But of flats I have not slid quite a long time, very pleased.
  
  Of the fun: once had to literally step over themselves. Ran out of money sooner than I expected and had to quickly figure out how to make them, then eat like. Fortunately, I have already appeared, local friends, one of the friends sang in the hotel, I asked her to do something to help, and then for the first time in my life playing music, and even on the stage. Of course, my help was questionable. Played the tambourine, the first time in his life, a very shy inside, but tried not to show the mind. Earned $ 5, which was enough to provide themselves with food for a week.
  
  I could write another whole bunch of stories, but unfortunately always put into question the stated benefits and interesting information I, with great joy will continue my scribbling in the next post, if you specify a vector descriptions. What would you like to know you personally? You can ask the most stupid questions.
  
  Source: habrahabr.ru/post/227583/