Following your life partner in Cambodia

I am retired but the SS it hard to live on even in Cambodia. I have lived here for 8 years with some bouts with health issues that I had to return to the States for. I have had an off and on relationship with 1 women. Are differences have intailed her family. She has the laziest brothers in the world and they are Kings. This nase caused a lot of greaf on my end. I do love her  and for the most part she takes care of me.
I can't get away from heryur family
Some way they wiggle their way back in. So my advice from one with a small family never let them know you have extta anything they will bleed you dry.

You are right.  Sugar daddy springs to mind.

All Cambodian boys are lazy and spoilt.

The only way to survive without losing all your money is to make clear you are not supporting the extended family.

Your girl,  her kids,  her mom,  that's enough.

But your girl will be under pressure fr9m her lazy brothers that's for sure.  She has to grow into this.

Cheers   

Joe

If I had it to do over again, I would not have come to Cambodia, but since we are here now we are making the best of it.  Some of you might be thinking if you do not like it here get up and move. We want to but there are extenuating circumstances that keep us here. 
1. What preparation do you have, or do you advise, to do before your departure in order to make the best of this experience?  Do not come to this country. It is filthy and dangerous. 
2. What challenges have you faced? In what areas (finding a job, socialization, well-being)? How did you overcome them? I have a Masters of TESOL and schools wanted to pay me the same as someone who does not have a degree.
To overcome the language barrier and buying things, I found a Khmer who can translate for me. Do not come to this county. Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia are so much better,
3. What is the outcome of this experience for you? Would you do it again if the opportunity arose? I would not come to this country.
3.

Hi, I thought I knew my partner well. We were from different countries and fell in love meeting in my home country in Africa. He is European. We both worked in the same industry before we met, this was not the reason we were drawn in to each other. We had an amazing relationship before Cambodia. He was offered a job in Cambodia, amazing enough, some months later I was also offered placement for work in Cambodia.

I thought it would be marvelous to be with him, it felt like spring season in my heart when I landed in Cambodia, the wafting fragrance of welcoming incense on arrival, the familiar almost Indian looking customs staff and the freshness of new life! In my heart I was so happy as if my life was an amazing dream suddenly after a really difficult life path. I love him much, still... but I learned something valuable.

Within a month I learned that he had already slept with a financially secure Cambodian woman, and there was the possibility of others too...hmmm. We did date each other, when he was with me he was not with somebody else and he treated me very well, like one would treat a girlfriend. But I had to face that pain of heartbreak alone. It is the most difficult thing to go through alone, in a foreign country within 1 month of arrival. The thought of returning to my home country fed my mind continuously, but my heart wanted to be sure and needed clarity. During this time, I observe and learned alot. What Cambodia taught me, could not be learned elsewhere.

What made me attached to Cambodia, is the love for its people, the culture, the religion, the understanding of the history, the feeling and warmth, a sense of comfort in identification with Hindu culture and belief. I fell in love with Cambodia, and still am. Its morning fresh noodle soup, rice with meat and veg, prayer at the temples, lovely simple earthed lifestyle, humble yet vast. What knowledge lies hidden deep in the ground, I have still much to learn. I find it sad that Cambodia is tainted by foreigners who expect to change that beautiful ancient society. It is a gift to us to experience such a society in this lifetime, the parts that are untainted, still very much rural. Its like living in a previous lifetime.

I  can walk if I wanted, or eat fresh cut fruit with chilli for a dollar, or do some charity work in a village without being pushed aside. In my home country, you need to pay a price for everything - even walking (for this the price is danger). I have much to say about my cambodia experience. I dont think this would be enough for me

During my heartbreak time, I turned within, and learned more about true love. I learned to love the most important person in my life - me. I opened up much spiritually, so much so that I have discovered my gifts or latent talent. I learned that many women in Cambodia needed support, but not the type that foreign men were offering, I learned that Hinduism is more vast than the small version of what I had seen before, I learned the value of pure natural food, self protection, and much more.

Cambodia is a country one needs to go for themselves! I noticed many couples who arrive in Cambodia split, I understood the reason for this too. Many friends amongst foreign community did this, married couples as well. It has to do with the energy aspect  in Cambodia I think, its quite deep.

I had lost my job, and then found another temporarily. I also went to hospital twice and had many bad experiences, but somehow the good ones make the bad ones fade Then eventually, I had to return to my nightmare.........home country. It has never felt like home to me  like Cambodia has, I hope to return one day to continue my work in Cambodia.

As for love relationship, will see, but for now I FOUND THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL!

Katyk
       Very interesting read, I have been in south Asia for many years and I just can't explain it, but Cambodia has some sort of hold on my spirt. I have had a lot of bad  experiences  In Cambodia my own fault with women. But I have always felt a inner peace in Cambodia not so, any were else. Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam.
Gary

I met my girlfriend within a couple of hours of landing in Phnom Penh, just over 2 years ago. She was the first woman I'd spoken to since arriving. She hated her job and I was off to Siem Reap to find work. I had only a few hundred dollars and she knew this.

She helped me live cheaply and didn't ask for a thing, only that I fed us both and kept us sheltered. Once I found a job, I got her in as well. I also gave her money each month, on the condition that she saved some. Still, she'd do my washing, make sure I never got cheated in the markets, taught me to speak Khmer and so on.

I had plenty of experience in Asia and knew already that if you take on the woman, you take on the family; but again, they were no drain upon me at any time. Still, I wanted to get a little involved, so gave her youngest daughter just $20 every month towards her upcoming wedding.

We've been apart a while as I work in Myanmar, but she lives in her stilted house, surrounded by family in her village in Kandal. I don't send her money and whether we'll continue as partners when I return, I don't know. However, we are still friends and talk on the phone. She's sweet and down to earth (although with a volcanic temper when she's riled).

We both have a past and neither of us are perfect or too demanding. I think many expats expect too much from their Cambodian women. For most, including me, it's a deal; she'll be your woman and do what women do best, and you have to be the man and do what men are supposed to do, provide and sometimes be a whipping post.

Maybe I was just very lucky.