Since we left Cambodia several years ago, Sokion and I always expected that someday God would call our family back. When we decided to return last November, I knew that traveling back as a family of four would be a lot different and that it wouldn’t be an easy journey. 24 hours on planes with a preschooler and a toddler . . . I don’t need to explain! 

However, I never could have imagined the unique travel challenges that 2020 has presented for us due to the fact that we moved overseas during a global pandemic! Thankfully, we have now made it safely to Cambodia and are doing well. Here’s a little recap of our family’s travel adventures. 

May 2020

• Cambodia dropped their travel ban on the U.S. and a handful of other countries. Only a few flights per week began operating. 
• After a week of not issuing any new visas, the embassy opened up applications again and we were able to secure visas to enter Cambodia. 

June 2020

• Cambodia announced a requirement that all passengers entering the country must have proof of medical coverage and a medical “certificate” issued by a doctor stating that they have tested negative for COVID no more than 72 hours before departure. 
• Reports abounded that they were applying the 72 hour deadline for arrival. Many people were deported upon landing due to issues with the timing, the formatting, and the wording of health certificates. 
• Another new requirement was instituted that all foreigners entering the country pay a deposit of $3,000 to pay for any medical and quarantine expenses. 
• None of the above rules applied to Sokion because he is a Cambodian passport holder. Thankfully, our kids also were exempt from the deposit requirement. We got almost all of this money back after we were released from quarantine, minus hotel, food and testing expenses.
• We sold our home in Illinois, said goodbye to friends, and drove to Georgia to stay with my family.

July 2020

• We had a lot of challenges finding a place to get a COVID medical certificate that met all of the requirements. Also, cases were skyrocketing in Georgia at the time and testing centers were overwhelmed. 
• After multiple attempts, we finally succeeded in getting our paperwork and were able to board a flight from Atlanta to Seoul to Phnom Penh near the end of July.
• Flights were only about half full, and everyone wore masks the whole time. The kids did really great on the planes, and they even slept!
• We landed in Phnom Penh and had COVID tests administered in the airport by people in HAZMAT suits before being bused off to the government’s designated hotel for quarantine. 
• Somehow, we managed to get all sixteen of our bags and two children through the airport to the hotel. 
• Two days later, we received a call that everyone on our plane tested negative for COVID (truly a miracle!), so we were allowed to leave and self-quarantine at home! We stayed at a the house of a friend that is currently out of the country.

August 2020

• School started online August 3rd, and I began teaching first graders from quarantine.
• We went to the hospital on the 13th day of our quarantine to be tested again. After two days, we received the all clear to move freely around the city.
• We found a house to rent! 
• I went to school for one day and then found out I needed another COVID test (part of the government’s requirement for reopening schools in-person was to test all foreigners who had been out of Cambodia this summer). I got the test again and went back home to teach from quarantine while I wait for those results.

And that’s where I am at the moment. Phew! It’s been a long summer.

Next week is a replacement holiday for Khmer New Year, which is normally celebrated in April. Because they “cancelled” the holiday then due to COVID concerns, they are recognizing it now instead. I am glad because I could use a week off right about now!

Even though the journey back wasn’t quite what I envisioned it to look like, we are so glad to be here! I’m incredibly thankful to God for his abundant grace and protection over us every step of the way. 

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