Things I must know before moving to Cambodia?

I'm currently married and living in Japan, but in the near future I will get divorced and move to Cambodia to teach English there.

I'm aware that it is possible and cheap to apply for and buy a work visa when you arrive at the airport, but is immigration in Cambodia really strict? Will they be suspicious of me if I'm a US citizen that was married in Japan when they see things like my Japanese spouse visa in my wallet, etc.? It seems ridiculous, but I always want to know about a country's customs/immigration before I fly there.

I talked with a friend of a friend on a Skype call and he mentioned that it isn't easy to find English teaching jobs and that there is a lot of competition due to a flooding of foreigners...is this really the case?

Are there places where I would be able to use cheap/free wifi using my own laptop?

I'm have been to dangerous countries as a tourist before, but I have never lived in a dangerous country before (violent crime). I lived in China and only had one violent experience while living there almost 4 years. Would it be safe living in either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?

Another big concern is the water/food/people. People living there have told me that I shouldn't worry about getting dengue fever or malaria from the mosquitoes in the big cities, but what about the bottled drinks? Is it easy to get Hepatitis A or B? Are there any other serious illnesses there I should worry about with regard to moving there?

I would appreciate any advice or help from anyone who is familiar with the country and its environment.

Immigration is not strict at all. You do not even need proof of onward transportation. Just buy your "ordinary" visa as opposed to a tourist visa. DO NOT purchase an online e-visa. Only the ordinary is extendable. In PP or wherever you go you can obtain your 6 or 12 month visa. WP depends on your employer.
Dont worry about suspicions. Walk down the riverside in PP or the beach in SHV and you will realize that there are characters that will make you shine like a star in the night.
Most guesthouses, including the cheap ones, have reasonable wifi as do many restaurants etc.
JOB: check K440 (google is your friend) for better input as this is a genuine expat question. They have a dedicated sub-section.
Security: Nothing too bad, stay away from drugs which are cheap and regularly (as in at least weekly if not daily) cause the demise of foreigners in Cambodia.
You certainly need/should have anyhow Hep-B shots when traveling in SEA. It is a very bad and straightforward stupid move to do without. Be nice to yourself and that will help you in the long run. Hep-A is a consideration but food is pretty safe in the places I go to.
Dengue is a developing threat and you need to keep yourself informed.
Other diseases are STD, skin diseases. The moderator of the Cambo section on Thaivisa is a health-professional and up-to-date. Ask her as she knows what she is saying (unlike me).

You main problem will be your budget/work. Get a cheap GH and start shopping for a long-term accommodation once you have a job. Dont get drowned in cheap beer.

Immigration is not strict at all. You do not even need proof of onward transportation. Just buy your "ordinary" visa as opposed to a tourist visa. DO NOT purchase an online e-visa. Only the ordinary is extendable. In PP or wherever you go you can obtain your 6 or 12 month visa. WP depends on your employer.
Dont worry about suspicions. Walk down the riverside in PP or the beach in SHV and you will realize that there are characters that will make you shine like a star in the night.
Most guesthouses, including the cheap ones, have reasonable wifi as do many restaurants etc.
JOB: check K440 (google is your friend) for better input as this is a genuine expat question. They have a dedicated sub-section.
Security: Nothing too bad, stay away from drugs which are cheap and regularly (as in at least weekly if not daily) cause the demise of foreigners in Cambodia.
You certainly need/should have anyhow Hep-B shots when traveling in SEA. It is a very bad and straightforward stupid move to do without. Be nice to yourself and that will help you in the long run. Hep-A is a consideration but food is pretty safe in the places I go to.
Dengue is a developing threat and you need to keep yourself informed.
Other diseases are STD, skin diseases. The moderator of the Cambo section on Thaivisa is a health-professional and up-to-date. Ask her as she knows what she is saying (unlike me).

You main problem will be your budget/work. Get a cheap GH and start shopping for a long-term accommodation once you have a job. Dont get drowned in cheap beer.

Yes, I have used K440 before. I will post on there as well.

When you mention the admin on the Cambo Thaivisa section...you are referring to the K440 forum as well yes?

GH...guest house I assume? Yes, I won't be renting any apartments or hotels until I have a job secured.

I have had my routine vaccinatinns (T-DAP) a little over a year ago. If I had vaccinations against the other infections such as Hep A or B, will I most likely be safe even if in contact with contaminated food, water or people?

Are there wild, rabies infected dogs throughout the big cities as well?

Nope it is a different, very limited resource. Just use the word I wrote and add .com. You go to the forum section and scroll down. Ask your question and you will get quality input. I m not connected to that forum in any way, i bring it up to be of help.

Rabies: Cats and dogs. So far never any problem. Water has improved, it is a public health question. Ask the expert.
Food: I hardly ever have problems. If I do a pineapple solves the problem and I stop leaking.

Important advice: RELAX! You're not going to the jungle and no elephants on the main road.

Nope it is a different, very limited resource. Just use the word I wrote and add .com. You go to the forum section and scroll down. Ask your question and you will get quality input. I m not connected to that forum in any way, i bring it up to be of help.

Rabies: Cats and dogs. So far never any problem. Water has improved, it is a public health question. Ask the expert.
Food: I hardly ever have problems. If I do a pineapple solves the problem and I stop leaking.

Important advice: RELAX! You're not going to the jungle and no elephants on the main road.

I will post my questions and concerns on Thaivisa and K440. If you don't mind me asking...are you living in Phnom Penh or Siep Riep?

When you say so far...how long have you been living in Cambodia? I have also been reading that break ins are really common as well and to expect it? I guess I will plan on renting out one of those apartments built up like a fortress because I have an expensive laptop...

You're a US citizen...but never lived in a dangerous country??

"Move to Cambodia" by Lina Goldberg is an excellent book for expats who are intending to live in Cambodia or have newly arrived. There's also quite a bit of information online including this section for people looking to teach English: http://www.movetocambodia.com/working-in-cambodia/teaching-english/

Cambodia is not a dangerous country. I feel safer from violent crime in Cambodia than in Australia though the risk of petty crime and traffic accidents is probably greater in Cambodia.

Malaria is not a high risk but dengue certainly is, even in big cities. You should try to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

I come and go since 2003, long term visa for the past few years.

Siem Reap is too hot for me, I prefer PP and SHV.

I agree with the others, you don't have to worry about violent crime in Cambodia, as long as you use common sense. Do not walk around drunk at night with 500 dollars in your pocket, etc. The biggest danger is if you get in a relationship with Cambodian ladies of the night, as the majority of the freelancing ones are criminals (i.e. especially theft and drug abuse), and some of them are vicious criminals and snitches for the police who could even set you up if the relationship goes sour. Many foreigners have suffered huge losses from these women. This does not apply to normal Cambodian women at all only these working women you will see in places like Sorya Mall in Phnom Penh.
As for food, in any developing country you may get food poisoning, I got it 3 times over five years of travel and living in Asia. I agree you should get Hep B, and don't worry about the rest, they have good doctors even in Cambodia if something happens to you (unless it's something really serious, in which case you would be taken to Thailand).
From what I heard, teaching jobs are not hard to find at about 9 dollars an hour, but these schools are not very good generally (i.e. could be problems with management or not getting paid on time), getting a job at a better school could require more effort and experience. A lot also depends on how well you present yourself in Cambodia.
Just have fun and don't worry too much.

"Move to Cambodia" by Lina Goldberg is an excellent book for expats who are intending to live in Cambodia or have newly arrived. There's also quite a bit of information online including this section for people looking to teach English: http://www.movetocambodia.com/working-in-cambodia/teaching-english/

Cambodia is not a dangerous country. I feel safer from violent crime in Cambodia than in Australia though the risk of petty crime and traffic accidents is probably greater in Cambodia.

Malaria is not a high risk but dengue certainly is, even in big cities. You should try to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Have you been infected with dengue fever before?

If you basically bathe yourself in repellent, you will be safe from mosquitoes? I always apply the repellent poorly because I worry about getting the stuff in my eyes or mouth...if it gets into your eyes or mouth, will you need to call up poison control or it that not the case?

After several years on and off in Cambodia I've never had any mosquito-borne illnesses and I don't tend to use much mosquito repellent. I don't like the stuff and only use it when the mosquitoes are particularly bad. When I do use it I apply it sparingly and certainly not around my eyes and mouth. However I'm not one of those people that tend to attract mosquitoes.

My daughter came to visit me last year for 2 weeks. The mosquitoes in Siem Reap particularly seemed to like her and by the time she left she had dengue. Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw.

After several years on and off in Cambodia I've never had any mosquito-borne illnesses and I don't tend to use much mosquito repellent. I don't like the stuff and only use it when the mosquitoes are particularly bad. When I do use it I apply it sparingly and certainly not around my eyes and mouth. However I'm not one of those people that tend to attract mosquitoes.

My daughter came to visit me last year for 2 weeks. The mosquitoes in Siem Reap particularly seemed to like her and by the time she left she had dengue. Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw.

Mosquitoes tend to love me. Maybe it is because I have that thin AB blood that is easy to drink. I'm also really thin, so maybe they like sucking on the boney areas. I have read about that somewhere before. They often bite my fingers and joint areas the most.

I will definitely be careful when applying repellent...I hate the stuff too, but I'm sure dengue is worse lol.

wherever I stay I plant lemongrass. very effective against the buggers. sharing some with the neighbors is also a good idea.

wherever I stay I plant lemongrass. very effective against the buggers. sharing some with the neighbors is also a good idea.

Thanks so much. You have a lot of useful advice to share. It seems like you know the game there now haha.

a few little items. Lemongrass is extremely effective. Try to get some in the market and make sure a few roots are left. I succeed in about 60% of the cases by replanting them in empty large water bottles. Cut the upper part off, 2 holes in the bottom, some soil and reading. Once they have grown you can move them to the hot spots like the bathroom. The buggers will flee. Once the place is cleared out place 1-2 pots net to the door like your very own garudas.
I keep filling up the empty bottles and pass them on to neighbors. Reasoning behind it: Keep the area mosquito-free by adding further lines of defense. Especially, kids will benefit from it. Planting outside has been a challenge as neighbors began digging out the plants.
Lemongrass contains citronella which is the stuff you find in the repellents. The measure is cheap and if you like to cook you have one ingredient fresh at hand.
I respond at some length so that readers might pick up on the idea and profit from it.

Donating lemongrass to local schools might be another good idea.

a few little items. Lemongrass is extremely effective. Try to get some in the market and make sure a few roots are left. I succeed in about 60% of the cases by replanting them in empty large water bottles. Cut the upper part off, 2 holes in the bottom, some soil and reading. Once they have grown you can move them to the hot spots like the bathroom. The buggers will flee. Once the place is cleared out place 1-2 pots net to the door like your very own garudas.
I keep filling up the empty bottles and pass them on to neighbors. Reasoning behind it: Keep the area mosquito-free by adding further lines of defense. Especially, kids will benefit from it. Planting outside has been a challenge as neighbors began digging out the plants.
Lemongrass contains citronella which is the stuff you find in the repellents. The measure is cheap and if you like to cook you have one ingredient fresh at hand.
I respond at some length so that readers might pick up on the idea and profit from it.

Donating lemongrass to local schools might be another good idea.

Wow...amazing information. I had no idea, but now it makes sense why I kept seeing lemongrass hanging out around peoples' houses in Thailand and Laos haha.

I will definitely do all of these things.

P.S. I don't sweat much, but if I cook and eat a lot of foods with lemongrass mixed in...will the mosquitoes leave me alone or leave me alone more often?

No idea. I m one of those poor fellows who have yummy written all over their faces (in the mosquito alphabet). For being on the move you might like to cut some lemong grass and rub it in your hands. nice lemon scent.

No idea. I m one of those poor fellows who have yummy written all over their faces (in the mosquito alphabet). For being on the move you might like to cut some lemong grass and rub it in your hands. nice lemon scent.

That sounds like a good idea as well.

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