Like incest, it's all relative.

Do volunteer work, was thinking about this a while back as getting bored in PP same thing most days
Where do you go to find volunteer work?

How to avoid becoming cynical and bitter in PP? Simple. Take care of yourself, workout, learn a new language (doesn't have to be Khmer), don't hang out in Riverside.

I don't like PP. I basically have to force myself. To me, moving here was a failure. By far my biggest failure in life. That definitely made me cynical and bitter until recently. But guess what? I stopped being a whiny bitch, washed the sand outta my vagina, and everything fell into place! I got a great job, weird friends, a Khmer gf that makes bomb ass "western" food, and I also got to visit Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia within a year (PP is centrally located. Very easy to get to other countries in the region).

Sure, you wouldn't hang out with some of the people you meet here if you were still back home, but I'm pretty sure they feel the same way about you. Get outta your comfort zone and you'll be just fine. You might be surprised! Not everyone here is trying to bang underage kids.
The locals get on your system? Yea? You're not the only one. You can't stand how they drive? The local food is as tasty as dried dog shit? You may have to travel more then. You'll find the same negative aspects in a lot of countries (including developed ones). Don't sweat the small stuff (especially things you have no control over).

Oh I almost forgot: Cambodia? 28 public holidays... That gives you plenty of time to get outta PP and recharge your batteries.

If your bitter and cynical its because your bitter and cynical.

First step : Live out of city center. Go live in a borey , it's cheaper and better.

City center is ok but not all the time. So just move out and go enjoy the city center when you need/want.

"bomb ass "western" food" Tossed salad by any chance?

what I meant was that a lot of people I met in PP had some kind of hidden agenda. Sure, we have that back home too, but not to the extent I experienced it here. Be it money, sex, stroking somebody's ego, the need to always "win" or some other shit. First people suck up to you, then after while they casually state their "request" and if you do not give them what they want... Boom!!! they completely blow their stack. You got to live with people not always giving you what you want. Because back home, you also do not always get what you want. Not sure why that is so hard to understand.