While I've been busy learning Khmer, I've also been in the process of building new relationships here in Cambodia. This, of course, is important on a number of levels: relationships are a great way to practice language and learn about culture, they are good for my sanity, they are the means through which I will hopefully be able to impact people's lives (and have mine impacted in return), and so on. Navigating how to build relationships in a new culture can be a little interesting, but it is also enjoyable. At some point down the road I'll maybe have some deep insights into how Cambodian's interact with friends, family, coworkers, shopkeepers, strangers, and everyone else--but today my head is tired from my language lesson. So this post will be a little lacking in the deep insights department.
Instead, here are a few pictures. This is me and a few of the Phnom Penh FH staff at one of the local night markets, where you can get a meal for fifty cents or a dollar--soups, fried noodles, creamy coconut drinks, fried sweet breads. Eat at the market, where there is a communal pot of tea a
nd set of cups on the table, or have your food put into plastic bags and take it home. Your food will be made to order, quickly and piping hot. Grab some utensils from the bin on the table, give them a wipe with the kleenex or toilet paper provided for this purpose, add soy/chili/fish sauce as you like, and enjoy! Note on the pictures--I promise these friends were enjoying themselves; smiling is just not necessary in Cambodian picture taking! In the photo on the left, from left to right: Sothea, general office administrator; Sarith, daytime office guard; and Ouk, office "cleaner."
nd set of cups on the table, or have your food put into plastic bags and take it home. Your food will be made to order, quickly and piping hot. Grab some utensils from the bin on the table, give them a wipe with the kleenex or toilet paper provided for this purpose, add soy/chili/fish sauce as you like, and enjoy! Note on the pictures--I promise these friends were enjoying themselves; smiling is just not necessary in Cambodian picture taking! In the photo on the left, from left to right: Sothea, general office administrator; Sarith, daytime office guard; and Ouk, office "cleaner."A few other types of relationships--lately the froggy friends have been coming out in full force. I usually disturb a few of th
em in the evenings when I'm watering the plants around my house. I probably blinded this poor guy who found himself perched on the armrest of a chair with a flashing camera in his face. Most of the frogs I see (and hear!) are small, two or three inches long. Kind of fun to have them around. Bigger frogs than this make a good food source--grilled frog legs are readily available in the markets next to various other meat-
type products (no, I haven't tried any). According to my tutor, toad legs are also quite tasty, but not very appetizing due to their bumpy skin. And last picture--recognize these guys??? They are always around but there seems to be less of them some weeks and plenty of them other weeks. Either way, mosquito repellent has become a part of my daily morning routine!
em in the evenings when I'm watering the plants around my house. I probably blinded this poor guy who found himself perched on the armrest of a chair with a flashing camera in his face. Most of the frogs I see (and hear!) are small, two or three inches long. Kind of fun to have them around. Bigger frogs than this make a good food source--grilled frog legs are readily available in the markets next to various other meat-
type products (no, I haven't tried any). According to my tutor, toad legs are also quite tasty, but not very appetizing due to their bumpy skin. And last picture--recognize these guys??? They are always around but there seems to be less of them some weeks and plenty of them other weeks. Either way, mosquito repellent has become a part of my daily morning routine!
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