So after about a month in the country I realize it’s the little exchanges and interactions I have throughout the day that I really wish someone else could witness with me. Whether it’s me encountering a new situation or making some sort of silly mistake, I’ve found myself stepping back and laughing multiple times (or at least laughing later).
For instance, my landlord who lives below me seems to be incredibly nice and accommodating. However, he only speaks Khmer and I know roughly 20 words in Khmer. This has not stopped us though from trying to discuss various aspects of my apartment. Yesterday we had a “conversation” about the screens on my window to keep mosquitoes out. The conversation (and others) went something like this; my landlord rattled on in Khmer making sweeping motions with his arms while I repeatedly told him I didn’t quite understand and just kept pointing at the window so at least he would know what I was talking about. As for this conservation, I later figured out he was merely trying to tell me someone would come tomorrow to install the screens. Note to self – work harder at learning Khmer.
I also would like to learn more about the Khmer culture BEFORE I make a mistake and have someone correct me. I knew you were supposed to use the traditional Cambodian greeting, Som Pas, putting your hands together and slightly bowing your head, especially when greeting elders. I was proud I had remembered this when I was introduced to an elderly woman whose house we were staying at on the survey trip. However, Gerry (a member of the WWF staff) explained I held my hands very low which is considered impolite and they should be up toward my face for someone of that age. I also learned when you hand someone an object it’s polite to do it with both hands or your right hand. I am left-handed and thus obviously was doing the opposite.
Also, I wish someone could witness the interactions I have had with the “wildlife” IN my apartment. For starters, after living in Beaufort, NC I should obviously be used to cockroaches. Unfortunately, I am not and even though I knew there would be bugs here, I was dismayed to find a huge dead cockroach in the hallway upon my arrival. The other day I went to sit and eat my expertly prepared dinner of Cambodia’s version of ramen noodles, and realized there were some bugs on my desk. I went to clean them off, but first looked up and realized several hundred had gathered around the light bulb above the desk. That same night I was stepping out on my porch to get my laundry on the drying rack when I noticed a gecko on the inside of the door frame. I gingerly tried to unlock the door to shoo the gecko out when I was startled by three kittens trying to push their way into my apartment. Just to remind you, I live on the second story of my building.
While I know I simply need to adjust to geckos and some bugs in my apartment, I don’t anticipate on adjusting to cats dragging rats inside open air restaurants and killing them which happened the other night. Thankfully I didn’t notice what was going on at the time and wondered why the girls next to me were making such a big deal about a cat being inside the restaurant.
All in all, I am absolutely ok with making mistakes regarding understanding the culture and language because that’s how you actually learn (I’m only slightly ok with the bugs), but do wish someone could join in and laugh with me at times in these situations.