Exhaustion can do crazy things to a person. It can make them unable to speak as their head is swirling in thoughts, words and things to do. I know this from experience…this is my current state of being.
Just yesterday I was getting my moto home. I wanted to make sure the price would be $1 but I forgot how to say the word “dollar” so I said, “Moi…”. Nothing else came to my mind. He was ok with that so I jumped on the back ready to zigzag through the city.
We are getting near my place and the driver starts rabbiting away in Khmer about something or other….I only caught a word here and there….and heard “brum” and something else and I started think he was saying my house is further way than dropping me off at the church so it will cost an extra 1000r (25 cents). I started to grumble about the change in price. As we get closer to my street I accidently said ‘dul Trong’ instead of ‘bot chwang’ but luckily I was able to fix it in time. He continues to talk in Khmer about something…I handed his $1 and 1000r and complain about the price – he then looks at me as if I’m crazy and hands back the 1000r and says again the thing he has been saying….I suddenly realise that he is talking about each day he will take me from uni to my house at 5:30. I am so tired I just say ‘Jah, jah, jah.”
This morning I venture out to buy some breakfast – first time to do this. I thought deep fried bananas might be nice as a treat. So go to the store and say “Bpee” holding two fingers up. This store lady laughs at me and repeats what I say so the others laugh at me too. I asked “Bon man?” (how much) to get an answer that I have no idea what it was. So I hand over 2000r – to receive a blank look and be told “one, just one”. Oh!!
Some of my students are asking me difficult English words and how to pronounce them, political, legal and academic language that I can pronounce but they also want to know what it means…..oh my kingdom for a good, thick English dictionary.
And my kingdom to learn Khmer. Who knew that being lost in two languages would be so tricky and leave one with a heavy and weary head. I need to get good rest, focus and motivate myself to learn Khmer and only give what I can. Hopefully this will get easier with time.
