I always considered myself as a patient person, it may not
always be the case, however I believe that patient is a necessary and important
quality. Nevertheless my patient is really being tested here in Cambodia. For
example while speaking English I often have to formulate my questions in at
least four different ways using body language, sign language and sounds and
other creative methods. Imagine trying
to communicate without a common language. It’s really interesting trying to
communicate without words or with a limited vocabulary. I always been fond of words and I put a lot of
emphasis on what people say and which words they are using but here I really
enjoy observing people’s faces and body while they speak Khmer. I’m paying attention to face expression and
voice tone which has become vital for my understanding and feeling about a person. Before it has only been a sidekick but know
is almost determinant. You can tell so much just by looking at their eyes and
how they shine when the person is laughing.
For the record my
knowledge in Khmer is oh so very very basic, I’m trying but it’s more difficult
than I expected it to be. I didn’t intend to speak it fluently but the language
has so many sounds which I never have heard or used before, making it almost
impossible to learn. But only almost. So far I know how to say my name and
simple things like that. I figured that one good survival strategy is to know
words related to food so I’ve also learn have to say, I’m hungry, I’m full and
delicious. I use them frequently of course.
So my dear meat packs (we, or more exactly Richard, one of
the Swedish participants, discovered that the Khmer word for friend sounds like
meat pack) my the point I’m trying to make with this entrance is for you to
have patient with me writing on the blog about my new life here in Cambodia.
Sleimball, rice and Cambodia! (According to Richard the Khmer word for love
sounds like sleimball and it was last weekend’s theme song!)
