from L to R, Mr. Chey, auto mechanic, Mr. Sopha, a Cambodian Red Cross worker, and Mr. Chey's younger brother Reath, a tele-communication wizard and motorbike guide. Restaurant is devided into separate bamboo huts facing the rice field and you see the buffalos.
Mr. Sopha becomes my primary translator with his English skill. He offers me a position in Red Cross for USD575 of MONTHly saraly, which is WAY above Cambodian's standard. He has the happiest smile i ever seen. "My wife and two children are away in Battambang and i send all my money to them, but i have friends here and get to have good time with them every now and then and that makes me happy." he and 27 co-workers (and 2 foreign volunteers) take care of children with malaria, diaria, etc. He's aware of government's corruption as in any country, yet he has hope in the new government. Only time his smile froze when i asked what are the most important thing this country's government should take care of; "Health and Education"
Khmer Cusine!! much more on this on later postings. i can't wait to start cooking.
Buffalo digs into the mud to chew up the grass, then stirs up little fish lying under, and they swim off. So these birds are following around buffalos to catch the fish. on return the birds clean the lice off the buffalo's back. This is called Symbriosis (? am I right? -Eva, Alba, remember?) it means two different spiecies helping each other. We, humans, much less help other spieces, seem to be the only spieces who have trouble helping within each other and end up distrying themselves.
Her name is Abby. a shy waitress on our hut. After she served us all by herself, she comes back with another girl and clears our table, and i, without thinking give just her a tip; small amount but a fortune for her. and i do so in front of the other girl. Mr. Sopha later tells me the improperness of that. i feel embarrased but it gives me thinking. i have a long way to go learning the customs of this country.
No comments:
Post a Comment