Today concludes our exciting first full day in Cambodia! We began with a hearty breakfast and then a cyclo (pronounced cee-clo) ride around the capital, Phnom Penh. We hired a cyclo company that offers cyclo drivers - the poorest of the urban poor - a liveable wage as well as several services and educational programs for free. Here is Nat on her cyclo:
One of our stops was the Royal Palace, which we will enter and explore the week after next when we return to Phnom Penh.
Then we tried the cyclos out for ourselves. Building momentum was not easy! But we got the hang of it. The drivers were surprised but quickly bore smiles, thumbs up and peace signs for the pictures.
We had our in-country orientation at a beautiful Cambodian/Thai restaurant, Khmer Surin. Here we are anxiously awaiting our mouth-watering meal of such ethnic dishes as fish amok, stir fried vegetables, tofu satay, curry, spring rolls, banana flower salad and rice:
We performed skits, showing what to do and what not to do in Cambodian culture. For example, the head is the most sacred part of the body and should never be touched, while feet are considered base and should not point out when seated. Never lose temper in public; patience is a virtue. Throwing is rude and gifts are opened in private. Shoes come off at houses; Buddha images are treated respectfully. Flatter when possible, the Khmers love it; boasting is disliked. Beckon people with the palm down, never point. Touching of a monk or his robes by a woman is strictly taboo. Here are some students performing a skit:
After exchanging travelers’ checks and enjoying a bit of free time, we were off for the main event of the evening: a visit with Arn, who was featured in the PBS documentary, “The Flute Player.” Our van couldn’t pass the road, which due to rain had become increasingly muddy and slippery, so we waded a quarter mile in the mud and wondered if we would ever see Arn! When at last we made it to his house, Arn welcomed us and spoke passionately against the prostitution of very young children in his country while he outlined his new projects. He is producing a music video featuring a talented singer, a poor woman Arn has practically adopted along with others he most generously shares his house and food with. Arn explained that Cambodia has practically no contemporary music of its own, so its people, who listen to Thai or American or Chinese music have little of their own identity. Arn is changing that by introducing and “rising up” a woman who writes her own new Cambodian music, something unknown in Cambodia. Whereas all Cambodian love songs or videos end in tragedy for the woman when her boyfriend leaves, Arn’s video will be the first to show a different outcome.
“Who cares if you leave me for a job? That’s ok,” she sings.
Tomorrow we go to Kampong Cham where we will be engaged in many activities; internet, while available, will not be as easy to come by - we apologize in advance for a likely 4-5 day gap in this blog.
Our girls are adventurous, curious, positive, happy, eager, warm, polite, caring, self-sufficient, and here for all the right reasons. They are everything we want in a group and we are ecstatic to be spending the next month with them. Each one is amazing and unique.
Until soon,
Nate and Jenn
