Saturday, September 1, 2012

Kampuchea Lessons: Volume One

Someone once told me that "when you stop learning, you start dying." Since I do not want anyone reading this blog to meet their demise any time in the immediate future, I am going to make it a habit of educating my readers on all things Kampuchea throughout the next two years. Be sure to take note and learn from my observations and zany insight into the amazingly wonderful Khmer culture! 

1. The Khmer people shorten the names of all of the countries around them, for example Thailand becomes Thai, China becomes Chen...the one exception to the rule? Their own country of course...instead of being shortened, it is merely changed all together to Kampuchea. Interesting...
2. Supposedly a natural remedy for diarrhea is to take the bark from a mango tree and steep it in a tea and then drink it. Who was it that decided to pull some bark off a tea and drink it anyways?
3. Coconuts can be used as a natural laxative...simply drink the water and eat the flesh and there you go!
4. There are no need for public bathrooms...drivers simply stop on the side of the road and relieve themselves then and there!
5. Gecko's don't just sell car insurance...here they hang out in your room all day eating pesky bugs!
6. Garages are not necessary additions to your house...simply park your moto in your kitchen!
7. In the states we tell students not to wear pajamas to school...well in Kampuchea you would be hard pressed to ride from your house to any local establishment without seeing at least 20 people in pajamas as they go about shopping, cleaning or other daily tasks. Not only are these pajamas easy to wash but they are also comfortable, lively patterned and cheap!

2 comments:

  1. Why are all of your posts about bathroom habits? LOL. It is fascinating and I cannot imagine living somewhere where people relieve themselves on the side of the road (and they aren't drunk and hiding it!). Love following along with you!

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  2. Kim, it's funny that you mention bathroom habits.... My friend at work was in the peace corps and she said that pretty soon we would be hearing a lot about bathroom habits and bowel issues from Erica It seems that is what the peace corps volunteers focus most on when they are away. I guess my friend wasn't lying....at least Erica hasn't started talking about her bowels yet.... :).

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