Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Orientation to the Culture Fri-Sat Aug 20-21

The Cambodian Team in Battambang conducted a short primer on Cambodia culture, then set out for us to experience as many aspects of the culture as we could. One to keep us awake and to get us adjusted to the time here in Cambodia; but also to get us informed about the people of the culture we get to serve at camp.

We ate a Cambodian breakfast, had a cold Nescafe cappuccino from a can, rode on the bamboo train, visited a buddhist temple where other killing field things occurred, ate lunch and dinner at restaurants in Battambang for foreigners, as well as met people in all those locations. We practiced our Khmer greetings. Many Cambodians greeted us with a sing-song "hellllllll-ooooo."  It was cute.

The experience of driving around in a van and seeing the multitudes of mosquito-like motos buzzing here and there on their way somewhere is something to see.  An even more up-close experience is riding on a moto around the streets of Battambang.

Still, the people are friendly. They smile big.  Yet it is like any cross-cultural experience--some get it and some don't.  I prayed that we would make movement towards getting it.  We wait to see how well we listen, observe, and learn.

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