The ruling CPP parades through town during the recent commune elections.Okay, which one of you said that?
Overheard at a local establishment during the three day pre-election ban on alcohol sales. One of the staff approaches the owner:
- “There’s someone on the phone who wants to know whether the bar is open.”
- “Is it the police or a customer?”
- “I don’t know.”
- “Well go back and ask them. If it’s the police, tell them no. If it’s someone looking for a drink tell them yes.”
Sonia brought smoked salmon back from our visit to Vancouver and offered it up at the office:
- “What is this?”
- “It’s smoked salmon.”
- “Is it expensive?”
- “Yes.”
- “Oh, good. I like it.”
A different perspective on life in Cambodia. A colleague of Sonia’s commenting on the situation in Syria:
- “I feel very fortunate to be living in Cambodia. We don’t have so many problems here.”
The same colleague discussing Buddhist philosophy:
- “Us Buddhists, we eat meat, but we can’t kill the animals. So that’s why we have the Muslims here.”
They seem so compassionate, and yet...
One of the Buddhist nuns where Sonia works, commenting on the way she looks after her 25 minute hot-season bicycle ride to the office:
- “I think you should get a motorcycle, you’re sweating too much.”
Two monks are standing outside of Sonia’s office window. One of them calls ‘hello’ to her and they engage in conversation:
- “How old are you?”
- Sonia tells him.
- “Oh, you are very old.”
But seriously, how old are you?
With twenty-plus years in the wine business and event management under our belts we've made a lateral career move. We are in Cambodia for two years to transfer some of our business skills and experience to the local community and to learn as much as we can from them.
