One of the most important questions I have learned to ask my Khmer coworkers at Samaritan’s Purse is “How do you say [insert basic word for getting around Cambodia here]?”
While I am thankful that a surprising number people in Cambodia can speak English (some to a greater extent than others), the reality still remains that the majority only speaks Khmer. In the short time I’ve been in Cambodia, I have discovered several important reasons to learn the language. Although I can only speak “tik tik” (a little) Khmer, the few phrases I know been quite helpful.
First of all, in the city of Phnom Penh where I live, Westerners are often taken advantage of when it comes to paying for things. For instance, tuk tuk drivers (see previous post for a picture of a tuk tuk) often charge Westerners much more to get somewhere than they would a Cambodian. However, being able to speak Khmer shows confidence and gives off the impression that you are culturally aware. At first I was getting overcharged for tuk tuk rides but now I use the Khmer language to help me get a fair price. Simple words like “Susadei” (hello) and “Akon Chiron” (thank you very much) help emit an aura of confidence.
Knowing basic Khmer words has also helped me show proper respect and kindness to other people. Being able to say things like “Susadei! Soxabye te?” (Hello! How are you?) in a more casual setting, such as greeting people in the office or a restaurant, has allowed me to be friendly and let others know I care about them. Furthermore, knowing formal greetings and farewells, like “Chom reap suo” (formal hello) and “Chom reap leo” (formal goodbye) have helped me show respect to elders, especially those I met on a visit to some rural villages.
Finally, learning the language has been immensely helpful in helping me build relationships of trust with Cambodian people. Around the Samaritan’s Purse office, I have loved greeting my coworkers and asking how they are in Khmer, which often lends itself to a smile of delight, and at times surprise, that I know even a few words in their language. They seem to appreciate the effort to immerse myself in their culture in this simple way. In return, I have deeply appreciated the efforts my coworkers have put into teaching me how to say things in Khmer. I find Khmer to be a difficult language to learn, so it means a lot when I see the patience that my Cambodian friends have in repeating pronunciations for me over and over and the excitement that arises when I finally pronounce a word correctly. Although learning another language is humbling, the rewards that the effort reaps far outweigh its challenges. Through the little Khmer I have learned, so much respect has been gained for every Cambodian I have met who speaks English. If they have made the effort to learn my language, I should be willing to learn theirs.