I’m a 150% introvert (which most people say is a lie but it’s perfectly true) and Thornin is the exact opposite. He gets his energy from being with people whilst I can often feel drained if I’m with too many. The idea of talking to over 100 young people was therefore something that did not tickle my fancy but duty called. When I’m asked to speak I try to put thoughts together on paper and then I either forget the paper or veer off the topic. So nowadays I prefer to wing it. I had to give a title for our time together so I said, “Learning from your mistakes” - seeing as I’ve made plenty of them I should be able to fill half an hour.
I do warm up, once I get started, and Thornin and I always have fun together. I also talked about filling our personal backpacks with all the problems we haven’t dealt with - family issues, worries etc. I think it went down well; I didn’t see anyone sleeping. I haven’t a clue what Thornin talked about as it was in Khmer but, as usual, he had people in stitches and that just gets him going even more. I was promoted to “Professor” and we both received a gift in a formal ceremony - a traditional scarf which I’ll end up giving to some lucky person. We were even invited back, which is a good sign.
Next stop, haircut. For me, having a haircut is as painful as going to the dentist. It looks fine when I leave the building but the next day I’m totally fed up with it. The instructions to the barber are always in Khmer so I have no idea what’s been said. My coping skill is never to look in the mirror! One old dear, sitting and waiting for her turn, said, “How old are you?” I’m so used to it I don’t find it in the least bit offensive. I remember in my early days in India I always used to say I had a family when I was asked if I had one. I would say my parents were dead but I had brothers and sisters. “No, no! Do you have children?” They never asked if I had a wife! One day I decided to get it right and so I told my young taxi driver that I didn’t have a family. He looked at me through the rear view mirror and thought for a moment; “So what’s your problem?” I told him I didn’t know I had one. This particular barber is not talkative; he just gets on with the job. I ended up with a haircut, shaved with a cutthroat razor and my nose hairs removed - all for the huge sum of $1.25.
Thornin’s 3 year old son goes to a day care place that’s run by a Christian church. He likes the place because they learn for half the time and play games the rest of the time. He speaks a little English now. He came home and said, “Daddy, Jesus is dead!” Thornin asked him where Jesus was and he said, “Jesus is everywhere.” I’m one of those who prefers to leave people’s faiths alone so I hope Lee Ann grows up to know about Christianity but be a good Buddhist.
Vuth and Cina had invited me to a special event in the evening. It was a dinner that cost $100 per person. It was a fundraiser in aid of a new Cambodian Peace Museum which aims to educate people about war and how to maintain peace. Only 32 people were invited and I’m glad there were no more as the place was packed. Earlier, I was told I’d be picked up at 4.30pm but later, when I was dressed up in my finery and standing at the gate, I was told it was to be 6.30pm. This entire trip has been one of flexibility and patience. I was picked up and plonked myself on their hotel bed until we left for the dinner. We first went to a trendy bar for a pre dinner cocktail and there I chatted mostly to the Swedish Ambassador who seemed a very humble person. Before we marched off down the road to the restaurant, we all lined up for a group photo; as usual half my head is poking out at the back of the group.
The meal was one of those times when everything was a feast for the eyes as well as a lovely taste. We started with Amuse-bouche Green Mango and Sun-dried Cherry Tomato Relish. For me it was a dollop of something spicy on two thin slices of unripe mango; nice though. We moved onto eggplant dumpling, corn fritter and calamari; each thing resting on a leaf. The soup came in a bowl made from a coconut shell - Tum kai which is shrimp coconut soup. The main course was turmeric chicken with potato and coconut sambar, which is an Indian thing. Dessert was coconut pannacota and season fruits with lime chilli sugar. I can never understand why Asians put sugar in their soups and enjoy chilli with their fruit. There was a waiter with each table and he was very attentive, constantly asking if we wanted more wine! All in all it was a lovely way to end the day, and for a worthy cause too.
