… No I’m not trying to cause offence or making a political statement! I was worried before heading over here that learning the language and speaking it might be a minefield – and rightly so as it turns out!Though not a tonal language, the pronunciation of some words is going to be vitally important if I don’t want to end up in some embarrassing situations!  For example – in true English style, I might wish to converse about the weather… simple eh? You’d think so, but oh no! Not here! Simply stating that “today is hot”, if not pronounced right could end up being “today penis”. The other tricky word is help/assistance – very awkward as this is the main reason why I’m here! So innocently I might be saying “I’m here to help you” and before you know it I’m getting slapped round the face because what I’ve actually said is “I’m here to f*@k you”…. Oh dear, why would it be the two words I am most likely to have to say!!!

Definitely beginning to feel more confident with speaking Khmer though – while on holiday at Sihanoukville and back here in Kompong Cham – am finding it a bit easier to converse and ask questions… hell, sometimes people understand me and occasionally I can even interpret the answers! Wayhey!It was great yesterday at the market, I went back with Jennie and Maureen to order some more clothes and the seamstress there directed most of her questions at me, even though it was Maureen doing the ordering at the time – and I was able to get more across J So I was clearly swayed into ordering more clothes! When in Rome and all that… I got back from my seaside holiday late Sunday evening. The beach was great, particularly Otres beach, a smaller beach off to the east from the busier Serendipity beach. The positive selling points being it was quieter, sandier and with less jellyfish.I’ve never seen so many jellyfish! At one point it seemed they had an evil plan for world domination! 5 meters off from the surf a (christ, what’s the collective term for jellyfish??) … anyway, there was a whole ‘throng’ of them in a line stretching across the surf like a … well, like a big throng of jellyfish, barring anyone from swimming safely. Though being freaky blue in colour was a bonus as it made them easier to spot. Got stung on my arm… at that moment remembered that programme of Friends where Monica got stung and Chandler peed on her… yuk, no I didn’t get anyone to pee on me, before you ask…..
                       
                                 ..........................

                                                                       …. I did it myself…  Soooo anyhoo… Sihanoukville was interesting, a lively seaside resort; jam packed with travellers and all things western. Rows upon rows of beachside restaurants and bars, music pumping out of gigantic speakers, sun loungers and umbrellas.  Local people (women and children) selling their goods, offering beach massages or to have your nails done etc.The journey there and back was also highly entertaining – though it might have caused a Risk Manager type person high level anxiety (to put it mildly). Particularly the ride back – I’ve never seen a driver do a 5½ hour journey, while half perched on his girlfriend and half on the handbrake… mmmm, don’t think I’ll be trying that at home! But now back in Kompong Cham, with all limbs in good working order, and have only 2 weeks more until I’m shunted back out into the dreaded world of ……. WORK. How am I ever going to cope after 2 months of extended holiday period???Will I be able to cope with working 7-8 hour days in this temperature?Will I understand anything that people are saying?Will my backside become saddle-shaped with cycling nearly 20km daily?Will the cockroach that attempted a midnight cuddle with me, come back tonight??? Kgnom ot dung tei! Or to put it another way – a deer with no eye’s…..