Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

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khmerre
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Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by khmerre »

I gave a lift to a female friend to visit the family in a rural village. She visits the family 3 or 4 times per year. Arriving home, she didn’t kiss or hug the parents or the sisters/brothers, the same leaving home a few days later, when I picked her up. I was there present just 5/10 minutes and I don’t know what happened later, when I leave her place.

I know that Cambodian people are conservative and don’t hug or kiss in public, but is it the same with family members ? just in public or privately too ? adult children to parents and to siblings
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Re: Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by phuketrichard »

i hvae never seen my gf hug or kiss any of her family member's( except the little kids under 6) in 7 years an she has 5 sisters.
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Re: Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by Jamie_Lambo »

i dont think its something ive really noticed either tbh
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Re: Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by TheGrinchSR »

It's not just Khmer it's most Asians. My wife had never seen her parents kiss, hold hands or embrace. She never embraces her own children either. It is the weirdest thing ever; it took her a long time to get used to being hugged and kissed in private outside of a sexual situation. Her whole life has been based around a model where intimacy only occurs in the bedroom when you're naked...
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Re: Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by Jamie_Lambo »

the thing that usually gets me is a friendly farewell hug out here can be seen as intrusive, and can often lead to an awkward situation as you go in for a hug lol
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Re: Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by Samouth »

I agree with The Grinch, this might be Asian thing. We don't kiss or hug even within the family and relative cycle. Not that we are shy to do it, just we don't use to do it. As Grinch mentioned, we thought these kind of activities are more related to sexual. To be honest, i have never hugged my dad, i guess when i was young i might rode on his neck like other kids do, but when i am grown up, i have never hugged him. I hudgged my mom sometime when i left home for Phnom Penh, but really rare. I think i am now comfortable doing it as i have always done it with my westerner friends. :D

So what we normally do during farewell, we sampas (picture)

Image

However some Cambodians do hug and kiss their parents and relatives if they have to be away out of the country for long time.
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Re: Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by SinnSisamouth »

my bird says only kiss or hug small kids

saying that when I go to europe i get a small stiffy when a hot friend kisses my cheeks

"hold on.is it two kisses or three?"
i blame those french

watch cambodians when you hug or kiss on a cheek a female friend they get all giggly
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Re: Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by Jamie_Lambo »

Samouth wrote: I think i am now comfortable doing it as i have always done it with my westerner friends. :D
does that mean i get a hug next time i see you samouth?
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Re: Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by khmerre »

thanks
ok now is clear, just a few "Cambodians do hug and kiss their parents and relatives if they have to be away out of the country (or parents home) for long time."
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Re: Emotional connection in the Cambodian family

Post by phuketrichard »

khmerre wrote:thanks
ok now is clear, just a few "Cambodians do hug and kiss their parents and relatives if they have to be away out of the country (or parents home) for long time."
maybe only those westernized

Thais are the same in the country-- no contact
used to amaze me when my ex wife would go home and not having seen her mom/aunts for years ,
just a wai
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