One thing that often makes me wonder in this kingdom of wonder is Khmer logic and how it's often so far removed from my own. Sometimes in a positive, "why have I never thought of that before?" way, but often....let's just say, often not.

For example, like most people, we use the carrier bags from the shopping as bins. They fill up quite quickly in our apartment so we don't really use a proper bin, we just have a place we hang a bag and use that. We do often run low on bags though so I try to only change them when they're really full and use them sparingly.

When it does need changing however, I might ask my partner to change it, assuming he'll tie the full bag up, put it by the door ready to be taken down and hang a fresh bag, but what often happens is that he'll simply get a bigger bag out of the cupboard, and put the full smaller bag inside of that then just hang the bigger bag up, already mostly full now with the smaller bag.

Why? Because it's easier than tying the full bag and putting it by the door. In his mind, it's just the logical (easiest) thing to do. It doesn't make sense to go through all the rigamoral of tying a bag and placing it by a door when you can just throw it into a bigger bag. Trying to explain how and why that's just not how it works, especially given that you often run low on bags, is like trying to explain quantum mechanics. To him it makes perfect sense as you only have to tie and take one bag downstairs one time now instead of tying and taking down two bags twice.

I'm sure we've all encountered similar examples of Khmer logic. I could think of thousands more examples but interested to hear others...

How apt that I had this very conversation but in reverse.

My Khmer friend complains that his western friend is too tight to buy proper bin bags and a bin instead using tiny plastic bags that fill up too quick or split and leak.

His logic is bin bags do a job. He can’t understand the logic behind his friends thinking so he secretly buys bin bags, but gets told off for wasting money and “destroying the environment” which he also can’t understand. “Look outside!”.

I buy about 5 used full size rice sacks from the local store there around 500reil each. Then do a a little sorting with the recycling items, such has tins in one sack after washed out of course, then plastic bottles in another, takeaway cartons and plastic cups in another. Its then surprising that there is very little rubbish left, has for left over cooked food it will go in a takeaway container with one more full of water, and put it out for the street dogs, that way they don't follow me down to the bin area anymore, so with what waste is left in another rice sack I leave for the bin men, they in turn empty the sack into the bin wagon leaving me the sack for me to use again. Easy to wash it if need be and hang it out to dry.

Cambodians always say to me..This is not your country...This is how we do it in Cambodia...Case closed.

Look at it this way ; they can add 1 to 5 and get six …

"why give baby formula if it eat now? Baby drink soymilk okay!"

Actual conversation with aunty over a six month old baby after it ate one spoonful of borbor