Squatting instead of sitting in a chair. Especially handy if I’m working on something close to the ground.

The bum gun. Can’t believe it took me so many years to discover this, but as an American it’s just not something we’re exposed to. TP seems so primitive now.

Sharing. Bringing fruit/snacks to a social gathering and sharing them and encouraging friends to participate instead of obsessing about personal property as we were raised to do.

Language. Learning some Khmer gave me invaluable interactions with people I never would have imagined. Riding my moto to some remote village hours away from civilization that rarely saw barang and talking to a local in their language. These are still some of the most valuable parts of my journey.

Humility/simplicity. All the “stuff” and material nonsense and status that we were raised to glorify/crave doesn’t really matter. Life can be enjoyed on a much simpler and humbler level.

talltuktuk wrote: ↑Mon Aug 24, 2020 7:43 pm Language. Learning some Khmer gave me invaluable interactions with people I never would have imagined. Riding my moto to some remote village hours away from civilization that rarely saw barang and talking to a local in their language. These are still some of the most valuable parts of my journey.

When you become the attraction, you are in an interesting place. In some villages, a lot of children, and sometimes adults, come to check me out. Those villages have had less foreign influence, and they live largely like they have for years. I find them interesting, and they help with understanding Cambodians.

Learning that garbage is beautiful, intestinal parasites are normal, and saving huge amounts of time daily by not washing my hands after using the toilet (possibly offset by time lost by sh*tting my guts out later). But I’m sure it’s a win overall.
Oh yeah, and Face, learning that you are wrong for calling someone out if they steal from you.

whatwat wrote: ↑Mon Aug 24, 2020 6:52 pm

Ghostwriter wrote: ↑Mon Aug 24, 2020 6:46 pm Nobody mentions the language ?

Mandarin?

Don't be an arsehole an bring up the Chinese

Pointing with my mouth and giving an encouraging grunt instead of saying yes.

That "soon" is a relative term. "Coming soon" ...
I have learnt patience. Whatever or whoever usually turn up in the end. Or not.

Pointing with your lips - especially handy when your hands are full.

Username Taken wrote: ↑Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:21 pm Something that I learned in Cambodia, but not necessarily from a Khmer.
When you cut yourself and you're bleeding but don't have any first aid stuff, or bandages, or doctor nearby, you can stop the bleeding by applying fresh ash from a fire. For small cuts, cigarette ash will do. I have used this method successfully several times now.
Some people will say 'Oh yuck but it's dirty'. The freshly burnt ash is sterile because it's just been burnt.

I just had to look this up, and it seems to be a thing. Researchers tried it out on rabbits, with ashes from three sources: dried buffalo dung, wood, and charcoal. Who knew?
http://www.imj.com.pk/wp-content/upload ... 13-OA2.pdf