Convincing the parents

[newkidontheblock]

Part of the wedding blog series.

After multiple attempts, I finally convinced my parents to join in the wedding ceremony.

According to them, they are old, frail, and don’t travel much. After seeing a Khmer wedding video, they were convinced they would be unable to sit on the ground for long periods, chant, and survive the heat.

More like everywhere they go, there’s a tour guide with a little flag to follow. At the airport, to the tour bus, to the attractions, to the restaurant, to the hotel. They’ve never been on their own. The shock began having to get a connecting flight in Vietnam to get to Siem Reap.

But their other concerns about sitting was addressed with chairs, and cushions. Chairs for the non-monk parts, and cushions for the parts they had to sit on the ground.



One air conditioned bunker to survive the heat in the between periods.



And a water cooler fan to survive the outdoor parts.



Missus, being my clever half, also had custom made clothes for them. Traditional sampot and skirt for mom, and Khmer shirt and pants for dad. 2 outfits each.



Mom, joined in getting dolled up.





Missus asked her friend to stay at their side to take them to eat and translate for them. Kudos to her.



Van was hired to pick them up from the airport, take them to wedding and bring them to the airport.

Parents had such a wonderful time. Ate the traditional food served (rice soup) throughout the day, and the wedding dinner without a problem. Really loved missus’ taking care of the details.

Asked them when they would return on their own to visit. No answer. Guess old habits die hard.

[Kammekor]

The perfect son, with the perfect missus.

Congratulations!

[newkidontheblock]

The perfect son, with the perfect missus.

Congratulations!

I am a deeply flawed son, missus is beyond perfect. I would not have survived the wedding without her. Parents were so impressed with missus, they gave a wedding gift that covers more than half the wedding costs.

Do any banks allow personal checks to be cashed in Phnom Penh?

Thanks so much Kanmekor!

[Cinnamoncat]

The photographs are really great. I like your "photojournalism" when explaining and describing. I am definitely hoping that your marriage is long and happy, and thanks for sharing everything.

I had no idea that your parents are Asian. They look really healthy, but probably well into their seventies?

Thanks so much. Great read.

[Arget]

thanks nkotb for the photos and sharing your wedding with us. great job.

[John Bingham]

Congratulations and best of luck with your marriage. I knew you were ethnic Chinese, I'm guessing your parents were born in the US? It can be quite difficult sometimes for older people to deal with the heat and general strangeness here, so I hope they get on well. Your idea of building that bunker makes a lot more sense now. As for the check, I've never cashed a foreign bank check here but I doubt it will be an easy process. All the best.

[PSD-Kiwi]

Do any banks allow personal checks to be cashed in Phnom Penh?

I am fairly certain that there was an announcement a couple years ago that foreign bank cheques are no longer accepted by Cambodian financial institutions. You may need to get your parents to transfer the money.

[John Bingham]

Or, assuming you are going back to the US within the next while just wait and cash it/ lodge it then.

[newkidontheblock]

Or, assuming you are going back to the US within the next while just wait and cash it/ lodge it then.

Missus will try to cash it first. Car driver says that Cambodia Investment Bank? near Vattanac does check cashing. If not, then I’ll bring it back next month to cash here.

Parents kept saying that the ceremony was just like back home about 60 or 70 years ago, a little after the war. Since then of course, everything’s changed. The weddings nowadays are only a few hours long, just like in the West.

Thanks for all the encouragement. Gonna catch up on sleep, and recover from jet lag.

Then onto the next chapter if there’s still interest.

[armchairlawyer]

I love your stories. Please stop saying how flawed you are and how perfect your wife is. I know you are talking in cheek but if you keep saying it there's a danger you'll start to believe it. Not conducive to a good marriage.