Here are some ones that I would strongly like to share with all your guys:
1、The sense of time.
Its always exciting to go to embrace a new place, a new country, though. At first, I thought that it would be much easier to have some Khmer Chinese assistant, who can speak both the two language. So, thats the reason I find a graduated one, A, I would like to addressed him, who are off job at that time. I promised to pay him 15USD per day and had a deal to start to work at 12 am next day.
To my great surprise that he showed up in front of me with his motorbike at 13.52PM. So, I questioned him that how can he was so late, while he was the local citizen. Besides, his home is within JUST 3kms far away. Tried to make him understood that time is money, however, finally I failed.
He complained quite a lot and claimed that it`s my fault.(LOL), He jumped upon his motor car and drove away. Of course, he quit the job I offered for him.
His responsibility, compared to some Chinese, is not really so much. If you want to train your workers, perhaps, you need to take some smarter ways, which they would like to take and more effective.
2、The problem of rent
My lover tried to help me find a house to stay closer to office. It`s a good thing, indeed. But the problem is that the owner would not like to rent to anyone who is from China.
The reason is simple and easy. As they said, they scare this, or scare that. No matter we accept it or not, this is a truth that the Chinese at this country has deeply affected negatively.
Most Khmer people are quiet、friendly，even with a little shy. They are very proud of its past history- the Grand Khmer Empire in 13 century. Cambodia, as we can see, is becoming more and more international which promotes the values and traditions about tolerance、diversity and inclusion.
With the advent of flocks of Chinese year by year, Khmer people clearly may not be hold the same open attitude as before to the perspectives of Chinese individuals and communities, whose focus upon the business most related with casino and computer scam.
3、A deal is not always a deal.
Last Friday, I made a call to the company drive to pick up to the city, which was around 16kms far away. We agreed that we would go to some places near central market at 1.30PM.
I arrived at the pick up spot at 1.25pm, while his car and him showed up at 1.35PM. He told me that he was not good at English, so we just had few words, then the car departed toward the city.
After covering 6kms around, he talked to me that where exactly we are going to and he was not out to play. He mentioned that he was in charge of delivering some documents, too.
I said Okay a lot and thanked him for the driving, asked him to drop me down the bus stop, where I can took the bus directly to the city, at 20 meters far away.
If I was new at here, I would be really angry, how can one changed his mind so quickly. If you are under mission, you`d better say no when you are phoned up. After all, we could find other driver rather than you.
Same as some Vietnamese, they often sway their minds quite much. The best way you have to do is to be familiar with their characters inside and try to seek out the most suitable way.
4、Mini lie for fee
One night, I went out on street, trying to find something to drink. The coffer girl on the large Tuk Tuk car told took me 1USD and gave me nothing as changes. She told me that 1USD is exactly 3500Riel, no changes.(1USD=4000-4200Reil)
Apparently, she was not so good as covering up clues that she was lying. I insisted on giving the changes, 500Riel back. At the end , she agreed with and gave back the 1/8 USD, to me.
When I went to the barber shop, the hairdresser repeated loudly for 2USD, at least 3 times, even the printed price on autodoors is 1.5USD.
Unlike street Vietnamese vendors, who would like to lie to you for the large changes like 2USD, whereas the Khmer vendors tend to charge you more like 1/8-1/4USD, a Khmer friend told me like that.
5、How much should you tip？
Cambodia, once upon a time, got related with France in history. Now, same as coffee、baguette，the practice for tips，whether it should exist or not, has been part of the tradition.
It may bring honour to those Chinese who tip waiters 20USD each one in Ktv. I used to pick up a guest in the airport, guided by an airport service, recommended by a dealer. When I gave him 2.5USD as tip, He looked at me, with great contempt, said the other Chinese business man usually gives him 15USD as small tip.
What else can I say, hope he can meet the Chinese boss who would give him 15USD every day.
While Chinese are proud of fame by paying tips, Khmer people jeer at you, too.
6、Chinese food
One of my Khmer friends summarized that the Khmer cusine, around 1USD per meal compared with Chinese cusine, 5-12USD per meal, at Phnom penh is much better and, of couse, much cheaper.
Due to the hot weather near the equator, the Khmer tend to eat something sour and sweet, whereas the Chinese, well, most of them, shares different tastes. Same as Treasure and Dollars, the delicious food is exactly what they are looking for, too.