There is nothing one way about it

So here are a few short observations I have made about culture.

Every week Caleb (a fellow long term volunteer at RDIC) and I, each spend time with Makara (our neighbour) to assist her in English pronunciation and vocabulary that helps her in her job tutoring school students. Working through Makara's text books we get to read different stories, lessons and scenarios that are used to teach children English. A few weeks ago Makara and I worked through the lesson on clothing. A picture of a clothes line showed a range of clothing items and their English words.
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We got to pyjamas. For this item a pyjama top and pyjama bottom were attached to the line. The clothes looked familiar to Makara but she had not heard this word before, so I needed to explain. Ummm....they are usually a suit - top and bottom - and they are loose and comfortable, and we wear them to bed....in western countries....ummm of course in Cambodia these clothes are worn during the day, to the market, down the street, etc which is good, very cool and practical. Makara's jaw dropped a little....her hand went to her mouth....she laughed out loud....What? Were the bright coloured, printed cotton button up tops with matching pants considered bed wear only in Australia/Canada/the US! We had a slightly confused pause. Hmmm....were either of our practices a little strange? Inflexible?...or had we just both sensibly adapted an available resource to a practical use.

So reversing this story....I mentioned to friends recently that in 5 months in Cambodia I have worn shoes and socks only about 6 times, when I have gone for a run. Shoes are kicked off at the door of every building you go to, so slip on sandals or thongs are best. I have slipped into a reliable pair of green thongs (provided by my good mates Fae, Cath and Pip as I stepped onto the plane to come here). These thongs are my staple and I wear them all day every day.

So Jane wears thongs in Phnom Penh for work too. They were her staple. Comfy, cool, airy.... until she was asked by one of her colleagues why she was...wearing 'bathroom shoes' all the time. Surely she could come up with something better. Yes I had noticed too but failed to register....that rubber thongs are retained for the privilege of protecting feet from the wet bathroom floors upon which showers are taken directly, and water is generally sloshed around as a form of cleaning....maybe even from the result of those bidet like hoses provided in most Khmer bathrooms.

How could thongs then be considered fashion items along the riverfront when then they provide a rubber glove or a cooking apron-like protection! We look pretty funny to Cambodians too it seems....

Which reminds me...when we discuss methods for sustainably implementing new technologies to communities sometimes we might ask ourselves 'Why wouldn't a community love our new pit toilets, or wet latrines, or water filters?' I have pretty much worked out that those bidet/hose things are beyond my comprehension and are likely never to give me what I need from a bathroom experience. And if I can be so resolute about this new-to-me technology, why wouldn't members of Cambodian communities about our next new thing!

Judy