Yesterday morning at the local market in Phnom Penh a boy asked me, in English, “Do you speak Vietnamese?” I know maybe seven words of Vietnamese so I answered with, “Xin chào.” He responded in Chinese with, “Wo hen hao.” I have to thank the bookshop owner in Prey Veng for teaching me enough Chinese to recognize that!
Also, I have to say that – despite the heat, crowds, and chaos – I love the traditional markets here. They are a communal space.
What a cool experience! Quite interesting that none were Khmer. I really enjoy hearing about your adventures.
Next you will be speaking in Tongues.
That would be helpful in Myanmar. There are around one hundred dialects/languages spoken there!