amy-with-instrument

amy-with-instrument
Originally uploaded by honeybeealtman.

We are back in Phnom Penh. Although there was an internet café right next to our hotel in Battambang, I rarely used it because I was either too sick or too tired. I woke up yesterday with a lung infection and began antibiotics right away. I am already taking so many medications, and the side effects, along with my frustration at the heat and at some locations in Battambang, have made me quite irritable.

Yesterday morning we were seen on Cambodian National Television. I hope to get a copy of the story, as there was a nice shot of me filming the reunion at the airport. The piece was short and well done. Amy is in contact with some French journalists to discuss the possibilities of a longer interview for a feature story. We think it could be good for securing funding for the documentary.

On another note, our interpreter, Sophal, confessed to us that Amy’s Cambodian family is obsessed with our breasts. From what I’ve gathered, Cambodian women wear heavily-padded bras regardless of their breast size or age. They are shocked that our breasts are allowed to move with our bodies, and that our nipples are visible through our clothing at times. They ask each other, "Why don’t these Americans wear bras? Look at how their chests move, when they walk. Look how low their breast are!" We have attempted to explain that we do wear bras, but it has been made clear that whatever it is we are wearing, it is NOT classified as a bra here in Cambodia.

Today we went to the National Museum of Cambodia. There were signs telling us not to touch the work, though I saw many Cambodian people disregard them. I was amused, however, to see birds fly into the building to jump around and shit on the ancient statues. I think about 70 percent of the pieces in the museum were classified as unknown period, unknown origin. The museum doesn’t have the funds to date much of the work, or to supply a point of entry of interpretation for viewers.

Later we went to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts to watch a rehearsal of the premiere classical dance troupe of Cambodia. We saw a new piece that was funded by the New England Foundation for the Arts. I think it was named, “Culture Shock” It interpreted culture shock using the traditional language of Cambodian dance. I really enjoyed watching the choreographer interact with her dancers.

We are having control difficulties with the Aunties again. The questions about how much we pay for everything here and back at home has become distressful and offensive to Liesel. Amy sees all these behaviors as cultural, but today Sophal was quick to say that it was not cultural at all. Please do not say it is cultural, he said. I have never seen anyone act this way! Just good old-fashioned bad behavior, I guess.

Back in Battambang, there was an incident where she locked the driver on the roof of her house overnight. He couldn’t sleep for having to go to the toilet so badly. Not only that, but spirits tortured him through the night (Sok Kim’s house is reputed to have a ghost problem, but not for being old and having a long history, simply for the bad energy she creates).

Also, even though we told them our plans for today, Sok Kim wanted us to go back to the tailor. The tailor’s daughter is available for marriage, you see. We told her clothes were not a priority right now. This morning she called us from the tailor’s house to tell us she was waiting there and we must go to have our clothes finished. We are going to the museum and the academy, we said. Fine, she said, pick me up.

We got a little smarter today and had the driver drop us off at the museum and THEN go pick her up. Guess what? She didn’t come.