Cambodian Barbeque

On Wednesday, Laum decided to have a barbeque at school beginning at 2:00.  I was a bit perplexed because we don't have a barbeque, nor do Cambodians know how to barbeque.  I had spent the day in my apartment working on lesson plans, reading, and resting my injured foot and knee from my fall down the stairs.   

A torrential downpour began at noon and lasted for hours.  It was our biggest storm yet.  This might cause some people to postpone such an event to another day.  But not Laum.  Heck no!  This is a man who took three months to install an A.C. unit in Cynthia's apartment.  However, if there is a party at stake, he is your go-to-guy.  He showed up at my door, soaking wet, wearing only a sarong, and said, "Kerri, can I have your pot?"  Ummmm...  Apparently, cooking outside was not an option, and they had moved the operation indoors.  I gave him my electric stove, rice cooker, spatula, and big frying pan. 

Sophert and Bop did all the cooking.  Tom sat outside on a bench and chain smoked for two hours.  Roam arrived with Haylissa which was exciting because this was his daughter's first visit to our school. 

In typical Cambodian fashion, the party began three hours late.  Some of Laum's friends showed up.  They served rice, fish, fish, and more fish.  Oh, I almost forgot there was also duck.  I ate the French fries that Laum had bought in Sisophon five hours previously.  They were cold and mushy, but I was so ravenous that I ate them all.

Cynthia asked Laum what kind of fish is was.  Laum replied, "Big fish and small fish." 

Tom was as annoying as ever.  One of Laum's friends now lives in Australia and speaks some English, but she was here for a visit.  I asked her, "Which part do you live?"  She looked confused, so I rephrased my question and spoke more slowly, "What town do you live in?"  After she answered, Tom leaned over to me and said, "You don't have to speak to her like a 4th grader.  She speaks English.  I talked with her for 10 minutes earlier."  I wanted to reply, "Obviously, you didn't notice that she didn't understand my question the first time.  And I am certain that you did not talk WITH her.  You talked AT her like you do with everyone, you arrogant prick."  However, I held my tongue because Tom is leaving soon, and I will never have to see him again.  Yaaayyy!

On a side note, Tom is still dating Bop, and he recently went to Bangkok for several days because he needed some dental work.  Of course, he can't go anywhere without his arm candy, so he took Bop too.  He proudly exclaimed to the entire table, "Everyone thought she was Thai!"  He was very pleased with this because in general Thai women are considered more beautiful than Cambodian women.  He added, "She doesn't look Asian."  My head snapped around, and I snorted, "She doesn't look Asian???"  (Oh my God.  Does he know what continent this is?)  Naturally, he didn't catch the sarcasm in my voice because that would mean that he was actually listening to me. 

Poor Bop.  Her first (and probably only) boyfriend ever is old, rude, and disgusting.  Well, at least she has gotten some nice jewelry and a few trips out of the deal.

Cynthia was happily eating the fish which she said was good until Tom told her that the fish came out of the pond next to our school.  After that, I took note that she stopped eating it.  I'm not sure why.  Possibly because the pond is a cesspool.  Or perhaps because after picking away the outside flesh, we noticed the fish had not been gutted.  I have never seen a fish's colon before, and I think maybe you have not, so I will describe it in great detail.  It is a long, translucent tube that sticks out prominently.  It looks like a straw, but not a clean one, more like one that has been used for several weeks to slurp Root Beer and curry.

Cynthia tried to eat the duck, but she is a finicky eater.  Strangely, she doesn't like to eat grizzly pieces of duck that consist of more bone than meat.  She also doesn't like duck head or duck feet.  By the end of the meal, Gogo and the another dog who also attended the feast were extremely well fed. 

While we were eating (or not eating in some cases), the rain ceased, and a beautiful rainbow appeared in the east.  It was a lovely end to another interesting day in the rice paddies.