By Greg Mellen, Staff writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (Calif., USA)
ANGKOR WAT - The smile comes easily. His approach is a mixture of confidence and deference. Om Koser is very good at what he does.
In Cambodia, speaking English is a popular way to get ahead. Many see it as a gateway to jobs in the growing tourism industry, possibly at a hotel or restaurant or as one of the ubiquitous tuk-tuk driver/tour guides that fly around Siem Reap, the gateway to the famous Angkor Wat temple complex.
Om has found a rather unique use for his English language skills. The 22-year-old identifies English speakers and hustles them by engaging in conversation, saying he is trying to improve his skills. Then, he asks for money to continue his schooling.
Like 85 percent of the villagers who live away from population centers, Om does not have a job. He lives in a small village with his grand-aunt and travels 40 kilometers each day to the Angkor Wat complex, which native Cambodians are allowed to enter for free to meet tourists.
"You are from California?" he asks a tourist. "The capital of California is Sacramento."
Om says he pays to learn English and that good teachers are hard to find and expensive. Although Om's English is very good, he says he wants to learn more.
In the meantime, he seems to be faring well chatting up visitors.
In Cambodia, speaking English is a popular way to get ahead. Many see it as a gateway to jobs in the growing tourism industry, possibly at a hotel or restaurant or as one of the ubiquitous tuk-tuk driver/tour guides that fly around Siem Reap, the gateway to the famous Angkor Wat temple complex.
Om has found a rather unique use for his English language skills. The 22-year-old identifies English speakers and hustles them by engaging in conversation, saying he is trying to improve his skills. Then, he asks for money to continue his schooling.
Like 85 percent of the villagers who live away from population centers, Om does not have a job. He lives in a small village with his grand-aunt and travels 40 kilometers each day to the Angkor Wat complex, which native Cambodians are allowed to enter for free to meet tourists.
"You are from California?" he asks a tourist. "The capital of California is Sacramento."
Om says he pays to learn English and that good teachers are hard to find and expensive. Although Om's English is very good, he says he wants to learn more.
In the meantime, he seems to be faring well chatting up visitors.
2 comments:
Watch YouTube "Sihanouk & Vietcong"
Hun Sen does not speak foreign language but he can beg well indeed.
Not a surprise, this is the generation of January 7,1979 survival skills,begging and con art.
Sadly, we can't blame people if government is beggar already.
Post a Comment