Sunday, 27 November 2011
Prescott eNews
Written by Mia Mazanedo
Students learn to speak Khmer in preparation for a trip to Cambodia.
As part of our preparation for our Cambodia trip, we’re learning to speak their unique language, Khmer. So far we’ve learned basic words, just enough to get us around, but when we interact with the people we’ll get a greater understanding of the language.
To us, the words and pronunciations are quite different than we’re used to, requiring sounds we don’t normally use. It exercises our minds and takes work, but the advantages definitely outweigh the difficulties. Being able to speak their language will earn us respect from the Cambodian people, since it shows we’ve taken the time to understand their customs and language. For, learning the language also gives us a greater understanding of the culture.
There are many things about the language that are quite different than English. Also, the way they interact is very different. It seems as if they have a greater respect for each other, as they have different words to express different levels of respect. There are different greetings for a parent or elder than for a friend or a younger sibling. Also the levels of interaction between male and female are unlike what we are used to. The women are expected to respect men, though that respect also depends on a person’s age. For example, the word for “yes” is different for a woman than a man. But this small divide in their society does not make them a lesser culture in the world. Unlike most of us, the Cambodian people have a great respect for each other; the words used towards strangers are filled with as much respect as if they are talking to a brother.
We also have learned to greet another as well as say our goodbyes. When greeting another, it is proper etiquette to press your hand palm to palm and to a bow, the size of the bow signifying the level of respect. This action is accompanied by the words, “cumriup sua” as a formal greeting. It’s amazing when you think about all the small details of body language that you don’t normally notice that get taken into account in other countries. What we don’t realize is that something as small as pointing your feet at another could be interpreted as disrespectful. These are the details we are learning about before leaving.
This is such an amazing opportunity that we are getting. It will, I’m sure, alter our way of thinking towards the daily luxuries for which we are very lucky and give us a new view and respect towards other ways of living. I’m looking forward to speaking with people who have a different view on living and music and life in general. The connection language creates when there is no barrier is something impossible to replicate, which makes us all very lucky that we are getting this amazing experience so early on. I’m confident that this trip will not be soon forgotten.
Northpoint Travels to Cambodia!
In January, ten students and two staff from Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy will travel to Cambodia to spend two weeks exploring the country and learning about its culture. They will get to take music lessons, stay in a countryside village, and interact with Cambodian performance troupes. Under the Khmer Rouge, 90% of Cambodia’s musicians, artists, and performers died, and since then the country’s artistic traditions have slowly been recovering. The Northpoint students will help by doing a service project: they will construct a rehearsal space for a new music ensemble.
This is the first in a series of articles written by students going on the trip. This fall, the students are studying Cambodian language and culture and are doing much fundraising to support their travel. To donate and support these students, please visit http://northpointacademy.org/student-travel. For more information or to get involved, call 928-717-3272 and ask for Jeff Dyer.
Prescott eNews
Written by Mia Mazanedo
Students learn to speak Khmer in preparation for a trip to Cambodia.
As part of our preparation for our Cambodia trip, we’re learning to speak their unique language, Khmer. So far we’ve learned basic words, just enough to get us around, but when we interact with the people we’ll get a greater understanding of the language.
To us, the words and pronunciations are quite different than we’re used to, requiring sounds we don’t normally use. It exercises our minds and takes work, but the advantages definitely outweigh the difficulties. Being able to speak their language will earn us respect from the Cambodian people, since it shows we’ve taken the time to understand their customs and language. For, learning the language also gives us a greater understanding of the culture.
There are many things about the language that are quite different than English. Also, the way they interact is very different. It seems as if they have a greater respect for each other, as they have different words to express different levels of respect. There are different greetings for a parent or elder than for a friend or a younger sibling. Also the levels of interaction between male and female are unlike what we are used to. The women are expected to respect men, though that respect also depends on a person’s age. For example, the word for “yes” is different for a woman than a man. But this small divide in their society does not make them a lesser culture in the world. Unlike most of us, the Cambodian people have a great respect for each other; the words used towards strangers are filled with as much respect as if they are talking to a brother.
We also have learned to greet another as well as say our goodbyes. When greeting another, it is proper etiquette to press your hand palm to palm and to a bow, the size of the bow signifying the level of respect. This action is accompanied by the words, “cumriup sua” as a formal greeting. It’s amazing when you think about all the small details of body language that you don’t normally notice that get taken into account in other countries. What we don’t realize is that something as small as pointing your feet at another could be interpreted as disrespectful. These are the details we are learning about before leaving.
This is such an amazing opportunity that we are getting. It will, I’m sure, alter our way of thinking towards the daily luxuries for which we are very lucky and give us a new view and respect towards other ways of living. I’m looking forward to speaking with people who have a different view on living and music and life in general. The connection language creates when there is no barrier is something impossible to replicate, which makes us all very lucky that we are getting this amazing experience so early on. I’m confident that this trip will not be soon forgotten.
Northpoint Travels to Cambodia!
In January, ten students and two staff from Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy will travel to Cambodia to spend two weeks exploring the country and learning about its culture. They will get to take music lessons, stay in a countryside village, and interact with Cambodian performance troupes. Under the Khmer Rouge, 90% of Cambodia’s musicians, artists, and performers died, and since then the country’s artistic traditions have slowly been recovering. The Northpoint students will help by doing a service project: they will construct a rehearsal space for a new music ensemble.
This is the first in a series of articles written by students going on the trip. This fall, the students are studying Cambodian language and culture and are doing much fundraising to support their travel. To donate and support these students, please visit http://northpointacademy.org/student-travel. For more information or to get involved, call 928-717-3272 and ask for Jeff Dyer.
3 comments:
That is amazing that the american students respect and recognize the value of khmer language because they want to understand our culture, their students make the effort to learn to speak khmer.
FOB khmer parents living in the US should stop bragging about their khmer children for not knowing how to speak khmer or understand khmer language.
This lady write khmer better than 3 star gen. in cambodia...
I can't believe that this amazing group of students would care enough to learn the Khmer language and the culture in Cambodia!
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