We’ve encountered our share of street vendors and other hustlers in various parts of the world, but they’ve mostly been adults. In Cambodia, hustling tourists seems to be the primary activity for kids, too.
Some of them try to work the sympathy angle, while others have more sophisticated tactics. Nearly all of them speak surprisingly good English. These kids are pretty well-versed in American trivia, too.
Here’s how a typical interaction goes:
Kid: “Hello, Mister, you want postcard? (or guidebook, or bracelet, or whatever)
Me: (smiling politely) “No, thank you!”
Kid: “Excuse me, where you from?”
Me: “the United States”
Kid: “Where?”
Me: “America”
Kid: “Oh, America! Capital is Washington, DC. Largest State is Alaska. Largest City New York. What state you from?”
Me: “Texas”
Kid: “Texas? Capital of Texas….(long pause)….Your President’s name Obama. He has 2 daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama. His wife name Michelle Obama. You buy postcard?”
Me: “no thanks!”
Kid: “You know what the population of America is?”
Me: “No.”
Kid: “303 million, 824 thousand, 640 minus 4. You know why minus 4?”
Me: “umm….”
Kid: “Because you 4 are here! You buy postcard now? I give you good price…”
Me: “I already have enough postcards”
Kid: “These are different. Have a look…One dollar for all.”
Me: “I don’t need any more postcards, thanks.”
Kid: “I have bracelet, too. You buy for your children…”
Me: “I’m sorry…”
(suddenly another tourist couple walks by.)
Kid: (to other tourists) “Hey Mister, where you from? Australia? Capital is Sydney…”
(I make hasty exit)
It’s amusing, annoying, and uncomfortable. You’ll be mobbed by half a dozen of these “vendors” before your tuk-tuk even stops at a temple – and they’ll be waiting for you when you come back out, too. They’re all selling the exact same crap, and there’s at least 7 of them for every tourist.
After a few days it stopped bothering me so much. Although the cynic in me wants to believe it’s all an act, deep down I know that most of these kids are just trying to feed themselves and their families.
I try to help out every now and then, especially when the kid is selling something I actually need or want, like a cold drink or central air conditioning – but there’s only so much you can buy. Within 2 days I already had all the postcards & bracelets I wanted.
But the temples and ruins of Angkor are well worth enduring these throngs of budding capitalists, as you’ll see in the next couple of posts.
{ 3 comments }
Hey – we sweepers can always use a few postcards – lol
Does that mean you bought me some postcards? I like the shadow picture at the top of the post. Four more days.
BELEIVE ME !! You won;t have any problem disposing of your extra cards , the bracelets i’m not to sure of.
Love to all DAD
Comments on this entry are closed.