She doesn't look older than 8 or 9. Girl is also expert at cutting up meat, waitressing and clearing tables. Seeing a friend, she ran off laughing, then her mom called her back to work after about a minute. Seeing a baby next door, she went to say hello to her. Having sat across the street from this food stand a dozen times, I only saw her today, so she only works there occasionally.
3 comments:
It's amazing how competent poor children can be, and contrary to the belief of most coddled westerners, it doesn't reduce their happiness. Somehow impoverished children find ways to laugh, smile, play and also contribute to their families' duties.
Here in Midwest USA many kids are now essentially child laborers except instead of being paid, they pay tons of money to spend all their free time learning skills they'll never use in adulthood. 1 in a million will ever become a professional football player or dancer, though they sacrifice tens of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours instead of building generational wealth or something else more practical.
USA is itself the greatest and most sadistic anti human scam in all of history.
If you would like a hearty western style meal - meat and three veg - and the company of old expats head to the Rising Sun Cafe in Phnom Penh. Its run by three lovely women. The Sunday roast special is terrific but any time of the week is equally good. The prices haven't changed in 10 years neither has the menu. They're just off the river front and very near to the Royal Palace and National Art Museum.
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