Cambodia

Cambodia (which is formally known as the Kingdom of Cambodia and informally as Kampuchea) is a country located in Southeastern Asia.

Learn more about Cambodia

Who are the Khmer?

Khmers are descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia during the 10th and 13th centuries. Ninety percent of the population of Cambodia consider themselves to be Khmer as do minorities in neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. The Khmer language is the official language of Cambodia.

Religion

• Buddhist 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% according to the 1998 census.

Demographics

• Khmer population in the US

• In an American Community Survey conducted in 2006, the estimated number of Cambodian-Americans was highest in the following ten states:

  • • California (86,700)

    • Massachusetts (22,106)

    • Washington (13,055)

    • Texas (11,646)

    • Minnesota (7,790)

    • Pennsylvania (6,787)

    • Virginia (6,153)

    • New York (5,720)

    • Rhode Island (5,030)

    • Georgia (4,592)

Khmer Population in Oregon

In the early eighties, thirteen Cambodian refugee families were placed in Oregon. As of 2008, there are estimated to be a little over 5,000 Cambodian-American in the state. Cambodians in the Portland metro area are concentrated in Southeast and North Portland, Washington and Clackamas counties, and southwest Washington.

Most of Oregon's more than 5,000 Cambodians fled the Khmer Rouge; many have suffered from post-traumatic stress (PTSD) as a direct result of the horrors they endured during the time of the killing fields. Additionally, some are also struggling to assimilate and raise American-born children and grandchildren.

Khmer Culture

Birth and Death

The birth of a child is highly celebrated in Khmer culture. Traditional belief holds that pregnancy and childbirth expose the mother and child to potential harm from spirits. In Khmer culture, a pregnant woman avoids certain situations and foods in order to warn off harm.

Due to widespread belief in the Buddhist concept of reincarnation, death is not viewed as the end of life but rather as the beginning of another and thus grief is more contained than is usually seen in Western culture. The Khmer usually dress the corpse and place it in a coffin which is decorated with flowers. A funeral procession consisting of family, friends and Buddhist monks accompany the coffin to the crematorium. The Khmer usually cremate their dead. The spouse and children of the dead show their mourning by shaving their heads and wearing white.

Childhood

A Cambodian child is given a lot of physical affection and freedom up until the age of three or four. At the age of five years, they may be expected to help younger siblings. At seven or so, Cambodian children are expected to understand and obey societal norms regarding respect for elders and Buddhist monks, politeness and obedience. By age ten, a girl is expected to help her mother with chores around the house. Boys are expected to help with farm work. During his early teens, a boy may serve as a novice Buddhist monk, which is a great honor for his parents.

Marriage/Divorce

In Cambodia, premarital sex is frowned upon. Choosing a spouse is a complex family undertaking that may involve the services of a professional matchmaker. The average age of marriage for males is somewhere between the ages of nineteen and twenty-five and for females between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two.

The traditional Khmer wedding is a very elaborate event. Usually, it runs for a day and a half. The wedding service is officiated over by Buddhist priests who offer a sermon and prayers of blessing. The ceremony involves a combination of Khmer rituals such the tying of cotton threads soaked in holy water around the bride's and groom's wrists, and passing a candle around a circle of happily married couples to bless the union and cutting the bride and grooms hair. A banquet is held after the wedding service.

While divorce is legal it is not common in Khmer culture as divorced individuals are viewed with disapproval. Divorced individuals may remarry, but the woman must wait ten months. Custody of minor children is usually given to the mother, and both parents continue to have an obligation to contribute financially toward the rearing and education of any children from the union.

Social Interactions

Social relationships in Khmer culture are not egalitarian but highly hierarchical. Within the family, social rank depends upon birth order and gender. Outside the family, social rank depends upon a combination of the following: age, gender, wealth, religion and political position. In many social situations, the Khmer organize their daily interactions with others by attaching themselves to someone higher in the social hierarchy. This is known as a mutually beneficial patron-client relationship. The patron uses his influence to help his client whereas the client in turn provides loyalty and service to the patron over time. In Khmer culture, the only way to get something that is beyond your capacity is to attach yourself to a superior. Clients may switch back and forth between patrons over time and for different needs. The shifting of allegiances is seen as normal. However, an individual’s rank can change over their lifetime depending upon how through their actions, they gain or lose “merit”. The Khmer social order is highly influenced by Buddhist principles regarding selfless, the extinction of desire, Karma, dharma and rebirth.

The Khmer culture is highly collective and the individual always takes second place to the group regardless if it is a family, neighborhood or company.

The concept of face also ties into this collective framework. The notion of “face” roughly translates into honor, dignity or personal reputation. An individual can “lose face” when they are criticized, embarrassed or shamed in public. Protecting one's reputation or “face” and the reputation or “face” of another is highly important in all social interactions.

Khmer Holidays and Celebrations

• Unlike most other cultures, the Khmer do not celebrate birthdays. In fact, many older people may not know the exact date of their birth. Some of the major public holidays in Cambodia include:

• Victory Over Genocide Day (January 7th) commemorates the end of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in 1979.

• Cambodian New Years Day (moveable usually early April) is the most important festival in the Cambodian calendar.

• Visakh Bochea Day (moveable usually May or April) commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.

• Constitution Day (September 24th) commemorates the day that the Cambodian King signed the constitution.

• Feast of the Ancestors (moveable usually in September or October) is a religious holiday for Cambodian Buddhists who pay respect to their dead by cooking meals for Buddhist monks and making offerings to the “spirits” of deceased relatives.

• Water/Moon Festival (moveable usually in November) is holiday that celebrates the rivers in Cambodia.

Khmer Cuisine

Khmer cuisine is another name for the Cambodian diet which is considered to be similar to that of Thailand and Vietnam though generally considered not as spicy. Khmer cuisine has been influenced by its French colonial past and both Chinese and Indian cuisine.

Typically, Cambodians eat a diet mostly consisting of rice, noodles, soups and tropical fruits. Rice is a staple that features in almost every meal in the form of a curry, soup or stir fry. Typically, Cambodians eat meals that include at least three or four separate dishes usually one of which is a soup. Each individual dish will be either sweet, sour, salty or bitter to ensure that diners get a taste of every flavor.

Given Cambodia’s extensive network of waterways, it is not surprising that fish appears in many Khmer dishes. Dried salted fish is a favorite served with rice. The popular Khmer dish called “amok” includes catfish steamed in a coconut curry. Other common meats include pork, beef and chicken which are stewed, grilled or stir fried. Roasted duck is a popular holiday dish. More unusual meats that feature in the Khmer diet include frogs and turtles.

One very curious Cambodian delicacy is the Skuon tarantula spider. It is deep fried with plenty of salt and pepper and is also considered to have medicinal benefits and is used in the treatment of backaches and the common cold. A well-known spice base paste called kroeung features in many Cambodian dishes. It is made up of a blend of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, tumeric and cloves.

Another distinctive taste in Khmer cuisine is a fermented fish paste called prahok which appears in many dishes or is used as a dipping sauce. Fruits also feature frequently in the Cambodian diet. The most popular include mangos, pineapple, watermelon, coconuts and papaya and typically are served as desserts, drinks or shakes.

Cultural Tips for Working with Khmer Families

**Please bear in mind that the following points are generalizations and may not apply to all Cambodians.

• As a foreigner you may find that Khmer families may ask you a lot of personal questions and these are used to identify your 'rank'. Khmer families may change the way they communicate with you depending on your status.

• SLP’s need to be aware of the importance of face, when working with the Khmer, to ensure they do not cause anyone to lose face as a result of unintentional actions. The Khmer will always consider the implications of making statements or using particular words especially if it involves anything negative as it touches upon the issue of face.

• It is important to understand that the Khmer are very indirect communicators so some reading between the lines is necessary. If they disagree they would rather remain silent than make any negative comments.

• Smiling in Khmer culture is situational and can have multiple meanings; in addition to being a pleasantry, it could also mean a person does not understand what has been said, they are nervous and/or perhaps even irritated.

• Respect and deference must always be shown to the most senior person in the group. When meeting a group of Khmer, you will always be introduced to the highest ranking person. If groups are involved you should introduce people according to rank so that your Cambodian counterparts understand the dynamics of the group.

• Handshakes are normal although be careful not to be too firm as this may be misconstrued as aggression. If men are dealing with women they should wait and see if the woman extends a hand before doing so. Cambodians address people with the honorific title “Lok” for a man and “Lok Srey” for a woman.

Social Dos

• Small talk should always be employed at the beginning of meetings.

• It is important to treat business cards with respect as in Khmer culture the way you handle the card is indicative of the way you will handle the person.

• Be sure to speak clearly, slowly and to avoid use of slang, adages and colloquial sayings. The Khmer prefer ideas to be brought gently and to wait for others to respond.

Social Don’ts

• Avoid sustained eye contact.

• Showing emotions is considered a negative behavior. Anger, impatience or frustration should be hidden as these can lead to a loss of face.

• Pushy, pressured or boastful communication styles are viewed very negatively by the Khmer.

• In Khmer culture a person’s head is believed to contain the person’s soul, therefore do not pat a Khmer child’s head even in affection.

Original Contributors: Claire Connell and Janice Johnson 2008