Ruby is obsessed with tea. She’s converted Phan to her cause, and now he cannot go without his milk and sugar. Her desire for milk and general shopping has integrated her into the Khmer culture well- I imagine she is a fierce haggler!
Her (East) London-Benghali upbringing makes her very comfortable with the big family culture here, and the implication that almost everyone is a relative. Calling everyone sister and eating rice is not a cultural shock, and her travels in the Middle East make her more attuned to cross-cultural interactions.
Ruby’s personal challenge over the next three months (apart from sharing a room with me) is to learn how to swim! Describing herself as just never really having the desire nor the opportunity, the beautiful Yeak Loam lake is inviting enough to convince her! We are planning to throw her in at the deep end. She’s also trying to learn 114 surahs from the Qur’an (47 done so far!) while we’re here: a pretty extensive task (ironically it is a miniature edition).
Ruby eating only halal meat fits well with my select eating habits. We are both very keen on dry (fish) and bon-lie (vegetables), much to the shared bemusement of Phan and our host family. We are often observed in the synchronous habit of peering at unfamiliar foods and guessing as to their components. Russian Roulette bonds us well. As does our complete bewilderment at the magically produced ‘forest’ vegetables. It’s nice to have someone else at the dinner table who is equally confused!
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