Åse I.
Google
Previously good experiences with this Canadian- owned store. Great variety of items; both local and international- from bananas to sieves and veggie burgers, it's pricy, but mostly worth it - yet, at my last visits, the language barrier has been intolerably high for some reason. I asked a young staff member for a knife, she did not understand this word, that's okay. She called on three different co- workers until one of them could help me locate it. I shook it off, I laughed. I know the Khmai eat with sticks in one hand, but still. 3 and then 4 people scrambling to understand, even with pictures, I have to admit it was stressful. On my last and final visit, I asked for a clothes-line, the staff told me to go to Aeon mall, but I knew it was in stock here, so I found it. I want to ask you: If you travel abroad, struggle with the language, would you accept to be so obviously laughed at by three- four, five people, when paying for the item they did not help you find? I know the basics of what say when you talk about me. I greet you with "sustei oun". I teach at schools, I'm learning basic by and bye. I say good afternoon in your language, out of respect. Both these products were labled in English. This is the first and only time I felt like I encountered real, cold racism in Cambodia. When checking out the last time, the staff involved in not finding the clothes line, in my point of view, had to be cool with eachother again, gather around laughing the the misunderstanding off, I get it. They are teens. But nobody said sorry or bye. Nobody understood. And I kind of felt ashamed. I get they are young, but hoo boy, was that offensive and ignorant.
