Cambodians and Their Food: Part II

One thing I've never understood is eating on the floor. I simply can't do it. Bending over to reach my food always puts my stomach in knots and undoubtedly my legs fall asleep in any variety of positions. Had I grown up eating on the floor, I guess it wouldn't be a big deal now. But given the choice between a comfortable chair and a table or sitting on the floor, the former wins hands down.

But in Asia eating from the floor is like when you want to go for a run, but you have to decide which route you want to take and what kind of run you're going to go on. Is it a fast run? Is it a hill run? A long run? Then you have to make sure that your contancts are lubed up with conditioner so you won't have to stop if a bit of dust gets in them. And before that you have to decide what to wear. If it's hot, do you go for the tan, or do you wear heavier clothes to promote more sweating? If it's cold, do you wear a long sleeve shirt knowing that you'll have to take it off at some point when your body warms up, or do you endure the inital chills so that you don't have to worry about carrying your shirt during your run? If it's sunny do you wear a hat, knowing that if you get too hot you will have to carry that too? Then you have to decide if you want to bring music. Will there lots of traffic, and will the music be dangerous? Is there enough power in the music player to make it through an enitre run? More importantly, what music will you listen to? Then you have to drink water so you're hydrated enough, but not too much so that you get cramps durning the run. Then you have to make sure you have the keys to your house so that you can get back in. And then you can go for a run.

Eating on the floor for Asians is just like preparing to go for a run, you know - normal.

~ J-Dub