The main language spoken in Cambodia is Khmer (pronounced Kh-mai). The Khmer language is very beautiful, but it's very different from English! I have been learning to speak Khmer for the past year and four months, and I get a lot of practice talking with students at my school, with my host family and with people in my community. One phrase that I use a lot is "Sua-sdei! Khnoem chmuah..." ("Hello! My name is...")
In public schools, students begin studying English in Grade Four. Although English is not spoken much in smaller villages and towns, it is a useful language to know, and many people want to learn. English is the language spoken by many tourists and foreign business partners. In the big cities, such as the capital city of Phnom Penh, many students can speak both English and Khmer. Two English words that I hear even in rural villages are "hello" and "bye-bye". I am often greeted with a "hello!" when I am talking with someone new, and when I respond in Khmer, they are happily surprised!
Cambodia has its own currency, called the Cambodian riel. One U.S. dollar is equal to about 4,000 riels. There are no coins, and the bills come in lots of colors. Many places also accept U.S. dollars. Usually, if I pay using dollars, I am given change in riels.
