Understanding Euphemisms...

So an update on language...it's been difficult to gauge how my language has been progressing since I've been at site. During training we had 4 hours a day of constant drilling, memorization and structured conversation. Although I do feel confident that my listening skills have improved. The other day I had one of those 'ah-hah' moments...when I realized I was starting to understand the naughty market ladies...

When I visit the market the women get so excited. They poke and prod me and tell me I'm getting too skinny and force feed me peanuts, cakes, fruits or whatever is lying around. They tell me my hair is long and pretty. They ask me how much my shirt/pants/shoes/mascara/nail polish costs. And inevitably, they ask me if I have a “special” (boyfriend/finance), when I'm going to get married, how many children I am going to have, and what their names are going to be.

This happens at least once a week:

Market Lady: “Keiko, you have a special?”
Me: Nope.
ML: Why not? You are at the right age to get married. Let me find you a handsome Khmer man to marry.
Me: No thanks. I am too busy. Maybe in two years when I get home I will marry.
ML: Can I come to your wedding?
Me: Yes, of course.

Last week though, the market ladies took a spin on the conversation. And I should have known by the naughty looks on their faces that they were going to makes jokes at my expense...

Market Lady: “Keiko, you have a special?”
Me: Nope.
ML: Why not? You are at the right age to get married. Let me find you a handsome Khmer man to marry.
Me: No thanks. I am too busy. Maybe in two years when I get home I will marry.
ML: You know the cold season is coming up.
Me: Yup, it's almost December.
ML: I think you should get yourself a poisach to keep warm.
Me: poisach?
(market ladies burst out into laughter. Slap me on the back.)

After asking clarifying questions that included the ladies acting out a man laying on top of a women, I realized that poisach literally translates to “Meat Blanket”. The conversation ended with one of my market friends saying “Make sure you get yourself a small meat blanket. You don't want to be squashed by all his meat”. Followed by more tears of laughter and back slaps.

I walked away from the conversation telling her she was a dirty woman and shaking my head. But I also felt a small feeling of accomplishment that I could understand more than a standard conversation about where I'm from and what I'm doing in Cambodia. Then I was able to get her back the next week when she was complaining that she was cold that morning by telling her that maybe her “meat-blanket was too small for her.” I had the whole market rolling with laughter!