Can I talk about the Khmer Rouge/Pol Pot years with the locals?
Most of the time, yes. I’ve found many Cambodians quite willing to talk about their experiences, sometimes quite candidly. However, as this is not universal, should you be talking with a Cambodian and want to know about his or her personal experiences during this time, you might want to dance around the issue a little and see what their reaction is. More often than not, they’ll tell you. My former landlord, who went through horrors most of us couldn’t even imagine in our worst nightmares, will rattle on for hours (especially if he’s been drinking) about the Pol Pot years and the subsequent civil war he had to endure. There are some horrific stories out there and almost anybody over the age of forty can relate one. I think they’re worth listening to. On a more cynical note, there are those who have been known to embellish significantly their histories in the hopes of gaining sympathy and particularly a little extra cash out of you. It’s unfortunate, but true.
