The main language spoken in Cambodia is Khmer (say 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 six months, and I get a lot of practice talking with students and teachers 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 used much in smaller villages and towns, it is a useful language to know if students plan to study in the Capital city of Phnom Penh. English is the language spoken by many tourists and foreign business partners, so many people in the capital can speak English and Khmer. Two English words that I hear even in rural villages are "hello" and "goodbye". 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 riel. 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. Once, I paid in riels, and was given a dollar (in place of 4,000 riels) as change.
