saltwatersteve.com/travel

I have often heard that French is the most widely spoken language in the world. While it might be true that French is the most widely native language spoken, if it is not already, English is on the rise for being the most widely spoken in general. I am absolutely amazed by how many people speak English here in SE Asia. It is the common language not only for all the Asian countries whose languages and characters are quite different from each other, but for all countries.
Every child at Angkor Wat over the age of 9 spoke practically fluent English with the bonus of knowing almost every country’s capital. Apparently, the tourists have taught them this–maybe we are doing something good. It does make for persistent and cunning salespeople. It is very hard to resist children, and they know it. They said, “But I told you the capital of America is Washington DC.” I guess that means I am supposed to buy something. And then I am torn. I do want to support and reward education and hard work, but I do not want to support child labor, and if children continue to be successful salespeople then they will continue to work as such. They ask me, “But why don’t you want it?” I guess I would like children to be able to be children. Maybe that is impractical, and maybe it is not so bad to have children help support their families, but it is what I wish for. At least now we get to interact, and while convincing me to buy something their humor, innocence and curiosity can’t help but come out.