Several weeks ago, I decided to spend my Christmas money on a pedicure/manicure at Tida Nails. I’m not a frequent customer; I usually make a point of getting there at least once in the summer, but the rest of the year is iffy. Since I like to walk around barefoot, I really should go more often.
I really like Tida, and she’s been so kind to me each time I visit. I met her son, Kalvin, last summer, and he’s a great kid. In the past, Tida has been the only one in the shop unless it’s a school holiday when Kalvin is helping his mom. This last visit, she had a new woman working and another older woman was sitting in the corner.
I’m a naturally inquisitive person and usually ask lots of questions. Some folks might call me nosy, but I just love to meet new people. Through a series of questions and some translating back and forth, I learned that the older woman was Kimsiv, Tida’s mom. She’s here visiting from Cambodia and spends most days just hanging around the shop. I asked if Kimsiv would like to visit my mom and we arranged a visit the next day.
I picked up Kimsiv at the appointed time and drove her out to Mom and Dad’s. Although it was only a short drive, it was so quiet. I hadn’t really thought about the fact that Kimsiv and I couldn’t talk to each other! Here I was taking her away from everyone who spoke her language to a place she’d never been; she was so brave. I needn’t have worried because she walked right in and made herself at home.
She greeted Mom as though they were old friends. She took Mom’s hands and squeezed them and kept touching Mom over and over through the visit. Mom, of course, greeted her the same way. I don’t believe Mom ever understood that Kimsiv couldn’t understand her. Mom just talked and talked. I suddenly realized that Google Translate might help us communicate!
I had to call Tida because I didn’t even know what language to use. If I’d done some homework, I could have learned that Khmer was the main language of Cambodia. Unfortunately, I later learned Google Translate doesn’t work very well between English and Khmer. That first visit was a tough learning curve for both of us.
A puzzle was on the dining room table and I invited her to join me as we worked it. She was quite intent on how to do it. She watched the birds with us and worked on the puzzle for the hour we were together. Kimsiv told me she was glad to see my mother and said, “She is very beautiful and very satisfied.” I didn’t want to extend the first visit too much because I wanted her to feel comfortable and come again. I gave her a small puzzle to take home with her. When I took her back to the shop, I asked her (through Tida) if she’d like visit Mom again. She agreed and gave me a big hug! She told me that she loved me!
The next Thursday, we had another playdate. She seemed genuinely excited to see me and we had another lovely visit of puzzles, birdwatching, smiles, and hugs. This time I spent part of her time practicing the piano. She came in and silently stood by the piano, seemingly enthralled. She said she didn’t know how to play or sing, but she liked to listen. She also said of Dad: “I see old and healthy old man. I am happy.“ We all laughed at that one!
Visit number three was this past Saturday and it was more of the same. Dad picked her up from the shop and she came out to the house. Kimsiv was so kind to Mom. When I needed to move Mom back to her chair, she walked behind Mom with her hands on her hips. When we returned to the shop, she held my hand as we walked in. The shop was very busy so I didn’t have much time to talk with Tida.
Hopefully this week I’ll have another chance to bring her out to Mom’s and I’ll have more of her story to tell you next week!
