what i’ve learned in peace corps cambodia [pt. 13]

The United States has 52 states.

At least, that’s what Cambodia is convinced of. The conversation usually starts like this:

- ‘What state are you from?’

- ‘I am from Wisconsin’

- ‘Oh… (tries to pronounce whes-kun-sun) Is it near Cal-ee-for-nee-a? (Long Beach, CA has a large Cambodian community, so many Cambodians know this state, but that’s about it.)

- ‘No, it is very far from California. It’s close to Chicago, do you know Chicago?’ (sometimes they have heard of it, usually they just say yes anyways.)

- ‘Oh, America has 52 states. I know California and Washington and Boston.’

- ‘No, there are only 50 states.’

- ‘Nooo, 52. I know.’

- ‘No, there are 50 states.’

- ‘well… (then the person, unable to comprehend how an American doesn’t even know about their own states, will try to change the subject, their state knowledge having been fully exhausted.)

So, somewhere along the way, somebody played a great trick on the Cambodians that makes them look like fools anytime they try to have discussions about American geography. And changing their minds is not easy. Even teaching them about Alaska and Hawaii, and how they are included in the 50 states, will not change the fact that they already know it is 52. I think it was in a textbook years ago. Which means that it’s still being used in schools, I’m sure. I think the easiest thing to do here will just be to add two new states, Barack. Maybe we can just split Texas into three? After all, it’s ‘like a whole other country…’