Venus Goon, the Penang woman whose video clip of a young Cambodian boy speaking several languages went viral earlier this month, has spoken about her meeting, calling the boy an inspiration.
“Many people like to complain about how tough their lives are. But this boy, had a lot of positive vibes. His positivity and cheerfulness in the face of adversity just won me over,” she told The Star.
Two weeks ago, the travel-lover posted a series of photos and video clips of Thuch Salik, a 14-year-old Cambodian boy that she met selling souvenirs near the tourist hot spot, and UNESCO World Heritage site, Angkor Wat.
Working his way through the ELEVEN languages he is conversational in, Salik manages to maintain good humor and a charming disposition as he explains the goods that he is selling. Throughout their conversations, he manages to slip between Cantonese, Mandarin, Thai, Japanese, English, Korean, French, Spanish, German, Tagalog, and our very own, Bahasa Melayu – counting, singing songs, explaining his wares, and showcasing his chit-chatting skills. He even gave a pretty moving performance of the Chinese song Wo Men Bu Yi Yang, at one point.
He can count to ten in no less than 16 languages, including Russian, Vietnamese and Italian. Oh, and three Chinese dialects.
When she asks him how he learned all of the different languages, he modestly explains that the tourists visiting Angor Wat have taught him new words and phrases.
Salik is one of many children who work in and around the UNESCO site, helping to sell magnets and postcards alongside his mother and brother.
Channel News Asia spoke with the boy and his family, who explained that he began selling souvenirs when he was 11, and at the time only spoke his native tongue, slowly learning a bit of English, and then realizing that if he learned a few Chinese and English ballads, he could up his entrepreneurial game with visiting tourists.
After gaining worldwide fame, Salik and his family have since been taken to the Phnom Penh on an all-expenses paid trip to be featured on local television. Charities and wealthy individuals have pledged thousands of dollars, donated new bicycles and toys, and even promised to fund Salik’s education until he finishes university.
Salik attends school during the week, but then comes to help his mother sell wares in the afternoon, causing him to miss out on many school activities that the family cannot afford.
According to CNA, his mother has said that the new financial security for her son’s education, he may never sell again – “If he does not have time, I will push him to focus on his studies more because I want my son to be educated, because I am uneducated,” she said.
Speaking with the woman who brought Salik on the world stage, Venus explained to The Star that the boy was just not linguistically talented, but a great businessman.
“He would use all kinds of ways to make sure people buy from him. He asked me to buy a flute from him and he would teach me how to play with it. If I still didn’t know how to after he taught me, he would give me the flute for free.
When asked about the video’s sudden viral fame, she admitted that she was surprised: She had only thought her friends would watch.
“I was overwhelmed by all the response. Some of my friends told me the video made them sit up and take notice that there are still many children who live in poverty out there.”
Heartwarming, and most importantly – a story that carries a message: Remember those less fortunate, be happy for what you have, take the time to speak with people and learn from them, as Venus learned from Salik, and know that there are still good people out there willing to help. We hope you continue learning, Salik – you’re really good at it!
