For some Cambodians, on the day they are born they are automatically one year old.
Others add another year to their age every Khmer New Year in April.
Therefore, a new born baby on March 20th 2010 could be 1 year old. Then, by April 14th 2010 this same baby could be 2 years old - in less than 30 days.
Additionally, early entrance into prestigious schools means parents will falsify age documentation, further increasing their child's age so as to gain entrance.
Perhaps this goes a little way in explaining why in my Grade-1 class I have students ranging from six to thirteen years??!!
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