Family Dinner Under the Sky in Siem Reap
Three months ago, I had a vision:
I was sitting with elders under the shade of a big tree, sharing food, laughing, talking — as if we were one family.
And today, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, this vision came true.
We gathered the elders of the village and created one big family table under the open sky.
✨ We cooked Cambodian Banh Hoi (fine rice vermicelli with grilled meat, fresh herbs, and dipping sauce) and Russian salad Olivier. Two different cultures, two different traditions — but one shared meal.
We gathered the elders of the village and created one big family table under the open sky.
✨ We cooked Cambodian Banh Hoi (fine rice vermicelli with grilled meat, fresh herbs, and dipping sauce) and Russian salad Olivier. Two different cultures, two different traditions — but one shared meal.
Behind the scenes
That morning I woke up early and went shopping with our assistant and translator, Savanna. We loaded fresh vegetables, herbs, noodles, meat, and spices into a tuk-tuk and brought them to a rented kitchen near the school.
I had prepared the Russian salad the night before, with help from a kind hotel staff who let me use their kitchen. Savanna cooked the meats — beef, chicken, and shrimp — while I washed and chopped all the vegetables and herbs. I usually don’t cook meat myself, but I wanted to honor the elders’ traditions and give them the food they love.
That morning I woke up early and went shopping with our assistant and translator, Savanna. We loaded fresh vegetables, herbs, noodles, meat, and spices into a tuk-tuk and brought them to a rented kitchen near the school.
I had prepared the Russian salad the night before, with help from a kind hotel staff who let me use their kitchen. Savanna cooked the meats — beef, chicken, and shrimp — while I washed and chopped all the vegetables and herbs. I usually don’t cook meat myself, but I wanted to honor the elders’ traditions and give them the food they love.
The school director kindly allowed us to host the dinner on their grounds. Children helped sweep the yard and carry out tables, while our team began arranging the food. My son Leo filmed as we prepared, capturing every detail.
Meanwhile, our driver Ang Tong began bringing the elders to the school in his tuk-tuk, four at a time. Some lived too far to walk — it would take them more than an hour on foot — so we personally picked them up. Those who lived nearby came on their own, smiling and curious.
Meanwhile, our driver Ang Tong began bringing the elders to the school in his tuk-tuk, four at a time. Some lived too far to walk — it would take them more than an hour on foot — so we personally picked them up. Those who lived nearby came on their own, smiling and curious.
As the elders arrived, they sat in the shade, chatting and laughing while waiting for the rest. Music played — old Cambodian songs from their youth — filling the air with nostalgia.
The dinner
When everyone had gathered, I stood at the table, pressed my palms together, and welcomed them:
“We are here today as one family. We are not divided by culture, age, or social status. At this table, we are all equal.”
Then we held hands and prayed together — for health, for food on the table, for peaceful and joyful days ahead.
“We are here today as one family. We are not divided by culture, age, or social status. At this table, we are all equal.”
Then we held hands and prayed together — for health, for food on the table, for peaceful and joyful days ahead.
And then we began to eat.
The elders loved the Cambodian dishes, eating with their hands, wrapping herbs, noodles, and meat in banana leaves. They curiously tried the Russian salad too — some said it was unusual, but still smiled as they ate. Laughter and conversations filled the air.
Before leaving, we packed meals for each elder to take home. Sarun raised her food container in gratitude, and soon all the others joined her. Together they prayed and sang words of blessing.
🙏 In that moment, I was deeply moved. Tears came to my eyes as I felt their love and gratitude flowing back. I realized: everything I had done — all the work, all the preparation — was worth it for this single moment of shared love.
✨ That feeling of warmth, unity, and love that I experienced that evening became one of the most important moments for me. It felt as if the hearts of everyone present at the dinner had opened — and I believe it was healing for all of us.
For the elders, it meant something very simple yet profound: “We are cared for.”
I told them that I had come not just as myself, but as a messenger to reflect the care of the world — and of God — for them. That in this moment, we were helping each other, staying together as one family.
✨ That feeling of warmth, unity, and love that I experienced that evening became one of the most important moments for me. It felt as if the hearts of everyone present at the dinner had opened — and I believe it was healing for all of us.
For the elders, it meant something very simple yet profound: “We are cared for.”
I told them that I had come not just as myself, but as a messenger to reflect the care of the world — and of God — for them. That in this moment, we were helping each other, staying together as one family.
After the meal, we said our goodbyes. Our driver and helpers brought the elders back home, one by one. Then we cleaned the school grounds, packed everything, and finally headed back ourselves.
The day had been so full and so bright that even after returning to the hotel, I kept savoring its aftertaste — the lingering joy of such a beautiful evening.
Of course, this dinner was not only for the elders themselves, but also to show the world how extraordinary, kind, and real these people are. So that everyone who sees this can feel the same warmth we shared around that table.
The day had been so full and so bright that even after returning to the hotel, I kept savoring its aftertaste — the lingering joy of such a beautiful evening.
Of course, this dinner was not only for the elders themselves, but also to show the world how extraordinary, kind, and real these people are. So that everyone who sees this can feel the same warmth we shared around that table.
