Teacher’s Week

August 27-31, 2007

Right now, I’m sitting in class listening to Sharon (Boss) talk about Camp meeting. She has to explain everything to the Cambodians in detail because they don’t know much English and sometimes don’t totally understand. Cambodia is a very different place to be. I still can’t believe I’m living here the whole year! The school is pretty nice. I’m mostly happy about the bathrooms; clean. Other than that the school and our place the toilets are squat pots. I experienced it for the first time on Sunday in the mall. I took a picture. LOL! It was fun going to the mall with Ben and Kim, room mates, Rithy, Janice, and Jeff. We just looked around and had some laughs. We were prohibited to take pictures at the mall. So sadly I don’t have any pictures, maybe I will take some undercover style. LOL!
On Wednesday I walked to school by myself. Surprisingly I was not scared. At first I was going to listen to my I-pod but figured I shouldn’t draw anymore attention. Some of the people know a little of English so while walking someone passing on a moto said Hi, and ask how I was doing. I being nice answered back. When arriving at school I meet up with one of my Co-workers. He asked me why I walked. He thought I was walking to lose weight. But in reality I was walking because I don’t know Khmar enough to communicate to the moto drivers, and it cost money. Why pay when you can walk?
I really like all the teachers here. They’re really funny! Rithy is the Bible teaher and bus driver. He is the one that drove us around town on Sunday. JC took us out on the town with Kim and Ben again. Ok, just for now on assume when we go anywhere Kim and Ben are with us, because we really get along and do everything together. So…JC took us down to the river again and to the markets. At the river the locals were have a ceremony. They buy flowers, birds, or food and pray for there relatives and throw it away. Like the food, people will wrap it in a plastic bag and set it on the river for the fish. This is to pleas the gods which will bring good fortune to their family. The flower they just present to the gods while praying and then discard when finished praying. The birds, are just set free I’m not sure what that is suppose to symbolizes.

Laundry

For the past couple of day we have been trying to do our laundry. But every time we attempt it rains or our clothes which are already on the line get wet again. Its kind of annoying, but as time goes on I will learn more about the weather. Right now its hard to predict if its going to rain because it’s the rainy season. Right now I only have one more load to do and this particular load will take me about a week to do.

Finally…

I know what I’m going to be teaching. Kindergarten and 7th grade math. Not to bad. The only thing that worries me is the teaching part. I’m not sure how to do a lesson plan. And I don’t have all the books yet. They were suppose to be here Sunday, but are not going to be here until Tuesday. School starts MONDAY! I need the books. Today I have been cleaning my room and arranging it. I need to get some stuff for the room. I want to have a reading area with bean bags or huge pillows for the kids to lay on. I’m also a little worried about the language barrier. How am I supposed to teach the children if they don’t understand what I’m saying? So, I know for a fact that this year is going to be challenge; maybe God will give the children the gift of tongues. LOL! I will take pictures of the class once its done. I want to make a list of things I need. It would be really helpful people could help me get them. The people here in Cambodia are just now.