Second week in Cambodia in a small farming village. I teach school from 3:30 until 8pm, starting with the young kids 3-7 years old then gradually working up to the last class of teenagers. The young students are very challenging and sometimes I just don't have the energy to teach them, so those times are game playing times. Then around 5:30 it gets dark so the generator provides light but it flickers and fades sometimes into total darkness but we carry on. Problem with the dusk is that is brings the bugs out. Recently grasshoppers, or locust, they fly into my shirt at times and often into my face while teaching, the kids are used to it, it does not bother them, I on the other hand am constantly swatting at them. Then there are the biting ants, the tiny red ones that crawl on your feet and bite!! ouch!!
But overall the experience has been wonderful. The kids are so happy and insist on giving high five after each class, so by the end of the day I probably have received about 120 high fives, from dirty little hands and smiling little faces. It really makes it all worthwhile. The home stay is challenging also at times. I am now used to sleeping on a bamboo mat, there is no mattress, and showering with a pot with a handle on it with cold water is actually refreshing when it's 35C outside. The food in wonderful and the family always makes sure there is plenty. I am spending a lot of time with Song the monk and learning about Buddhism and life as a monk. I was very fortunate to tour his pagoda (temple) and meet the fellow monks. Last night was the full moon so all monks and nuns are required to shave their heads and eyebrows. It was quite the sight. I plan to stay for 3 more weeks as long as I can handle it.
The Cambodian people are so friendly and are always ready with a warm "Hello:.
But overall the experience has been wonderful. The kids are so happy and insist on giving high five after each class, so by the end of the day I probably have received about 120 high fives, from dirty little hands and smiling little faces. It really makes it all worthwhile. The home stay is challenging also at times. I am now used to sleeping on a bamboo mat, there is no mattress, and showering with a pot with a handle on it with cold water is actually refreshing when it's 35C outside. The food in wonderful and the family always makes sure there is plenty. I am spending a lot of time with Song the monk and learning about Buddhism and life as a monk. I was very fortunate to tour his pagoda (temple) and meet the fellow monks. Last night was the full moon so all monks and nuns are required to shave their heads and eyebrows. It was quite the sight. I plan to stay for 3 more weeks as long as I can handle it.
No comments:
Post a Comment