While This past weekend I was in the States! For six hours longer than it took for me to travel! May 5 was my best friends wedding. When I realized it would be technically possible for me to be there, I couldn't imagine missing it, even though it was slightly inconvenient.
I had three full days, and they were the absolute best three days I could imagine. I was able to do all the great wedding stuff with Callie (rehearsal dinner, getting ready, post wedding brunch) and even fit in some details for my own wedding (dress fitting, figuring out shoes, planning with my mom). Callie and our other friend Natalie even threw me a beautiful shower on Friday, the day before her own wedding! At the shower I was able to see so many people I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. I felt so incredibly loved. I ended up seeing more people than when I was in States over Christmas for much longer. Between the shower, my grandparents coming down, and the fact that a bunch of my college friends were at the wedding, this trip was jam packed with friends. Callie's wedding was beautiful, and I am so thankful I got to be there to witness it. Usually moving abroad means missing out on some important things back home. In the past three years, there have been weddings and events that I could't be at. That's easily the downside to this life. When you leave, life back home keeps moving along. I am so incredibly grateful that Callie's wedding was not one of those things I had to miss out on. Cheers!
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This week is another #TeacherMoment. In Topic class (for non British people, think science/social studies mash up) we've been studying Cambodian history and local issues. One thing we looked at was pollution of the Mekong River, and the kids were assigned to build water filters.
This project had a very direct goal, and absolutely no requirements on how to get there. In teams, they had to research, design, and build their own water filtration system. They could do it however they wanted; their only restriction being no fire. There are some pretty simple filters you can create out of water bottles, sand, gravel, and rocks. I was hoping they'd land there, and most teams did. They had a day to research, a day to build, and then we tested. The building day was so much fun. These kids surprised me. They brought in big chunks of charcoal, and then had to figure out how to crush it to small pieces. They sifted sand from the playground to make sure it was fine enough. They were create and innovative. Testing day came. We set the filters all in a row and pour dirty, muddy, brown water in. It was so impressive how clear the water was! Nobody was expecting them to work so well, myself included to be honest. One groups took much longer for any water to filter out. They thought they had failed, and started all of their 'of course we failed' talk. Then, after a minute or two of waiting, by far the clearest water started dripping out the bottom. The pride on their faces that they were trying to hide was wonderful. In projects, I like giving pretty vague guidelines, so that they have to be creative. But this was definitely the most hands off thing I have done. I helped when they had questions, but didn't point anybody in any direction. I was a little worried it'd be a complete failure. It ended up being most of the kids favorite thing we've done so far. Cheers! Teacher moments coming at you: Today we finished up a unit on poetry. Over the past two and a half weeks (hooray for short weeks ending on Wednesday!) my students have been reading, writing, and analyzing poetry. I was really impressed with some of what they created!
While they were all downstairs at break (hooray for TA's!) I changed our class into a 'cafe'. That means I moved desks, chairs, pillows, and our coffee table to create small two - three person tables. I strung up Christmas lights and banners. I put out candles and played instrumental music. I set up a table with cookies and juice. While the students ate snacks and begging me to keep the room like this all the time, groups performed the poems they analyzed, individuals read the poems they wrote, and we watched some cheesy slam poetry videos on YouTube. Everyone snapped at the end of performances. Easily my favorite thing we've done in Literacy this year! Cheers! I have a coffee pot in my classroom, and I have been making coffee everyday for months. Aside from the time I accidently poured my entire travel mug of coffee down a students back*, it's been great.
A couple of days ago, my coffee maker was SWARMED with ants. All year, not a single ant has come my way. But not everyday, they attack the machine. I don't know why they are there! I don't take sugar; it's not flavored coffee; I clean it out every afternoon. It's just my regular old black coffee that the ants have decided to love. The total weight of all ants in this world is equal to that of the total weight of all humans. That's insane, and makes me feel helpless when I kill so many everyday, and there are always more the next. I did some very quick searching about ants and coffee, and the only thing I found was that coffee grounds are suppose to keep ants AWAY. So why are the ants so bent on my coffe?! If anyone has any suggestions, please help! Cheers! *The student was not hurt. She laughed about it, liked the warm feeling, and composed a song about having 'coffee on her butt.' Long before we were getting married, before we were even dating, there was a plan for a South American road trip. The trip changed several times, but ended up being the idea of Kyle and I driving from Suriname to the southern tip of Argintina. So before any of this wedding things, we were planning on being in Peru this summer. The simipliest option seemed to be just getting married while we are there. So now Kyle in (1) Suriname and myself in (2) Cambodia are planning a wedding in (3) Peru, where neither of us live, trying to keep our few friends and family from (4) the States included and up to date. Simple.
The key to all of this is having a great fiance. I'm not the best at planning or decision making. When we first started thinking of weddings, I said something along the lines of 'I don't know; I just want mountains.' Through the power of the internet, google maps, and possibliy a bit of obession, Kyle found a field in the mountains of Peru. Then he found a lady who had a house whose backyard is that field, with the beautiful mountain view and amazing old, Spanish church. He got in touch with her, and now she's doing all the planning from Peru. So now there are emails, whatsapp conversations, and facetime calls going between these four countries, and I honeslty have very few decisions to make. It's amazing. I dislike technology a lot of the time, but then I realize how none of this would be possible with out it. It's a pretty amazing time to be alive in this world. Cheers! Today I had a million school things to get done. There is a coffee shop near my house that I regularly visit. It's cheap, close to home, and conducive to working. I love it. But today I headed across town to a new spot. Kyle had found this cafe online, excited by the pictures of waffles and ice cream, and sent me on a mission to go there. So today while watching lectures, taking quizzes, and writing first drafts, I had waffles and ice cream and it was amazing.
I'm thankful I live in a city full of interesting places to explore. I am thankful that from across the world, Kyle finds fun things for me making it seem a little bit more like we are together. I am thankful that online classes exist, making it possible for me to pursue a degree I am passionate about without having to give up the life I love. Cheers! So here's whats going on in my life:
Week seven of school is officially over. Week seven, people! I can’t believe how quickly new things becomes normal and live settles in. The past couple months in Cambodia have been busy and hectic and so much fun. Starting tomorrow I’ll be on vacation. We have the week off of school due to Pchum Ben (Cambodia religious holiday), and are taking the opportunity to see some more of Cambodia. This country is beautiful, so I cannot wait!
Last week, I realized I’d be in the city for two whole months! Phnom Penh isn’t some huge place, but it is the biggest city I’ve ever lived in, and two months is a long time. With a friend of mine from the church I’ve been going to here, I took off on my moto and drove about an hour away to Odong Mountain. It was a big hill with a temple on the top. One of the best decisions I’ve made. It was so good to get out of the city and see a different side of Cambodia. After a billion stairs, the view from the amazing. For those who don’t know, this fall I’ve started a Master’s program. Between teaching a new grade in a new country and being a student again, life has been busy. Throw in salsa classes, finding times that Kyle and I can talk, and making new friends, you can probably understand why I’ve been failing at this blog thing. I’ll try harder! Well, I’m off for holiday! Cheers! Way back when I first accepted this teaching job, I bought a moto from a teacher who was leaving. Last week I was finally able to go pick it up! Now, back in Suriname I had plenty experience riding on the back of a motorcycle, and even drove a few times. I wasn't a complete beginner. Having the moto has made a world of difference. It's freedom. It's the ability to get myself where I need to be without being dependent on tuktuk's or walking. My second day of driving, I had to make it downtown and find the US Embassy to get a new passport (mine current one is a little too full to get the kind of visa I need). It was a decent drive, through the crazy traffic, going somewhere I had never been before. I loved every second.
This weekend was full of amazing Korean BBQ, handing out with some of the returning teachers, and salsa dancing! Some of the returning teachers have taken classes, and go out most Saturdays to dance. Two of my roommates and I joined them, and it was amazing! All the guys who were there knew how to dance. Incredibly well. My skill levels were nowhere near theirs, but everyone was super patient and helped show me what was going on. Long story short: I'm going to be taking salsa classes now. It's good to be finding things like salsa classes that will turn into routines. I'm ready for life here to start feeling settled. I know it's going to take some time for this place to really feel like home, but I'm ready for it now. I want to finish church hopping and find a home. I want my kids to show up and school to become a little more real and a little less conceptual. I want Cambodia to feel like home. Tomorrow is the first day of school. Yes, I'm a little nervous. However, it's not good to dwell on these things. I have prepared as much as possible. Tonight I am going to take my moto and go eat street food with some new Khmer friends. Cheers! Well friends, tonight I have officially lived in Cambodia for one week! It has been an exciting week of adjusting to a lot of newness: new country, new school, new friends, new ways of doing pretty much everything. This past week was new teacher orientation at Asian Hope, learning all the nitty gritty of how the organization works as a whole, and more specifically at my school. I'll be teaching at Asian Hope International School, a bilingual English/Khmer school. The larger Asian Hope organization runs several others schools, from an English only international school, Logos, to local Village Development Catch Up schools in the areas around Phnom Penh. It's really an amazing organization with a beautiful vision for Cambodia. I highly encourage you to read more about it here.
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AuthorHi! I'm Rachael Waggoner, living and teaching in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. |