There were probably other moments worth mentioning but have unfortunately escaped my mind, waiting to be awoken at some later date when I'm home (drinking wine) and thinking about my time in Cambodia. Moments that are restricted to memory alone as photo's are not available....like when i began to dig myself a bigger and bigger hole whilst trying to explain Religions, Priests, Vicars, Cross', Church's, Chapel's, The Bible, Turbans, Muslim's and all sorts of crap like that...in the end i had to put a stop to the inquisitive front row and explain the word Atheist...

Lynsey's friends from Scotland, Kelly and Johnathan dropped by whilst travelling through Asia to check out the school and explore Siem Reap. Didn't take long before the agenda shifted to checking out the bar's and exploring the cocktail menu..

Then there was the day i was minding my own business, lounging by the pool and my lighter explodes under my arm...!

Oh and there was the day Lynsey, Trisha and I went to the local night market for a quiet drink and within moments of sitting down Trisha feels a heavy thud on her head...

The next bit is an hysterically funny blur of Lynsey, hands to mouth gasping in shock, me looking on like a lemon not knowing what's wrong and Trisha sitting rigid, hardly breathing...

Next thing, Lynsey sees a pair of black eyes blink at her and attempts a swat at the 'FROG' with a cigarette pack...

This then sent the 'FROG' flying onto my head, where it hung swinging from my hair before deciding to crawl its way over the top and down my forehead!

Well you can imagine the hysteria...and just when you need a camera..this time Lynsey just wasn't quick enough...

(frog in pic, not actual frog)

The day we had just finished an horrendously tiring afternoon and whilst delirious from that the Tuk Tuk crashes....sideways down an embankment into an electric fence.

Now this was one of the funniest moments we had...yes, we could have been hurt but the only thing hurting me were my ribs, from all the laughing.

Lynsey on the other hand managed to compose herself enough to jump from the doomed Tuk Tuk just seconds after impact and begin taking photos from the embankment....I wish i had the photos now. You'll just have to wait for the one of me scrambling up and out...

The day Lynsey, Alice and I went horse riding and I nearly fell off my horse when it galloped head on into the side of a house, had a heart attack when a dog jumped us from a garden fence and almost decked the patronising instructor...

Like the day we tasted some fish that the monsoon dragged in...

There were a few funny moments along the way too......

I stayed in Cambodia for four weeks in total. Only worked at the school for two weeks as Jenny took my place and Alice fell into Lynsey's role after the third week. If i were to sum up how I feel about my time at the Self Help School, I'd say my experience has given me a greater sense of respect for teachers all over the world. A job that is demanding, consuming, tiring, frustrating and at times tedious also has the potential to be uplifting, motivating, satisfying and a totally enjoyable experience, with feelings of true achievement. An important and fantastic position to be in....for the right type of person of course.

Teaching....nah, it ain't for me...

What a cutie...!

Sambeth's Birthday..!!!


They don't celebrate birthdays in Cambodia and too be honest I don't know how old he was but we had a cool time, eating cake, spraying funny string and generally getting no teaching done..

While at the palm tree, bamboo school, there were three other class' being built and set up for teaching. These were a little better equipped for our needs....well they were concrete and had a roof.

Seeing as we were yet again swamped, the guys moved the seating into the new class..

Lady at the back with the really sweet smile is Jenny from Australia. She was volunteering (actually took over from me when I left the school) for about six weeks then meeting up with her daughter in Vietnam. The other two were friends of Judy (one of our coordinators) and ran the restaurant that made the birthday cake.

While in Cambodia it was Alice's 19Th Birthday and not having a lot of cash we threw together some wall hangings, got some booze (large amount of budget went on that), few bits and bobs to eat and a Birthday cake. Alice was most pleased...if not slightly light headed from the wine, as she kept disappearing for long periods then popping back. Well the party did go on for most of the day so she deserved a little nap here and there. Being veteran party people. Lynsey and I pushed on through till about 7pm. Typical..always the last ones standing. Then we took the party to town.

This procession of people carrying something beautifully decorated was seen at a distance and so it was photo time....however Trisha asked a local police man what was happening just as I looked on and realised we were taking photo's of a funeral...horrified to say the least but I don't think anyone noticed us..

Trisha from Australia now living in New Zealand was also volunteering, at a different school. Here she is getting a dress made in a local shop..

These two wanted to hold our fans so much we both started wandering....plus that was the last time we saw those fans..

Dinner..

Since the classroom was beyond help...tuition continued, care of some sacks of cement and a very soggy text book..

As you can see a little bit rain doesn't stop the kids or the teachers having a good time. In fact i think they love it when it rains cause they strip off and go searching for frogs, fish and snakes for dinner..

The day Lynsey was spending her time in the bathroom, Nisha and I were treated to the most ferocious monsoon wind and rain since we arrived. Only moments into my first class the swift breeze that we have learned to be wary of (as it's usually followed by the rains) began to sweep through the classroom. Both Nisha and I looked at each. I continued the class with one eye on the kids and one eye on the sky. Hoping it would be OK and got on with some drawings on the board. Then the first taps of water danced along the palm leaf canope.

This was soon followed by the sound of nearby trees swaying and fighting the winds, spreading their branches and rustling their leaves. It wasn't long before the classroom began to move and the whole structure was deemed unsafe....must add that by this time Nisha and all the children had run for shelter in a nearby building and I was left still holding the fort whilst watching muddy water creep up my mozy bitten legs. eventually Sambeth advised me to get a move on as he and Sol had to get planks of wood to hold the school up.

The Local Petrol Station..

Lynsey and Sol exchanging flip flops as Lynsey's were about to Die. Nisha looking for yet another marker pen for the board (we never had enough)....and Sol who insists on carrying Nisha's bag everywhere was eventually nick named 'Lady Boy'.



On one particular day, which I believe was a Tuesday, I went to school alone as Lynsey wasn't feeling to good (the Cambodian craps i recall). I remember thinking...I hope Nisha comes in otherwise school today is gonna be a right hand full. However panic over as Nisha was there and we started discussing our plan of action. I normally took the first class and Nisha would usually take the last one. This is while Lynsey is doing the Spanish class with Sambeth. That way we all do equal amounts of teaching, unless the kids don't show and then we sit in on each others class' to help the kids at the back.

Sambeth our Khmer, English and Spanish teacher...he also drove the Tuk Tuk.

Days 4 and 5..

Was so tired after these days that i couldn't muster enough energy to write my days events. To be honest both days were really hot and we found it pretty difficult to concentrate on teaching whilst swatting flies and insects. I remember on one of the days i jumped on the back of Sol's push bike and we road to the local market to pick up some cola's for the group. (any excuse to skive). On the way back Sol stopped at a house (in Cambodia everyone knows everyone and everyone shares and welcomes everything). I was then offered some fried fish which even though it looked a little rough i graciously accepted....mmmmm very nice actually, however i wasn't so keen on the rice wine they were insistent i drink. I tried to explain that I'd already been through this in Vietnam but my Khmer is non existent and Sol was just laughing and not helping at all, in fact he was enjoying watching me suffer...!!

The days that followed my first week tended to be much of a muchness....that's to say, we would leave at 2pm everyday, come wind, rain or shine take a very bumpy tuk tuk ride for about 45 minutes to the village...while waving and saying hello to all the villagers and kids shouting our names as we passed. Then on arrival, a small chit chat amongst Lynsey, Nisha and I and before you know it, its time for "Julrian". That's the Khmer word for study.

Day 3..

Lessons went as usual....coming and going of children of all ages and abilities fleeting between which ever class they chose. The two front row's of class being the more consistent and eager pupils. Really hot and humid day today. Teaching was tiring and mentally exhausting but still a lot of fun. The children are so cute, welcoming and happy to be there, that whatever mood you may be in or no matter how hot and tired you are, the kids dispel that and take your attention to more fun things. Like the colour of my watch, hair or eyes. The names of the objects around us....a bike, a tree, a wall etc.. The simple words have to be repeated over and over so that they will remember for the next day and beyond. Today was funny though as it was getting on for 7pm and class was delayed due to lighting issues again. Once that was finally sorted, I turned my back for an instance to write on the board.....next thing the middle row of about eigght children screamed as their bench and table collapsed and they all hit the deck! Oh..I laughed. I knew that row was over crowed but some days its empty and some days its standing room only. So that class was conducted while Sol and Sambeth hammered it back together.....as you can imagine, chaos..!

Day 2..
We arrived at 3pm and took a very hot walk with 'Sambeth' (one of the Khmer student teachers) to visit the existing Khmer school that houses about 600 pupils and only about 4 teachers. The classes were pretty disorganised, some being in doors and others under a makeshift roof made of bamboo leaves. The resources are scarce and they are running out of rice to feed the kids. Having said that the kids are really happy and inquisitive. Always asking how we are and what our names are. Very cute and very polite they really make you feel welcome. After the trip we head back to start lessons. The Khmer teachers are not too hot on their English and do not get paid to teach, however together we try and muddle through and provide some kind of lesson plan working from books they are using at the moment. To be honest the school could do with proper Khmer and English teachers, in order to provide accurate, consistent and organised English tuition that the pupils can enjoy and carry on at home...however at the moment all they have is some pretty shitty lesson plan books that send me to sleep, one marker pen and unco-operative parents. Anyway, another day of organised chaos almost over with when the heavens open on que and we are plunged into darkness, right in the middle of class. Screaming kids, flashes of lightening, roaring thunder and my arse and feet getting absolutely soaked in rain and mud whilst still holding my pen aloft and trying to retain what little control i still had. Needless to say the last class of the evening was eventually abandoned.