I havent written in a while so now it is the time to update!!

I have now been teaching for just three weeks, but I cant believe how time has flown!! I have seen and experienced so much in just a few weeks.

On my second weekend here in Cambodia, myself and 6 other volunteers decided to go to Phnom Penh for the weekend to see something different! And that is certainly what we saw! Phnom Penh was so busy, loud and a bit scary sometimes, a very different scene to Siem Reap that seemed quiet and small in comparison! Having sound that I really enjoyed the weekend as we saw so much.

The first day we went to the Royal Palace and the silver Pagoda and just had a wander around the city. That evening we wanted to have a big night out as we had heard that Phnom Penh was a good night, however we struggled to actually find somewhere that was really busy! It isnt like Siem Reap where all the clubs and bars are all on one street, everything seemed so spread out. Having said that we still made the most of the cheap cocktails, and when some went to bed Anne Ville and I went and had a beer at a bar near our guesthouse. It was only Khmer people there but definitely an experience with lots of people staring! We stayed at the Sunday guesthouse which was ok, clean but Roisin and I managed to get the short straw and had theeeee smallest room you have ever seen! It was roughly high enough for a hobbit, and like a little box- damp walls too so not overly nice but it made do for 2 nights!

The second day in Phnom Penh we visited the Killing Fields and the S21 Prison from the times of the Khmer Rouge. It was very sad and harrowing, an experience that it hard to put in words on here. However it was so important to see it, and so early on in our trip too as it made me realise how important our jobs as teachers and educators are here. The Khmer Rouge murdered millions of innocent educated people as they were seen as a threat to the communist regime, so now there is a generation of educated people missing. I couldnt believe this tragedy happened just 40 years ago, and the effects can really be seen still today. I wont go in to detail on here, but the things we were shown and the things we heard were really shocking. Seeing the mass graves was so shocking - one small tiny square area had over 400 skeletons. The prison that was used to torture the prisoners used to be a school -walking around and still seeing blackboards on the walls of some of the rooms used for cells was so sad. Overall the day was very sad, but also very educational and I am so glad I have seen it. Such an important part of Cambodian history cannot be ignored.

The next week we had a mixture of working and relaxing! We visited the pool a couple of times which was so nice. A really nice escape after a hard few days. Teaching is great. Sometimes frustrating too but still such a good experience. Things here are done at a much slower pace so sometimes it is frustrating when you want to get things done! However many of the students are so eager to learn it makes my life so much easier! I have also developed favorite classes....bad I know, but I cant help it - they are such great classes! Both are top groups and I have really enjoyed teaching them. I find the students to be far more engaged in the lessons and are more confident and active than other classes. They recently did a test on the things we have learnt so far, such as the present perfect tense, and one of the classes all got 100% correct! I was so proud. I have bought sweets to celebrate in their next lesson. I have also taught my classes the game "Who am I?" which they all love! They love standing at the front with a post it note on their forehead trying to guess who they are, they particularly like it when they are David Beckham!! So far the lessons are still very focused on grammar, which although I recognise is important, I do find it a bit boring, so I cant imagine how they must feel! I have some more interesting lessons coming up though, such as giving advice using modal verbs which I am looking forward to! Also next week I am going to start doing extra classes for those who want to do more English.

So far the food has been great. I was so suprised at how much choice there is here! There are all kinds of food here, local and lots of international. We have eaten somewhere different most nights which has been great, love trying out new restaurants. I have loved the Red Piano, Khmer Kitchen, India Gate, Hawaiian Pizza, Dead Fish, NYCD, Viva (mexican!), Soup Dragon, World Lounge, Molly Malones, Le Tigre, Vitkings (an amazing asian veggie cafe!), and of course the one and only Blue Pumpkin! Blue Pumpkin is amazing and I would reccomend any one to come here. Its so nice, and a nice escape when you want something a bit more Western! They sell lovely food, but the main attraction for me is the ice cream and cakes! They do so many pastries and cakes, and the ice cream is amazing. I always have 2 scoops, one of rocky road (as this is the best ice cream I have everrrrrr had!) and then one of my free choice! Upstairs at blue pumpkin there is a much needed "cool lounge" that is great - it has one massive white sofa all around the edge that you can stretch your legs out onto and have a table put over you! I am there right now with the laptop on the table....so comfy, could stay here all day!

There are also street vendors here that sell great food really ridiculously cheap! We are going here tonight for the first time, the budgets are getting tighter so we are going to go for a cheap meal! There are also street vendors that sell the nicest pancakes ever - they are really really thin crepe style with bananas condensed milk and chocolate powder called Milo, sooooooo yum and only 50 cent!

Friday night we all went out for some of the volunteers leaving do. We had indian and then went to good old Pub Street! We went to Angkor Famous, a bar that constantly fills your bowl with free popcorn. Then onto Angkor Wat, a good club on Pub Street. Unfortunately I couldnt stay too late as I have work on Saturdays at 7am! Work was interesting, i was so tired, but I managed! When I got home at 9am i went back to bed - all other volunteers were still rightfully asleep! I made up for my earlier night friday on Saturday though! We had a proper cambodian night out. Our programme coordinators boyfriend took us all out for a cambodian meal that came with huuuuuge amounts of beer, that only cost $4! Then we cycled drunk (again, interesting!) to a Karaoke place. A bit dodhy, but when we got in we had our own private room with a massive screen. After more Angkor beer we were all singing and had a great time. Too many christmas songs and Celine Dione though.....very embarrassing!! Then out to Pub Street again! Such a good night! And after lots more beer and rum and pineapple buckets we left Temple club at 5.30 am ....woops! Blue Pumkin was just opening so we sat on a pavement and enjoyed a brownie!! So funny, and with pictures for evidence!

This week I am back teaching again, although lots of lessons have been cancelled due to public holidays and exams at my school. On my days off so far I have been to the pool, and had a pedicure! I also plan on another trip to the pool, and also to the Angkor national museum, whcih although is expensive I think i should still do it! Particularly since I am a history student to be! More activities on our list are visiting a crocodile farm, and doing pottery class!

This weekend we are off to Battambang where we are hoping to go on the Bamboo train, visit some temples and see the caves!