Monday

My day. I got uup at 7 am showered, dressed and then went downstairs to make coffee and breakfast. After cleaning teeth it was time to make sure I had all I needed for school and then get my bike ready for the journey. Once I arrived at the photocopy shop I stopped to get my work for the day photocopied, it cost 3900 riels - about 50p. Then I set off on the journey, making sure that I wasn't knocked off my bike or cause someone to crash. The ride along the red bumpy track is interesting because i ride through people's home and see them getting ready for the day. Many children shout hello, all the time I'm trying to avoid dogs, hens, chicks, cats and little children. All the time I have to remember to stay on the right hand side in case I meet anything. Eventually I reach the bridge I need to cross to get on the other side of the Siem Reap River. I then pass a basket shop, fruit stalls, a clothes shop and then I turn between stalls to reach Grace House. Many children are aleady there playing qand two classes are already having lessons.

I went to my classroom to get organised for our new topic of 'Our World' - colouring pencils, maps on the wall and a blow up globe. At 9am we start our lessons - me teaching it all in English and Danni translating into Khymer when necessary. The children worked really hard and enjoyed the activities. At 10 am we finished and immediately everyone was given their plastic bag with their toothbrush and queued for Danni, the khymer teacher to put toothpaste on it. They then go outside to clean them, Bridget then came and asked me if I would like to go out with Piseth to see the local houses Grace House had paid to have repaired.

We went on his scooter, across the river again and through paddy fields - a fantastic sight. It was humbling going in to their homes, everybody sleeps in the same room and some underneath. Probably ten to 15 people - conditions grim, although everywhere tidy. No comforts other than a TV - some had electricity,(one light bulb) others used a car battery which they take each week to be recharged. None had a loo and all could only use a communal water pump. Cooking is done over a fire outside. The repairs have included new roofs, new sides or wooden supports - costing between £50 and 400 for a new house. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming and so grateful for all that is done for them. Some receive rice every month as they cannot afford to buy it, others use some of Grace House land to grow food to either sell of feed thei family.

An hour and a half later back to GH for lunch. In the afternoon a different group of children come and the am lessons are repeated. In the morning I have between 35 and 40 children, pm about 25 but they are not as well behaved or keen to work. At 3pm the adult English lessons begin and sometimes I help with them.

Today the monsoon rain arrived just as I was about to leave so i came on the main road - they were flooded and I was drenched when I finally arrived back here.

I am amazed at how the children are learning and progressing in two languagess after the povery they live in. Clothes often washed in river or under pump so they never come clean. None of us wear shoes inside a building or classroom, so I am constantly taking them on and off and can always feel sand/grit under my feet, at least I can come home andwash themclean.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?