Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hot hot hotter! With the temperature inching its way towards a scorching 40 degrees, we started our first day teaching at COFCO (Cambodian Orphanage Family Centre Organisation). As today was International Woman's Day, some of the children who attend classes at the centre from the community, were with their families so we had a relatively small group of learners.
Our role as volunteers is to teach English. Cambodian children attend public school in 2 "shifts" - as there are not enough teachers and resources and the classes are overcrowded. So, we will have 2 sets of classes: the first in the morning from 8-10am and the second in the afternoon. As in Vietnam, many children in Cambodia attend regular public school for half a day and then English classes for a couple of hours.
The morning class went well but by 2pm, the classroom, which is made out of corrugated iron (essentially a large tin shack) is like a sauna and it's really difficult for the kids (incl us) to concentrate!
Part of the road to the centre is unpaved/gravelled has ongoing roadworks so it's a dust bowl of Grapes of Wrath proportions. Cycling there and back twice creates an unimaginable series of grimy layers of dirt on your hair, clothing and skin.
At the end of the day, we washed the grime away and went to Pub Street for a bite I eat. A place called The Temple was recommended so we had dinner and watched a traditional dance, called the Apsaras dance. Early to bed as we have a long day ahead tomorrow!
- comments