A Bachelor's Life

Here in Battambang, Bruno and Catalina (volunteers) offered me half of their house. Well ok, so it's a small bedroom and bath, but I get to live in the part of the house near the TV and the kitchen ref - boy, that's paradise for me!

So I get to be a bachelor - wake up (before work time), make my own breakfast (if any), take the motorcyle, go to work (or is it study with the kids?), come back at half past four in the afternoon, look for a cheap place for early dinner, motorbike back home, wash my clothes, pray my breviary, watch the world cup, read a book, and hit the sack... yep, a real bachelor's life.
Well, it's not forever though...
Just got a phone call. They're asking me to pitch in back at DB Phnom Penh for a week, then I can continue with this life.

You've seen the good side. Now for the other. It's raining almost everyday. And the road to Salabalath literacy center is rough (think moon craters), muddy, slippery, and dangerous. That means coming back home soaking wet and hungry. Part of the adventure - no complaints here!

My Battambang Immersion

Would you believe it? This month and next, I am sitting down and learning with these grade 2 kids. That means listening to their teacher, reading their lessons, doing their tests (they like to look at my answers, I also like to look at theirs though!). I'll have to speak the way they speak and play their games (looks like my second childhood).

At first I thought, I couldn't imagine how one like me with degrees and honors, one who has taught at the university, given seminars to teachers and executives... how could I sit down at this grade 2 desk? Well I must admit, in Khmer (Cambodian language) THIS is my level and I can't use all my past laurels to cheat on this one! This is where I am and where I start to go through the process. Hopefully this will give me a better understanding of the language as well as the people... or rather the children (but anyway, it's really fun... but shhh... don't tell them that, they might call me back to Phnom Penh if they find out).