Monday was the start of a busy but lovely week and marked the start of the opening of the new school. We left by TukTuk at 3 o’clock and the children arrived at 4. We got to know them and organised them into their classes. I’m in a complete beginner class with 4 years olds that know no English to 10 years who can speak a little English. I started with teaching the phonetic alphabet. Whilst they are taught the letter names in Khmer schools they aren’t taught the way we say the letters. I taught this with the actions (good old Jolly Phonics). We also did simple actions, numbers and colours. All of which the children loved!
Tuesday came and the day was filled with lots of learning and happy, smiling children. Even after 5 weeks I find it so heartwarming when the children are so happy to see you, which is normally followed by lots of cuddles. Tuesday evening was another orphanage football day, after taking Kong Kia and Ravi back to the orphanage, we picked up the children. We managed to squeeze 3 adults and 15 children on a TukTuk (a new record for me I think). 
Wednesday saw the children bringing in lots of flowers the had been turn into bracelets and necklaces.
Myself and Tash were also given the job of buying sanitary products at the market that would be turned into packages for some of the girls at school and on the food bank.
Thursday was a very busy but fulfilling day. Myself, Jobi and Kevin got the opportunity to deliver some ducklings to the 2nd poorest family in the food bank. The whole package (40 ducklings, cage, feeders and food) cost £140. This enables the family to become more self-sustainable, the family can raise them, eat their eggs, breed them and then sell the adult ducks and repeat the cycle. A big shout out to one of our volunteers who donated the money for us to be able to do this. Hope Agency have also started to build a building just outside the school which will hopefully become the duckling project and therefore we will be able to breed ducklings for us to be able to help out more families in the village.
Upon our return to school we were greeted with more flower necklaces and spent the day teaching. After the teaching day, me and Tash took Ravi and Kong Kia home. We then returned for the villains and convicts quiz were we unfortunately had to say goodbye to lots of lovely people.
Friday was a lovely end to the week. Despite having to say good bye to lots of fantastic people. After teaching we said our goodbyes and sent them on their way.
During the day I received two gifts from the children. A bracelet from Chack, a lovely little boy in my second class (who is pouting the the photo) and a sandwich from one of the girls in my older class at the new school. The children melt my heart!
We now have a week off for the water festival week. Our ventures for the week include visiting Koh Rong Sanloem, Battambang and Siem Reap. Read about it in the next blog.
Bye x
JessTashandBobby-SEAsia 