Monday arrived after our fantastic week off and started another amazing week. After breakfast I sat and planned my lessons ready for that day. Whilst I was planning Jobi asked myself and Tash if we would like to go to the new school to help for a morning class at 12-12:45. So at 11 Jason (the director of the school) picked us up to go to the knew school on his motorbike. The three of us all managed to squash on his motorbike and off we went along the bumpy roads (the poor suspension). 
We returned back to the school in the village ready for our 1 o’clock lessons. My 1 o’clock lessons is with Little Leprechauns a complete beginner class with lots of potential and amazing children- this week they worked particularly hard!
I then taught the Dizzy Dinosaurs- a complete beginner class with lots of cheeky personalities. After this I get a TukTuk to the new school and teach another complete beginner class with children from the ages of 3-11 (which can be quite a challenge) and a beginner class- a group of very intelligent teenagers.
After tea that night we went to Bits and played with a lovely little girl called Chi Van- her English was very good and again she loved taking selfies!
Tuesday- I went to the new school again in the morning whilst Tash went to the orphanage. This was followed by another day of lessons. My last lesson I taught plurals to my beginner class. We learnt about the s/es rule. They picked this up very quickly- however we focused on the pronunciation of the words. Whilst they are taught English in Khmer schools it is by Khmer speaking teachers so therefore we help significantly with their speaking.
After tea our usual football with the orphanage kids took place. After dropping Kong Kia off all the children hopped on. A new record was set for the amount of people on the Tuk Tuk. 24 people managed to squeeze onto the Tuk Tuk!
On Wednesday, Tash, Kev (a fantastic friend and volunteer with a heart of gold) and myself took a stroll to the temple in the village. A lovely place with a beautiful temple on the inside, however, we were only allowed in for 5 minutes before we were shooed our because the Monks were eating.
This was followed by another successful day of lessons. In my second lesson myself and Mike brought some clothes to the lesson to teach clothing. The children thoroughly enjoyed this!
On Thursday Jobi asked us if we would like to go and check on the ducklings we delivered to the two poorest families on the food bank. The first house we went to is the poorest families. This is the family who have no flooring (only a mud floor), no separate cooking area like they do in most poor families, bricks and wood for their bed, no running water, no proper sanitation. Some of the volunteers are currently fundraising to buy a concrete floor and money has already been put aside to build them are bridge as in rainy season access to their house floods. When we arrived all the ducklings were running around- we found that 15 of the ducks also hadn’t made it but the other 25 were doing really well! One of the children had also built a kite using wood and plastic bags.
After this visit we arrived at the second poorest families house. This is the house that myself and Kev delivered the ducklings to last week. This family have a concrete floor and a separate building for cooking but are still very poor, yet in comparison to the previous family they have a lot more. This family have only lost 3 ducklings so far!
That evening we decided we didn’t want a quiz. We wanted to join for the grand opening of the Palm Tree bar. This is Chantha’s bar, he is Jason’s brother and an interpreter at the school. He was very pleased and proud to have us there that night. We had a fantastic time and were plied with very strong cocktails and brilliant company!Thanks Chantha!
Our last day now arrived with lots of mixed emotions- we are wanting to explore more of the world but are sad to be leaving behind our little Hope family. We got to end our last Friday on fun Friday which was lovely. For my first two classes- little leprechauns and dizzy dinosaurs we did some arts and crafts. They were so absorbed (I’ve never known them so quiet) and of course I was given so many beautiful drawings. Sart- as the saying is in Cambodia which means beautiful.
Little Leprechauns.
Dizzy Dinosaurs.
Chack and Vanny- two amazing children!
It was then time to move onto the new school and my other two classes. These students pay a small fee to study so therefore I decided to play educational games with my younger class and the older class wanted to study still. It was nice to end my last lesson on teaching especially when the students gain so much.
My complete beginner class had lots of fun playing and they are growing in confidence everyday.
Sokchea- one of my youngest students- he’s 3.
My CB class at the new school.
My older beginner class I taught countries. They were disappointed when I told them I was leaving and said they had enjoyed their time with me.
I cannot forget my other beginner class the Leaping Leopards (a class I had to stop teaching to go to the new school).
We then headed back to school to finish packing and say our goodbyes ready for our next step of our journey. We said goodbye to Bit with our final farewell beer.
We said goodbye to many of our great friends ones that will stick with me forever and of course Jobi- the schools coordinator. He is the most hardworking, caring person I have ever met. He has a heart of gold and would do anything to help you out or make you more comfortable at the school. He deserves a huge well done for the job he does at school!
Whilst we were planning our trip we decided on 2 months in Cambodia- this time has flew by and had taught me so much in the process.
It’s taught me how to be humble, to appreciate the value of the opportunity I have. It’s easy to complain about the things you don’t have being a 1st world citizen. It’s not until you have the opportunity to go into the lives of people who have very limited resources like some of the families on the food bank that you realise the true value of proper sanitation, running water, food, cooking facilities, the health system, a bed, a house. All of these things we take for granted- it’s an expectation.
The children at the school have taught me the gift of happiness, they are happy no matter what. I decided to come travelling and to volunteer-yes to help others but mainly to get away from the same same of home life. It sounds cliche but being out here helps you- I knew the real me before coming out here I just didn’t know it, this experience has helped me realise this.
Cambodia and Hope School alongside some of the most amazing people I have met out here (you know who you are) will always have a place in my heart!
We have now headed to Kampot for our final weekend in Cambodia. We are having a weekend of relaxation (which involved a massage and pedicure) and meeting up with a lovely couple Mick and Doreen for some dinner before our next stop on Monday, Vietnam.
The next blog post will document our travels in Vietnam.
Bye for now Cambodia and Hope school 🇰đź‡.
JessTashandBobby-SEAsia 