4 weeks down... 4 weeks to go!

'We can travel a long way and do many things, but our deepest happiness is not born from accumulating new experiences. it is born from letting go of what is unnecessary, and knowing ourselves to be always at home.'

This morning I sat down and thought of all the things that I have learnt in the past four weeks. Besides patience, the one thing that kept coming back to me was happiness.

Cambodian people are the happiest people that I have ever met. Most of them wake up every day not knowing if they can afford to eat. They live in huts where families of eight sleep side by side on the floor. Besides arranged marriages, relationships rarely exist and touching each other in public is seen as highly inappropriate. Every meal consists of rice, fish and vegetables, every single day. The working week is Monday to Sunday, there's no such thing as a weekend or holiday. So what is it that makes them so happy?

It isn't about having new experiences, big houses, or lots of money. Happiness is knowing that where ever you are, you are home. Once you stop trying to find happiness, you will realise that you've already got it.
Happiness isn't a thing, happiness is you.

Great week :)

The week gone has been a really good one :)

Teaching has been the biggest highlight, as the students have really begun opening up to me. This has made my lesson planning and teaching so much easier and much more enjoyable. When they aren't afraid to talk to you, you can really understand how much they do and dont know. And giving them the opportunity to have a conversation in English means their confidence grows more and more every day.

We had 7 new volunteers arrive this week, including another Kiwi. The house is now full and everyone seems so busy. It has been great to meet some new people and talk about all the different travel adventures they have been on.

We are having a big welcome party at the pool on Saturday with a live band and a bqq to entertain us, so that will be fun!!

Also most of you know now, but I was in a motorcycle accident my second week here. My teacher and I slipped down a bank and the bike crushed my ribs and shins. I went to the doctor last week to make sure I hadn't broken anything as I was in a lot of pain. However everything was ok, just bruised and swollen.

The pain has decreased a lot this week and I can finally sleep through the night now. So that has also made my week much more enjoyable :) 

Temperatures are continuing to increase here. When I arrived in January it was averaging around 30 degrees during the day. We are up to 38 degrees now and it doesnt drop below 20 at night. Cold showers before bed are a blessing and ice coffee, fruit shakes and lemonade are 50% of the daily diet.

So all up, week 4 has been a lot of fun and very rewarding. This weekend marks my halfway mark... only 4 more weeks to go!

Hope you have all had a good week too!! xx

The weekend

A nice relaxed weekend at the markets and going out for Charlotte's leaving dinner!

Fun Facts!

Can of coke/sprite - 50 cents
1 hour massage - $3 (just as good as any NZ massage)
1 hour language class - $2
4 course meal - $3
12 bottles of water - $1.75
Glass of wine/cocktail - $2

X-ray - $1000 (some things dont change!!)

School Excursion

Last week we had exams at school and the top 6 students were treated to a school excursion into Siem Reap. A pretty big day for these kids, as none of them had ever left their village and didn't know what the 'big' city was like.

A tuktuk picked them up from the village early on Sunday morning and meet me and the other teachers on one of the main streets in town. We took them out for breakfast at about 10am where they had there very first coke. They claimed not to like it but drunk them very quickly :)

We then walked through the markets and explained to them, that if they continue to practice and learn good English, they too can have a good job when they get older. We also visited a beautiful art gallery in which Deborah (the woman who created Helping Hands) displays all her photography.

From there we went to the supermarket and took them on the elevators. The poor little ones got quite upset and I had to carry them on the first go, but after awhile they began to enjoy it and by the end they seemed so proud that they had done it. 

We then went out for lunch before heading to the gardens for a walk and lots of photos. Jane (the other volunteer) and I left at this point and on the way home the kids were taken through the Angkor Wat temples, a very sacred place for Cambodians. Today I will print some photos to take back to school and to give to the kids to take home.

This day alone has made my whole trip worthwhile. Seeing the excitement on these kids faces was so amazing, its hard to imagine how overwhelming this trip must have been for them. Hope you like the photos :)

School Excursion

First time up an escalator - a scary moment but they did it!

Hanging out at the park

At the art gallery

The bracelets that I bought the girls so they could remember their day in the city

With the other teachers (at the back) Sopheap and Sona

A day trip to the sunken forest and floating village