I love it here. But in 4 days, I pack up to leave. I am heading to Thailand early to prepare for our squad’s final debrief. I am grieving already: the kids, the fun times each day, and last minute memories with my team. I wanted to share a few of these with you so that you can see why I’m so sad to be leaving so soon!
This is my favorite part of every day: my impromptu gymnastics class in the morning. This started because we are awakened by the general noise of the village by 5:30 am so by 8:15, I'm itching to do something. And what's better than playing with lil munchkins?
This is my 9am class: They are SO smart. I have a TOTAL blast teaching them: English, songs, and games. It really makes my heart hurt to think about leaving them.
At least twice a day I sing "Baby Shark, do-do-do-do-do-do, baby shark." Ok, so maybe I won't miss that… but I will miss how much kids of all ages laugh and smile and dance when this song is sung.
At 10 am, I teach a conversation class with the other girls. We play a game for the first half and then we split into groups. I have about 18 thirteen & fourteen year old boys who run to my table because we just have such a good time joking and learning together.
Yep, sometimes we get random monks who show up to our conversation class. This one's for you Dad! Thanks for being the best pops ever! I love you!
We are at House of Love, a place run on donations from a church out of Hong Kong. They feed, teach, and love on the poorest of the poor in this village. The 3 women and 1 director have taken SUCH great care of us. They make some of the best food I've eaten this year.
The popsicle man comes twice a day. Yes, we plan our schedule around him. When you are staying on a porch in the blazing heat of Cambodia without even proper fans, the popsicle man becomes a highlight of your day- even the bean flavored ones taste good!
This is my afternoon class at House of Love. They are wild, loud, crazy, and just a bit of a handful…. but every day I fall more & more in love with each of them.
On break, they LOVE to play UNO. It's become one of the things I look forward to the most every day. They play it a lot more fast-paced with new rules that I love. Watch out America: I'm bringing these rules home with me!
These are 2 girls from the school I taught at last week. Once we started teaching at House of Love, I had to give up this class. I missed them so much in the beginning… but one day, they surprised me by running over on their break to just say HI TEACHER MADELINE! Nearly broke my heart.
These boys are in my House of Love class. We taught on family the other day. I was stunned to find out how many don't have any parents… they live with random family members. Yet they are so full of joy and laughter.
After class, we return upstairs to our Treehouse for some rest before the bugs come down with the sunset. Sometimes we find a treat left by the nice women in the kitchen, like this fresh coconut!
I really don't know what it'll be like to leave this place. I am afraid I will just burst into tears as I drive away on Wednesday morning…. but maybe tears aren't such a bad thing… maybe they're just a sign of how much God must love these children if I can fall this deeply in love with them in only two weeks.
