“Teacher, what do you want me to do today?”

On Monday we arrived in Siem Reap and have been filled with surprises and joy ever since. We are teaching English and Computer classes at an English Language Center set-up by YWAM’s University of the Nations. Students range from children to adult, but mostly High School and College-Age, and we’re teaching an array of classes. This week I taught “Basic Communication for Adults”, “Photoshop” with Dave, and “Microsoft Excel” with Jenn. We were all surprised when we walked into our classes and the students knew more about the computer programs were teaching than we do, but we’re getting by and having fun.Teaching English is a challenge because the know little English and we know no Khmer, so we have to speak slowly and clarify things many times. Computers is challenging because some of our students are more advanced than we are, which suprised me because most of them don’t have computers in their homes or their schools. They are all fast and eager learners and it’s always a joy to teach students who actually want to be in class!

 

As teachers, we’re treated with a lot respect and dignity. When we walk into class and all the students say “Teacher, what do you want me to do today?” After asking me this question, I realized that it’s actually a lot of responsibility to know that I’m in charge of teaching and leading them correctly. It reminds me of the way the disciples looked up to Jesus. They asked Him daily for His guidance and direction, and although I’m not teaching to this magnitude, it’s still been a humbling experience especially when we tach Christian Values classes on Wednesdays. They look up to us to lead them. Sometimes I feel inadequate but the Lord has allowed me to have some pretty good classes.

 

Above: A design I made for a lesson with my Photoshop students on gradients, graphics and shapes.

Everyday we bike a mile to class through rocky dirt roads. I’m enjoying the exercise, even though I’ve hit a rock and lost control of my bike, playing chicken with an oncoming moto too many times already.

 

I feel very-much at home here and find comfort in the Asian culture. We’re eating like kings, probably better than we’ll eat this entire year, and we have a nice house with beds for the first time! Even though we eat rice with every meal (hello carbs!), we’re getting fresh fruits and vegetables, which is a nice change. It’s brutally hot (like 108 degrees during the day) and we don’t have AC, but I actually don’t mind the heat too much and I’m sure I need to appreciate it before I’m freezing through and African and Eastern European winters coming up.

 

Siem Reap, which holds the Angkor Wat temples, (one of the seven wonders of the world) is an awesome town with a lot to do. There are markets, street vendors, and we get around by motos and tuktuks.