It was not until the day we were flying into Cambodia that the nervousness of teaching began. I had never taught a class full of children, let alone English without a translator… I really was not sure what to expect.
Once we flew into the country, Jeremy and I spent 3 days in the city of Phnom Pehn, and after 2 ½ months of travelling from place to place, I was excited to see where we would call home for the next 3 months. It was fun finding the different markets and grocery stores, and eagerness to learn the Khmer language kicked in.
Arriving at Place of Rescue, which is an orphanage that was established by Marie Ens, we were impressed right away. After spending much of her life as a missionary in Cambodia (with her late husband), Marie returned to Cambodia to "retire". As a retiree, she saw the need to help those suffering during the AIDS crisis. Many woman were left abandoned by their husbands, leaving many children without parents following the death of their mothers due to AIDS. Marie started by first taking one child and her mother off the street. They were given shelter, food, medicine and love. The little girl, Ny, is still here..but she has grown into a young woman, almost ready for college.
Rescue is set up in a village-like style. There are AIDS homes, where families can stay together in their own home, and receive the proper medicine and treatment they need. There are trips to the hospital 2 times a week, as well as an on-site nurse.
As for the children who have survived their parents, there are a number of houses arranged in a family style. Each house has a house mom, and about 10 children. The children are expected to help with meals and chores, as well as eat as a family.
Marie has also set up a home for grannies who have no one to look after them otherwise. This adds a great dynamic to the environment, as Recuse ranges from the little babies to the wise grannies.
Jeremy and I (along side 2 other Canadian English teachers) are teaching English to elementary, junior high, and high school students. There is an elementary school on the grounds, where the children attend Monday to Friday. The Junior high and High school students ride their bikes to the local schools Monday to Saturday to study there. After they return from school, they have English classes in the evenings.
The children here are so happy and full of life. The little ones bound towards us only to wrap their arms around our legs whenever we are in sight. The young ones look for us to play with them, and still the older ones want to hang out.
Since arriving, we have grown accustomed to faces in our windows (however, it is not always appreciated), our bucket shower, and late evening traditional Khmer dance practices. There is usually much noise around Rescue, with worship, movies, dancing, and plenty of laughter. Being the type of person who loves to be involved in whatever activity is occurring, but then finding quiet solitude to rejuvenate poses a challenge here. At Rescue, there is always something going on, and quiet solitude is hard to come by. Luckily leaving rural Cambodia to retreat in the busy urban dwellings of Phnom Pehn can actually offer the solitude i need to face another week.
In saying all this, we are loving Cambodia, the people we work with and the people we don't. I have fallen into a teaching groove, and it turns out that teaching is not as scary as i thought it would be…
If you want to know more information about Place of Rescue, check out the home site at:
http://www.placeofrescue.com/home/
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