Preparations, Prime Ministerial Elections and plenty of students!

Apologies for the break in posts! We’ve had one week with little to report, and plenty of time, followed by a week with so much to say and no time to say it!

We spent Week 4 getting our home looking less like a building site and more like a school.  From the 22^nd of July to the 26^th, we were digging flower beds and grouting the upstairs classroom. (We’re practically grouting professionals these days.) Not much else to report from this week of preparations, other than an extremely tense table tennis tournament was held. As is the way in Cambodia, we enjoyed the break, knowing that there would be something hectic around the corner. We were right.

The weekend hit, and after much lesson planning, we all crammed ourselves into Muoy’s sweaty, air-conditioning free car, armed with lists of things we wanted from Phnom Penh for our first week of structured teaching. We were sitting Khmer style, four on seats fit for three, some on the floor, (mercifully none on the roof). The journey did not go smoothly. We definitely weigh more than your average Khmer person and it soon became obvious that Muoy’s  car was struggling to carry ten westerners who have been enjoying (almost) all of the delights Cambodian cuisine has to offer. Things got more interesting as we approached the city; campaigners were lining the streets ahead of the weekend’s general election. The final straw came when we discovered our route home was closed, blocked by campaigners. The car just wasn't going to survive anymore detours so we parked and piled out ready to make the rest of our journey on foot, as darkness came. Luckily we stumbled across some tuk-tuks which meant we arrived back at our hostel, and the welcome luxuries of air conditioning, running water and a flushing toilet, relatively quickly.

The Cambodian general election was a big deal; campaigning has been impressive and widespread. Motor bike rallies of hundreds of people filled city streets, and even in our rural village, flags, posters and a constant stream of projected music made it very clear that this election was important.  Discussions with the locals taught us that the outcome was inevitable: the incumbent party would win.  But the youth of Cambodia want change, and despite the ruling party’s control of all national media, Facebook has allowed mobilisation and a spread of information like never before. There are always things to learn from travel, and one is this; democracy is an exciting thing, and we shouldn't take it for granted. Also, the internet is a fantastic, powerful resource, and Facebook can be for so much more than selfies and procrastination. All of the campaigning, the energy, the hope, was a refreshing difference to the often stagnant politics of the UK.

 The evening of the results turned out to be quite eventful in Tonle Bati. As we began to get ready for bed, we heard the sound of vehicles pulling up.  To vote in Cambodia, you must go to your home province (Nativity style). Through much confusion, we established that our translator Sophorn’s family had been returning to Phnom Penh after voting, but hadn’t been able to get into the city because a small riot had started and people were burning cars. In the dark, it all seemed very dramatic. We gave them food, shelter, and waited as news began to filter through. It turned out that while the ruling party had inevitably won, it had not been by the sweeping majority expected.  The opposition, who are widely considered progressive and far less corrupt, had won a large minority. Progression in action, and a proud day for Cambodia. 

Monday 29^th July was Day One of our English Language Summer School. Expected class sizes had been creeping up throughout our time here, but we never anticipated the onslaught of eager faces and neat uniforms that greeted us that first morning.  The register had been filled, overflowed and even more kids just turned up. We eventually managed to divide all those that we could into five classes, each of 15-17 students. This still meant turning quite a few kids away. (Lesson number two, education is not to be taken for granted.  Anyone watching the disappointed few who hadn't enrolled early enough be turned away couldn't help feel guilty for the odd missed lecture). This enthusiasm is a great sign, as we’re just a free taster session. When Seametrey opens its doors in October properly, they should have no problem finding students.

We’re happily into a routine now, teaching from 8am to 5pm. Our youngest pupil is 5 and our oldest is too old to ask (we’re teaching an adult class!) For a week and a half, we've been kept incredibly busy by the masses of children waiting on our doorstep every morning before we have even finished brushing our teeth.  We’re very lucky to have drawn such a crowd, and kids and students alike are having an excellent time.

The next post will be a day in the life of a teacher at Seametrey English Summer School, so details on what all the students (and teachers) have been learning are on their way!