HE IS GOD, and He is Good!

So I realized today that the entire month of November went by without a single blog post on my end. Sorry about that. When I left for Cambodia, I had this great plan to write every single week, maybe every single day. As most plans usually go, that changed.

Culture shock + starting school + becoming a Principal + meeting a lot of new, wonderful people = no time to write a blog. I wish that I could recap all of the things that have happened here over the past two months, but that would be virtually impossible. You probably wouldn't really want to read it, and frankly, I don't want to write it. Just because it would be really long, not because I don't want to share what has been happening.

But what I do want to do is give you a little picture into Life International School. I continue to be amazed at the sheer number of really wonderful, sweet children that God has allowed me to interact with in my short 25 years. Each and every face at LIS means so much to me, and each day that I get to spend with them, and see their smiles, is a great day.

Every morning we have a time of devotion, where the K through 4 classes come together to pray, listen to bible stories, and sing praises to God. We have been learning some new songs, and one of the crowd favorites is a song called "He is God." One of the reasons that kids love it so much is that the words are simple and the song repeats itself:

He is God, the one true God

There's no doubt, I'm going to shout it out

He is King, the one true King

There's no doubt, I'm going to shout it out.

Come and see what God has done

All the wonders under the sun.

Come and see what God can do

He's alive, in me and you.

There is so much theology packed into this one tiny kids' song, and it does my heart so good to hear all 120 of my students singing this at the top of their lungs each and every morning. In a part of the world where the predominant "religion" worships many false gods and idols, these children are singing the truth that there is ONE true god. In a country where a human king is revered above all other people, the voices of these children are reminding us that there is only ONE King who rules the Earth. They are reminding us not to doubt in God's goodness, and God's greatness. They are reminding us that this amazing truth and this amazing gift is something that we should be shouting out, all the time. They are reminding us to always be in awe of what God is done, and to always be looking for ways that God is at work in our lives. And finally, they are reminding us that through the amazing gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ, God is alive. He's living in me, and in you, and each one of these precious children.

I know that I personally need to be reminded of all these things daily, and so I am thankful for the gift of these children's voices. I hope that it moves something deep in your heart, as it does mine. I also know that right now, to these children, this song is just a song. But it is my prayer that as they grow older and mature, and hopefully come to know God more, they will understand the beautiful truths that they sang about when they were in elementary school. I hope that you will join me in praying this also.

Here is a video for you to enjoy. Please ignore the poor video and audio quality, as it was shot on just a mere digital camera. But the message is still there.

"And the Lord will be King over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one." Zechariah 14:9

Cocktails

"Teacher Megan, I like to drink cocktails."

Now, I am in no way a newbie when it comes to dealing with absurd comments from five year olds. And now that I teach a room full of English Language Learners, the risk for adorable, hilarious comments greatly increases. But the above sentence is something I was not expecting.

The statement was uttered by a precious little Dutch boy who speaks English, a little French and Khmer (Cambodian). His father owns a beach hotel here in Sihanoukville and apparently my student has been frequenting the bar with the guests, maybe when Mom and Dad aren't looking. All jokes aside, I seriously doubt that he is actually drinking real cocktails. He assured me that there was no alcohol in them. But don't worry, he could still describe them to me in full detail (for a Kindergartener). He really likes the pink ones and the green ones.

He is quite the chatterbox, and usually tells me about many things, but usually his conversation pieces include legos and computer games. As inappropriate as it probably is, I actually enjoyed the fact that he is taking our conversations to a more "adult level." But if he all of a sudden learns the name of certain gentlemen such as Jack, Jim, and Jose, we may need to have a parent-teacher conference....

Same Same But Different

"Same same but different" is one of my favorite sayings that I have picked up from the kids who sell bracelets on the beach. That and "Open your heart, open your wallet."

When they are trying to get you to spend money on what is essentially string they have braided together, they like to use their best English and marketing skills to make the sale. They tell you this bracelet cost $2, and then you say, but I only paid $1 for this one, its the same. And then they inform you "same same but different." Yeah, its the same but it's different, but mostly it's the same. I have been pondering this little phrase and have come to realize that it applies to a lot things here in Cambodia, especially at the school. Allow me to elaborate on some things I have observed:

1) There is still that one little girl in class who immediately decides on the first day of school that she is also the teacher, and will then commence to repeat everything you say and boss all the other students around.

2) The person who works the hardest and often gets recognized the least is the lady who works in the office. I'm just gonna go ahead and give a shout out to Romdoul (here in Cambodia), Ms. Wendy, Ms. Kidd, and Ms. Donna. All the greatest office staff I have ever known!

3) There is a general sense of mayhem and confusion the first two weeks of school.

4) Power outages are just as inconvenient and infuriating, even when you can pretty much expect a couple a day here. One major difference with this is that the power outages I dealt with in the states were a result of either hungry or bored squirrels. Here, they are just something else that happens during the day.

5) The school has one "passionate" (to put it nicely) parent who has many opinions about many things.

6) Meetings can dictate your day, whether you are planning around them or waiting for them to happen.

7) When children don't understand what you are saying or what they are supposed to be doing, they misbehave. Holding their attention, even when they don't understand a word you are saying, is a refined art.

8) Bakeries are wonderful and happy places that just smell like comfort. In Cambodia, and actually Asia in general, you may find some unexpected ingredients in what you may perceive to be a delicious pastry. Savory is often opted for over sweet.

9) The support and friendship of the people you teach with is crucial. It is more interesting and fun when you all come from all over the world.

10) People are nice. Especially when you take the time to get to know them. Once you do so, it doesn't matter if you are the same, or different, or the real truth: "Same Same but Different."

And bonus, they sell t-shirts here that say "Same Same." I'm hoping that I will maybe find one that says "Same Same but Different."

Extreme Makeover Classroom Edition: Cambodian Style

In this post you will find some visual aids as I regale the transformation of my classroom. This first picture is the view from where I live, the dorms of Life University. The small building with the red roof is Life International School. The larger building is Life School (a public primary and secondary school) and also house Life University Language Institute:

This is a close up of Life International School. My door is just left of center on the bottom level. Nursery, preschool, and Kindergarten are housed on the lower level, and Grades 1 through 4 are on the upper level.

Here are the "before" pictures of my Kindergarten classroom. I have to be honest, a few tears were shed at the prospect of having to completely redo and set up a classroom, especially since I spent the last 3 years at Center Point perfecting my classroom. Also, I made the mistake of looking in a lot of the other rooms of the school before looking in mine, and mine definitely needed the biggest face lift. The biggest obstacle was the large white circular desks, which we call offices. They were designed for the students to take tests in, but my room seemed to have become the dumping ground for all of the left over ones. It seemed like there were hundreds of them in there. I didn't foresee using them, but there was no way to get them out. I had to get super creative, as you will see in the after photos.

The above shots were taken this past Monday. After five days of moving furniture, and with the help of a pack of construction paper, a laminating machine, and $10 spent at the local book/office supply store, here are the results. I am pretty pleased with how things turned out. More importantly, I realized that there was no need to get worked up about being planted in a classroom with little to no materials and that isn't organized the way I want it to be. I've made it work twice now, and I can do it again if I have to. God is good, all the time, and I just need to remember that he will never ever give me anything I can't handle, as long as I am relying on Him.

Enjoy the after shots!

This is the view from the door. The "offices" pushed together on the right have hooks stuck to them and will be where the kids hang their backpacks. Notice the lovely birthday balloons on the back wall.

The front of the room and my desk. The desk in the other picture belongs to my partner teacher, who will be teaching the kids the Khmer language and will help me with translating, etc.

Renovated teaching area. More mats to come soon to create a large area where the kids can sit.

More renovated teaching area. Days of the week, months, and numbers were all made by hand. Other stuff is just bits and pieces I found in the room.

This piece of furniture, which was trapped behind a bunch of the offices, will be cubbies for the students to keep their books, home of the future classroom library (once it gets shipped from the states), and storage for materials.

Word wall (above) and behavior management system (below). Both mounted on the wall space that I created by pushing the white offices together. One bonus to this set up is that everything will be at the kids' eye level, which is ideal.

It's a definite improvement in my mind, but there are still several things I want to do. This will take patience though... but as I'm here for the next 2 years, I will have plenty of time to exercise that gift! I truly am excited about what the Lord will do in this room over the next two years.

A Day in The Life...

Life in Sihanoukville is so different, and the things I so often took for granted in the states have become completely redefined here. However, at the same time, I am encountering new and wonderful ways of doing things. Here is usually how my day goes:

1) Wake up the sun blaring in our room. Normally, this wouldn't bother me so much, but when you don't have AC, it can get quite toasty before 7AM. In the week I have been here, I have definitely gotten used to it. I am usually amused by roommate (from Singapore) though. While I am sweaty, she is sniffly and blowing her nose. It's all about what you are used to and grow up with.

2)After waking up, I usually have to make a decision between showering, eating breakfast, or traipsing down to the lobby to use the Internet. Since my morning is evening in the States, it's a good time to talk to friends and family. I sometimes can accomplish all three if I wake up early enough, but it's not as simple as waking up, getting ready, and being connected to the world. It takes a little bit more effort here. As far as showering goes, its kind of a necessity due to the aforementioned night sweating, but most days I figure, "What's the Point?" I will just get all sweaty and gross again in a couple of hours. This argument usually continues for a good five or so minutes in my head. The outcomes vary.

3) Walking to work: I am thankful that pretty much everywhere in Sihanoukville is in within walking distance from my dorm. The school is literally at the bottom of the hill no more than 20 or 30 yards away. The real fun starts when it's time to go back up the hill, though.

4) Working at Life International School: This past week has been our "in-service" week, so I have been toiling away trying to get my classroom ready for the year. Stay tuned for another post with a more in-depth look into my classroom....

5) Lunch Break: This concept is completely foreign to me. At the school I taught at in America, I got a total of 20 minutes to take my class to lunch, make sure all my babies got their food, spend 5-10 minutes cooking my own food in the microwave, and eating. Here, lunchtime is much, much more valued, and I love it. Pretty much the whole country shuts down from 11:30 to 1:30. It's so relaxing and wonderful to have such an extended lunch break, and it totally fits with the laid back vibe I have gotten from Cambodia thus far. Aside from climbing the hill and 800 stairs back to my dorm room, my lunch break is absolutely glorious.

6) Afternoons: As of now, I am not quite sure what my afternoons will look like. Kindergarten students only come to school in the mornings, so I have the afternoons free for lesson planning, cleaning, or helping out in the office. Since we have no principal at our school, I am hoping to spend a lot of time in the office helping out and learning how the school operates. The school day goes until 4 or 5 o'clock, so afternoons will be busy, busy. But since we have such a luxurious lunch break, I'm OK with that.

7) Evenings: After a long day of work, and climbing the hill/stairs for the 2nd or 3rd time (depending on what transpired that day), it's time for another shower. We have been alternating between going out to dinner and cooking in our room, and both are quite nice. After dinner, the choices range from going to bed early (which happens a lot since the sun sets at 6:30), watching a movie/TV shows on the computer, or going to use the Internet. And then pretty soon its time to wake up and start it all over again.

This has been my routine for the past week, but I'm sure once school starts and I get more acclimated to the country, things will change a little bit. Overall, the way of life in Cambodia is much simpler and slower than life in America, and so far I like it. Occasionally I will feel rushed in doing something or getting things done, but then I just remind myself that no one else is freaking out, and if I hurry and get it done, I won't have anything to do later. Slowing down is an adjustment, but its a good lesson to learn. It has given me time to really focus on what is important in life.

Not a Tourist

One thing that is kind of a problem in Cambodia, especially in the places where there are more tourists, is children that persistently beg for money and food. When I was in Siem Reap (the town where are the ancient temples are located), children there knew exactly when and where to be to bombard tourists and foreigners. They also knew exactly who to ask and what to say and how to manipulate people into giving them money. Begging is a lifestyle and a job for them, and many have perfected their art.

Everything I had previously read before coming to Cambodia talked about exactly what I observed almost instantly. They also consistently said that it was not a good idea for foreigners to give these children anything, because it just perpetuates the culture of begging. When I was in Siem Reap, I immediately took on the role of a tourist and avoided giving these children money or buying things. Not only that, but my heart was super hardened, and I wasn’t even kind to victims of landmines who also beg for money. It’s so easy to do in the US: when you see a homeless person on the street, you just walk on by. When you see the war vets that sit on the interstate and highway exits asking for work or a ride, you very tactfully look the other direction. At least, I know I do. And apparently I brought that terrible attitude with me to Cambodia.

But then I realized something. I’m not a tourist in this country. I didn’t get on a huge airplane to come here and ignore the people who need the most help. The next two years are not about me having all that I want and need, but are more about me sacrificing all that I have to help the people of Cambodia, and more importantly, sharing, AND SHOWING, the love and light of Christ.

When I really, really think about it, the task becomes daunting. There are millions of people in this country, and the majority of them are extremely poor. How, in two short years can I help them all? As much as I would love to pack every single street child I see in my suitcase and bring them home with me to take care of them, I know that’s not realistic. As much as I would love to just throw all my money out in the streets like candy in a parade, again, not very realistic. As much as I would love to buy 5 or 6 little bracelets every time I go to the beach, is that really the best thing to do? Ultimately, I want to be able to help these children, but not just by giving them money every time I see them, but by giving them a friend, praying for them, and hopefully being able to tell them all about the awesome gift of our Savior. THAT really is the best thing I can give.

I’m writing this not because I have found the solution to this problem that I want to share with everyone, but because I really am having a hard time getting my head and my heart to communicate on this issue. Thankfully, it is only day 7 here. I have like 728 days to work it out. If anyone has any practical suggestions or ideas to help these kids, please share!

Angkor What?

The very first thing I did once I got to Cambodia was to take a little mini-vacation to the town of Siem Reap. It seems a little ironic that I would start my two year stint in a third-world country on vacation, but that’s just they way things worked out, and it was definitely for the best. The most notable thing about Siem Reap is the ancient temple ruins of Angkor Wat and various other temples. Some of these Hindu/Buddhist temples have been around pretty much since Jesus walked the Earth, so it was really cool to see how they have stood the test of time. There are approximately like 87 temples (Ok, maybe not that many, but there are a lot) in the area, so there is absolutely no way to see them all in one day. I will most definitely be back, but for now, here are some of my favorite pictures from the day: