These past two weeks after the wedding have been more calm! I for sure needed some rest from the large wedding party, and the week I returned from the wedding, I only had to teach 2-3 times because the school had exams and meetings! I still attended all of these because I am a teacher, but I did not actively teach like usual. Highlights from this past week include: students asking me a thousand times for stickers, high fives and fist bumps, and teaching everyone the Y.M.C.A. When I finished one of my classes early at the beginning of the week, I realized that I could teach my students the Y.M.C.A., not only because this is a classic American dance song, but also because we just finished learning all of the letters A to Z and sometimes I acted out the letters. And so put that all together, I taught them the Y.M.C.A. All of my classes loved it. I have also realized how interesting that the behaviors of classes change every week. Like my most rowdy class was so great this week and payed attention whereas my most attentive class was in a rowdy mood the day I taught. Now that the students know that we usually play a review game at the end of class, I tell them that if they are good then we play a game but if they do not listen we do not play a game (and so they usually listen!). So far the biggest challenge is making sure the students can read the words. Because Khmer uses a different alphabet, I can understand how it is tough to learn a new language with a new alphabet. Especially because the letters in the Latin Alphabet do not always have the same sound. I am currently learning how to read and write with the Khmer alphabet, and the letters they use make the specific sound that you say. So once you memorize all of the letters and sounds, you are all set (so if anything once you memorize it it is not too bad-although there are a lot of letters and a lot of sounds that go along with it). Whereas in English the letter "a" makes a couple of different sounds and it is difficult for students to know how to read it. So I am still working on trying to help the students with that!
On Saturday, it is my rest day. The students still have school, but Peace Corps asks for us not to work! It has become very hot here (and will only get hotter) and so my motivation to do anything that requires a lot of movement is at an all time low. I woke up and did my laundry (by hand of course) and hung it out to dry, and then exercised (doing an exercise video) with my little host brother trying to copy the moves. I decided to go get my nails done (where I go is where my host mom goes and the ladies know me there, they also wash and straighten hair). I like to go by myself because the ladies like to talk to me and I get to practice my Khmer.
After I got my nails done, I went to pick up coconut coffee from the chinese noodle shop next to the primary school. The man knows my order so when I ask "just one cup please" he already knows, and I always sit in the same spot and wait. It is a nice routine! I went home and we had fish for lunch (fresh caught and it is so good! I'm still trying to find a graceful way to pick the bones out of my mouth). I rested (and am currently working on a video from pre-service training) and then I decided to go to the market to get another dress to wear around town. It is so hot here, I need more flowy clothes. I went to the market (and got a dress) and also the lady said I spoke Khmer well (when people say this it always fuels my ego but I also know I have worked hard to practice the language!) I also got some skin care/face masks for me and my niece to do (we hang out in the kitchen and do work at night and do face masks). I buy the skin care from my co-teacher's wife who has a booth at the market (she is so nice!). I then went to pick up dessert for me and my family. Dessert in Khmer is banghaim, but there are many different types. I do not even know what is in it but it is the "pink dessert" and it is really good. I came home and my niece asked me to try on the clothes to show her. When I went to try on the dress, I realized the belt to the dress wasn't there! The belt kind of tied the whole look together and so I was dreading having to go back to the market, but I was determined. So I biked all the way back and frantically tried to find the lady's booth. She actually found me, with belt in hand, saying she forgot and was asking around the market to try and find me! So I successfully got the belt and the lady was so nice. But in total this means I went into town 3 different times today, biking in the heat. My house is outside of the town and about a 10 minute bike on the highway, a.k.a. a bike ride with no shade, a.k.a. a sweaty bike ride. I am worried about the rise in temperature for sure!
This was for sure a chaotic story but that is a typical week/rest day! Tomorrow I am meeting up with some volunteers to go swim.
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