So she has had the week off work leaving me to teach on my own. I was a bit scared at first but I've actually really enjoyed it and I think it has been good for me as I have been forced to make all the quick decisions and come up with ideas rather than relying on Beth. We have studied the weather this week, which has been a lot of fun as we have actions which the kids continued to demonstrate with their new vocabulary on tuk tuk journeys to and from GH2. During the week we had a huge storm which I found terribly exciting as there was so much rain that it almost came under our bedroom door, it provided a great opportunity to practice vocab. The kids struggle a lot with pronunciation, in a similar way to how I struggle with pronouncing Khmer. The Cambodians have a much softer accent than us so it is hard to pronounce hard letters like ds and ts, which makes it difficult for the kids, even if they know the word I don't always understand what they are saying due to pronunciation.
On Thursday morning three monks came to visit and bless (I think that's what Buddhists do) the new Group Home House. We all gathered in one room in front of the monks and some Buddhist ornaments, and I was promptly told off by one of the Mas and a whole bunch of the older children for showing the soles of my feet to the monks, by sitting with my legs outstretched in front of me. I was told I could either sit in the kneeling position(ow) or with my legs to one side with my feet pointing backwards. I chose this option, but I had to have my hands in the praying position so had no support. As the Buddhists chanted my feet and legs got pins and needles, then became very sore and then finally I lost all feeling. The chanting went on for ages and I was far more restless than any of the kids. Then to mine and a few others great amusement Sayha a boy of 3 years who had to his disgust been forced into a pair of trousers that morning, stood up let out a huge yawn and threw his trousers to the floor. The monks were not perturbed but just as I was beginning to think I would never feel my feet again, one of the monks' phone rang and he answered it! I was shocked that I had to suffer such pain but the monks could interrupt Buddha with a phone call, but I decided to take the high ground and stayed on the floor. During the blessing we had to give the monks a donation of rice and stew, which I think was also blessed and we all had to touch the person in front whilst the front group handed the food over. We were also sprinkled with water, I think in a similar way to how Christians cleanse themselves of their sins. I got the impression that the water was being directed towards me the Western sinner, but I may have been mistaken.
This weekend has been really nice Bethany was diagnosed on Thursday and as it is so tricky to sleep well at the orphanage, Bernadette our country representative generously invited us to stay with her in Phnom Penh. I joined them on Friday and I have enjoyed a weekend of Western food, dvds, swimming, a sofa and air con. It has been so nice. Although I think I had a 24 hour bug yesterday and threw up so that wasn't so nice. It was the anniversary of the kings coronation, the Kings father's birthday, and a Buddhist celebration this weekend so we have enjoyed two impressive firework displays.
Our little night light broke during the week so now we have no light what so ever in our room after 5 30, and I found a bed bug in our bed. Not pleased.
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