Side-Saddle: Day 9

Take a peek at the older class comprised of supposedly 7-12 year old children. A few of them are a couple years older than that which I discovered 3 weeks ago when they learned basic conversation on age. Truthfully, some of them don't even know their age right along with their parents. Age and time are not the pressing matters of their lives. This second group of students come to school in the afternoon from 1:00pm-4:30pm. All of them greet me by name.
"Hallo Na Crew Jame!"
We've not made it to the N sound. For now, I'm Jame to half of them!

I jumped on the opportunity to teach PEOPLE along with the letter P last week. We talked about all types: Asian, African, American, short, tall, large eared, slender, fat, old, young, etc...

These 2 friends were pulled out to deeper waters last week.
They showed up for class, and next thing I know they hopped over board onto their homes
as they were being tugged out farther into the lake.

Recess :D

Side-Saddle: Day 8

It's about time you meet some of the children attending PCL Preschool! Let's begin

introductions with the morning class comprised of 3 - 6 year old children. School

starts at 7:00 am for them. So you need to be headed out to the lake about 6:00 am.

It's a little early, but includes the benefit of a gorgeous sunrise over the rice fields!

Side-Saddle: Day 7

You're thinking jerky, right? Possibly even fish jerky...yummm!

Think again! Yes, those are water snakes. So I finished tutoring some secondary students in English and happened to glance over the second deck of the small boat before my descent down the flight of stairs. Indeed, that was the moment my eyes encountered a boat load of snake. I didn't previously realize the red drying meat on roofs was flattened snake. Vanna, one of the Khmer men with whom I teach and is resident small boat care taker, continues to insist on purchasing snake for snack for our preschoolers. Unfortunately ;) , we have to stick with fruit because snake is out of our snack budget! Fine with me.

A son is gathering dried snaked off his parent's roof.

Side-Saddle: Day 6

Hundreds of flags appeared on the road to the lake this morning. All right, hundreds may be an exaggeration, but one-hundred is by no means not even a stretch. I didn't understand their meaning. There was some connection with the pagoda to the south-east of the road, but that was the extent of my knowledge before inquiring a friend who told me they were raising money.

On my way back from the lake, these monks were pushing this large float toward a tent which I'm sure was filled with people within hours of passing. Below is a clip of the float as I passed it.

Side-Saddle: Day 5

I snapped this clip on the way to the lake this morning. These children were headed home from school. Many primary schools have 2 sessions, morning and afternoon, with different children attending each. Most secondary students go for the full day. Anyway, this will give you a better picture of the amount of persons who ride one vehicle. Mind you, it's not just with bicycle riding, but also on mottos and the back of trucks. Man oh man, they pile on and in!

Side-saddle: Day 4

The animal for which I most sympathize is the well bred dog. No, I am obviously
not speaking of a good breed, but rather of birthing scores to many of puppies.

Side-Saddle: Day 3

Exactly at this location 4 weeks ago is where our large floating clinic/school boat was anchored to the road in the previous clip. The several meter deep water has now been transformed into rice fields. Before being tugged to this location, it was about a kilometer south by the phnom (mountain). Now it's a half of a kilometer even farther out and about to move a few more "blocks" this week. The Tonle Sap River actually reverses directions twice a year. The combo of reversal and dry season equals great recession in the lake water. The road continues to grow as it makes more of an appearance every day. The people move right along with the road. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonle_Sap if you want to read up on the Tonle Sap Lake and River.