Before I get into the main theme of today'a blog, I would like to mention a few things. We are terribly concerned about the lack of regular classroom materials. There is very limited paper, few pencils,erasers,colored pencils,scissors, pencil sharpeners, tape, board erasors, etc. We had a great time at the International Book Store buying our eight teachers much needed supplies. Can't wait to see how excited the students wii be starting tomorrow. Last week Joyce...

Unfortunately some of the last blog got cut off and its important to know. I described the work day for a teacher saying that for the most part they're joyful doing their jobs. Teachers in some of the international schools earn much more but those jobs are very hard to get. Teachers in the public schools make $70 a month. Two days ago the Cambodian Daily reported that the largest teachers' organization had written a letter of request to the Minister of Educat...

Teachers unions in America would rise up in rebellion over any one of threalities of a teacher's life here. We work with four teachers each and the profile of these eight typifies a CCF teacher's day. Every teacher teaches at least 2 sessions a day, some of them 3 sessions, this schedule 6 days a week, 12 months a year. There are 3 weeks of vacation each year. The first session begins at 8 AM until 11 AM. There's a break until 2 PM then another sessions be...

Our adventure and experience is very difficult to describe. There are so many ying-yangs. This is the poorest country I could imagine. Our poverty cannot even compare to Cambodia. It is also the dirtiest country imaginable. The redeeming factors are the children. I love them. Always happy faces. I have held and hugged with great pleasure so many beautiful children. Last Sunday Joyce and I went to the school and painted. I loved my little partner who just appeare...

The school CCF has 6 "campuses" or small satellite schools. Schools are simple concrete structures, open but with covered roofs. Because there are no doors and classes are immediately next to each other its very noisy. Each class has a white board, a table for the teacher and desks for the students. Walls are decorated with whatever the teacher chooses at that time. It's basic, folks. Its basic. The picture attached is just outside one of the schools. Oth...