Hi everyone,

I am having an excellent time. i am so happy I came over. I am staying at a place called Ptea teak Dong, it takes families off the street, and teenage girls who have been raped and they stay in the centre for a year and learn vocational skills, and are provided with three meals a day, health care etc. At the end of the time they are given a house and plot of land and some capital to start a business wih their vocational skills. It is like a big caravan park, with everyone eating and living together. i am stayng in a lovely wooden bungalo, with my own room. the director and girls who have been rescued after rapes stay next door. i am teaching english from 5 to 6 in the afternoon. it is very challenging, the age of my students range from 11 to 21, and their skill levels are all different too. it is hard to get used to the different system as well, as some of the kids will have babies with them, and other toddlers will wonder in and out of the class. there are no resources either,excepta white board and the kids have books and pencils. they are so beautifula and firendly. i constantly havepeople coming up and talking to me, in englisj orr khmer and touching my skin!! the toddlers love to pick flowers and give them to me - its is a lovely atmosphere despite thesadnessin their lives. there are 20 families, 83 children and about 25 teenage girl victims living in the centre.

got to go... looking forward to hearing from everyone

love trish