Day 118 - Final week, it's going to be sad!

I look about ready to fall!

Day 118 - 19th October

It's a weird feeling thinking I only have one more week here. I can remember talking to people back home about my travelling and I always spoke so much of the nine weeks I'd be spending in Cambodia, sports volunteering with kids. It seemed like a distant project on the horizon and as I travelled around in the two months prior to it, it was always more than a few weeks away.

Here I am now, eight full weeks down and one to go. This has been one of the more awesome and more importantly educational experiences of the whole trip. Seeing and experiencing Khmer life for longer than a few days in one place has really shown me the kind and generous nature of the Khmers who have so little they can afford but so much that they can give. They always want to learn English and I always love to talk so we've gone hand in hand. So much so I'm now poised to pick up a job here next March. I can't wait.

As per our usual Monday's we had the morning off so I had breakfast and looked at some places in Laos I'd like to visit. Aside from the capital city, I aim to visit Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang in addition to Paske, if I fly. It looks like a hell of a country so I can't wait to visit before my move to Chiang Mai just under two weeks later.

At 11am, I met with Charlie and DK for our weekly sports meeting and we discussed the topic of the environment as our talking point this week using Rugby as the sport. It's going to be a busy last week and I'm going all out for the finish.

DK had his vocabulary tt with me and gain 10/15 so I was really proud of him. Our lessons will continue in the form of email as I carry on travelling and he's started university now for two years to achieve his English teaching dream. He's going to make it, I sure of that!

In the afternoon, we went to Project A and tested out new games. Similar to the big drop game that we'd created a few weeks earlier, this time the kids had to balance the rugby balls on the cones whilst an attacker knocked them off. The message was that no matter how much they cleaned up, others who didn't care would always come along and make more mess. Only together can they keep the environment clean.

I was pleased this was the teaching for the week given this was the biggest issue I had with Cambodia when I first arrived. The amount of rubbish here is unbelievable and if they want the countrysides and cities to continue attracting people they need to clean up and stop littering.

In the even, I went out to suss out more bus tickets to see if I could get a lower cost and I had dinner in  my usual place.

One day down, four to go! Crap!

Find out more about Globalteer Sports Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalteerSportsProject

Day 87 - Kids are tiring, fact!

Siem Reap by night.

Day 87 - 18th September

I over slept from a heavy night's sleep and to my surprise, it was not raining.

I picked up a banana pancake to go and shot off for the office, meeting DK and Vibol, our Tuk Tuk driver. Mr Muk (Globalteer team member) was trying to buy my phone off me. I wouldn't want to take his money plus it locks itself all the time from the heat and half the screen is cracked. Definitely not worth it.

We arrived at our school for the day. We had four morning sessions with the first two classes getting a really good grasp of the five box game and the social message it give with regards to family. It was pretty easy going and they did as they were told - their push ups were hilarious, as most have been all week.

By the time the second two sets of classes come out, I was feeling energetic, ready to put them through a good warm up before DK took the lesson. But sadly, it wasn't to be . . .

The kids are great, of course. Every one of them has a great personality and enthusiasm for sport but keeping them under control was more of a challenge then trying to keep 12 balls in three boxes (3x4 with them rolling everywhere. Yeah, I have to do that).

In the end we just had them free play and everyone had great fun. Some of the school volunteers involved themselves, including a mother and daughter combo from Australia. It's great to see everyone getting involved.

After a brief spot of lunch and script editing at Bou Savy, we went back to the same school for our afternoon sessions.

Our sessions were more tiring in the afternoon, for both us and the kids. It was hotter than it had been in the morning so every one was wearing out much quicker. But we still had fun! 

I had sand all over my shirt from the push up instruction, a wet back from the sweat and kids jumping all over me. One kids tapped me after getting off my back and pointed to his shirt. It was wet. 'This is from you,' he said before laughin with the others. I couldn't help but join him.

After the lessons ended, DK and I were glad to be resting in the back of the Tuk Tuk. An 8 lesson Friday is definitely a killer!

Love a good Ham and Cheese toastie.

I headed downtown for dinner at the Red Piano and edged ever closer to completing my second draft. 

By the ten o'clock rolled around, I was out. Maybe I am getting old?

Find out more about Globalteer Sports Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalteerSportsProject

Day 85 - More rain, but no rain, no gain, right? RIGHT!

The dining area where I do most of my writing these days!

Day 85 - 16th September

So a quick noodle breakfast this morning and I was out the door.

We shot off to our project across town and were setting up in the rain. I am truly a believer in wet season now having witness so much rain. I thought it was just to signify when the rains came but boy have I been wrong.

The kids were full of energy and enjoyed the game of hopping between cones, as I gradually took more  away. Eventually, I had an army of kids behind me and just two in front. They both played a great game but as always there has to be just one winner.

We the taught them the lesson of the week and some kids grasped it quickly, others more slowly. Some not at all. One thing I'll always remember is from box four (Push Ups). The kids this thrusting their pelvis' into the floor is the way to do a push up and it just has me and DK in stitches.

After a slightly dryer end to the lesson, we headed off to our other project, over by the airport. This place has a big playing field so it's always fun. 

DK had to talk to the director about future sports arrangements so I took the lesson. The kids loved the warm ups, running up and down and jumping around. I then had them lined up in team A and B and they would run out in turns trying to catch the other team. DK suggested it as a good burner of energy. He wasn't wrong.

The lesson was cut short by . . . yep, more rain but we had most it anyway.

When I returned to Bou Savy, I had my Cup O Noodles and finished my admin tasks for Globalteer.

Afterwards, I headed over to teach DK more English. I tried him out reading for ten minutes so I could see what words he struggled with in some Grimm Fairy Tale books. I knew Gretel would get him!

We returned to the same NGO and DK coached the lesson of the week for them. Again the kids struggled with the push ups, all except the smallest kid. He is a foot shorter than the rest, about two years younger too but damn, can he nail a push up! Impressive stuff from a kid who normally comes to class dressed as Batman (Cape and Cowl included!) He's obviously serious about life as a crime fighter, and good on him.

By the time we were five minutes from Bou Savy, the rain was pouring again.

Please, let this be the one!

I made a quick stop at my favourite $1 noodle cart outside the hostel and then pitched up at. Table in the lobby / dining area to finish my script for the BBC drama submission.

And it's finished. All the hard work has paid off and now a quick edit and off it goes. 

So exciting times here in Siem Reap. Loving it more every day!

Find out more about Globalteer Sports Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalteerSportsProject