Day 120 - The grand finale!

Going to miss this old place.

Day 120 - 21st October

My last day of actually coaching and four months since I left home! I had to make it one to remember.

Project C has many great memories for me, with it being my first ever project I attended and the way the kids warmed to me and made me feel welcome.

The day started with high bursts of energy from DK, the kids and I. Starting as we meant to go on. The sun was roasting again but I ignored it and did my warm up drills with the eight students in the first session. They were great.

The second session followed suit with the first and the time flew by to lunchtime where I had my normal noodles and DK had his scheduled nap. I wish I could do the same but I just can't nap. I get grumpy and do not want to get up afterwards. No way, Jose!

The afternoon brought the most fun, the kids going wild for DK's warm up and games. They really respect him and why wouldn't they? In the second session, I took the games with the kids needing to dress up in bibs and cones before exercising. Again the kids giggled and yelled encouragement to their teammates, desperately wanting to finish first. 

What a way to sign off!

The evening was spent packing up my stuff in preparation for my departure on Monday. Normally I leave it until a few hours before I'm due to check out but this time I need to be on the ball ready for my big journey to Laos (I'm still undecided on whether to fly or not).

I realised from a cardboard tag that I've been wearing women's football socks this whole time. Who'd have thought, huh? Well at least I'm in touch with my feminine side. 

Di and I exchanged stories over dinner before heading back to Bou Savy.

Thanks once again to Project C for all your help in making this an awesome experience. I shall never forget it.

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

Day 119 - Project B, it's time to say goodbye

How could you not love working with these kids? What an experience.

Day 119 - 20th October

Another day of saying goodbye. It's not as easy as I thought, some of these kids are so much fun and their personalities I will miss the most. You get the dominant ones, the timid ones, the giggly ones, the grumpy ones and the carefree ones. All together they give you a great mix as a volunteer and you really don't know what personalities you're going to draw on a week to week basis. It's like a milder form of Russian Roulette.

DK was absent on a personal matter for the morning so Srey Mom and I headed out to Project B to take the lessons. I almost injured myself after the first lesson, squatting down to fast and feeling a pull in the back of my hamstring. Straight away I panicked, knowing our final is coming up on Thursday so I let Mom take the second lesson whilst I lightly assisted.

By the afternoon, DK was back in business and we had one lesson instead of two as we've seemed to have had in the last three weeks. The kids were great again and come the end of the lesson, I was swarmed with hugs and high fives. This is why you volunteer, for moments like this.

It was sad walking away and Sophy, one of the teachers, bid me farewell and good luck. Later on I discovered the Project had posted a thank you to me on their Facebook page. A nice and welcome surprise.

I had a quick dinner before headed out to football. We picked up another 13-6 victory, I scored two, took a goalkeepers studs to my knee and gained two blisters from the boots I am borrowing from Yanni and Pommers. Thicker socks are required for Thursday!

Another day gone and now I know I've only got one full day left which is tomorrow at Project C. Another holiday on Friday for French Peace Day means I won't be going to Project D again to teach. It's sad but I will be going to see them for a flying visit on Thursday so that's something.

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

Day 108 - End of week and then vacation time!

Time to teach again!

Day 108 - 09th October

So the final day of the working week before the Pchum Ben festival begins.

The day was hot but I was looking forward to teaching our last day of volleyball. We headed to Project D and set up our first few lessons with lots of free playing, games and just good fun. The kids were tired by the end so we knew we were doing something right.

Huok (sounds like Hulk), one of the teachers was talking to me about the differences in Cambodia compared to England. He was curious to know what we do, how we study at university (hadn't a clue, I've never been) and how we live our social lives. One thing I have learned here in Cambodia and that's that the people are very family orientated. Everything they do is for the good of their parents and siblings, which is always great to see. Sometimes though it makes me feel a little sympathy because so many don't dare to dream or try something for their own good. I totally respect what they do for family but it makes me wonder how unfulfilled they might be deep down.

Anyway, as things were going well, we taught our final two lessons of the morning in the same fashion as the previous two. They kids whacked volleyballs about and whacked each other if they did something wrong in the group (in a playful way of course).

At lunch, I tucked into a noodle soup before heading back to the office for pick up to go to our four afternoon sessions. And then it happened, again. Everytime DK and I get together in the afternoons, it rains! Without fail!

So the rest of the afternoon was spent teaching on and off and mostly standing beneath a shelter talking to Huok. Again we covered ground on social differences between our countries, his plans for Pchum Ben and teaching techniques (don't ask why he asked me, he must have thought I knew what I was doing).

By the evening, I'd settled in with a curry and Meet the Fockers on Fox Movies. To be honest, I was knackered after the day so didn't want anything heavy.

By the time it finished, I was face down in a pillow, gone to the world! I am getting old.

Day 105 - Fail does not appear in my vocabulary!

DK's on a roll!

Day 105 - 06th October

So day two in the week sees us go out to Project B for the day, only coming away from it for a few hours at lunch.

As always, this is a fun environment to be in and the kids always work hard and enjoy our games. I warmed them up with cone related games before DK and Srey Mom taught the lesson and recapped on the last five weeks.

Organising the teams.

The sun came out to play too and I chose to embrace it rather than complain about it. First time for everything aye? 

By lunchtime I was dripping with sweat but I enjoyed a chilled out noodle lunch before heading over to teach DK some more English. This time he was on the money again, ready to learn new vocabulary and pronunciations. I could tell he was nervous about his upcoming exam on Thursday I took to fixing his Skype for him so he didn't have something else to worry about.

He's going to do great, I know he will. He just needs to focus!

In the afternoon, we had a merged session and replayed the same games as we had before with the morning class. Once again, I was left panting and sweating but I never get sick of it.

By the evening, a friendly had been arranged with some Khmers at Samkee. It was a spiky affair, with a couple of the other team members putting in late tackles and elbows to our faces. Dave and I got a little riled and refused to back down but in the end we were narrowly defeated by some lucky deflected goals.

Ah, Big Willy F.C. - like the Tottenham of the Khmer league!

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

Day 104 - I normally don't like Mondays, but in Cambodia, I love 'em

Time to dance!

Day 103 - 05th October

A quiet morning was followed by meetings with Charlie and DK. We discussed the freedom of choice and how DK and Vith would try to help their country. Their responses were interesting with both wanting to look out for the best of the Khmers, naturally.

After a short lunch, I returned to teach DK English. I'm pleased to report he managed 100% on five examples with irregular verbs, connections and plurals. His English is really improving with each lesson so it's always good fun to teach him.

We headed out to Project A, ready for the week's first activities. The kids were little so we couldn't ask about what they had learned in the last five weeks. It just doesn't happen! Instead we played games with them hopping, skipping and running around. They laughed and screamed and we all got involved.

After two, hour sessions, I went back to Bou Savy to see Johannes off. The rain came as it always does and flooded the ground below the first floor lounge area where we enjoyed a beer together. 

I left for the Khmer Cafe and had a burger and pancakes. All for $6. Gotta love it. When cycling back, I heard a familiar tapping sound coming from my bike and sure enough, there was my second flat tyre in under two weeks. Nuts!

I'd have to get Moeuth to help me fix it in the morning. It was definitely bedtime.

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

Day 101 - Ready, Set, NGO! and Yoga Bear. Trust me, it's no picnic!

Love that noodle soup for brekkie.

Day 101 - 02nd October

The noodle soup for breakfast was a nice start to the day along with a little book editing.

DK was back but looked exhausted. When we were in the Tuk Tuk he was not his usual self. He was quiet and subdued.

When we arrived at Project four he went to sit down and was asleep within minutes. Poor sod. So I took all four morning sessions, which was a challenge to say the least. It's fine giving instructions but doing it in limited Khmer and trying to assist the kids was difficult. But hey, I had fun.

The kids having fun with another volunteer.

In the third session, the older kids were, well, just being kids basically. When asked to stand in line they refused. When I asked them to play a game, they wandered off. My solution - let them get on with it. And it seemed to work well. I played with the four or five kids that wanted to play and the others chased around and played volleyball. Everyone was happy.

When I returned to Bou Savy, I went for a 30 lap swim and some noodles. Charlie called to say DK had gone home sick - get well soon brother.

So in the afternoon I went to a new project, Project 5 with Srey Mom and her little girl. Man that little one is adorable.

Project 5 was a nice place, much bigger than all the others. The students were well behaved and enjoyed lessons with Srey Mom and myself. We had them running around and laughing whilst they chased each other down. Before I knew it, two hours were up!

Yeah, I can do Yoga, just about.

I had a couple of hours to do some editing before I went to the Siem Reap Hostel for a Yoga class with Globalteer's very own, Lisa. After an hour of twisting and turning, I was ready to escape, despite being taught well by my teacher! I just haven't the skill or flexibility for the Yoga game.

Afterwards, it was bucketing down and when I say bucketing, I mean literally streams flowing down the streets of Siem Reap. I went to my new spot for cheap eating and had more pancakes (seriously, I think I need to get into rehab for this), just waiting for the rain to pass.

And then I had to succumb to the inevitable. It wasn't going to stop raining and I had to purchase a 50¢ poncho. The only positive was it was in my favourite colour so I didn't mind too much looking like the ugly brother of little red riding hood cycling down the street.

Back at Bou Savy, I was nice and dry and feeling good about myself. A nice hot shower relaxed me and then I headed off to bed, ready for a day out with Mr Mut to the reservoir in the morning.

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

Day 97 - New week, new missions

I'm rolling around Siem Reap on this new baby. She's a smooth ride.

Day 97 - 28th September

A change, I'm back on the banana pancakes for breakfast. I've missed those round waffles of magic. The side of pineapple also makes me feel better for having a portion of fruit with it (the banana inside the pancakes doesn't count because it's dowsed in syrup).

Our weekly sports for social impact meeting saw us continue with the sport of volleyball but move on to a new child right - freedom. Such an important right as well for so many kids in Cambodia.

We were given the new game by Charlie to set up a giant square with one attacker in the middle. The attacker had to spike a ball waist height or below into the other kids trying to escape. When they were hit, the kids would have to cover their mouths so they couldn't call for help. This effectively takes away their freedom to move and seek assistance when needed.

We would then introduce a person who could 'untag' them by high fiving them when they called out for help. giving them back their freedom to play. We would follow this up with a question to see if they understood the message.

More warm ups.

So in the afternoon, Project A were our test run. They handled it well and seemed to pick up the message fairly quickly in the first session. The second session was full of smaller children so we played a bib game I came up with that needed the kids to put bibs over the tops of cones as quickly as they could in 15 seconds whilst two attackers tried to prevent them doing so by throwing the bibs off.

This went down well with the kids who loved the power of throwing stuff around whilst laughing out loud. Mission success!

Love those $1.25 nachos and the 50¢ Angkor draft.

In the evening, I went out for another swim (it's part of the routine now) before I headed to a Mexican for nachos and relaxed ready for a full day at Project B on Tuesday. Please, please, let it be overcast or colder. I don't mind which, as long as the heat doesn't rise!

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

Day 91 - More fun and games and a feisty 6-a-side affair

The warms up in action.

Day 91 - 22nd September

After waking up a little groggy from a restless night (the storm was so loud), I had my breakfast and headed off to Globalteer so we could get ready for a day at Project B.

Explanations ...

We spent about two hours in two sessions in the morning, going through the same drills as the day before. Once again the kids had a good grasp of the social message and enjoyed chasing each other about. We had a few trips and slips but that just brought more laughter and screams from two groups of very excited kids. You've gotta love it!

The kids are so well behaved. And look at me, rocking the Adidas full kit!

Heading back for lunch, I grabbed a Cup 'o' Noodles and went straight to the Globalteer offices to finish my editing. The iPad app for Word doesn't let you do a real job of line spacing if you have the basic package (take note Microsoft and Apple - you're letting the consumer down with you add ons packs). 

After days and hours of solid work, I finally finished my TV drama script. Hopefully coming to your screens in 2017! Yes, it really does take that long.

Ready, steady . . .

We were back at Project B for more afternoon session but the second was cancelled because we had the kids from that session in a class for the first hour. Again, they identified the social message on their own which is always a positive. It means they understand the importance of health and hygiene that perhaps some of the older generation haven't be educated about.

I had a quick toastie at The Red Piano before heading over to Samakee for our weekly training game. Oh, it was pouring down again with huge forks of lightning coming down on my way there so that was enough to make me pedal faster on my bike from Bou Savy to the AstroTurf.

We were playing against some Khmer guys and it's my first experience of a team that closely resembled a team from home. They liked a physical battle and with me playing up top, one guy liked to lead with his knee in my back. 

Eventually, after we went 4-0 down, this defender pushed his luck and ended up with a taste of his own medicine from one of our players. Once this was out of their systems, the game continued competitively and we managed to get the score back to a more respectable 6-4.

In the end, it was a good game. I bagged one and Charlie and Dave shared the other three between them. Encouraging signs of a team coming together, perhaps just in time for a game against a big team, Carlton Palmer F.C on Thursday. We shall see.

I arrived back and dropped off. This volunteering malarkey is exhausting.

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

Day 90 - Final script edits and afternoon of fun!

Me trying to teach something!

Day 90 - 21st September

A new week, a new timetable.

We now visit five NGOs and schools instead of the original ten. An exciting prospect given that we get to be with a school for basically a whole day at a time.

The morning sports for social impact meeting was cancelled due to Charlie being in Battambang for two days. DK and I went through the game for the week - a box would be set up in which the kids would need to evade capture from one attacker. If they were caught, they'd have to sit down. Then we would introduce another attacker to make it more difficult. Finally, we would aid the kids by throwing balls for them to catch when they had been caught, effectively freeing them to run again.

The lesson of the week is to tell the kids the importance of health and hygiene. The message of the game is the attacker is sickness, trying to bring them down. We as the coaches are the medicine or health care, looking to help them back to health. It doesn't sound that powerful when explaining it but believe me, it has a strong impact on the kids, especially if they have fun!

I tried to finish my script completely but I had to head off to lessons. I will finish the bloody thing before Thursday's 5pm deadline.

Our class!

In the afternoon, we had two lessons at Project A, a nice little place out in the countryside. The playing field, as you can see, is perfect for what we were trying to achieve. Srey Mom joined us.

The kids love this warm up. A more mobile version of Dan says.

More painful than it looks.

The lad said we had a cheater in our ranks. Kids will be kids!

Following my warm ups, we went straight into the lesson. DK had devised the game and had said it would work. Boy, was he right. The kids absolutely loved it and competed in great spirit with each other. The social message was also clear to them as they detailed the importance of washing hands, washing, showering, brushing their teeth and all the things we do naturally without even thinking.

Coach DK's game.

Coach Srey Mom loves the sports too.

By the end of the two hours, we were surprisingly tired.

What a dinner!

I headed out for fish and chicken kebab before picking up some noodles to accompany them from my favourite noodle place. The combination was cracking as you can see.

The Cable Guy was on Fox Movies (please forgive me) so I put it on whilst I did some illustrations for my latest children's picture book. Hopefully I can get them finished whilst I travel. The build up of heat all day had caused a outrageous thunderstorm which was spectacular to watch, from inside.

I hope the rest of the days ahead this week bring less heat and more fun!

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 86 - Wet lessons and cup games

After a huge run around. But I scored again!

Day 86 - 17th September

The rain came again, waking me up at 5:30am. So I put the early wake up to good use, working on the  admin tasks set for me and doing a little editing on my script.

I set off with DK for our project at 7:30am. My buddy gave me another one of those coconut cakes to enjoy along the way.

The kids are getting to know me now, which is good. They come up, yelling my name and high five me. What's not to love about this volunteering malarky?

Our first lesson was uninterrupted and faultless, with DK leading on the main part of the lesson and me focusing on the warm up. Having the kids jump from cone to cone and laughing as they do so makes me laugh and feel happy about this opportunity in my life. Things seem so much simpler as a kid, which I know for some of these children is not the case, but they make it look so effortless and carefree.

Our second session brought rain, so we only managed my brief warm up before we were back in the classroom, teaching them about the importance of family. DK is really flourishing with his English and is vocabulary is building fast. I am a proud teacher!

After our morning sessions were complete, I headed back to Bou Savy for lunch.

Once digested, I went to the office for our weekly social impact lesson with Charlie, recapping on the week's progress and analysing the results. We had some different answers from one school and one orphanage for obvious reasons.

My awesome student, DK.

Following this lesson, I took DK for his English lesson. Again, his reading of English is developing well and I'll genuinely be sad when I have to leave. It's been great fun. But I still have five weeks left so I'm ecstatic about that!

I had to cancel my Khmer lesson that I'd been looking forward to all day to go to a local travel agent to sort out my visa. It expires Sunday so I've renewed, in the hope that a. They don't lose my passport and b. I don't get arrested in the next six days which is when they return it to me.

The evening rolled around quickly and I was soon at Samakee Market and the AstroTurf for Big Willy F.C.'s cup game. The team we faced up against was the team we had lost to on my debut so I had a personal score to settle. I'd scored in that game but it had only been a consolation at 4-1.

We went down 1-0 fairly early on, but they were lucky to get away with a handball in the build up. We were knocking on the door constantly, hitting the post and the keeper at any opportunity. Finally, we had a break through in the last couple of minutes remaining. I drove a low shot through a crowd of players to equalise. I was pretty pleased, displaying this to my team mates with a pump of the fist and some choice words.

Then the game went to penalties. We lost in sudden death. Always a cruel way to go out but we played really well so there are lots of positives to take away (and that's not code for we were shite!)

Back at Bou Savy, I did my laundry and Skype'd my brother, Lee and his wife, Siobhan.

What a day! 

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

Day 84 - Rain, rain, go away!

Wet season indeed.

Day 84 - 15th September

After dreaming about Ghost Face from Scream last night (I'd just figured out who had started the fire when I woke up), I was awoken to hear what sounded like a mini waterfall outside my window. Getting up to investigate, I saw rain lashing down outside.

It's not really a problem when you're indoors looking at it - in fact I find it relaxing when writing but I was going to be outside, all day. It was going to be an interesting day.

And my wish came true. All my lessons were rained off. It literally didn't stop all day.

So I put it to good use and script wrote my butt off. And I'm pretty much done. It's about 62 pages. With a little editing and tidying up, it will go off to the BBC. Then it'll get accepted, I get paid and I become a script writer and author . . . it's good to dream! I've been doing it 11 years.

Fruit, anyone.

I took a break and cycled out for more cup of noodles at the local supermarket. I managed to restraint buying Oreos or Creamo. I've been eating a lot of crap recently so I headed out to find a fruit seller and I came away with 2 kilos of Dragon Fruit, 1 kilo of apples and a kilo of bananas. The price came in a $5! Ludicrous. Just look at the picture!

After a long day of script writing, I headed to bed, hopeful we'd have no rain tomorrow.

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

Day 80 - Got that Friday feelin' and a change in perspective

Happy Friday!

Day 80 - September 11th

Ah, Friday. That beautiful day of the week. Once known in ancient times as Free-Day (OK, that crap, but it could've been).

Our lessons were all at one NGO and with the heat following the heavy downpour, it was a long day. We soldiered on in spite of th hot conditions and had the kids laughing and screaming with delight as they played the new games.

In the afternoon, I nearly broke down. One kid at break time who has disabilities with sight and coordination was struggling to get involved and I watched for a time as he stood with his back to the classroom hut, watching the other kids play. He laughed but was never welcomed into a group to play, often with the kids turning their back to him. These kids are really good but it had me feeling so bad for him that I was close to tears.

Luckily, he joined us in a later session and I was pleased to be able to get him involved even though he found it tough to coordinate himself. He seemed so happy and I managed to get the other kids to clap him and support him, which felt like a great achievement. A small step perhaps to him being accepted a little more by the other kids.

It was a change in perspective for me, seeing a kid who was really struggling and actually having some power to change it. What a feeling!

Afterwards, I played volleyball with him until we had to leave. He high fived me and ran away laughing. I hope this is a turning point, helping him build further confidence and for the other kids to include him.

I arrived back at Bou Savy to find Abigail ready to go out for her last night with her school project team and teachers and Dan heavily hung over from a last day of drinking. He needed a few more hours recovery time.

I went for a Mexican on my own whilst Abigail met the others. 

Those icy, cold Angkors' are so smooth.

When Dan arrived, I went for noodles with him before we headed to Peace and Love bar to meet Abigail. She was already weepy then, having to say goodbye to her colleagues and Dan and I did our best to help her feel better - teasing seemed to work.

The sweetest part was when she told me I'd won after admitting defeat in our drinking competition - she said she was going to drink me under the table. She nearly went under it after too many cocktails, which was amusing.

We shared a few stories which is always good fun and our night ended on a good night, with me and Abigail sitting up until 3am talking the world away. She's not too bad after all!

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

Day 72 - Morning lessons, English teaching sessions and debut for Big Willy F.C

This is how I roll to my volunteer work these days - on a Tuk Tuk.

Day 72 - 03rd September

So I started my day off right with a banana pancake. I ate rapidly as I headed closer to my project and when we pulled up, the kids swamped us, trying to get the balls and cones. 

The new project was busy with children of all ages but soon DK and I had them all in lines, running our drills and having fun. Volleyball is actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be.

I'm finding that the kids are giving us a good range of child rights, with each NGO providing its own unique feedback to us. Whilst some opt for the mainstream rights like education, food, health etc, others are finding new answers like improvement to the community, respecting culture and gaining sponsorship for a better life. It's quite interesting to be a part of.

The unprepared shot.

L-R: Srey Mom, DK, Sitha and Vith.

After the morning sessions, we headed back to Globalteer where I took an afternoon English lesson with DK again to review his evening assignment. This time, we had new participants, in the form of Srey Mom, Sitha and Vith. I was happy to oblige. 

We went through connecting words and tenses. They all grasped the idea quickly and it was actually great fun to teach adults so English. DK's assignment was really good, a few grammatical errors as expected, but on the whole, he's on good form to learn the bits of English he will need to help him progress.

They even gave me my lucky number!

Later that night, I had my debut for Big Willy F.C. - my boss, Charlie's team. We lost narrowly 3-1, having had many chances but I did managed to get on the score sheet to add a consolation so it was a good start with my new team. A few more games together and I'm sure we'll be picking up points.

Well, what a day. Again, but I'm seriously loving Cambodia at the moment! I don't want it to end.

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

Day 71 - Warm ups and Khmer lessons

The roads on the way to work.

Day 71 - 02nd September

So another day brought more kids, more drills, more child rights and more fun. I enjoyed warming up and getting the kids to laugh and joke with each other. I'm starting to get into the swing of this.

DK and I are waiting for Srey Mom to come back from coaching in Phomn Pehn so we have the dream team back together.

After our first lessons, I took an English lesson with DK, who wanted to improve his English skills. He was a fast learner and it was good fun to teach him. He wanted some evening assignment, so I asked him to provide me with half a page of writing, detailing our afternoon classes.

Our afternoon took us back to the same project but we had different classes. After six sessions throughout the day, I was ready to crawl up and sleep.

No such luck, I had a Khmer lesson with Abigail and Dan. But we all love our teacher, Vith. He is such an enthusiast about teaching English, it's difficult not to want to learn Khmer. He is really supportive and wants to help out where he can. All whilst going to university.

Love that Lok Lak.

After our Khmer lesson, Abigail abandoned us to go to the circus and Dan and I had to sort ourselves out some dinner. We went to the Smiley restaurant. I had a great Lok Lak (a stewed meat with salad, onions and rice).

We scoped prices for our weekend trip to Phomn Pehn with DK and found a good place to buy bus tickets.

I went to bed, pretty tired from the long day and looked forward to another day of fun in the sun, teaching kids volleyball.

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

Day 70 - Has it really been 70 days already?

All kitted up for the big game!

Day 70 - 01st September

So another morning had rolled around and pancakes were back on the menu for me. 

After meeting with DK, we went straight to school A. Before the lesson began, we observed a game the kids were playing. Basically, the kids had to kick a foam puck (which was a circular disc cut out from an old flip flop) against a wall or pillar so it ricocheted off and hit a pack of cards in the middle of the floor. When cards flew off from the middle the kids would pick them up. This would continue until all the cards were gone and then a count up for each card to see who had the most. 

I was tempted to jump in but they seemed in a zone and very competitive so I left them be.

Again, we ran the same drills as the day before, trying to get the kids to engage and join in. There was 20 or so of them so it was important to get their opinions on child rights collectively. The kids were really good again, and gave us food, health and fun as their rights.

Once our class was finished, we waited for another. Only four students turned up. As I scratched my head, and DK spoke in Khmer to the teacher, we quickly found out the rest of the students had joined the first session.

So we had a mini session with the four students and had lots of funny moments, dropping the ball, balls hitting me in the face and so on.

By the afternoon, we returned to project B and some of the kids recognised me and greeted me warmly. It's always a bit easy when you are familiar with the kids because you don't have to start over again with the nervousness and reluctance to talk to me as an outsider.

The rain crashed down again shortly after and we wrapped up the session.

My sports manager, Charlie had signed me up for eight weeks to play for his football team so we had a kickabout on AstroTurf against a Khmer team at 7pm. Damn those Khmer can run. We lost 7-3 but it was an unlucky defeat. We switched off a couple of times which cost us, but I can see I'm going to enjoy playing with this team.

It had been a long day and I crashed out basically when I got back and I'd had. Brief conversation with Dan and Abigail in the lobby area of Bou Savy. Ah, what a day, but I'm loving every second!

Special note: Today is the 3rd wedding anniversary of my brother, Jamie (J) and his wife Holly (Holza). Congratulations to you guys, enjoy and have a great day!

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

Day 69 - first official Monday teaching

Look at that baby go!

Day 69 - 31st August

So after a great weekend, I was ready to begin again with Globalteer.

I changed up my breakfast habit with a fruit salad, complete with Apple, Banana and Pineapple. I'll openly admit I missed the pancake.

I met with DK and Charlie for our morning sports meeting. Srey Mom was on leave for the week so we discussed how I was going to do the 15 minute warm ups with the kids which would then be followed by DK's child rights session, the object being to ask the kids what they think their rights are as a child whilst infusing it with sport - the next five weeks being volleyball.

Told you.

I was introduced to my new Tuk Tuk driver of the week, Vimol. Quiet but a nice guy. He filled up on petrol on the way out at a ready made gas station - kids come out with glass bottles of petrol to fill up the tanks. It's astounding.

We headed to school D for afternoon sessions, an hour drive from Bou Savy. 

School D is very remote, a long way out of the city, in the heart of the countryside. The kids here were so much fun, some of the younger ones are incredibly adorable and innocent in their ways, trying to get involved whilst the bigger kids either let them or just take control. 

All the kids are fantastic and it just makes it so easy to work with them.

I set up drills, whereby each team split into two and one went to one end of the yard, the other to the far end. One by one, they had to push the ball above their heads, making their way across the yard until they reached a team mate. This would continue, back and forth until everyone had been. Some were really good, others not so much but the main thing was they had fun.

I then asked them to do it in pairs, then threes and then finally as a group. They loved it, screaming excitedly and laughing as they did so. DK and I joined in with them and it was a great first real warm up for me.

When we finished, we had another class, but as per usual, the rain came down, and I mean came down. It was almost hail, so we retreated to one of the classrooms where a spelling contest was unfolding. The kids involved, six of them, knew there could only be three winners and all their classmates were getting behind them. It was great fun to watch!

On the way back, Vimol became stuck in the rain and mud so DK and I had to push him out of it.

Finally, we made our way back to Bou Savy. I met up with Dan and Abigail and we went for dinner at a small restaurant, just off of pub street. The noodles were incredible.

Afterwards, we went to Angkor What?, a backpackers bar and had beers and cocktails. And then the madness began...

I went to Angkor supermarket, picked up two packets of Cream-O cookies and went to town. Within five minutes, the first packet was gone (I did share though). By the time I went to sleep, the second was almost gone. I've got to stop buying them because they are so addictive.

After a long day of puddle jumping, Tuk Tuk pushing and cookie scoffing, I passed out.

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

Day 66 - Kids coaching coaches, afternoon raining madness and a night down pub street

New sports shirt for $4, official Adidas, it can't be sniffed at.

Day 66 - 28th August

So it was the last day of the working week and the kids were due to teach us their drills, applying what they had learned in the week. The groups took it one at a time and there were some fantastic drills. My particular favourite was showing awareness of pregnant women, whereby we had to stuff balls up our shirts in simulation then walk like pregnant women in and out of cones and team members. It brought a great sound of approval from the other kids and coaches alike and it was a fitting way to end a brilliant week with CAC and the other Cambodian coaches.

I was given another three hour break before DK and I went to project C and took four back to back lessons. The classes were much smaller than I was normally used to, this time averaging six kids per class. My other fellow volunteers who were teaching were there too and we had some banter with the kids whilst we taught them.

This actually has nothing to do with Cambodia but this picture is awesome so it's going in. Look at the photobomb from the dude behind us.

When the third lesson began, it started to rain as it does daily now - it's wet season of course. The lesson was played out beneath a canopy on concrete and then the final lesson was cancelled because the teacher didn't want the children outside. This didn't stop them.

They were jumping and swimming in puddles, trying to pull DK into the pools of rain eps steer and throwing buckets of water all over him. They also hid his flip flops and then brought me into the game, when a little girl ran up to me and said, 'Teacher, Teacher, do you like being wet?' My response of not being fussed and coming from England so I'm virtually always wet was met with a dousing from a bucket of water from two girls. How can you not laugh along with the kids when they do this?

I was then entertaining a four year old, who spoke better English than I did, by bouncing the ball really high and letting it smack me on the head. He thought it was hilarious and told me to do it again and again. After the twentieth attempt, I felt woozy.

I moved onto another kid, who had burned his foot badly on a fire earlier that week and couldn't walk. I gave him piggyback rides around the yard, from his class to the library, much to his delight. I love this project!

Come 5pm, it was time to leave and I was a little upset. It had been an awesome way to round off my first week as a Globalteer Sport volunteer. I'd taught a few lessons on my own, had great fun with the kids and DK and learned so much. Roll on the next eight weeks I say.

My minced pork baguette for dinner

Back at Chè Bou Savy, I met with Dan. We'd arranged to go out for dinner that evening, whilst Abigail went out with her volunteer colleague from Russia, Lena. We headed to the Red Piano, a quaint little spot on the end of pub street whilst they went to the Banana Leaf.

Our dimly lit pool table that was accompanied with a lady boy.

Later, we all met at the Yellow Submarine ( yes, a Beatles themed bar) for drinks and stories about our projects.

Finally, we headed back and retired to bed. Owe were getting up early (4:30am) for a sunrise visit to Angkor Wat - Jolie, eat your heart out baby!

Day 65 - Pancakes, coaching and cycling in the rain.

Looks like a waffle, tastes like a pancake. This is what I'll be eating for the next 62 days in Cambodia!

Day 65 - 27th August

Thursday and another morning of coaching the kids on the AstroTurf. This was the first breakfast at Bou Savy, I went for the banana pancakes - of course I did.

When we arrived at the AstroTurf, the kids were bouncing around and in great spirits. Hooch, Spring, DK and Srey Mom were harnessing the energy and putting the kids through their paces. Some of them were getting really involved and the news that they would be coaching a lesson themselves in groups tomorrow and would be assessed in a fun way to see how much they had learned and taken away from the week.

Half an hour from the end, they were given a time slot to plan their training session that would have to last 15 minutes or so. We had seven teams - Team Winner, Team Loser, FC FC, Team Cambodia, Team Angkor and a couple of others I've forgotten - sorry kids!

They really embraced the spirit of teamwork and the games that we had played that week, writing down their ideas, pointing out to the field as they plotted their drills and laughing as they did so.

On the way back, Charlie called DK to let him know there would be no afternoon sessions. Another free afternoon for me.

Love a lunchtime beer, here! (Except when working of course, but I had the afternoon off!)

I opted to cycle into the city centre in the pouring rain and send mine and Anne Banana's postcards from the main post office. Trying to get away with Vietnam stamps on them was like trying to walk into a temple with my shoes on. Tut tut, Dan! The cashier did not look impressed.

After, I grabbed some lunch at Viva, the Mexican restaurant on Hospital Street. The burrito was incredible and with an Angkor beer, I was extremely happy.

Viva Mexican, a cracking little spot.

My day went to its peak when I called my Nanna. The sound of her voice was amazing, I've missed her so much. She was genuinely pleased to hear from me, and was telling me about my postcards that she'd received. I'll definitely be calling more often now with my new Cambodian phone.

Look at those beauties!

I then called my sister, Mum and Dad to see how they were doing and then I ate my burrito, bought some new sports clothing and a pair of elephant print trousers. All for $14, so I was now David Dickinson, complete with a tan.

When I arrived back at the guesthouse, I was told we would be having a game that night with the women's team the coaches had put together. Hooch rushed down the vindaloo he'd bought in 15 minutes, telling me he'd be playing centre back tonight.

We were collected by Tuk Tuk and then it all went wrong. Spring forgot her boots, the rain fell from the sky like I've never seen before and we were waiting around in a strobe lighted Tuk Tuk for half an hour waiting for it to pass. It didn't.

The game was cancelled so Hooch and I came back and we went our separate ways for the rest of the evening. Jack and Jill was on Fox Movies and I realised that movies like this were ruining Adam Sandler's career - where are the days of the Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison calibre of films?

Another great day, filled with fun. Bring on the last day of the week!