February Fun

 Fun Friday

My students enjoyed a Cambodian version of a popsicle.

 And this picture was taken after they ate the popsicles. :)

 My three sweet girls

My students have been learning about the moon this month and I found a great idea on pinterest.  My students made the phases of the moon with oreos!  They loved it!

 Stephen

 Jessica

 Deborah

 Vutha

 Hogi

 Chanto

 Monireach

 Sovannthyda

 Sothun

 Isaac

 Rengsey

 Thavroth

On Valentine's Day my students enjoyed red velvet cupcakes.

 

My class holding their books they wrote with a third grade class in NC using http://storybird.com/.  Teachers you must check out this site if you haven't already!  Our book is about all different kinds of animals.  Thanks Erienne for allowing your class to collaborate with mine.  They loved making this book!

 

December

I had my students finish the statement "If I were a gift..." and I thought I would share what two students wrote.  The one above says, "If I were a gift, I would be a Bible.  I would give myself to my parents because they could know more about God.  My parents would be full of love."  The one below says, "If I were a gift, I would be a doctor.  I would give myself to my family because my mom and dad are always sick.  My parents would be thankful." 

This is the most recent picture of my class.

Shepherds

 

Wisemen

 

Angels

 

Dress Rehearsal for the Christmas program

 

                                

Asian Hope International School now has two buildings.  Grades 1, 2, and 3 moved into the new campus before the Christmas break.  My classroom is on the 3rd floor.  It is the room on the far right side.
 

Views from my classroom

 

My New Classroom

 

 

November has come and gone!

 My sweet friend, Ruth, took me on a trip to Oudong Mountain with her family.

 Ruth's precious little boy - Raphael.

 Thirat and Ruth

 The view from the top of the mountain.

 A very old Buddha being reconstructed on the mountain.

 Made another visit to Thmey orphanage.  I was thrilled to see Reaksa (older girl on the right).  She is studying at a university now so she is no longer living at the orphanage.

 

I woke up one morning to metal clanging and walked out on the balcony to find this tent being set up right in front of my house.  I realized that only one of two things could be occurring...either a wedding or a funeral.  (black and white are the colors for a funeral - pink and yellow are the colors for a wedding)  Sadly, in this case it was a funeral.  The initial mourning lasts for a day or two and then a week later a remembrance ceremony is held where friends and family gather under the tent to remember their loved one.   

 The tent was literally right in front of my house.

 Hogi enjoying the kimbap his mom sent in for "Health and Fitness" week.

 Stephen made a cute face with his kimbap.

My students made my birthday special by making me a big card and singing Happy Birthday to me. 

School Days Continued

My students with origami birds that were made by students in Australia for National Peace Day.

Snack Time

 

 I am always interested in the snacks my students bring.  

 Stephen brought seaweed!

A Taste of Fall

 

My class made pumpkins as an art activity.  It may not feel or look like fall outside (as I update this blog it is 90 degrees), but I felt the need to give my classroom a "fall" appearance. 

  

My students were innovative with their pumpkins and turned them into turbans!

 

Headed to do some errands on my bike one Saturday afternoon and passed cattle hauling lots of pottery.

 I am very excited about the class set of Bibles my class just received!

The New Testament in Khmer and English

  Khmer and English 

I have not seen any signs of Christmas, but around the Independence Monument there were lots of lights around the fountains...it made me think of all the decorations that are probably already up back in the U.S. (I am pretty sure this area was lit up for the King's birthday...not Christmas...regardless of the occasion...it was a pretty sight!)

I recently asked one of my Korean student's mom if she could teach me how to make kimbap.  She informed me that she would, but that there was a technique to making it.  A few days later she showed up at my classroom door with a whole box of kimbap...she said she had made too much for her family, but I am pretty sure she made it just for me.  It was delicious!

School Days

 Waiting in the hallway to head outside for recess.

 Happy Class :)

The boys playing their favorite game...SOCCER!!  I might add I have to remind them not to play "too rough"!  They get rather aggressive. 

 Reading Groups

I am so thankful our school has a license to A-Z reading.  It gives me access to lots of leveled readers that I can download and print.

 Lokru Savda (my assistant) overseeing the group that is making spelling words.  

This student (Hogi) has really impressed me with his determination and diligence in learning.  He is Korean but he speaks in English rather fluently, and he is learning Khmer!  He will be trilingual in no time.  Now if only I could pick up on a foreign language as easily as he does! :)

Three Months Down...

The past 3 months have gone by so quickly.  I'm not quite sure where the time has gone!?!  I definitely feel more acclimated to life here which is good.  I am still working on taking each day as it comes and trying to live in the present, but I find some days I do a much better job with living that out than others.  Big thanks again to those who are praying for me and thinking of me.  I appreciate it way more than I could ever adequately express!