t'ngai somrah

Little Khmer lesson for you: say "tongue" then "eye" as quickly together as possible = t'ngai which means 'day'. Somrah means 'rest'. These words together is how you express a holiday or day off work. It seems that many of these have been occurring ever since school officially started on October 1st. This week there are 2, both King related, and last week I also had 2 days off of school for the administration of a test for entrance to the RTTC (Regional Teacher Training Center which trains lower secondary teachers) for my province and the neighboring one. That being said, I have not taught at my school for a bit of time, which has not been too surprising as I was pretty well prepared for the reality of multiple vacation days at schools, often without forewarning. When I correspond with many of you, naturally you ask me how school is going which is my primary job as a volunteer here. I either am not sure how to answer the question due to a lack of information or surprised to get that question as teaching is not what I feel I am primarily doing everyday. My current schedule, without holiday interruptions is as follows:

Monday: 9-11 English at the PTTC, 11-12 English class with my tutor, 3-4 Khmer tutoring, 5-6 English for staff at the PTTC
Tuesday: 11-12 English class with my tutor
Wednesday: 7-9 English at the PTTC, 11-12 English class with my tutor, 3-4 Khmer tutoring, 5-6 English for staff at the PTTC
Thursday: 7-9 English at the PTTC, 11-12 English class with my tutor
Friday: 7-11 English at the PTTC, 11-12 English class with my tutor, 3-4 Khmer tutoring, 5-6 English for staff at the PTTC

Babies taking care of babies: Daibee is a faithful baby sitter

To the average PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer), I might seem quite busy with a total of 21 hours scheduled to teach each week, but this is not quite the full load of teaching, especially that is expected at my primary job at the PTTC (Provincial Teacher Training Center). I only have what I believe to be half of my class load currently there as only the 2nd year trainees are in class currently and the 1st years will begin in December when I return from my additional PC training during November. When I explain the abundant surprise days off I have been experiencing recently to those stateside, my old co-workers are drooling in jealousy in response to the amount of time I am free from my job. Although I used to pray for snow days, I hope to be in the classroom more regularly soon, but I also realize I am susceptible to the system. In future months as I become more familiar with my community and site, I hope to find other opportunities outside of my primary job so I can act rather than sit idly by. This comes with time and more integration into my site.

I mentioned above that my primary job as an English teacher at the PTTC is not what in fact occupies my days. I spend my time exposing my community to running/exercise (hatt bran) by going on runs by the riverside and around the small concrete park roughly every other day, partially in preparation for the Angkor Wat Half Marathon. I read A LOT. I walk around the market and hang out at my friend's num ban chok (noodle soup with flowers) stand to talk to passerbys. I bike around town, sometimes around sunset. I sit around with my family and neighbors who all seem to be aunts, uncles, etc. Some days I feel busy even though I maybe didn't teach that day. But I also won't lie to you that some days, I feel like my sisters work harder than I do caring for baby cousins or attending school for more hours than I currently do. It all balances itself out eventually.

Minutes later, Daibee is ready to head back to school