Blurry picture of some of my students after a dance performance
Movie Class
In July I started an externship with the Cambodian Living Arts (click on the "Cambodian Living Arts" tab at the top of the page to learn more about the organization) in Phnom Penh. It is a great opportunity to work with an arts organization in Cambodia as well as take a break from village life.
The summer in Cambodian villages is usually not very productive for volunteers (as far as teaching goes anyway) because school is out, it's rainy season, and the grade 12 students are studying hours a day for national exams and then immediately leave for University. In my village in particular, most students go to study in the bigger cities like Kampong Cham town (provincial district) and Phnom Penh (the capital).
My externship is for 3 months (July-September) in Phnom Penh. My main job is to teach English to the arts students. It has been really great because I am used to working with art students back in the states. In the village, most of the kids have not had exposure to foreigners at all and have never left home. Also, in most of their classes creative thinking or problem solving is not adressed. I found it very difficult (although rewarding) to work on this with them. The students I have now are wonderfully creative and some have been to the U.S. on tour so they ask these great questions about culture. Neither group of students is better than the other, but I have found it easier to make a connection with the arts students because of my own personal background.
I'm also looking forward to working on the administrative side in the office starting next week!
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