Getting to know my students...

Here's a drawing of our class courtesy of one of my students :)

I've officially survived two weeks of school!  And without shedding one tear... which is quite the improvement from last year when I was thrown into my first job of teaching grade 3. I think it helps to know that I was able to do it last year (somehow!), and that little bit of confidence (and a lot of prayer for energy!) has been getting me through.

First day of school view from right outside my class (T.A.s are greeting the students!)

I really love my students. Each one of them has found a way into my heart already, and the school year is just beginning. Their personalities, interests, laughs, smiles, and cute accents fill me with joy! The days are VERY busy and my schedule is full. Each day, my roommates and I come home and crash... (we are seriously all in bed by 9 at the latest!) and I feel like I have just ran a marathon, even though I have no idea what that really feels like ;)  So the job is tiring, draining at times, and takes a lot out of me... but it is also SO rewarding to be able to build relationships with these precious kids and staff, and to see my students learn and get excited about what we're doing in class. They have given me some cute/funny drawings and little gifts (small chocolates or Cambodian treats), and each time I smile, knowing that my students are happy and feel safe and loved at school.

Gifts from my students: Cambodian treat and a Ferrero Rocher... beautiful combo.

On the first few days of school, I had all my students fill in a survey so I could get to know them a bit better, and some of their answers are seriously heartwarming and/or hilarious (and a few might have gotten a little lost in translation...). Here are some for you to enjoy! I hope you appreciate them as much as I did. I can't really post pictures of my students, but I can still give you an insight into the cute ways that they think and speak, so I guess that's the next best thing :) My comments are in italics.

1. What I like most about school is... 
- The teachers are kind to us (yay!)

- When we have party

- Reading books, because it is calm

- Fun ideas and nice friend

2. What I like least about school is...

- Don't have break

- Try hard

- We have P.E. only on Fridays

- Nothing (yay!)
- Lunch food (I've actually enjoyed it most days!)

3. I am really good at...

- Dodgeball

- Basketball and all sport (confident kid...)

- My friend

4. I may need some extra help with...

- A friend (hmmm... I think he meant his friend could help him? He definitely has friends, don't worry)

- Money and coins names (very specific! And interesting because Cambodia doesn't have coins... only paper money)

- Frome teacher

- Wordsearches (haha, really, of all things?) 

5. My favourite book is... (and why?)

- Every book, because I like book

- Gorilla, because it is cool and have picture

- The Bible book, because we can learn about God 

- Chalet web, because it is a chapter book (Charlotte's Web? haha)

- Wimpy Kid, because it's funny

- Challote Wed, because it has a cute character!

- The Magic Treehouse, because I read it a lot so I begin to really like it

- "Thank went you get something", because it tells us to learn about it (huh?)

6. Three words I would use to describe myself are:
- Kind, ?, ? (we might need to work a bit on adjectives...)-  I'm 9 years old, my birthday is on March 20, I like school

- Curious, shy, sleepy

- I have two moles on the right cheek, happy, kind

- Kind, talk with my friend, lazy (haha! At least he admits it)

- Wise, honest, secure (This girl is so precious)

- Smart, fast, good sport

- Mom and her family because we movie to Canada (for real, this kid's Dad lives in Canada!)

- Nice, good, tiny (this was kind of funny because this kid isn't really too tiny at all)
- I like chocolate, puppies, and friends 

- Fearless, shy, not really friendly (so not true about this kid!)

7. In my free time, I like to participate in the following activities...

- Site and watch TV and play game

- Draw a picture

- I play with my baby brother

- Card game like Uno

- Is draws

8. The following languages are spoken at home...
- Korea language

- English, Chinese and Khmer (multilingual families! so cool)

9. My preferred place to sit in the classroom is...

- Any wear

- Right here (right where?)

- Far from the air conedichaner  (haha it amazes me that these kids get cold in class... mostly when I'm drenched with sweat)

- Out of the air conditioner

- In front of air-con (haha!)

- I can sit aniwar in cass

10. I live with (which family members)... 

- Mom, Dad, brother, Me, Anti, Pets

- Mom, Dad, small sister, big sister

- Mom, Dad, grandma, grandpa, Aunty, other grandma, brother, 2 sisters (a full house!)

11. Something I want my teacher to know about me is... 

- I'm from Cambodia!!

- Where my house is (interesting...)

- I love to read Bible

- When I am sick (?) 

- That I live next to the school

- I live here 10 years when I was 2 months I come here

- I like to stay home alone and along in my room (fair enough, and impressive that he recognizes so early on that he is more introverted than extraverted)

- Today is my brother's birthday!

- I will try to do my best in all the attivites

- I am special 

- Nothing

- My health (huh?) 

- I like to speak Korean

- I'm a kid and I like swimming the most (Thanks for telling me you're a kid! haha!) 
- I want to change the day of my birth (sorry... can't help you with that one!)

The craziness that is lunch at Asian Hope

Random origami piano made by my student

Random fun fact: Coffee is SO strong here and makes me feel like I'm going to fly every time I drink it (I've pretty much decided I can't drink it, haha!)

I hope that made you smile! Thanks for reading! And thanks for your prayers :)