A whole lot of firsts

This week has been a whirl wind of activity, emotions, and firsts.  Monday was straight to work at the Elementary school (I arrived Sunday).....but there really wasn't much for me to do as I do not have my students until January.  So I spent the day trying to look busy and stay out of the way as there is still construction going on at the school.  Luckily Virak my employer took me shopping for school supplies so that passed some of the time. When he took me shopping it was at this international school supplies store which was pretty far from the area in which I live and where the school is located.  On the drive there I was trying to remember how to get there but let me tell you the streets are not easy to navigate!  So by time we arrived I was lost.  We got inside the store and Virak realized he needed to go to the bank to get money first so he left me at the store which at first I didn't think twice about but after a couple of minutes panic set in.  All possibilities started setting in, what if I was left to my own devices?  How would I get back? I wanted to curl up in a corner but just as my fight or flight was about to set in so did Virak! (thank goodness)  I know I had nothing to worry about as I knew my address and the location of the school but an active mind is not always the greatest thing to have.  After that I was not thinking straight so I did not shop efficiently and now I find that I am still in need of other supplies. Tuesday I got to pick which classroom I would like and then I began setting up my things.  I had brought some calendar supplies so I put those up, that took all of an hour or so so then again I had to occupy my time for the rest of the day.  I am starting to get to know some of the staff, and the ladies in the front office are lovely.  I am hoping once things settle down at the school then we will have a chance to get to know each other better, it'd be nice to have someone to hang out with after work!  Wednesday I spent the morning at the school but then after lunch (my first lunch having Cambodian food) I went to the kindergarten to meet some of my future students!  The kids are so adorable and it reminded me of why I am here.  Their english was way better than I had thought which means I need to regroup and think about what I am going to teach them (I had thought I would need to start at the basics with the alphabet)  I was feeling energized after having such a good afternoon with the kids that I decided to walk to the grocery store on my own (another first as Virak has been taking me grocery shopping).  The store is all of three minutes away walking and you may wonder why it was such a big deal that I did this on my own but you wouldn't believe the traffic so its quite the obstacle to get there!  I got some essential items (all things I would eat at home since my stomach has not adjusted yet) and then meandered on home.  On my way back through the market square I noticed fake snow falling and all the locals playing in the snow taking pictures, it was a magical moment, one I did not stop to fully enjoy because the sun was setting and that was not a first I was ready to have! Thursday was Christmas, tis the season!  I did not want to spend Christmas alone at the school knowing what I was missing out on at home so I kept busy at the kindergarten.  The kids were excited and we spent the day playing games and watching movies.  Overall the day was perfect and while I miss my family and I am never sure about whether this is right for me I am going to take it in strides because today was a good day and I know that some time from now I won't remember the hard times but I'll have an abundance of memories that will fill me with so much joy and appreciation that it will make everything worth fighting for.

Merry Christmas xoxo

 All of the kids at the kindergarten school.  They have three preschool classes and two kindergarten classes.

 The kindergarten class I spent the day with.  Some of these kids will be in my class in January.