The Assumption
What a good week! I have been feeling very chilled here; at peace. The days cruise by. I have taken on a few more classes as word goes round that there's a englishman here who is willing to teach.
In the mornings I have a 9am-10am english class that Fr. Totet arranged. The volunteer housekeeper here Mel, from the Philippines, has given me his class to teach in the evenings from 5-630pm. That class treats me well, and brings me iced-coffee each lesson (Mel thinks the shop puts marajuana in it - I'm not so sure, but its tastes good). One of the students invited me to his school to teach one of his classes, so on Thursdays morning he took me on his "moto" (motorbike) to a private highschool to take the english class instead of the usual Khmer teacher. This week, I will take on another class each day in the afternoon at 4pm for an hour. In my classes I usually just talk to them, and help improve their pronunciation. I think this is the most important for conversational english, which is what they want to learn. I don't teach complex grammar or anything like this.
Thursday was the feast of the assumption, and the anniversary of Fr Pedro's Ordination. The church here is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, and so this feast is of particular importance for the parish - they properly celebrate it on the Sunday, however. From Thursday through Friday, Fr Totet took a statue Our Lady to many of the local homes, blessing the families and leading devotional marian prayers with the neighborhood. He was a very busy priest. On Friday I went to Pursat, a town 1 & 1/2 hours south of Battambang. Fr Minuj was bringing Dr Leonard and a nun down to that town to offer medical check-ups for the locals, from where they would continue on to the floating villages on the lake to do the same. I went along for the ride. After the doctor completed a few check-ups at the church in Pursat, and handed out the necessary medication, we went to "Modul Croap Nei Chivit" - a centre in a rural village near to Pursat, that helps educate the locals and develop the surrounding area. It is also somewhat a retreat centre. Jed, a man who looks after the place (another filipino), welcomed us warmly with a fine Khmer lunch. Afterwards, I was offered a chance to swim in the pool there. Heated by the midday sun, it was the warmest swimming pool i've ever been in. It was lovely. Jed invited me back, and was keen to have me as a volunteer for a year or two to teach english there. We will see.
On Sunday the feast of the assumption was celebrated with mass in true Cambodian style. The statue was processed into the church with a lines of dancers and children dressed in traditional Khmer attired. Bishop Kike celebrated the mass, and the church was packed. It was beautiful to see the parish come alive for this solemnity. We had a fantastic lunch, and many Spanish visitors joined us for it.
With my schedule being pretty heavy in the mornings and late afternoon, you will notice the midday day is pretty free. Coming from Rio, where we would begin work early and finish late, I felt uncomfortable with this at first. It seemed to me I was relaxing too much, or having too much 'down time'. Yet, Fr Totet is keen to encourage me not to feel this way. He said it is good to just to 'be' here, present to the people and the culture, and to enjoy myself. Though I wasn't expecting it, this is definitely what I need. Some peacful time to ground myself, think about the higher things and the year ahead. I am making friends here, and have had fun spending time with Mel and Marc - the house keepers here. Now and then the 3 of us will hop on the moto into town (who would've thought 3 could fit on one motorbike!) and pick up food at the market, or get a drink in a bar, go swimming, visit a steam and sauna - whatever takes our fancy. Things are very cheap here.
It is good for me to be here, though I think of England often. The hills, the food, Norwich, Henley & Sonning. My friends and family. All of them are missed!
In the mornings I have a 9am-10am english class that Fr. Totet arranged. The volunteer housekeeper here Mel, from the Philippines, has given me his class to teach in the evenings from 5-630pm. That class treats me well, and brings me iced-coffee each lesson (Mel thinks the shop puts marajuana in it - I'm not so sure, but its tastes good). One of the students invited me to his school to teach one of his classes, so on Thursdays morning he took me on his "moto" (motorbike) to a private highschool to take the english class instead of the usual Khmer teacher. This week, I will take on another class each day in the afternoon at 4pm for an hour. In my classes I usually just talk to them, and help improve their pronunciation. I think this is the most important for conversational english, which is what they want to learn. I don't teach complex grammar or anything like this.
Thursday was the feast of the assumption, and the anniversary of Fr Pedro's Ordination. The church here is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, and so this feast is of particular importance for the parish - they properly celebrate it on the Sunday, however. From Thursday through Friday, Fr Totet took a statue Our Lady to many of the local homes, blessing the families and leading devotional marian prayers with the neighborhood. He was a very busy priest. On Friday I went to Pursat, a town 1 & 1/2 hours south of Battambang. Fr Minuj was bringing Dr Leonard and a nun down to that town to offer medical check-ups for the locals, from where they would continue on to the floating villages on the lake to do the same. I went along for the ride. After the doctor completed a few check-ups at the church in Pursat, and handed out the necessary medication, we went to "Modul Croap Nei Chivit" - a centre in a rural village near to Pursat, that helps educate the locals and develop the surrounding area. It is also somewhat a retreat centre. Jed, a man who looks after the place (another filipino), welcomed us warmly with a fine Khmer lunch. Afterwards, I was offered a chance to swim in the pool there. Heated by the midday sun, it was the warmest swimming pool i've ever been in. It was lovely. Jed invited me back, and was keen to have me as a volunteer for a year or two to teach english there. We will see.
On Sunday the feast of the assumption was celebrated with mass in true Cambodian style. The statue was processed into the church with a lines of dancers and children dressed in traditional Khmer attired. Bishop Kike celebrated the mass, and the church was packed. It was beautiful to see the parish come alive for this solemnity. We had a fantastic lunch, and many Spanish visitors joined us for it.
With my schedule being pretty heavy in the mornings and late afternoon, you will notice the midday day is pretty free. Coming from Rio, where we would begin work early and finish late, I felt uncomfortable with this at first. It seemed to me I was relaxing too much, or having too much 'down time'. Yet, Fr Totet is keen to encourage me not to feel this way. He said it is good to just to 'be' here, present to the people and the culture, and to enjoy myself. Though I wasn't expecting it, this is definitely what I need. Some peacful time to ground myself, think about the higher things and the year ahead. I am making friends here, and have had fun spending time with Mel and Marc - the house keepers here. Now and then the 3 of us will hop on the moto into town (who would've thought 3 could fit on one motorbike!) and pick up food at the market, or get a drink in a bar, go swimming, visit a steam and sauna - whatever takes our fancy. Things are very cheap here.
It is good for me to be here, though I think of England often. The hills, the food, Norwich, Henley & Sonning. My friends and family. All of them are missed!
My 5-630pm Class:
Fr Minuj and Sr. packing the pickup with medical supplies to take to Pursat:
Dr Leonard and Sr. treat patient in Pursat:
Jed and Fr Minuj next to the pool at Modul Croap Nei Chivi:
Fr Totet speaks to children on the Saturday evening during the Assumption during house blessing with devotional Marian prayers:
The statue is processed, and dancers honour Our lady with flowers:
Great Kieran. I wish that the spirit of compassion works within you and with the journey you are heading at this time. Praying and one with you ...
ReplyDeleteGood photos man. Sounds like You'll have quite a lot of teaching experience by the time You get back. Id like to see how its possible to get three people on a motorbike, especially after going to a bar. I bet that iced coffees will never taste quite the same when You leave Cambodia.
ReplyDeleteHow do I use my titanium wire for free? - ITIAN ART
ReplyDeleteThese titanium wire welding titanium accessories everquest titanium are all the necessary parts for the gr5 titanium next installation. You can titanium grades also use titanium aftershokz it as a tool to build your