We returned from Australia in late July keen to continue with the little monks but were quietly cautious about how many might remain in the group. As it turned out all those who had been with us when we departed were still present and three new twelve-year olds had been ordained.
The rainy season, which we had hoped would be long over was still very much with us and after the first experience of getting bogged on our bicycles on route to the pagoda, we gave in and resigned ourselves to taking a Tuk Tuk there and back until the rain abated and the track became somewhat more passable. Even now deciding is hit and miss. Some days it's all mud and others a huge dust bowl! We ride whenever possible but it is not always easy to ascertain what condition the road might be in before we set off.
As we had been warned, in this season monks rarely leave the pagoda. As a result, we were delighted with near one hundred percent attendance for a few months. We were also thrilled that the little monks were very happy to see us return and highly motivated to learn again. It was endearing to have them determinedly demonstrating how much they retained of what we had already taught.
We picked up almost exactly where we left off and set about trying to catch up the newbies but also simultaneously teach new material. Experience has taught us that with new vocabulary the late arrivals in the class develop confidence in their own ability to learn and find it easier to then catch up with material, which was taught before they joined the class. Regardless there are several levels among a mere eleven boys.
While new novices attempt to learn the basics of letter recognition and writing as well as initial phonics sounds, those who have attended for longer have drastically improved in their handwriting skills and have an extensive vocabulary of numbers, colours, shapes, stationary items, fruit, vegetables, animals and random other words. Those who fall into the middle group having arrived later but before the newest novices, are more sketchy in their knowledge but strive to catch up and take pride in knowing most of what they have been taught. They all delight in colouring, copying letters and words and in the past few weeks cutting, and gluing are fine motor skills, which have advanced dramatically. Even with limited vocabulary they are keen to communicate with us and convey information and sometimes attempt jokes. In reply to, “How old is Vicky?”, Net mischeviously shouts, “One thousand.” What exactly is meant is sometimes lost on us, but more often than not they can inform us of who is missing, “Hong bye bye!” or other current news.
With respect to their physical surroundings, great changes continue to take place. Construction of a wall and new steps, as well as a more inviting outdoor meeting area and widening and improving the entrance roadway is now underway and many more Buddha statues and religious articles have been added to the surroundings. More changes and improvements are apparent every time we return. This also means that there have been a few thankfully small injuries resulting from the boisterous play in what is to all intents and purposes a construction site.
More importantly from our perspective at least, the installation of more water storage tanks coinciding with the rainy season ensured that there was more often water available for them. However, it doesn't ensure that there always will be as we have since discovered, or that they will therefore be mindful of keeping themselves and their robes clean. We still undertake randomly checking their hands and nails before class and supplying basic hygiene products and sometimes first aid but unfortunately even constant reminders and praise has limited impact. We have noticed that now that the rains have stopped they are increasingly grubby and again skin issues are prevalent.
On one notable occasion as we cycled along the water front track and approached the turn off to their pagoda, we spotted several of them hanging about on a statue. They immediately indicated most of the other boys were swimming in the water surrounding the boats in the nearby fishing village. We took some time to identify who was in the water and leaping off boats into it and enjoyed their antics before gathering them in to all march up the hill to their makeshift classroom and lessons. Twenty minutes later the sky opened up in a huge deluge and we abandoned class completely and watched their joy in playing in and washing in the rain!
With the summer vacation for government schools over and the Pchum Ben festivities complete we also learned that they were to commence regular school in the afternoons each weekday and Saturdays. We of course were delighted that they would receive a more formal education in their native language but also a little fearful that that would mean the end of our project as we had always conducted afternoon classes. Thankfully with the unerring support and input from our dear friend Yary, we were able to communicate with the Abbot and continue with a morning time slot. Almost exactly a year after we first started with them we were excited to be heading into a new phase.
Unfortunately, this new time slot eliminated the two village boys who have always attended our classes as that is their regular school time. We, however have thoroughly enjoyed going in the mornings and were pleasantly surprised to find the boys even more attentive and focused. Since they have already eaten a simple breakfast of porridge and their main meal of the day happens immediately our classes are over, they are definitely less sleepy and more alert and receptive. That is at least until the ice cream vendor or another mobile shop arrives to distract them. However, it is impossible to deny them the opportunity to purchase from these vendors if they arrive and we succumb to a break, which can result in quite the distraction, to say nothing of the sticky ice cream fingers all over flashcards and other resources. Boys will be boys!
The latest amusement for a few of the younger ones is to forego the playtime activities to disappear quite quickly once instruction time is over. This means our bicycles will be hidden in the nearby area and giggles will alert us to their location as we casually stroll out of the pagoda. They emerge rapidly and scoot around on the pedals before good-naturedly returning our bikes to us. They cannot actually ride as they are much too small for the large frames but as I discovered last week they can fill the back basket with rocks to make the load of resources that much heavier. Duan is definitely the instigator of this activity and Gam a more than willing accomplice.
Our honeymoon period with these new class times came to an end recently when once again the boys were able to venture into the community. Some mornings we have had a few missing as they have gone to the local villages on an alms walk. At other times however, half the class is absent as they are off in the Tuk Tuk to downtown Kep and the beach area. In the last week we have spotted several of them downtown ourselves on days when there are no classes and we would never deny them this opportunity, which they so obviously enjoy. We always donate when we can and often ask what they would like. They usually have no say in what they are given but we all enjoy this interaction and the opportunity to apply their expanding language skills. “Watermelon”, “Papaya”, “Pineapple” and even “Crabs” have been their enthusiastic responses. I’m not sure how they even know the word crab as it's not one of our vocab items but they'll never get crabs from a couple of vegetarians like us. We endeavour to give them something they really want to eat and often take more of the same the following day to their class.
We have had a few visitors attend classes with us since returning and they are always delighted with the enthusiasm and focus of the boys. Usually they also take a small treat or make a donation to us for something in the future. We feel grateful for the help and blessed to be able to continue with this little project, which brings us such joy.
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