Cambodia 2011

Wednesday - January 26


Up early so we can greet the kids at school by 7:30 AM

Classes happen in 3 shifts -
8 to noon; 1 - 5 PM and evening English classes offered to adults.

Desks we purchased on Monday are delivered during the middle of the night thanks to befriending a local truck owner.

30 wooden two-seater desk, along with a brand new dry erase board await the children like presents on Christmas morning .
Nothing is taken for granted and it is deeply gratifying to watch how every piece of paper, pencil, crayon, scissor and bottle of glue is revered.

Major emphasis is placed on learning English and basic math. Today we focus on the letter Q and beginning multiplication tables.

The big treat today is to learn a new song.

I pull an old children's song out of my repertoire that I never did anything with called I Can't Help But Blossom. It takes quite awhile to interpret each line's meaning into Khmer, but eventually everyone get's a grasp on the meaning.

Opening line: I can't help but blossom, I can't help but grow is illustrated by the association of the lotus blossom - so sacred in Buddhist culture.

We sing it over and over, add a little choreography and even get a little help from the neighboring rooster.

Ty helps to film it and it will be a fun challenge to come up with a way to incorporate it into a recording once I am back in the states. Perhaps a new fund raising single is waiting to be born. :-)




I can't help but blossom
I can't help but grow
When knowing deep in my heart is planted
A love this world must know

I can't help but prosper
I can't help but shine, shine, shine
With every beat of my heart I'm sharing
This life with all divine.