2019 - new and good!

Hello all and Happy New Year! It's been a little while since I last updated you on what's going on in my daily life, and a lot has been happening! I recently opened a letter that was sent with me on my journey and was asked to share on my blog something "new and good" (thank you for this Colleen!). I typically find myself updating everyone on the "big" things happening, and forget that there are a lot of little things that are equally as interesting, probably even more interesting!

2018 ended better than expected. As the start of the US holiday season began, I thought I would be more homesick and sad. I actually was able to talk with a lot of friends and family all throughout Christmas and up until New Year's due to the technology advances of our time. Additionally, I was able to spend time with my cohort in Phnom Penh, who have become my family here, and we were really able to bond and connect. After New Year's Day it was back to the work grind!

The last week of December I was given my schedule for teaching at the local primary school along with a book for grade 6. I would teach Tuesday's and Wednesday's, one 40-minute session in the morning and a second in the afternoon. When Wednesday the 2nd was finally here I was getting more nervous by the second. Teaching is not something I've ever done, and teaching English is something that I never really saw in my future. Part of the nerves came from first day jitters, but most of it was thinking that I hadn't been prepared for this type of assignment. I assumed that I would be a teaching assistant to help with pronunciation and whatnot, and that we would go through the book that they had provided. That was far from the truth! The first day came and I was THE teacher for each session. These sessions range from 25-35 students in each class, and for the two days I teach I work with two different classes. At the end of the first session I was told that previous volunteers had created their own lessons and that the book wasn't something that necessarily needed to be followed. Well that made me even more nervous. Not only is this the first time I've ever done this, without any training whatsoever, but I'm now told that creating my own lessons would be best. My initial thought was "What did I get myself into?!" After talking with my parents and some friends, I calmed down some and began to focus on setting some plans and goals. I really want to help these kids the best I can and that might mean starting from square one. Some kids can spell, some can write, some know their A,B,C's, but what they are all good at is their pronunciation and repeating what I say. It's difficult for me to know where to start, since I am also starting from square one, but as long as I prepare, I know I can make an impact on these kids.

All I have to say right now is "Thank goodness for Pinterest!" In my prep for the weeks to come I found a lot of helpful information online, and am already having more faith in myself. With the start of 2019 I've been able to go to the field more with my coworkers and begin teaching English, the "new and good" events of 2019! I hope you all had a wonderful start to the New Year, and thank you for the continued support :)

First day as Teacher Lauren