Some memories from last week

Hens in the next door classroom

I showed my class some finger games and they loved doing whoops Johnny really fast on their fingers.  

Each day on my way to school I would pass this old chair on the river bank.   Families gather round it in the evenings

The little ones were thrilled to be allowed to try out the new playground at the disability house which was put up last Friday.

 For most of them it was the first time they had ever experienced such play equipment

The cafe we ate at in the post below was open to the river at the back

It was my last day at Grace House yesterday, and also pay day for the staff.  They often celebrate by going to a local cafe to  eat  balut which is a 17 to 21 day old duck embryo boiled alive in its shell.
If the egg cracks it is not eaten because it is believed to give bad karma .

Two of us hitched a ride on the back of staff motor bikes to join them in a local cafe but neither of us felt like eating.

The eggs are boiled for 30 minutes

Neither duck nor egg.  You can see the head and developed beak and wings.

They  are served with a sauce made with  salt ,kampot pepper, garlic and chilli.




I can't bear the thought of eating an ordinary boiled hen's egg, or even an omelette, at the moment.

It was a difficult day yesterday, having to say goodbye to the wonderful children who have made me feel so welcome here.  I was composed and prepared for circle time and the formal goodbye but totally overwhelmed when they  all jumped on me together for a hug at the end of the final lesson.  If I hadn't been sitting on a chair we would probably have all fallen over!   There was a lump in my throat ad tears in my eyes.

I hope to return next year, combined with a trip to Laos.

The link for posting photographs is causing problems so will add them later

The children loved looking at  photos of the grandchildren on my computer,particularly the recent one of Hugo swimming underwater and there were lots of comments about the  water looking blue. Their only experience of swimming is in very brown river water

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We now have a hen roosting on the top of the classroom cupboard.