Typically, for me, the November that I am used to is one filled with pumpkin lattes from Starbucks and the smell of fall. This has been the first Holiday session that I have experienced, where on an average day it feels July. There are no pumpkins on the doorsteps of houses or Christmas decorations in the stores. So, even though I cannot be home for the holidays, I decided to teach the students my version of Halloween.
This year, the students learned about the Mexican festival Day of the Dead. They learned how other cultures celebrate this time of year, as well as, comparing this holiday with a similar one in Cambodia called Pchum Ben. Both holidays celebrate ancestry, so it was interesting how some of the students interpreted the Mexican version. Besides throwing a fiesta to learn about another culture, I also took some of the girls in the 10th and 11th grade to a music festival. The festival focused on works done by the late 1800’s composer Franz Lizst. It was encouraging to see the students appreciate something that was so different from what they are used to.
This month was also the celebration of the Water Festival. During this time, Phnom Penh becomes the most popular city in all of Cambodia. In a typical year, millions of people come from the province to experience the concerts, the boat races, and especially the fireworks. This year some of the 11th and 10th grade students took the opportunity to do a little fundraising and sell water. Honestly, we did not make that much money, despite my attempts to negotiate in Khmer. However, we did have a great time building a memory. 