My
first term in Cambodia came to an end in mid-December as I headed home in San
Francisco for the holidays and also to take my exams and finish my applications
for graduate school. As
much as I knew that I was coming back in January, it was hard to part with the
sewing school girls. The core of my work at LHA involved working with the
sewing school girls. These girls have been working very hard for the past
10-months, mastering the art and skills of a seamstress. In addition to their
hard working schedules, they also had daily English classes in which I taught them
for the past month and a half. Many of them had an exponential learning curve,
considering that many started with absolutely no prior knowledge of English. Since
they graduate in mid-January, I will not be able to see them when I return.
The
last day of school went fine for the most part. I brought treats and desserts
for the girls to enjoy and they gave me gifts and trinkets. We talked and joked
around as usual, half in English and half in Khmer. All went well until one of
the girls suddenly started to wail. Then one by one we all started to sniffle and
cry, including myself. For most girls who were returning to their villages, we
knew that this was the last time that we would be able to meet.
Though
they many not yet be fluent speakers, I do sincerely hope that they do
something with them and use it in their future careers as seamstresses. Even
though I was only able to be their teacher for a short time, I did make sure
that they at least have the confidence to speak English regardless of their
fluency. Speaking a foreign language does take a lot of courage but once the
confidence is there, it is all about communication skills rather than grammar
or vocabulary knowledge. I do know this from my personal experience and I do
hope that they carry this mentality. I do pray from the bottom of my heart that
they will become successful Khmer women, mothers, wives, and leaders for the
future of this country. I am truly proud for each and every one of them.
English
is an especially needed kill for girls in the garment industry. Cambodia is a
major exporter of apparels worldwide. With many Western clients, having any
language knowledge is a big advantage in wages whether it is working for a US-based
garment factory or getting foreign clients in a self-run tailor shop. Currently
I am working on a more concrete English language course curriculum for the new
girls that have started their term just yesterday. I can't wait for the new term to start.
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