Spring Fling

This last week was "Spring Fling" at Logos. It is kind of like a spirit week. Each day was designated as a certain dress up day. For the high schoolers they had special events every day at lunch that the different classes would compete in. Every body won prizes for the best dressed each day. Monday was mixed matched day, Tuesday was dress up like a character anywhere from cartoon to real life, Wednesday was crazy hair day, Thursday was dress like a family day, and Friday each grade picked a different theme. Above are some pictures of crazy hair day. We had a crazy hair parade in the morning for every class to show off their hair. Below are pictures of Pre-K3's pyjama day on Friday. Gideon protested crazy hair day because he said it was prejudice against those with out enough hair to make it crazy. It was sure nice to have a week of fun and excitement during our last week of our long 8 week stretch before our break this next week!

Our Lives As Elementary Coaches

Pictures of Gideon's Basketball Team in Practice. Look at all the running Mr. Walker makes them do!

This semester Gideon and I have both been coaching a sport. I have continued to coach 3rd-5th grade soccer and Gideon is coaching 3rd-5th grade basketball. We only practice or a have a game once a week. Basically the same kids are playing both soccer on Wednesdays and basketball on Thursdays with a few that only play one or the other.
For me this is my first year as a coach and it has been somewhat stressful at times. Sometimes the stress comes from the lack of communication between me and the upper grade coaches about who gets to use the field when, but mostly it comes from trying to engage and motivate these students into working hard with out them complaining. This is how a practice has usually gone .
We run three laps which takes a whole three minutes in which maybe 5 players run the whole time, even with me constantly encouraging them. After we run they are in dire need of a water break. I tell them they will get one after we stretch. Once it is time for a water break instead of filling up their water bottles and drinking they decide to play on the playground. Once I call them back on the field for the next drill they complain about not drinking their water yet. We all get gathered up so I can explain the next drill. We do the next drill which requires barely any running at all, but just because they have been standing out in the sun for 10 minutes of course they need a water break! At the beginning of last semester all they asked at practice was when are we going to scrimmage. At least now that question has subsided. At practice once we start scrimmaging they forget about the water they need and we scrimmage until the end of practice. Games are not much better. They all want to win. When we don't win they complain about the positions we placed them in, they are mean and discouraging to their teams mates, and by half time most of them are so exhausted they are walking to the ball instead of running. They want the reward of the win without putting in the hard work.
Last week, I went to watch one of Gideon's practices and the kids were engaged, listening, working hard, focused, and not complaining. Well, Gideon is a much tougher coach than I, and his kids that had been doing all the complaining had consequences of running more and doing more push ups than the others.
Gideon and I have a much different view of how elementary sports should look. I think elementary sports should be used as a time of exploration and encouragement. They should try all the sports and see which one they like or even if they like sports at all. At the same time they need to be encouraged to continue because playing a sport and getting exercise is healthy. I try to give all of my soccer players equal playing time. Gideon, he might put this a little different but, he sees this as a time to teach them what competitive sports really look like. It is about working hard, and if you are not willing to put in the effort then it means the coach will see that and will not play you as much. It is about learning to listen to the coach and know he/she has more experience. Its a time when they need to individually decide if they are willing to go through the hard work of getting in shape to continuing to push themselves to be a better athlete.
I don't think one of us is right and one of us is wrong.I think there needs to be a little give and take of both opinions. I have realized, after being stressed out at soccer games because I can't think with every student asking me to switch him/her to different position and refusing to take no for an answer; after being stressed out because after practicing proper throw ins the last 3 practices one of the students in the game says "Oh, I didn't know you have to keep both feet on the ground," that just encouraging them is not going to get their attention. So Gideon has started coaching me how to be a tough coach. It is hard for me. It doesn't come natural. This last practice I laid down some laws and now I just have to stick with them once game time comes around. If any of them ask me to switch them to a different position they are sitting out the rest of the game. At practice if any one decides to walk when we are doing our laps they have earned another lap around the field for the whole team!
Even though practice and games are pretty much chaos it has been a lot of fun. I enjoy getting to know and hang out with some of Gideon's 5th grade students. I did referee a game once and I vow never to do that again. I'm a horrible referee. We will see if I can succeed as a tough coach!

Week 6 and Still Going Strong!

It is probably not smart of us to keep track of how many weeks we have left of school until a break, but it is so hard not to. Especially when the fall semester had so many holidays and teacher work days! I keep telling Gideon don't count just take one day at a time. We are headed into week 6 of 8 until we get a 3 day holiday for Women's Day! Here is some of what we have been up to the last couple of weeks!

Last Saturday was the Logos 5th Annual Carnival. Each class had to come up with a game. The teachers and, if they were old enough, kids helped run the game. The kids and families that came bought red tickets to play the games and buy food for lunch. If the kids won at the games they got blue tickets to exchange them for prizes at the prize table. Our carnival committee did a great job of planning and we all had a blast! There was great food provided by several business that bought a table to participate in our carnival, the Korean Mom's in Touch Group who make the best kim bap, and of course our elementary principal, Mr. Weiss, who grilled bratwursts all day long!


The Carnival Committee


My sign for my game in my classroom. I can't decide if it was a good or bad choice to be inside. I didn't have very much traffic. Not many kids knew I was in there.


Mr. Weiss grilling those delicious bratwursts



Our good friend Mr. Deremer showing off how to play his game the tricycle race!

A few stories from Pre-K3
Every other week elementary has Chapel in the morning. I had been taking my Pre-K3 kids just for the songs and then stepping out before the talk. These last couple of times we have stayed for the whole time, and my kids love it. I have two kids that every day last week the moment they stepped inside the classroom asked if we were going upstairs, which meant "Are we going to Chapel." They love singing along; they love being upstairs with the big kids, and they sit still without interrupting. I am so impressed with them. They now know the word Chapel.

This last Friday I decided I would tell them a little bit about Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is not celebrated here so we are not having a party, but I thought they should at least know that some people celebrate it around the world. I read them a book on Friday entitled "How Much I Love You." We discussed that this coming Monday is Valentine's Day and it is a time to celebrate love. I told them we can celebrate God's love for us and our love for Him. We can celebrate our love for our families and friends. I told them that I get to celebrate my love for them, by giving them a little valentine. Miss Sorphorn and I made them a paper heart bookmark we will give to them on Monday. I had one little boy at this point raise his hand and say, " I love Jesus, and I love you Mrs. Walker." It was so cute!

Last month in Pre-K3 our theme was "Growing in the Garden." We learned about fruits, vegetables, plants, trees, and flowers. We planted orange seeds and learned that plants needs water, sunshine, and lots of patience to grow. It has been three weeks since we planted them and on Thursday we had our first little sprout. I think I am more excited about them actually sprouting than the kids are. I am horrible at keeping plants alive, and I was so nervous about these orange seeds actually growing. I thought I might have to take a piece of grass and just bury it in our pots and fake it to the kids that our orange seeds grew. I came in on Sunday and there were two more little sprouts and the other sprout tripled in size. I can't wait to show the kids tomorrow!!!!

A Few Stories from 5th Grade
This last week all the high schoolers were away for Bible Camp and Service Projects. This meant some of the Specials Teacher's were gone as they chaperoned the high schoolers on the trip. This made a very busy week for Gideon as he stepped in to substitute for the P.E. teacher, swimming teacher, and art teacher for his 5th grade classes and didn't get any planning periods. On Friday I knew he was teaching P.E. while my kids were at lunch so I got to watch him play Dodge Ball with his kids. It was boys against girls and of course he played on the girls team. He didn't take it easy on his boys either always aiming at their legs and throwing it pretty fast. The boys though are almost as bad as the girls in making everything so dramatic. As soon as they got hit they would kick their legs out from underneath them making themselves land on the ground screaming as if the ball just thrown by Mr. Walker could have left a huge welt on their ankle. Gideon was still in his dress work clothes and by the end of their PE period he was soaked with sweat.


This last Tuesday we organized a staff Superbowl Party. We hosted it at school, our IT guy downloaded it, and we projected it on a big screen. We ate 7-layer dip, fried chicken, mangoes, and other not healthy for us snacks. For 3 hours we felt like we were in the US. We didn't get to see the commercials or the half time show, but we did see Christina mess up the National Anthem.



We thank each and everyone of you for reading our blog, keeping up with us, praying for us, and supporting us. Please pray for us that we take one day at a time, not being overwhelmed by planning for our school days, grading papers, for Gideon getting is online class work done, but that we cherish each day we have with our students and the opportunity to be Christ to them. Please pray that we would continue to build our relationship with our landlords, and we would have more time to spend with them. We haven't really been able to spend time with them lately. We would love to pray for you! Please let us know how we can be praying for you!!!!

Flag Football

Gideon had the opportunity to play some flag football last Saturday with some missionary guys. Most of the guys on his team are affiliated in someway with Logos. They played a team of guys from another international school and of course Gideon's team dominated with out even a little bit of practice. Any chance Gideon gets to play some football, especially here in Cambodia where American football is not a big deal, he will take it even if it means hurting himself and being sore for the next week. I went to watch so here are some pictures of the team in action.


Team Huddle



Gideon was the guy who snapped the ball every time.


Check out those lightening fast reflexes that make him a great football player!


I don't think Gideon will allow me to go watch him play again. I worry to much that he pushes himself too hard and of course can not sit out when he gets hurt because that is not manly! One guy on the team dislocated two joints in one finger, taped them together and went back in to play the next 45 minutes. At the end of the game he couldn't move that finger at all. Why? Why do men feel they can't sit out and take a break. Anyway this last picture was the best part of the evening. The beautiful sunset!

Back From our Holiday in Xiamen

We had a great time in Xiamen with our family, Gideon's sister- Anne, her husband- Keegan, our nephew- Asher who we hadn't seen since he was 3 months old now he is 18 months, and our new niece- Hannah who was born a week before we arrived. Some of our highlights included: Playing cars with Asher, holding Hannah during nap time, teaching Asher our names (He never quite learned Kristy, but he always gave me a hug before he gave Uncle Gideon a hug so I was ok with not having a name.), eating dumplings, exploring Xiamen and all it has offer: McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen and Wal-Mart :) We also got to see the Non-American sides of Xiamen. We took the ferry over to a smaller island called Gulang Yu. We walked around the european style village, walked up a huge rock to see a great view of the island, ate some good sweet and sour pork, and visited the Xiamen Acquarium. Our Christmas was opposite from traditional, but it was good to be with family. Gideon and I also got a chance to pamper ourselves and spend the night at a fancy hotsprings hotel for a night. We spent 2 hours relaxing in the several different pools the hotsprings had to offer. Gideon enjoyed the ESPN on our hotel t.v. We both enjoyed the all you can eat breakfast buffet in the morning.

We are back in Cambodia and we start back up at school tomorrow. We loved spending time with our family and loved the developed and modern feel of Xiamen but it good to be back to things we are more familiar with. Enjoy some pictures from our highlights of our trip!



Gideon held Hannah for 2 hours almost every day during afternoon nap time!



Dolphin tank at the Aquarium. Asher kept doing this old man walk and this photo makes us laugh because he looks like a little old person next to us!




View from the top of Sun Light Rock on Gulang Yu Island




Relaxing at the hotsprings hotel!

Celebrating Christmas in Cambodia

We have done lots here to make it feel like the Christmas season. There a couple of reasons why this season feels so different in Cambodia. One is it continues to be 80 degrees outside. Two, we are not around our family. Three is most people do not celebrate Christmas as we know it, not even the Khmer Christians. Most Khmer Christians do not put up a Christmas tree or give presents to their children. To celebrate they go to their church on Christmas for a service and have a dinner together. On one hand it is so encouraging to know that the Christians here are getting it right. Their focus on Christmas isn't about the decorations and the presents but about being thankful for Jesus being born. On the other hand it is hard to not see Christmas lights on houses, decorations in stores, and Christmas music being played on the radio. Of course there is a bit of that because of the foreigner population here.

Since the start of December we have done something "Christmasy" each weekend. We went to a craft fair put on by NGO's helping women and children in Cambodia. We made Christmas cookies, helped decorate a friends fake tree, made two pecan pies, and ate a delicious potluck christmas dinner with our staff. Not to mention all of our decorations in our school classrooms. It is so fun being able to really celebrate the real reason for this season with our classes. In pre-k3 I get to tell the Christmas story every day in the month of December. Last week I had two students come up to me and say, " Mrs. Walker, I love Jesus" It was so heart warming to hear them say that. I responded, " He loves you too." Later on in the week one of the students told me, " I love Mary." It made me a little sad knowing that his statement of his love for Jesus was nothing more than letting me know he can remember then names of characters in a story we are learning about. I know it is a seed planted in their hearts. As they grow and learn more English they will continue to learn about who God and Jesus are!

For the last 12 days of school before Christmas Gideon's 5th graders are doing an Advent Challenge. Each day they have to do something that is encouraging or helpful to others. For example on the first day they had to give 12 people a high five. On the second day they had to open a door for 11 people and so on and so on. He is so creative.

Please enjoy the pictures of our Christmas celebrations! Leave us a comment and let us know how you have been celebrating Christmas!

A Week Long Holiday

For the first part of our holiday break we traveled to a small town 3ish hours south of Phnom Penh on the coast called Kep. We stayed for 3 nights. We had a great time of eating, eating, and more.....eating. We went with the Jones' and we had a great relaxing time. Gideon got to watch the stats online of the Broncos for the first time this season while we sat in the lounge of our bungalow we stayed at, eating our complimentary breakfast and looking out at the ocean! We rented a moto to drive to the next town over, because we heard they serve the BEST RIBS EVER (look below for photo so you can too start drooling)! AND they were right! We also took a short 30 minute boat ride over to Rabbit Island where we snorkled ( not the best snorkeling), ate fresh crab with pepper, sunbathed, and snorkled some more! Check out some pictures below of Kep!









We returned on Thanksgiving day! Our Thanksgiving was not traditional. We ended up eating out at a French Restaurant. We ate chicken, mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, and a greek salad. It was just the two of us! We had and have soo much to be thankful for. We did get to skype with both of our families on their Thanksgivings. I really wanted to try cooking a dinner for some of our friends. We were thinking about doing it on the Friday after, but after Thanksgiving day had passed I felt like we had celebrated it and all the hard work of cooking a big meal for lots of people wasn't so exciting to me anymore. So instead we went out again with some friends and had Khmer style BBQ where they bring you the raw meat and veggies and you cook it yourself on the BBQ that is at your table. It was a fun evening.

By the end of the week long vacation we were ready to get back to school. We honestly missed seeing our kids! And we are people that like our routines so it was good to get back into our daily school routines.

We hope you all had a Great Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for each and everyone of you!

Kristy and Gideon