After a chance to sleep in, a few hours of orientation at the Frangipani Living Arts Hotel and lunch at a local Chinese noodle restaurant (watching them make noodles by hand is magical), the students walked to the SST unit house (P’teah Goshen) and one-by-one met their host families. Despite some nerves, things went very well. The students were warmly welcomed to Cambodia by their host families/siblings, and there were many touching moments. There were smiles, and much laughter. We were proud of our GC students. Some students left by car, some by tuk-tuk, and some by motorcycle/scooter. On Sunday, the students will be able to relax and spend the day with their host families. Their one task on Sunday is to find their way back to the GC SST unit house for a quick check-in. Monday morning we will meet our professors and have our first day of Khmer Language class at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) and in the afternoon we have a presentation on Cambodian culture and peoples.
The students learn to put minutes into their fancy new, un-smart phones.We had lunch out at a fabulous Chinese noodle shop. We got to marvel at them making noodles by hand.Lunch time.Tuk-tuk ride to lunch.More tuk-tuk fun.The students are all exhausted. Brodie took the chance to nap on the conference room floor during a break.Marco is checking out his map of Phnom Penh. The students spent time locating their houses on their maps.The students walked about seven blocks from the hotel to the SST unit house where they waited to meet their host families.Andrew and his host brother.Andrew and his brother off to his Phnom Penh home, three (or four?) bags in tow, no problem.Sarah with her host sister.And they’re off!Armarlie and her host sister.First stop? Helmet shop!Kate and her host mom. This is her mom’s fourth time hosting a GC student. The name of her last student? Kate. 🙂Packed and ready to go.Maggie with her host family. She’ll share a room with her host sister, Mariza (in pink).Maggie gets a tuk-tuk ride to her house.Carley and one of her host sisters.Leah and her host brother.Leah heads home with her host brother.Helena and her host family. Her mom has two sons so Helena is the daughter she always wanted. She brought her a fresh coconut as a treat.Berke and his host brother.Tessa and her host sister.Jack and his host siblings.Dan and his host brother.Marco and his host brother. Nana, our wonderful housing assistant is also in the picture.We hired a mobile coffee cart to provide drinks for the students and their families.Isaiah and his host brother. Ly has been a host brother multiple times. They win the prize for biggest height difference. Jon and his host family.Brodie and his host sister, Nana, who is also our local housing assistant extraordinaire.Levi with his host family.Hannah with our local housing assistant, Nana, and temporary host sister. Hannah will connect with her family tomorrow.Sam at home with his host aunt.Hannah is now with her host family. This is her bed and her host brother who is enjoying her guitar.
