A couples months ago, when I was
asked if I wanted to go on senior survival with this year's senior class, I just
wanted to say no. “I’m surviving already,” I thought to myself, at the time, “I
don’t need to add bucket showers, dirt and the outdoors to it.” Though despite
my hesitation, I said yes. This week, instead of putting on my teacher clothes,
I packed up the backpack and headed out into the woods with 15 CAS seniors,
Amber, and two other teachers. I don’t teach the 12th graders any
classes, so the stress of learning their names alone was increasing my heart
rate.
We loaded
on up and headed out to Jombok Hoas (pronounced in English Jimbok Hall) at an
early 7 am on a Monday morning that was, for the rest of the school, a holiday.
The week previous I had been fighting a monster of a cold, that had only got
worse over the weekend, and the last place I wanted to be was sitting in a bus
full of loud high school seniors yelling, laughing, screaming, and singing for
four+ hours.
Upon our
arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this senior “survival” was much
less survival like than my own senior survival. We had a cabin to sleep in and
staff cooking the food for us.
The next
morning started off the games and activities. We did a variety of activities
including walking down a hill all while balancing on a wire, zip lining, and
did other team building games. The last activity of that day was the giant
swing. Having been on the giant swing at MiVoden multiple times, I decided I
was done putting my trust in equipment that looked at little too sketchy and I
was going to sit this one out.
That day the kids had been learning
about different principles that they needed to use while doing their
activities, as well principles they could apply to every day life. These
principles included “Look and listen carefully,” “I can do it,” and four
others. As the last student got on the giant swing, Amber and I started getting
harnesses thrown towards us and a lot of “Teacher, you’re next!” We told them
that we had done this in America and one of the kids looked at us and said,
“Teacher. Don’t sit, get involved.” That was another principle. With those four
words, we let our students hall us to the very top of the swing (twice as I as
MiVoden’s giant swing), and watch us fly through the air.
The third day brought it’s own set
of adventures and challenges. I had heard that the third day involved “big
things,” but had no idea what “big things” actually meant. After two short
games, we were lead through the woods to a tree that towered high above the
rest. From there we were supposed to climb up a sketchy ladder and then repel
down the side of the tree. Having to climb up or down a ladder is one of my
greatest fears. Silly, I know. I was one of the last to go, and I slowly made
my way up the ladder with Amber right on my heels. I was a little more than a
little scared. Eventually it was my turn, and I started to lower myself down. The
gloves I was wearing were too big, and I couldn’t get my hand in a good
position to hold the rope tight enough to stop myself. Though I wasn’t moving
fast, I wasn’t stopping, and instead of pushing off the tree, I was going
straight down. The fact that I couldn’t grip the rope well enough to stop
freaked me out. I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared in my entire life. The
Leap of Faith was next (this also twice as high as the one at MiVoden). After just
being thoroughly scared to death, I decided I was done with high trees that
involved ladders and high platforms. Yet, once again, my students convinced me
to go.
That night, the last night, we had
some good ole’ classic fun scaring the boys in the forest and attempting an all
nighter that lasted only to the first few hours of the morning. Of all the weeks
I have had in Cambodia, I have to say this week was one of my favorites.
Fifteen high school seniors can really teach you a thing or two. Without them
pushing me, I would never have repelled down that tree or jumped for the handle
that high in the leap of faith. Not knowing the students made the experience,
for me, even greater. I had no idea what to expect from them. I thought
learning their names in four days wasn’t even going to happen, but I learned so
much more. The kids constantly had me laughing and kept me laughing the entire
time we were there. They were supportive of each other and of us teachers.
Watching them push themselves made me want to push myself as well.
Being on senior survival, I
couldn’t help but think of my own class and my senior survival. It feels like
so long ago, yet seeing my students do some of the exact same activities we did
makes me feel like it was yesterday. It’s shocking how much life can change in
2 ½ years.
I never thought that getting out
into the woods with a group of students I didn’t know would help remind me why
I’m in Cambodia. It did, however, do just that. The moments I didn’t want to do
something I had to keep reminding myself that I was, I am, here for the
students. Though I am here for the students, I can’t even begin to explain the impact
they are having on me, which could quite possibly be even greater than the
impact I am having on them.
-Alex
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