B

When we arrived in Bansang, we made the acquaintance of Jhap's family and learned that two of them: her brother-in-law Pi Dom and her sister Lek, taught at the local high school. We were surprised but very pleased to be asked if we would visit the school one morning and sit in on some English classes.

Lek picks us up at five to eight and drives us in the big estate wagon to the school which is only about a kilometer away. A note about the car. It has terrible problems with the clutch and almost everyone we have seen drive it has had trouble getting it into first gear and once in keeping it there. Lek is no exception, indeed seems to have more trouble than anyone. But we do get to the school and find that assembly is about to begin as we arrive.

Assembly is held in the open in the sports area in front of the school. Almost all of the pupils are already lined up in neat rows when we arrive. We are quickly introduced to the school director and a couple of vice directors and then are ushered onto the stage where proceedings have already begun. We are taken somewhat by surprise when after the flag has been raised and the anthem sung, we are introduced and then asked to speak to the school!. We each say a few short words having little idea how much the students understand.

From there we are taken on a tour of the school, with special visits to the computer room and to several English classrooms. Pidom joins us for the beginning of the tour and at the end, but leaves us to Lek for the rest. Everyone is very nice, but it is hard to connect with the students who don’t understand much English. In one of the classrooms that we visit we are a bit taken aback to be presented with gifts of toilet-roll holders. Something else we will have to give or ship away. We take several photos and collect email and mail addresses.

The school is much like any school. Buildings are two-stories with open staircases and corridors to connect classrooms. There is no need for windows because it is so hot, although sometimes one would like them as noise separators. The students all wear uniforms and are very respectful and well-behaved. A different group of students seems to be responsible for the assembly every day which is used, like in most schools, to make school-wide announcements and special congratulations.