HOW WE GOT STARTED

They came to us first. We were perfectly happy developing our homestay and I was particularly happy tending my own garden-sorting out good advice from bad. I'd had horticultural experience before, but it was my first time to create a veggie garden in a jungle. But as I say they came to us and asked us to teach English. With two young kids and a hectare or so of weeds to transform into a family garden, we didn't think that we would have enough time. But kids and young adults who really want to learn are hard to refuse.

I'd spent over twenty years of my life teaching to kids who tried to learn German and French between lunch break and a joint and spoiled children from Cambodian families whose parents wanted them to learn, but there was in both cases very little interior motivation. This was different-way different and therefore impossible to refuse.

COSTS TO STUDENTS

IF STUDENTS CAN AFFORD IT, WE CHARGE $5 PER MONTH FOR 12 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION PER MONTH . IF THE FAMILY CAN'T AFFORD THAT WE TRY TO BARTER-RICE, VEGETABLES, WHATEVER. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT IF PEOPLE GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING, THAT IS EXACTLY THE VALUE THEY WILL PLACE ON IT AND THE ENERGY THEY WILL INVEST IN IT. HOWEVER, NO STUDENT IS REFUSED ON THE BASIS OF FINANCIAL INABILITY NOR DO WE HOUND, CAJOLE OR HASSLE STUDENTS ABOUT LATE PAYMENT.

WE ALLOW SOME STUDENTS FROM IMPOVERISHED FAMILIES TO STUDY FOR FREE AS LONG AS THEY SHOW ENTHUSIASM AND DEDICATION AND THEIR PARENTS SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT EMPHASIZE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, THAT IS A VALUE THAT IS NEGLECTED IN THE RURAL GRADE AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. IN SHORT NO ONE FAILS, ALMOST ALL ARE PASSED IRREGARDLESS OF LACK OF ACHIEVEMENT. I'LL COME BACK TO THIS POINT IN ANOTHER BLOG, BUT SPARE YOU THE HARANGUE FOR NOW.