SYNOPSIS 2010

Sad to say, 2010 was not really my year. Bad lucks were just everywhere, they were too much to bear in fact. I could not even wait to let the year just go away and say goodbye. It was one of the worst years in the past. Even at the last minute of the year, bad luck kept haunting me trying to fit in the new year.Yet amidst unpleasant things had happened, I tried my hardest to stay positive. I cant wait to see what this year has in stored for everyone. As I am looking forward with excitement and joy for 2011, let me bring you back to last year's events that brought colors to the seemingly endless cloudy days of the year.

I started volunteering at Conversations With Foreigners the last quarter of 2009 until December last year. I, myself was surprised of the length of time I've stayed. It was no regret. I was happy so to speak especially being able to take part of the vision and mission of this N.G.O. It was a self-fulfilling journey on the one hand, but it was just the end of the road for me last December. No more C.W.F. in the future. I have done my best, has given my part...so that was all I could offer.



...My 1st term with CWF..



...My 2nd term at CWF...




...My 3rd term at CWF...


...My last term, I taught a special writing classes to CWF staff...


Part of my journey as an educator last year was to also conduct TESOL trainings to local teachers. I am referring to the picture above. These individuals are teaching English in the outskirt of Phnom Penh of which some of them are teaching in the villages. I had a great time teaching them, knowing them and making friends with them. I was so impressed by their enthusiasm and their receptivity learning new things for the better.



I also enjoyed my two terms teaching beginner classes at The Center For Learning (TCFL). Challenging it seemed, but it was worth staying that long. But I had to end my commitment earlier than what was expected because of conflict of schedules. I just could not be in two places at the same time. I really had fun.



A Village Excursion. I don't have to elaborate these pictures since I already had published a long article about it. Again it was a flabbergasting experience.


Teachers and staff at O3. TEEP training course I conducted Last august to October 2010. I also published an article about this endeavor. So no further elaboration.




Early November last year, Steven, my friend from Ultimate Frisbee visited the village as well. He helped facilitating the second training course. Thanks to him. We all had fun together.

Before the year ended, I had amazing treats from friends. The places we went to were really soothing and relaxing. Practically, helped me moved on, allowed me unwind.


...Balut night which Khmers called Pong tea koan...

...relaxing at kiensway...

...amazing kep, sea food day...



...Vietnam HAT 2010 was another brilliant treat I had for health and fun's sake...

...Christmas party with my co-educators in Saigon...

...site seeing in the city, enjoying the spirit of the season...

Fortunately, I had to spend my New Year's Eve with some friends. The countdown was not that dramatic, no anticiaption of fireworks, no kissing under mistletoe, no turkey for the night, but I was happy to let go of the year. It was a silent countdown waiting for another blessed year. The only noise you could hear was a rolled dice spinning on the table as we played boardgames called "cashflow". Then the anticipation was over as another year has finally arrived. 2011 has just began.

Happy New Year Everyone!

The Simple Side of Transformational Learning

During my years in graduate and so post graduate schools, words such as transformation and liberation and praxis were overused or over familiarized as some would prefer. More than just knowing their respective connotations, we also had to learn what these words imply in relation to our aspiration becoming an agent of change to insiders we may be serving. Not to deny the fact, I felt like carrying the whole world on my back because these words were just too big and scary at times. They seemed threatening to me at first. I always thought risking my life to be able to stand the gap. And in my innocence, I had this endless thought that I would end up becoming an enemy of the state in my desire to bring a piece of change in the society. But things turned out so differently. I figured out that experiences vary for every individual. No one has the same journey at all. Sorry to say this, but it is not always true to shed blood or risk life or go against the instituted governance to be able to help a society changed. Amidst silent speculations; amidst fears brought by misconceptions, my pursuit of learning more about transformation turned out to be a wonderful opportunity, a journey preparing me becoming what I am today. This what I call it..."on the contrary."

Now those seemingly scary words do not intimidate me anymore. They had become beautiful sounds bringing magic to my ears instead. From threatening assumptions, those words learned had become keys to my volunteering endeavors seeing the world full of oppression. The heart of my subject matter in my pursuit of getting to know the minds, the aspirations of every oppressed I've known. Of course, I do believe in a non-revolutionary transformation or liberation. We don't need to fight violently to liberate people from their oppressors-what and whoever their oppressors are. This is what is known as pedagogy of the oppressed.I strongly buy this idea.

Passed a decade has been, still I am here investing my resources, my time, my life, my services educating learners and even educators in order to share changes in many ways. I am convinced that being engaged in TESOL as a teacher, as an educator, a volunteer is the best passageway at hand when it comes to doing such task. Transformational learning in its simple side and yet very challenging, affecting and effecting lives to the fullest not just feeding mere theories known as banking method. Many years have been gone, yet I could say I am very happy for this fulfillment even though doing the same endeavor. It transformed me first, a lot, and others that I worked with.

The pictures below will explain more words I cannot utter. I will be elaborating more of these transformational endeavors in my future dissertation. On the one hand, I think I already have mentioned this in my previous articles, exemplifying the true essence of what I have been doing in line with transformational learning. This is just the simple side of the whole thing.

Please enjoy!