I’m covered in red clay. It’s what the schoolroom grounds are made of, and it gets in and on any- and everything. Shoes aren’t allowed in the room, so you spend most of the day barefoot, though the floor is cement and dirty and might as well be the bare ground.

I’ve been sitting a lot, reading to the kids, today. My favorite so far is Riti — he’s an energetic, super-fun kid of 12, who looks about 7 (malnutrition, no doubt). I taught a yoga class to him and the more “unruly” kids this afternoon – the first day of my “Yoga for Young Artists” program I’ve designed for the English School here in Battambang – and they did great. Really great. We sang the Om song, went on a “yoga adventure” to the jungle resulting in lots of animal poses, and sang the Namaste song to close. They don’t speak English, and I don’t speak Khmer, so a teacher translated. The kids had a wonderful time, possibly almost as much as me, even. *smile*

Since then, it’s been lots of reading, badminton and English practice. Some of the kids have been running up to me, on their way somewhere, and they stop all of the sudden, strike a yoga pose, and then run off. They’re pretty awesome, and I already feel like I’ve been here for months. In a good way.

After school, we went to soccer practice — a makeshift afterschool program. I sat, and watched. A group of non-participating children made me a bouquet of flowers from the bushes nearby. They are so happy, just being. I’m amazed at countries like this — where some kids can’t eat every day, where the community is sickened by a multitude of ailments without the possibility of adequate medical care — how children still smile the way that they do. They aren’t yet old enough to fake it. They have a lightness about them, a sort of promise, and a tenacity. When we start class and ask them how they are feeling today, you get answers like “happy,” “super” and “tired but excellent!” I’m in awe of their little, big personalities.

I watched the rest of practice; some kids sharing one pair of shoes (one each, for kicking). It was boisterous and busy, sticky and very, very hot. I sat, and watched, and ate tamarind fruits dipped in chili sugar.

My Two Little Trees!

"I Can Do It!" by Riti