Today was the first day with the Bak Touk and Sisowath high school students and the CLA students – our mentees! They range in age (~15-20), in English language capabilities, and in backgrounds.

As a group, we generally want to be helpful and effective in teaching the students skills necessary for event production and leadership, and can be directly applicable to our concert planning. … and look cool to the high school kids. 🙂 We found that these students are so vibrant and excited, and so happy to talk with us. However, some of the CLA students were less comfortable and confidant, mostly because of the economic and language differences between the other high school students and us.

Also, I think that we’re engaging all of the students in something in which they have no experience with these warm up and ice breaking exercises. haha. Not to mention these “workshops.” Try explaining the concept of workshops, logistics, and sustainability in a language that doesn’t have these concepts in one convenient word.

After our own morning circle and later some fun Kevin-type activities that made us step out of our shells and broke the ice to set the stage for teamwork. We then informed the mentees about the schedule for the two concerts and afterward our mentees discussed their expectations and ground rules for the project.

Some of us performed in our team talent show to share with the students different art forms of various cultures. Alex danced the Peacock Dance, which originated from China. Aey danced the Thai Blessing Dance. Will performed a monologue from Waiting for Godot. Kevin sang “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin. Trent sang a Khmer folk song. Jean Louise sang a Filipino song about a boy serenading a girl. Each of these performances were brilliant and all of us, mentors and mentees alike, really enjoyed them.

Breaking for lunch, we ate at Boat Noodle restaurant, owned by Seihout’s family member. Food was fantastic, and there we began playing games that we determined smart people found difficult because they overthink it. hmmm….

Hiep and Hung continued the circle painting project (we painted the background yesterday). Small groups of both mentors and mentees started the first circle. This project is intended to demonstrate teamwork and interconnectedness, and is just really fun. Check it out here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PeCDBsmH-R0

Kathleen and I presented the first workshop on event planning with Thearin and Leang translating. Although we prepared extensively, things did not go as well as planned. Alex and Will led the (more fun) journaling workshop afterward, introducing ways ways in which a person can reflect in a journal, such as “found object”and “stream of conscience.”

At dinner (and in car rides), some of us had different conversations with “the professionals” Leng, Hiep, Hung, Peter, and John as well as got to know each other better. Along with nightly spotlight sessions, I think we’ll continue to grow closer and have more fun. If anything, we’ll have accomplished close trans age, racial, and national friendships.

-Vi

(Human Biology at Stanford with a concentration in Public Health and Policy. 20 years old. Loves picnics in ant-free grass and wishes she had learned to be a pro apsara dancer.)