They often get asked, “Do you guys ever work?”
From their posts is may seem that they don’t work and are on an endless holiday, having fun while experiencing life in another country. But really…who does posts of themselves working?
Having said that, a typical work day in Siem Reap is a far cry from a typical work day back in South Africa.
Let’s go back a few years and start with the dreaded ringing of that alarm clock at some ungodly hour and thinking, “Just a few more minutes”!
Then getting out of bed while it’s still dark on those wet and cold winter mornings, when all you want to do is stay in your warm cocoon.
And then having to check the weather forecast before deciding what to wear, as Cape Town’s weather is as unpredictable as a wet fart!
Not forgetting the frantic rushing around at the last minute. Locking the door, only to unlock it again to run back in (sometimes several times), for things forgotten in the frenzy of the morning.
Then, THE TRAFFIC!
Finally getting to work, finding parking and having to face a day of office politics, boring meetings and set deadlines and after a long, tiring day having to once again brave the traffic home. After 5 days, finally being rewarded with two days off (unless of course you get asked to come in on a Saturday for something they could have arranged to do on company time).
Weekends which are supposed to be for rest and relaxation is the time in which you have no choice but to do everything you didn’t have time to do in the week. So finally by Sunday afternoon, you start relaxing, only to realize that in just a few short hours you will need to brave the traffic again, to start another work week.
While watching Carte Blanche on Sunday evening, the mind starts scheming about “bunkalitis”. (Not a word that can be taught in English classes), as this word belongs in the dictionary of the working class South African.
But as “bunkalitis” would include an academy award winning act for the doctor and for your boss the next day, plus all the red tape, not dismissing the price of a doctor consultation, (just to stay in bed for a few more hours), it seems like too much of an effort. So you find yourself setting your alarm and thinking, “Is this my life?”
Their typical work day is so different now………
From doing “brat aerobics” as a Kindergarten Teacher in the day, then teaching night classes in the evening, teaching online and then working 10 – 12 hours per day / 7 days a week to develop the ESL for LIFE program, they are very happy with their current work situation.
A typical work week starts on a Saturday morning at 8:30am and finishes on a Tuesday at 3:00pm in the afternoon.
As no alarms are set earlier than 7 am, there is no need to hit the snooze button.
Work uniform includes either a t-shirt and shorts or a cool dress (Sapphire hasn’t progressed from a sarong to a dress yet! LOL) and bare feet.
No office politics, no unrealistic deadlines, no blue Mondays, no mid week hump days, no long Fridays or short Sundays and only a few short steps to the office.
Although there is no need to travel to work, living in a studio apartment has it’s own challenges.
At the start of every work day, their one bedroom studio apartment needs to be organized into a working office and teaching classroom.
However this will hopefully soon change when they move into the new apartment their landlords have built for them next door (with separate room for the ESL for LIFE office). Waiting in an…ti…ci…pa…tion!
A typical work day starts with having their morning coffee in bed. Sapphire enjoys this morning ritual of brewing ground Cambodian coffee, melting coconut sugar and frothing coconut cream to the delight of Amethyst, her morning pleasure . With the aromatic smell of ground Cambodian coffee intermingled with incense, while listening to meditation music, they give gratitude and thanks for these little pleasures they get to enjoy together.
While sitting in bed and looking out at the greenery in their little back garden, with the occasional lizard poking it’s head out, they are greeted by the croaking of the frogs and the chirping of the birds. They enjoy the peace and calm of each new morning, before they start planning for the day ahead.
Afternoon meetings are out by the pool, an opportunity to get some fresh air and break away from their work space.
After their morning coffee, Amethyst takes a shower and puts her Teacher Mandy face on, while Sapphire sets up their work space and gets into Developer/Tech Support mode.
Teacher Mandy’s day involves interactive one on one ESL classes with students all around the world (ages 4 years to 11 years old). Classes are either 30, 45 or 60 minutes. Besides teaching she also does all the admin including creditors, debtors, marketing, parent teacher communications, scheduling of classes, lesson preparation etc.
As ESL for LIFE develops and uses all their own materials for Low Beginner, Beginner Level 1 & 2, Intermediate, Advanced Level 1 & 2 and English Conversational Classes, using Zoom as a platform, Sapphire as Developer/Tech Support has a full time job. He researchers and finds materials needed for designing and developing fun, interactive Power Point presentations, games and videos for all levels, as well as handling all technical issues.
The excellent progress their students have made shows that they have designed and developed an interactive program that works!
Trials have started recently with a young enthusiastic ESL Teacher, Jamie Lee, who teaches for an online ESL company called Amazing Talker.
Jamie Lee is using lessons from various levels in the ESL for LIFE program to teach her students. She is finding the material exciting and easy to follow.
So the next step of the ESL for LIFE journey begins. It’s time to think about marketing ESL for LIFE to the online ESL community.
They believe that all will fall into place as it should, just like everything else has fallen into place since their journey began.
Sapphire’s favourite saying, “It will all work out in the end and if it hasn’t worked out yet, it’s not the end!”
Thanks for reading and Blessed Be from Siem Reap Cambodia.