Work that Map! Word!

Help, that’s his name translated from Khmer, drew and painted the Angkor Wat flag on the left, and began painting the Peace Corps logo on the right. He’s a bit quiet, but very enthusiastic about working on the highest drawing/painting work in the project.

His detailing on the logo and flag is excellent. Many students congratulated him on his super work. He seems to have a unique name, so from across campus, people would yell, “HELP!” and I would think something was wrong by the words, but by the emotions in the voice, I can hear they’re rooting on their friend. Some people made it a point to help hold the ladder!

The next day…

was when we started labeling the map in permanent marker.

Kids wrote in the name of the country/territory in pencil and then wrote over in marker. Lots of girls came out as it didn’t involve paint and getting their clothes dirty. It was nice to see them again, because lately only the boys were showing up to paint the northern hemisphere and climbing latters and tables for paint work.

In 2 hours, half the world was labeled.

I especially love how kids pass by and realize then and there where their country is in the world. Many stopped to tell me, “Wow. America is VERY far away.” Many took pride it was larger than many islands in the Pacific. Many would ask “What is that big, yellow country?” being Russia, and I was glad students were very curious. So far the vote was labeling in English, and since oceans had a lot of room, they would get translated into Khmer, too.

Until another day, perhaps when exams are over for the upper secondary students, we will label the northern half of the world.