The Jungle is alive with Music!
By Paul Chuk
Em Luot, the Cambodian classic music teacher, age 88, signed an agreement with us to teach the music class as soon as he is done with repairing the instruments. He is working hard to get them done. The plan is to have him teach an hour and thirty minutes a day, six days per week. His salary is based on the amount of hours he works instead of a fixed monthly income. We agreed on $2 an hour. When he is ready, he will be working 9 hours a week, which means he will earn $72 a month assuming he works the full 36 hours. He told us that he is willing and very happy to pass on his knowledge to next generation. The money is secondary to him, he said. Money is always helpful but that is not what he is looking for, he added. He needs respect, good people to work with, and name recognition when his knowledge is transferred to others.
I am confident that he will do his best to make the music lessons effective. Let’s hope that we will have something special to share with our guests in February next year.
So far, the music class is going very well. There are 12 to 15 students attending each session. Among them 40% are female, and the class is made up of 2nd to 6th graders. Em Nuth, the music teacher, is working extremely hard. He always comes early and passionately teaches his new students. Remember Ya Virak, the blind boy? He is amazing! Despite the fact that he is blind, everyone is blown away by his talent. Only for a few weeks of training, he can play almost every instrument.
All the students who take music class want to continue their lesson after school is closed. Their improvement is very satisfying. I approved their request thinking that it is a good idea to keep the class going so they can build up their skills instead of taking a long break and starting over when school reopens.
Special thanks to Carl and Natalia Barden for their support of our music program through Misha’s fund for Music Education. And to Emily Abraham, a music teacher from Chicago, Illinois whose students and their families support our music program in her honor.
August 20th, 2010 at 11:35 am
What a surprise to see the emerging musical talents of Virak in your story. Alex befriended Virak when we visited the school last November. I wanted Alex to feel a bit more involved with the kids at the school but he was intimidated by the language barrier and he felt awkward with all of the kids staring at him.
I invited Virak to join us, at my expense, as I thought it was a chance for Alex and me to learn about this one boy’s life. I saw a beautiful relationship emerge between the boys. This amazing experience will go with me with fondness to the end of my life. I get chills thinking back to our connections made at the school and with Virak.
Virak was very shy and often stood alone as his grandfather came to the school for meetings. We learned that he had not been going to school for several years. He spoke in one word answers and never initiated conversations. We asked why he was not attending school anymore. The answer was twofold: community shunning of the handicapped and poverty. As it was explained to me, the Buddhist belief of sins of prior life misdeeds visited the handicapped. The Khmer people blamed the victims for their current life challenges and do not invest in these kids, reserving their precious funds for the education and future of the “normal” kids.
Alex and Virak swam, traveled with us by moto and farm truck to the other schools, shopped at the markets and shared meals together for 3 days. I insisted that Virak be brought to the school each day to join us and then be included in all of our activities during our visit. The grandfather agreed with a bit of a confused look.
Alex learned to communicate without words as the boys clapped hands, pounded out a beat on the tabletops, and clicked tongues to each other. Alex further learned to lead the sightless boy without injuring him. They frolicked endlessly bodies intertwined, laughed hysterically and giggled mischievously when exploring each new environment.
We brought along Alex’s favorite toy which was a metal pre-formed shape puzzle that is often used for special relations learning. Alex taught Virak how to work the puzzle and slowly he was able to master the shapes in the grid. This was a favorite activity of both boys during rest periods.
At the conclusion of our visit, we were hugging and thanking everyone for their hospitality. Alex bolted from the van finding Virak in the crowd and gave him the puzzle as a parting gift and then a very strong hug. Both boys held each other for a long goodbye. We drove away with tears in our eyes. Paul winked and smiled with his hand on his heart.
I ache for Virak’s plight and lonely existence wishing that I had the money to pay his educational expenses. Sadly, this is not currently possible. My one solace is that our attention to him was noticed by the other kids. The kids at the school started looking at Virak with renewed eyes. I hope the other kids realized that he had value because we found the hidden value in this lost soul. I hope the kids continue to celebrate the specialness of Virak.
Alex told me, on the airplane ride home, that he missed his new friend saying he learned a lot from him and felt very special when he was with him. Virak trusted Alex to lead and be led.
Regards,
Gina & Alex Barnett