Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-X
Sweet young teacher Kyaut Nu Nwe has been teaching 35 primary school students by herself for 8 months, terribly missing her family in Mrauk U. According to guide Than Htun, bribes are necessary to earn a government school teaching permit, and Kyaut Nu Nwe's parents are very poor. She seemed to enjoy her job but looked blank when we asked if she felt her impact was more important in the village than Mrauk U. The altruism option is given only to the rich.

She was planning to move to Yangon when her time in Cho Mee was up. Her sister lived there, and even though she still wouldn't be able to teach in a government school, there were far more private schools in Yangon to choose from and she wanted to make use of her university education.

She seemed like a dedicated teacher but as soon as I told her I worked in fashion, she lit up and cried, "I want to do that, too!" Well, at 21 there's always time to change your mind.