My Week In Review

What a week! Full of work, and play.

The working aspect of my time spent here is getting increasingly better. I'm beginning to develop relationships with the kids and am starting to understand their behavioural problems a little bit more. I now understand Neung, a blind autistic boy will only wear pants that have a certain elastic, I understand Uhn-Uhn, a child with down syndrome, will hit me right after she makes a certain face, I know how to make some kids laugh, cry, and obey! Obeying is the most important right now, for the first week I was just a ting-tong falang or a "crazy foreigner!" But I have cracked down and some will actually sit in time out when I put them there, or turn the shower hose off when they hold it up to me threateningly, or LISTEN!

I am having a lot of fun with the kids. It is neat to see them every day. The kids who come from the wards are typically the worst behaved ones, but who can blame them? I think I would hit other children too if that's all I knew. If my "ward moms" hit me with brooms, or kicked me in the thigh, I would definetely bite another child once in a while. That's not to say the staff and volunteers just allow it, but there's a sympathy in the punishment of these kids.


Goofing off with Joi, a very sick little boy with a severe liver problem. His stomach is swollen from malnutrition due to his failing liver. The past week we spent some time in the sensory room (a dark room full of flashing lights and music) and became instant friends.


I have grown quite close to these two! Ton is the little boy, he has no mental disabilities but is crippled from the waist down. Samon, the girl, is 14 and suffers from a variety of mental disabilities as well as physical. She is a blast to hang out with! Always up for a song, and dance.


Me and Ton again

The weekends here are always a blast! I am trying to save as much money as possible, so my excursions aren't weekend getaways on the Thai beaches, but I do manage to have fun on a budget!

Things I did, all on ONE weekend!





Me, Catherine, and Linda went out on an ice cream date to a very western style Swensens. Pakkred is not like Bangkok at all, it is rare to see white people, and rare for westerners to have the option of being immersed in their own culture. SO, our trip to Swensens was a nice treat, not a common occurance, but a welcomed one!


Me and Linda took a boat to Bangkok this weekend!

We went to the Oriental Hotel to eat lunch and Linda insisted on a photo with the Thai bellboy

We also went to Jim Thompson's house. He was an American architect who came to Thailand and encouraged the sale of the very beautiful Thai silk back in his home country. He is pretty much known for his success, and built a traditional Thai home with his wealth. We were fortunate enough to receive a tour of this beautiful house!

I was very excited to head into Bangkok this weekend. But as I rode on the boat that we took, more and more tourists piled onto the cramped ship. I should've felt at home! These were westerners that I had more in common with than the local Thai. However, as they took their pictures, spoke to the Thai people in English and ignored Thai customs, I became increasingly more embarassed and was relieved to come back to Pakkred. I hate feeling like a tourist here, even though really, I am one, but I don't want to be. I want to be able to relate to the people here, however as I rode that boat and entered the very westernized Bangkok, I realized how different my culture actually is from the Thai population. It was a little discouraging to come to the realization that I can read all the Thai books I want, struggle with the language, try the customs and still, I'm Canadian, and very much a foreigner.

Another bizarre encounter I had with Western culture this weekend was when a volunteer from a different organization invited those staying at Sirin House to an English meal she was preparing. She was on vacation, house sitting for a family she knew. The house, was located in a place called Nichada. The Nichada community was unbelievable. Totally fenced off, hundreds and hundreds of western style houses filled the property as well as starbucks and pools and tennis courts and international schools and even western trees. The house had a maid and a driver and air conditioning. It was weird. I crossed a gate and was back in North America.

Sethi was disgusted with the idea, that people come here and totally block themselves off from Thailand, but I guess I sort of understand it. The people living in this community are here based on work opportunities. They didn't come here to experience Thailand, so I get that they want the comforts of their home. It is strange though, so strange.

a picture of Nichada in all it's expensive nature



There are things I could talk about for hours, or pages rather
I really love all the comments I get on my blog, it's so encouraging to see that people actually read and are interested in what I'm doing over here.
I miss the people at home often. Sometimes when I go to work and just want to break down in tears, I know it's the prayers of the people I love keeping me strong, and helping me to stay motivated. Thank you all for your tremendous support thus far!

Food

Thai food has been an experience all in it's own.

To eat out here is really cheap, I can have a FULL plate of food with drink for 20-30 baht (perspective: 31 baht in 1 dollar). THAT is terrific.

However, since I don't know the language, I often have to point at things I want, or gesture towards someone else's meal, which ends up in a meal that I am totally clueless about.

And I always have to finish it in order to avoid offending anyone.

Some foods I know now, to look out for.


So I still don't know the Thai name, but those chunks of brown, yeah, liver. A soup I finished completely ignorant of it's contents until told by Sethi. Not my favourite. . .


ANYTHING with green curry. I had this at the Thai church I attend and ended up with a pile of kleenex it was so spicy.


Som Tam, a papaya salad, my worst nightmare, especially when ordered with the tag "pet mak" (very spicy). This was ordered for me courtesy of Sethi. . .uggg. I drank 3 jugs of water that night.

MY FAVOURITE THAI DISH!



Fried rice, yummmm. Any way, every day. Probably not the healthiest choice, but hey, when in Rome right? or Thailand. . .

Anyways, I have actually been trying to buy some food so I can eat at home and avoid the cost of eating out every day.

The other day I was in Carefour, a supermarket and stumbled upon a whole, fresh tilapia fish. Love at first sight, and the price just topped it off. Only 30 baht! If you know me at all, you will know of my desperate love of fish. So I documented my attempt ( and I might add SUCCESS) of cooking my favourite food.


The fish in all it's "less than a dollar" glory



see ya later sucker



all cut up and ready for the frying pan


DELICIOUS!



Me and Sethi enjoying our fish

First Week Completed

It's the weekend! My first week of work is over.

It was such an incredible week, made up of so many crazy and mixed emotions. I love working where I am, but at the same time, I wish I never had to see the place.

I am working at a place called Rainbow House. It the one resedential building in CCD. It houses many kids, but I only get to see the ones that aren't in school. The kids come from "wards" or government orphanages, or are abandoned by their parents. One child was abondoned this week. Two days ago in fact. I was shocked. The sense of rejectment this child must feel is unfathomable. . .for he has already lived with his parents for 13 years.

Anyways, some of the kids at Rainbow House have made enough progress to attend government schools, so this frees up space during the day. So CCD brings in a group of kids from the orphanages during the day and offers them a day care program. That is where I come in!

The first day for me was completely overwhelming. I rode to work on a bicycle for 4 miles on a busy road. Thai traffic is a sight to see in itself, no rules apply. Those first 4 miles was the most terrifying distance I have ever travelled! When I got there I was in for shock too. The language was still entirely foreign and the culture was difficult to understand. Khun-nok is a care giver at Rainbow house and has been my mentor the past week. She is fantastic with the kids, and speaks a tiny bit of English. I speak a tiny bit of Thai, so we can communicate a tiny bit (Pointing and gesturing enters into conversation quite a bit). We will teach each other the words for things and this has been incredibley helpful! My Thai is fastly improving!

This week I have mainly just been assisting the Thai staff. My heart breaks every day. One of my main areas of expertise now is the showers. The Thai volcabulary that goes along with showering is very familiar after this week. Many of the children are not potty trained, so you hose them down first.(They love this) Wash and rinse them (They love this as well) and then towel them dry (They love this the most). They tend to REALLY enjoy these activities because I am new, and they are not intimidated enough to not run away. I spend close to an hour chasing after naked children with towels and soap in hand. I should be able to catch them easily, but you would be surprised at their ability to move even though they may be paralized from the waist down.

Showering has been a lot of fun, but is has also been one of the times where I have gotten to see the abuse the kids deal with at the government orphanages. Sores on the wrists and ankles from being tied to their beds for hours, rashes galore from having to sit in their own urine all day, and bruises galore for being hit for misbehaving.

These are the mixed feelings I have.

I have a love/hate relationship with Thailand right now and my experiences here. The culture shock is unbelievable. There are so many more things to talk about so I will make sure to post again soon.



Me and Pet, a boy with down syndrome. He sometimes loves me, and sometimes hates me. I'm got the proof with a signature Pet bite mark on my arm, blood drawn and all! He kissed it better though. I always love him!




Pet again!

I arrived!

It's Friday here, 9:58 am. I am in Thailand!

Finally, after a 20+ hour flight, I have arrived at my new home for the next 9 months.

My flight was awesome. I had no problems finding my way around, and was totally at ease getting from one terminal to another. In Hong Kong, while I was charging up my laptop, an Australian plunked down beside me and said hello. As soon as I said hi back he laughed, "So you're from Canada." I was a little surprised. Turns out my accent is thick. I found that humourous, coming from an aussie.

He was very friendly and proceeded to tell me about all his travels and his diverse family. His wife was an adopted Thai who grew up in London and he was a modern day Aragon ranger. (Pardon my nerdy comparison)

When I arrived in Thailand I was met by the assistant volunteer coordinator, Bridget. She is from London and has been volunteering at CCD for 2 years. She told me she had a contract for 3 years, but she was hoping she could turn it into 13. She loves it here, which of course was very encouraging as I stepped out into the 33 degree weather and immediately felt raindrops.

The house I am staying in is called Sirin House. It is four stories and is very spacious! Right now there are only two volunteers here. Myself and a Belgium school teacher who's teaching English at one of CCD's projects, Rainbow House. He is very friendly and helpful, and has such a servent attitude! There is one computer in the house with internet access, so that is a nice surprise! I can keep in touch with everyone I love and miss so much.

I am excited to start working. There is no work on the weekends and today I was granted to get some rest and unpack. Monday will be my first day, and I can't wait!



My room, looking out my little deck



My bed, with my friend/family shrine above, haha



The living room



the dining room/ kitchen.

Farewell to Nova Scotia. . .

It’s midnight, and my alarm is set for 4:30 am. My plane leaves tomorrow at 7:30, connecting in Toronto, and Hong Kong, and then finally arriving in Bangkok, Thailand at 10:25 pm Thursday. Thai time.

Where did the time go? This whole year as I was asked the popular question regarding my plans for the fall and I eagerly replied “THAILAND” seems like it should still be happening. Is the summer really over? Am I really about to leave? Am I not still in the process of organizing plane tickets and applications for passports?

This past week has been one of good-byes. I said my good-byes to many of my Catons friends, my boyfriend, my father, my school friends, and my almost sister Vashti. Tomorrow it’s good-bye to my mom and sister and HELLO TO THAILAND.


my room getting all packed away









the new luggage my dad bought me!










the books my mom bought me that I am going to attempt to read!







Later Sackville. Next post will be written half way across the world.