MSC

I am currently sitting in my hotel room in Bangkok listening to the cars whiz by and trying to absorb and reflect on all that happened today. I am currently at my Mid Service Conference (MSC). My group comes together for two and half days of meetings, reflections, and plannings about the time we have spent here ant the time we have left. After the conference we have medical appointments for checking and addressing any health concerns or issues that are affecting us at this point.

I woke up early and rolled out of bed and down the hall of the hotel to the lobby. I quickly hopped on Skype to see if anyone was around and before I knew I was getting a video call from my brother Steve. I was able to say a quick hello to a smiling and excited nephew while he munched down on chicken nuggets and talked and talked. Before I knew it his sister came bounding into the picture excited to show me her Easter crown and a cross which is what Jesus died on that she got at church the other day. Ethan quickly ran off and got his own cross to show me. It was time to finish dinner and for me to start my day so we said our good byes in a conversation that was too short and left me yearning to click my heels and appear at home so I could just hang out in person.

I headed out of the hotel and down the road. Bangkok was just starting to come alive, very few cars passing and food vendors just starting to set up their carts around the entrances of the University that is near by. I ended up walking about halfway around the giant rectangle that makes up the city blocks that encompass the University. As I strolled down the sidewalk I couldn't help but just try to absorb the sites of a country I never even dreamed about setting foot yet here am. I smiled as I pass a grandfather tying the shoe of his young grandson and then putting the over-sized backpack on the boy's back, and in one continuous motion grabbing his hand preparing to cross the busy road to the school across the way. Then watching the food carts across the way un-stack the containers of supplies that would be whipped up into delicious snacks to buy on the way to work, school, and life in a busy city. There are times when I want to take a picture of what I see and the things that remind me how I am living in Thailand but it seems like it would ruin or take at away from the moment if I was to try and capture it through a camera lens. I decided it was time to start making my way back to the hotel to eat breakfast, and get dressed in my 'riap roy' out for the day so I decided to try and cut across the University. I walked in through the gate, past the sign displaying pictures of unacceptable and acceptable clothing for the students, how they needed to be dressed 'riap roy'. I glanced left and right not sure which direction to head and decided it was best to ask the security guard I just passed, eyeing the farang and surely wondering what I was doing. I politely spoke up and speaking Thai told him I wanted to walk to the University and asked which way I needed to go, he promptly replied and pointed me on my way. As I was walking away I heard in an excited Thai voice, 'the farang wanted to know where the hotel is, she asked all in Thai.' Sometimes seeing a Thai react to my speaking Thai rubs me the wrong way for whatever reason, but today it brought a smile to my face knowing that I spoke clearly and correctly. It is small moments like these where I have to remind myself that I have come a far way with learning a second language and even though I feel I don't speak Thai well there are times and situations that I now handle without any hesitation just speaking Thai. As I wondered back through the campus I had the same feeling as I did passing the vendors selling food, and the multiple tables and people all set up with the same school supplies only feet from each other waiting for students to be in need of more supplies for the day. i passed the different building in different styles and aged architecture  a beautiful pond with bunny rabbits munching on a patch of green grass surrounded by a small fence, with students in a large gazebo with a Buddha statue wai-ing and burning incense as they offered up prayers. As I made it back to the hotel and sat down for breakfast I tried to process my walk and commit to memory all that I say on my morning walk.

Fastforward through breakfast and getting ready to the start of the days sessions. Quick discussion of the days schedule followed by medical information about upcoming doctor and dentist appointments followed by safety and security discussions about what has happened over the past year, the figures, and any current safety and security concerns. All this quickly followed into a discussion from two Embassy employees about the political situation in Thailand. Then it was time for the special guest speaker to arrive. I did not know what to expect and am now amazed and honored to have been able to hear Dr. Surin speak to us today.

Dr. Surin Pitsuwan is the former ASEAN General Secretary. He is a political leader, a professor, a diplomat, and so much more. He is from Southern Thailand, the province directly south/southeast of where I live and when he was  teenager had a married Peace Corps Volunteers in his community. He began learning English from them and the following year was able to study a year at a High School in Minnesota. His life was pointed in a new direction because of the time spent learning and practicing English with the PCVs in his community. He spoke about many different experiences he has had while leading ASEAN, politics, and being a student and a teacher. Probably the things I found most interesting was ability to articulate and be self -reflective about Thai culture and the changes that will need to take place in order for Thailand to play a bigger role international and successful as a country. As the talk I know I was wishing we had recorded the speech and that I also would have it in Thai because I feel like every single person here in Thailand needs to hear what he has to say. He is a true inspiration and was a joy to listen to speak. There are times I realize just how lucky I am to be where I am right now.

The day continued on with some NGOs presenting briefly about what they do here in Thailand followed by time to meet with them and discuss further their work and how we might be able to partner with them in our communities. Next a discussion of best practices between the two volunteer programs. Followed by a lovely dinner all together ending with round two of readings by fellow volunteers about their time and experiences here in the Peace Corps.

Today is what I needed and so many volunteers needed at this point in our service, where myself (and many volunteers) are feeling disappointed, un-successful, and unsure of what we are actually doing here but being able to listen to our guest speakers today and my fellow PCVs I realize that there are so many layers to what is going on here in my life that it is hard to wrap my head around and really analyze it in this moment but I know that in the end it will be worth it and so much is going to come from this experience.

In our lives as PCVs so much can happen in a day. I find it is hard to wrap my head around it all, and then try to clearly and accurately explain my life to others back home. As bedtime approaches, I am in wonder at my day, all the various emotions I have experienced today, and discussions and people I have been able to meet.

Picture Overload - Camps and Trains

Went a little upload crazy, so get ready for picture and video overload.

On February 7/8, I helped facilitate an English Camp about ASEAN at a fellow volunteer's site. The camp was for 5th and 6th graders, with peer helpers and a Thai teacher. Pictures are mostly from a game we played to start one of the lessons which is similar to duck, duck, goose but is played using a cloth. The person that is "it" walks the circle and drops the cloth behind the person that will get up and be the "goose". The "goose" then tries to tag the person that is "it" with the cloth before they return to the "goose's" seat.

February 11/12 the schools I work with went on a field trip to a science park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The students learned about astronomy, eco-systems, and the King's projects. Meanwhile the teachers hung out, rode bicycles and checked in on the students from time to time. On the way back to site, we made many stops including at a boarder crossing for Burma, a beach in Chumphon, and a large rest stop for lunch and buying OTOP products and deserts that usually end up being gifts for friends and family after a trip.

On March 8, I went to a fellow volunteer's site in the province of Chumphon. The camp was a one day camp for kindergarten students. Needless to say the day was filled with cute and adorable children and lots of fun.

                                    

I have also found myself on a train a lot lately traveling back and forth to Bangkok and to fellow volunteer's sites. Here are some pictures from the train and a couple videos. 

If you didn't get your fill of pictures here you can always check out my 365 Project. I am trying to be better about really taking a picture a day. You can also check out fellow volunteer's 365 sites, Emily, Faith, and some volunteers that have already headed home but have great collection of photos of life here in Thailand; Morgan, Denise, and Joan.