bali && back

Once again, I have left too much time between the last blog post. Thus, making it simply impossible to remember all that has happened over the course of the past few weeks. But as always, I will do my best to recount those details that stand out most!

DEPDC

I don’t know how it’s possible to love these kids even more with each additional day that I go there, but somehow, I always leave that place with an even greater love for those sweet kids. Recently, we were finally able to teach in an actual classroom instead of in the gated area we usually teach where the kids feel free to run around instead of sitting in one spot, behind desks. But now, thanks to the help of another NGO, a classroom has been restored where we can now teach with desks for the kids to sit at on the floor. It’s amazing how much structure those pieces of wood have instilled in the classroom. The kids love the room. One thing that I’ve come to love about these kids, as well as the majority of Thai people, is there constant effort to keep their surroundings clean. Without ever being asked, these kids are constantly sweeping up the dirt and filth left behind to leave the floor clean. The students at DEPDC are always sweeping up the mess they have left behind; always in better condition than when they entered the room. They do this multiple times throughout the day in the classroom.

Along with the desks, we have also developed the infamous star chart. On the chart is each student’s name with a red/yellow card next to it. If they misbehave, we have the authority (so official, right?) to give them a yellow card, as a warning. If they continue to misbehave, we flip it to red. The students who go throughout the day without receiving a red card are able to put a sticker next to their name at the end of the day. Once they reach three stickers, they get a prize. The kids have come to love this. I must admit, though, it’s often hard giving out red cards to those sweet faces.

We have taught them so much already, and it’s amazing how well they retain all the information. Especially the songs we teach them. (Days of the week to the Adam’s Family tune is an all time fav, thanks to Coco) We have covered lessons on geography, transportation, directions, colors, days, months, occupations, family, the list goes on. I love reviewing what we’ve taught in the past at the beginning of each lesson.  They love showing what they remember and I think it’s a good confident boost for them to see how much progress they are making with each day.

even the girls loved playing american football w/ us:]

Recovery School

I love these girls. I love this school. I only wish I could speak more Thai.

These girls are so sweet. I admire each and everyone as they carry themselves so well, always with such a positive attitude; never without a smile. However, I wish more than anything that I could connect with them more. The language barrier that I’ve experienced since my arrival in May has, by far, been most difficult for me at this school because I so badly want to openly communicate with these girls. I want to talk with them and learn about their life, their concerns, their worries, their hopes, their future, but to be simply honest, I cannot. That has been really hard for me, and I try, instead, to focus on what I can do. I can teach them basic English. I can teach them how to make a bracelet, draw a picture, sing a song, play a game. Or what I’m especially good at, sing Justin Bieber with them.

Those things may seem so mundane, but I really have come to believe that these simple things are the things that can make a difference. I really feel like they have come to enjoy learning a little more. They enjoy working and gardening a little more. And doesn’t that enjoyment bring about a greater desire to continue working? Continue gaining an education?

We have been teaching our weekly English class and our weekly creativity class. We have also begun helping with anything else they may need a hand with: digging trenches, helping with construction, moving a huge pile of dirt one bucket at a time… My biggest goal with these girls and with this school is to be there, every day that I initially said that I would. Even if something comes up and the girls can’t come to class, I ask what we can do instead—what manual work do they need help with? Anything. And so, we really have been doing a little of everything around there. And I really think they love us just being there. The last week there was a holiday and the teacher told us that a good portion of the girls would be gone (some girls still do have a family that they are permitted to visit on special occasions) and, therefore, only some would be able to come to class. She told us that we didn’t need to teach. I replied by telling her that we would do whatever the girls wanted. I assumed the girls would want the day off and thought that we could help out with grounds work instead. To my surprise, when the teacher asked the girls if they wanted us to come the next morning for class, every single girl’s head nodded as they excitingly said, “yes!”.  And so we did.

their awesome lily pond serves as these girls' pool

every time they swim, without fail, they pick me one of those flowers

I love the schools I am working with and love their goals and aims to help these kids. DEPDC is such a great organization and is truly effective in their prevention against human trafficking. Monsaengdao school is amazing in their protection program, teaching these girls who have been victims of trafficking and abuse an alternative lifestyle as they gain an education and learn new life skills. They both help so much in improving these kids lives in all areas, and instilling a greater confidence in each one’s heart. I love this and I love that I am able to be a small part of all that they do.

But I still worry about all those who don’t have the opportunity to be a part of such organizations. The kids who don’t have an opportunity to go to school. Or the kids who haven’t been rescued and are still suffering from all forms of abuse and exploitation.

The other day, as I was doing some research, I randomly turned to look out the window and saw a truck packed with children. Literally, packed. I wondered what all these kids were doing as this was not a typical bus or car for school children or anything of the sort. My eyes fell to the words written on the truck, ‘Destiny Rescue.’ I immediately pulled up the website to learn about this organization. Only to find out that this organization goes into areas and brothels to rescue children being trafficked. My heart stopped and I just stared into the faces of these innocent children. I silently prayed for their safety and thanked God, from the bottom of my heart, that these kids were on the way to a better life.
Two minutes didn’t pass before I began composing an email to this organization, inquiring more, and thanking them for their effort in helping children like this.

And now, I selfishly end with my recent adventures. It’s scary to think that I am coming to my last weeks, my last days, here. I don’t want it to end. I’m not ready to leave. Had I been following my initial plans, I would be gone by now, for good. Traveling to other countries. But I wanted to prolong my stay here in Chiang Rai as long as possible and, instead, decided to take just a few days off (along with the days off I received from another Buddhist holiday) to spend a week in Bali, Indonesia. It was amazing. I loved it. And I’m completely satisfied with my decision to come back to Chiang Rai instead of traveling elsewhere. Because there was nothing better than coming back to this town and to my rock hard mat on the ground. And there will be nothing better than seeing my kid’s faces at DEPDC and Monsaengdao when I go to teach some of my last classes.

But for now, a little recap…

before leaving for bali, i was able to spend a few priceless days in phuket with these two wonderful people.

sonny & sharmila

i had the best time with them. they were far too kind to me. they let me stay w/ them at their nice hotel (i practically went into shock after showering in a bathroom that is separated from the toilet, with hot water-can you believe it?) and took me along on all their fun excursions they had planned on the island. we went to phi phi island, snorkeled, saw a monkey show, kissed an elephant, had italian food, played at the beach, and went to a cashew factory to fill up on endless samples of every different flavored cashew and dried fruit. sharmila & i indulged in the fresh fruit as we were never capable of passing up a fresh fruit stand anywhere we went.

words cannot express how much i love these two && how thankful i was to be able to meet them here in thailand. they have been so kind and loving to me throughout the years and also supported me so much when i told them i was planning on volunteering here this summer. it was one of my favorite weekends here, by far. can't wait to see them again when i get home.

ohh && did i mention harry potter?

yes, this is me. seeing harry potter. alone. in phuket. vip theater. after taking a taxi across town with some strange man requesting to be my 'thailand daddy'? long story...
all you need to know is that it was amazing. && to all you in america, keep in mind i saw it one whole day before you:]

and then comes bali...

padang padang. complete surfer town.

balangan bay

this was our hostel, directly on the beach. our floors where nothing but wood boards and our walls were weaved leaves. so sketch, but so fun.

and then to ubud!

monkey forest

our favorite hostel of all!

the rice fields built upon the hill of the mountains were indescribable

breakfast by batur volcano

me & my holland friends

biking ubud!

did you know poinsettias grow in bali, year round? it's like christmas all year long!

got rice?

lembongan island

which means diving, of course

manta point--where i saw giant manta rays :]

and then to sanur

and then we made our way back home to chiang rai on endless taxis, flights, and buses.

i had subway twice at the phuket airport while waiting for our next flight. it was a necessary fix.

krystal & i were unsure of if our bus would make it back to chiang rai as it stalled and stopped going up the hill.

once again. unable to pass up that fresh cold fruit.

happy to be back home in chiang rai!