Arriving in Khao Lak

Its been a very eventful week!
We arrived in Khao Lak after a 13 hour overnight bus ride from Bangkok. We barely had any sleep so we were dropped off looking like zombies ready to collapse with all our luggage. We managed to stumble upon an incredible hotel right by the beach. Its low season here and everything is closed and the streets are empty. We made a deal with the front desk for a volunteer discount of 600 baht a night which is about 20 dollars.. but split amongst Me Elyse and Nikki it's nothing. So for three weeks we are at a beautiful 4-5 star resort soaking up the sun and the sandy beach for a grand total of $130. They have an amazing pool that's perfect after our tiring days at the schools and the room is fantastic. Its big enough that we can all spread our stuff and has a safe, big closet space, HOT water and air conditioning!! (haven't had that in over a month), king sized bed, a balcony, 4 English tv channels (woo!) and housekeeping everyday. We got a great deal.
On Monday we had an orientation at the Volunteer Centre we are working at. They drove us around to places they have been working on, such as a whole set of houses that are Tsunami proof and affordable for the locals to buy. Its incredible how much reconstruction has been done here. There are still little hints from the past.. broken trees, washed up coral beaches and a few boats that were washed up that are now a couple kilometres from the ocean. They even showed us a Resort that had opened up 5 days before the Tsunami hit, and every worker, and every customer perished.
Tuesday, we started our Volunteer work. It was a little intimidating coming into a school not sure what to expect or even what you are going to be teaching them-- as our coordinator tells us about 5 minutes before we have to teach--the first class was so loud. I had to scream in order to be heard. It was definitely discouraging, especially it being your first class of the day and week. We arrived at the orphanage later on that day, with a class of about 10 children and they brightened my day. They were all so sweet and affectionate. We were greeted with hugs and hand shakes and left with kisses. They were all so beautiful and so interested in learning anything. It lifted my low spirit.
The children all week have been great! i have learned a lot and had a lot of laughs with them. They are so easy going and open and they love when you teach them handshakes! I taught them a few that other kids in Chiang Mai had taught me and they loved them!
Yesterday, I was feeling really homesick. I had had a really bad dream even.. I think it being so close to me coming home now that I'm feeling a little anxious. But then last night, it was like a sign. I couldn't believe how beautiful the sunset was. Nikki Elyse and i just sat watching for half an hour as the sun fell in the sky lighting up the clouds in every orange and yellow color you could think of. It was absolutely amazing. I felt like i had seen a part of heaven. It made me realize that i am not quite done here.. i still have three weeks and i have to live it to the fullest.

Singburi Orphanage

What a week..
I think this week has changed my outlook on a lot of things.
Arriving at the orphanage was very overwhelming. We hopped out of the truck after a 30 minute back road and bumby ride and infront of us was the childrens' "front yard". I barely recocgnized it as a school and orphanage at first glance. The front yard was a mud hole. We had to walk to far edges of the yard to be able to get to the buildings where the kids play. Looking into the classrooms as I trip over a thick bit of mud that begins to swallow my shoe, I watch as kids begin to stack desks and chairs on top of eachother, things are tossed in the air, kids run in and out of classrooms chasing eachother and two boys see who can stand upside down on their heads the longest. My Jaw litterally dropped. I thought, "This is exactly what classrooms would look like with no teachers." --and thats because there isn't, in most of them. Their are nine teachers responsible for a total of 280 children under the age of 16.
John, our coordinator, showed us around the orphanage and what projects he was currently needing help with. John is a waundering spirit as we would like to say that originally lived in England but was robbed in Bangkok with a total of almost 600 pounds (1200 dollars). He fell upon this job shortly after. We could tell right away the passion he had for developing a better environment for the kids in the orphanage.
He showed us the rooms where the children slept everynight, which broke our hearts. The rooms are about the size of my bedroom back in Canada and were expected to fit at least thirty kids. There were no windows, mosquito nets (that protect against getting Malaria), matresses or pillows to lay on. They were cement floors. The orphanage is run by a group of monks and we heard them chanting everyday as we worked. John had told us that the previous volunteers had just finished building a medical clinic and they needed roofing. The orphanage is always in need of funding and they noticed that they could save some money because they saw a lot of extra roofing behind the temple. he asked the monks if they could use the roofing and they told him that he could -- 20 baht per shingle and he must make a 1500 baht donation to the temple on top of that. 1500 baht is about 45 dollars. It seems a little weird if the monks own the orphanage?
Anyways, although we were only able to help out for a week, we managed to help with the foundation for a kitchen. --Yep, the orphanage doesnt even have a kitchen. We mixed the cement and layed it ourselves which was extremely tough work. We painted a whole building of windows and frames and the walls of the big communal room. I found out on the friday i was leaving that John was looking for an artist to paint murals! I was a little broken after hearing that. But i still felt i helped out where i was needed and I tried my very best!
On our last day, Elyse and I decided to use a little bit of the money that we raised (thanks to all you guys supporting me by the way) to buy mosquito nets and matresses. We were able to get 35 mosquito nets that are able to cover at least 150 children and ten matresses with blankets and matching pillows for 200 dollars. It was the most incredible feeling buying all of that at the shop. I couldnt stop smiling and it shocked me that only 200 dollars (which is barely half a weeks wage at home) could do so much. Giving it out to the children the next day was undescribable. I felt I was just glowing with happiness. I knew that we were actually changing children's lives, and making them just a little bit better. Little kids lined up and I pulled each mosquito net for them to carry off to their bedroom. They had huge grins on their faces and they ran off with their new presents. I will never forget that moment in my life.

Ko Samet

Wow.. I do not even know how to start to explain this last week.
Ko Samet was a little frustrating to say the least.
We had a very long day traveling to Ko Samet on Monday. It nears the east side of Thailand.
Unfortunately the group i booked through is very very unorganized. To anyone who is thinking of booking a trip with Real gap by the way--RETHINK RIGHT NOW. Anyways, we had a bus ride from a hotel a little outside Singburi at 8 30 in the morning. Now, normally, it would take about four hours to get to the ferry that takes us over to the Island of Ko Samet. Instead, we wait on the bus to fill up for gas and for people to switch their travellers cheques (which are completely pointless haha) which put us back about an hour. We waited at the ferry for about another hour and then yet another hour on the other side once reaching the Island. It seemed that because we were traveling with a massive group of about fourty people it took twice as long as it should have to get to our "resort". We were so relieved to just arrive to beds and an ocean awaiting us. Real Gap had informed us before leaving Thailand that we would be staying in "Resorts". Well. what they took us to was just about a 1 star hotel. I wouldn't even call it a hotel. Maybe more of a hostel? One clunky old fan and a sewage smelling room. Anyways, perhaps i am so negative because of what follows next.
We have to eat at this restaurant called "Joes" because all our food is included with the overall package. The food wasn't bad! we were so happy to have fruit shakes of every kinds possible! But our excitement didn't last long. The next three days consisted of pure sickness. I am not just talking a few of us.. in the group of 40 that came there were about 10 that were lucky enough NOT to get sick.. me included. I was feeling a little sick one day with the runs and stomach pains but nothing like the others had to experience. Some couldn't walk and one girl actually lost her eye sight for a few hours. Most of them were taken to the clinic for injections and a few had to be taken to the hospital in Bangkok.
I think that this past week has kind of taken us of track in a negative way. We are feeling discouraged and frustrated. Nikki, Elyse and I are just looking forward to being on our own. We are looking into traveling to Malaysia for about five days and then off to Khao Lak to work with the Tsunami Volunteer Centre.
The Beach was beautiful and we got one full day of wonderful sun. Nikki got pretty burnt and Elyse is just as tanned as our Thai friend Palm haha. Unfortunately i didn't get to go in the water much because my mosquito bites got infected and they have been pussy. Ive been taking antibiotics.
I apologize for my negativity and maybe after this next week with volunteering at the Orphanage we will feel rejuvenated and ready to experience some more!

Week Three - Temple Stay.

So week three! This week we learn about The Buddhist Culture.
It been so interesting. Only midway through and i feel i have learned so much. There is so much to learn in the Buddhist religion.
I just got back from staying in a temple an hour north of Singburi. We slept on Cold cement which at first we thought would be a relief as it would keep us cool at night. But, we quickly learned how uncomfortable it was. They had blankets, a hard pillow and a thin mat for us to lay on. We were a little worried when we got there that we wouldn't be able to eat supper. Monks do not eat after noon so luckily we were able to get a ride into the town that had a Dairy Queen and KFC (the Asians love love LOVE their KFC). We crammed 18 people into a five seater truck. there was about9 of us in the cap (including the driver) and then another 9 in the back .. which stenched like urine. It was worth it ... we didn't want to go to bed with empty stomachs. I am disappointed to say that i had a moolatte at Dairy Queen and a chicken burger at KFC. I never felt quite so fat in my life. Especially knowing that there were monks back home that couldn't eat!
So we arrived back just in time for evening chanting and meditation. It was such a cool experience. We had to wear all white with clothes covering our shoulders and past our knees. The color white represents a few things in the Buddhist culture. It is a color of purity or a yearning for purity where a person is "half human and half monk". It also represents the nuns in a temple who take care of the monks. The Buddhists believe a woman is sensitive and are easily affected by things around them --just like the color white which gets dirty quite quickly. One of the monks taught us to meditate laying down, sitting, standing up and walking. Meditation is a way of purifying the mind. For some it is the ultimate goal of "enlightenment" which very few are able to attain. This is the deepest mind control in meditation and causes a complete separation from the world making you feel a pure happiness and contentment. You are able to reject any impurities in your mind and can have a feeling of utter peace and tranquility.
Nikki had found a kitten in the temple who had hopped in her lap for the entire evening chant and meditation lesson. It also followed us back to the room where it stayed the whole night on our laps. It had a ghost face on its head so we called it Ghost.
Speaking of Ghosts... The temple is a lot different at night. Me and Elyse went to check out some of the surrounding buildings and came to find a crematorium. It looked pretty old but we want to explore a little. Elyse looked inside the oven and found ashes at the bottom.. i wouldn't dare look! We walked to the back of the building where we notices one of the temple's blind dogs was fallowing us. We continued to walk an began to talk about how we were feeling this heaviness.. the dog began to cry and yelp. It was just too creepy for us so we ran back to our room. There is always something creepy about an animals intuition. I trust their senses better than my own.
One of the older monks had told Jolein, our room mate, of stories where he thinks he had encounters with ghosts. Scary!! I am glad we stayed only one night!
I think we all had an average of three hours sleep, except for Palm -- our Thai coordinator, who snored most of the night. The floor was just too hard and our backs ached in the morning. We woke up at 5:30 to collect food with the monks.
This is their source for food as monks are not aloud to prepare or buy any food themselves. The villages around them fully support them.
They had everything from noodles to rice cakes... all sorts of fruit and spicy curries. It is so cool to see a country that supports each other so well. They may not have a lot, but no one is left behind. They are so family oriented and have such great respect for everyone and everything. The monks even found a turtle in the well this morning and let us throw into the lake and make a wish. A turtle is seen as very Chock Dii (Good Luck).
I think i need a shower now! I was so eager to spill what was fresh in my mind that i came right from the temple to here! I don't think people want to smell or look at me at this point haha.

Teaching English to Thai Police

So this week has pretty much flown by.
We have been Teaching Thai Policeman this week. Elyse, Nikki and I were so nervouse that first day. We were to teach right at the police station.
We originally had planned to teach Kids English but there wasn't any kids as its their summer holidays for another few weeks. So we agreed that Police would be the next option. It was definitly going to be a completely different experience and a challenge for all three of us.
Its not like you can think of a few games to play and a small lesson like you would with kids, with adults you have to come at a totally different approach. We were so scared that we wouldnt be able to teach them and they would all give us blank stares.
When we walked into the station that first day, my hands were shaking, and I was sweating even in an airconditioned room. They had even made an opening ceremony for us with a podium and a speach from a few of the very important directors and the chief of the Station in Singburi. In one of the speaches, they introduced us as educated English teachers that have been working in the Singburi schools. None of us had tought in the schools in Singburi, None of us had ever even tought english at all!
But they made us feel very welcome. We ended up splitting the class into two different groups which gave the police a chance to feel a lot less attimidated to speak english openly. Some were very hesitant to speak at first, but Elyse, Nikki and I were surprised how easily we ourselves became relaxed as they did as well. That first day, we went over basic conversation and tested to see how much english they cops knew. We were taken to lunch with the cheif (which is a huge honour in Thai culture) and he even treated us to a little icecream!
As the days progressed, we felt more and more comfortable with them. They were no longer scary thai cops, but kind faces and fun laughter.
Our hardest challenge was when we would plan what we would teach for that day and come to class and realize that we had no students the same from the previouse lesson the day before. This made it difficult with the levels of understanding. We had a few that had come to every class and they followed the lessons easily as we always seemed to have to review and review so that we could catch everyone up. By the last day, the police officers had brought their wives and children to learn english as well. So we decided to split up the group.. kids from adults. It was great fun but there wasnt a moment that we weren't on our toes.
Speaking of toes... we even managed to teach the police how to sing "Head Shoulders, knees and toes knees and toes" with the actions. They went a long with it and actually enjoyed it! haha It was such a funny thing to see. Its the last thing you would expect them to be doing as grown men in police uniform.
The Director, Chat, took us out as a thank you at the end of the week. He had asked us what kind of music we enjoyed a few days earlier and we told him Rock music without thinking much of it. We drove an hour from Singburi that night to arrive at this beautiful restaurant that played any rock song requested from a little band outside in a garden. He had gone so out of his way to please us. We had a wonderful dinner and the waitresses topped our beer glasses every minute, even if it wasnt even close to being done. Hanging out with the Thai Police made us all feel like we were living the lives of Kings and Queens. Maybe Nikki had felt it more than the rest of us... hahaha. She fully took advantage of the free beer!
Chat went up to the band playing and sang to songs in Thai and dedicated them to us! He spoke so proudly and clearly, "Dis is Fo Miss Alees, Miss Cowie, Miss Nikki, Miss Helan and Mista Adam". We almost felt that it was just too much for us. They were so greatful for only a short week of teaching.
They took us to a connected rock club from the restaurant afterwards and there was a line up outside with a guard at the door checking ID. We worried as the age limit in Thailand for drinking is apparently 20 (even though barely anyone checks anyways). We were escorted passed the line and the gaurd checking ID and was walked right in upstairs to get a great view of the club and the Thai band playing cover bands.
They went so out of their way to make us feel welcomed and thanked. They were so greatful for our volunteer work. I think we all felt a little undeserving of this attention. But that is definitly one thing i have found so different here in Thailand. When they are thankful, or want to show their appreciation, they go so out of their way and sacrifice so much to make you feel happy. They are such generouse and full hearted people. They gave us a lovely picture with a frame of us with the chief and director, Chat. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking of all their kindness this week.

First Week with Volunteer Organization

This first week was such a different experience with people back from home.
As much as Nikki and Elyse distract me, and make me even more happy and less alone,
we end up talking about home a lot. It makes me think about everything i have left... my family and friends..wes... my securities... in some ways its a good thing that I am able to talk about home. In other ways its just making me more homesick!
The first week has been great though.
We were taken to Singburi in airconditioned vans. We met a nineteen year old girl named Famke who was from the Netherlands. She was working in Australia all ready for six months and then doing thailand for another couple months. We met a German guy named Dominic who was going to do a temple stay with the monks for 2 months! We have met all sorts of people in our first week. Its nice to have a good group to share the experiences.
Our Accomodation that will become our home for the next four weeks, is very relaxing. We have really enjoyed being away from the big city and in a small village next to little huts and howling dogs... well maybe not enjoying the howling dogs... nikki hates it. We are surrounded with gardens. Our room is small with three bunk beds. Its supposed to fit six people but having four is plenty! Especially us girls who love to spread everything everywhere. We have a leaky sink that smells a little like sewage and geckos crawling all over our walls. We actually have one that has never left us. We called him Joe the gecko. we can tell its him because he has no tail!
The days have been full of events. We were taken into town to shop in the markets and to the pool to cool off in this absolutely boiling weather.
We have learned So much thai in our lessons. Elyse was so proud of her self when she managed to have a pretty full conversation with our cook at the Twin house. We are finding it very useful when bardering in the Tuesday market in the local village.
I must head out for dinner.. we have dinner at 5:00? its a little hard to adjust to ... we are never really hungry at 5:00!

Meeting Nikki and Elyse in Bangkok!

I never would have thought it would have been such a relief coming back to Bangkok.
I wasnt big on the big city of Bangkok... but it has begun to be a second home. I know it. the people just seem easier to talk to.. there isnt always a language barrier.
This time coming into Bangkok was even more exiting. My friends from home were going to come for the remaining two months. Nicole and Elyse came in at about 2 in the morning. Nikki was exhausted. They were bickering with eachother. I dont blame them! They came so prepared. They had even brought me a little something from home from my parents, marni and wes.. I teared up. It was so weird having all these things suddenly reminding me of home. Mom and dad (thankyou by the way ;).. ) baught me candy that i cant get in Thailand... fun dip which i am addicted to haha and a little note. Wes gave me his journal which made me feel so much closer to home. All three of us stayed up talking until we passed out. We woke up only a few hours later and explored Bangkok. I was so surprised they didnt sleep all day! We walked through the Grande palace (my second time) and then fed pigeons (that turned out to be a scam.. i should have known better). They crashed at about 1 and fell asleep all afternoon until about 7. Nikki was feeling really homesick but Elyse seemed pretty excited.
We went onto Khao San Road and had some famous Pad Thai for supper. Afterwards, we got our hair wrapped and shopped alittle.