THE HONEYMOONERS

Before we write about our experiences thus far after just finishing our first week volunteering, we wanted to report that our most recent time in Bangkok was 'sanook maak' (a lot of fun). We stayed at a really cool, themed-room hotel called Reflections (you can check out their website by googling Reflections Hotel, thanks Uncle Joel). We finally toured the Grand Palace and Wat Po, which has the biggest recling Buddha you'll ever see. By the way, Buddhas inThailand Temples are sometimes specific to the day you were born. For example, Amanda was born on a Tuesday and the Tuesday Buddha is fittingly Reclining Buddha. My Budda is Standing Buddha as I was born on a Wednesday. So, if you take the time to find out what day you were born, maybe we'll get you a little present. Anyway, we also got custom-made clothes. I got 3 suits, 8 shirts, 4 ties and Amanda got 1 suit, 2 shirts, an extra pant and 2 scarves. No need to disclose what we paid, but i will say it was barely over 4 digits. But the best part of our time in Bangkok was meeting and hanging out with Lily and Wayland. Lily is a former exchange student of Amanda's Dad's school and Wayland is her friend who is originally from New Orleans, but now lives and teaches in Samphran, an area just West of Bangkok. We had dinner with them one night on Ko San Road and then visited their school the next day, which is probably one of the nicest schools in all of Thailand. We saw an elephant and crocodile show in the afternoon and also got a massage curtesy of Lily and Wayland. They, and everyone we met with them, were all so generous, kind and thoughtful, and we look forward to staying in touch with them.

Well, onto to the current. We flew into Udon Thani and took a 45 minute van ride to Nong Khai, where we are now, volunteering at Ban Prao School, which is a Primary school (pre-K thru 6) in a rural village with about 140 students. We were greeted by Sabine, who runs the program along with Pei Lan, and Pookey, our Thai teacher (we have informal Thai lessons everyday at 5) and shown to our room. It's probably a lot like your rooms - no air conditioning, a hard mattress made out of straw, an electric fan. And a bathroom, only downstairs, with no sink or hot water, with a portable shower head used both to shower and clean the floor. You see, the toilet does not automatically flush. In fact, when you go #2, your toilet paper DOES NOT go in the toilet. It goes in the trash can next to you and must be emptied by us about once a day. And for #1 or #2, the flushing mechanism consists on filling a small tupperware bowl with water and splashing the excrements down. And believe it or not, we have it good. We COULD HAVE a squatter toilet (just a hole in the ground), a roomate and a mosquito net wrapped around our bed for when we sleep.

But when we got to the school Monday morning, none of that mattered. We watched the kids, in uniform, raise the flag and sing the King's anthlem (He's celebrating his 60th year on the throne, longest standing monarch in the world, King at 19 years old). We met Kam Dee, the principal, and learned that we'd be teaching mostly 4th, 5th and 6th grade. However, we've obviously also read books and sang songs to 1st thru 3rd and played with the pre-K kids as well. The school goes beyond relaxed - it is completely outdoors with the classrooms all lined up on a one floor wooden structure on stilts. Students come and go as they please as do the teachers. Often times, there won't be a teacher in the classroom. We don't have a curriculum other than whatever we want to teach that day, preferably involving English. And the kids are awesome. They are so respectful, not out of fear, just true respect of us, their teachers and themselves. Although they are kids and sometimes act like it, the girls, and even the boys, are always hugging each other, encouraging each other and showing one another affection. We just finished up our first week and feel so close to all the kids and staff, and we're pretty sure they feel the same. Amanda has been amazing in planning the lessons - family, occupations, how do you feel, Simon Says, book readings with puppet shows, etc. As cliche as it sounds, you really have to see it for yourself, but we'll get pictures up as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading.