Thailand #18

Refugee Camp-
Found out why the Safe Haven website called this a refugee camp: several times in the past when large numbers of refugee were crossing the Moie River, many ended up here until they could get into the UN camp or return to Burma. Sometimes as many as 100 would be camped somewhere on this site. Tasanne wisely does not share info on the children but likely many of them are also refugees.

The Moie River

Noah’s Ark:
I am convinced that if any of these children had been aboard Noah’s Ark--we would not have any animals on this earth. As I was reading the story to several of the small ones, they constantly pointed to the animals and then pretended to be eating saying MMMMMmmmm!

Self-Sufficient
Last night a truck pulled in and unloaded bamboo that will be used to build a chicken farm. Tasanne plans to make this place more self-sufficient. That made us think about the fact that in a way, we are becoming less self-sufficient. A hundred years ago in USA, most people lived like they do here. Building their own homes, growing their own food, making clothing , candles & furniture, no machines and little contact with others. No doubt most kids here could do that right now. We in America on the other hand, have grown to rely on machines & others for most everything. Is that progress?? It sure is more comfortable …but does often mean double incomes & more stress.

Teacher’s Warning:
A local teacher stopped by today to let Tasanne know that some older children in the school had made a “big mistake” and had been kicked out and now will probably never be able to finish. None of our children were involved but he wanted her to know so she could warn the children.

Bathroom Classroom:
As I was scrubbing my feet tonight (and believe me they needed it), several boys came in dressed in their undies & started to bath--which here means throw cold water on yourself, suds up & then pour more cold water over you. I told them I was washing my feet--which they, as usual, repeated as a way to practice their English --so I continued to talk about how I washed my feet--they repeated and asked me to spell--so I encouraged them to give me letters as I sounded out FEET, SOAP, BRUSH, WATER, PAIL--all the while they bathed. Once a teacher--always a teacher--where ever you are!!!

A Few Things We’ve Been Up To:
-Recent art projects: spiral snakes, painting with cotton balls, feathered birds, drawings complete with sprinkles (lots), clocks with moveable hands, puppets….

-Made Let A Poe wash his shirts as he doesn’t need another reason for others to tease him. He seemed pleased to get the soap I gave him & the supervision while scrubbing his shirts.
-Rog purchased the DVD of Cats & Dogs for the kids…fun night!
-Rog also purchased a hammock that he hung in our room…closest thing to a lazy boy chair around here!
-Chom made us some delicious spaghetti. The sweet sauce had tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic & chicken.
-Had to clean a head wound as his brother knocked him down & he hit a rock. Bloody proof these kids aren’t perfect.
-Elsi will be pleased to know that Chom played the piano keyboard at church tonight!!!



Big Boss
Christmas (short little 3 yrs old) saw another much older kid take a toy away from his 1 yr old buddy Cerio. He shook his little fist & shouted “You give it back NOW or I will beat you up!!”(In Karen language but translated by Chom) Cerio got his toy back.


DHS Motto
Many of my HS classmates sent me birthday emails most pointing out that 60 is not really that old--as they too would soon be 60 & felt much younger. That made me think of our class motto: If tomorrow be sad or not come at all, at least we’ve had today. DHS Class of ‘69 was wise beyond their years.

Thailand #17

Mae Sot Observations:
Most stores were also homes so many young children were running around. No child care cost here. Cooking & eating on the job is common & when I asked about a bathroom, I was proudly escorted into the bathroom in their home. There were many repair shops working on old TV sets, washing machines, refrigerators, computers, motorbikes, etc….and I stress, OLD. And without a doubt, the strangest sight was a shiny, new government building decorated with Chinese lanterns & Easter bunnies wearing skull caps in the front windows and a golden Buddha shrine just inside the gate. Go figure. It reminded me of a saying I recently read: Don’t miss the ordinary while looking for the extraordinary.


Leaving Mae Sot

After almost two days of city life, we actually were ready to get back to our “home,” Strange how quickly this place that looked so uninhabitable when we first arrived (which ironically happened to be on the day Thai celebrates the Festival of the Children) has become so comfortable. Where else could I get escorts to & from the bathroom? Just before we left Mae Sot, we got to meet the youngest orphan--4 months old--Joseph. He stays in Mae Sot cared for by a jolly, chubby woman who reminded me of Aunt Jemima--only she chewed tobacco. Johnny is staying there too. He had a very long face as we were leaving and Tasanne gave him a long, loving hug & handed him 50 bahts ($1.75)…that cheered him up. We made several stops at the open market which overflowed the back of the truck: huge bags of cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, green beans, squash, onions, whole fish & dozens of eggs. I came home with my own little stash of diet Coke & chocolate. J

A Week's Worth of Groceries

Thai-Burma Border
I found some info on the Thai-Burma border that was especially interesting--due to the fact that we are living on that border! The following was written by a group of Australian students training to be community workers: Until 1962, when the military staged a coup in Burma, life along the borders had been smooth and secure. People could move freely around their communities. They could earn their living in many different ways, gathering wild fruits & veggies in the forest, fish the river and hunt in the jungle. There is a Karen poem that has existed by oral tradition for many hundreds of years: At the border we grow a mango; we share our land, our home is one. Since 1962, Burma, previously one of the richest countries in SE Asia, has become one of the poorest. The military-controlled Burmese gov’t commits gross systematic human rights abuses daily, particularly against the many ethnic groups. They flee by crossing into Thailand to find safety but merely find themselves in another difficult situation. Illegal and with limited rights. Thailand has had to host millions of refugees from Burma, Laos & Cambodia over the years.”

And indeed, the refugees face a difficult and strange life. Visions of the refugee camp we saw bombarded me as I read through the Thai-Burma border report. Tasanne tells us about many of the children’s parents killed running away or captured & forced to walk in front of the army so they step on the mines first. Right now she is trying to find a way to help about 20 children still in Burma whose parents have been captured & they have been left to fend for themselves. I am confident that she will find a way as she is made of steal will & common sense and has a heart bigger than the mountains that divide Thai & Burma.

Another Compliment:
Feel proud that you are an American. Again I was told by a Thai that Americans have kind hearts and are generous. She thought that’s why we look so young. Good to hear…especially right before my 60th birthday.

Another View of Americans:
(Not sure if I shared this previously but wanted to make sure I got it in my writing.)
While helping a child with her homework, I was going though her English book and came across a page that made me bust out laughing. It showed children from many countries in their native clothing and with brief info under each. Example: Japanese girl: neat, study lots, enjoys drawing / Indian girl: long braided hair, plays board games / American boy (wearing his shirt unbuttoned & his cap on sideways & pants hanging low) chubby, likes video games. No joke--it was in their English text book!!