Hi from Rog again--
New Moon Festival
We woke to loud music about 4 am on the second day of the second month ( chinese calendar). The villagers had been up late and dogs had been barking much of the night along with roosters crowing so it felt like a long night with many interruptions. After breakfast of tea and oatmeal Steve and Rog worked on screening the end of the latrine pit. Before we got much done we were invited to come and eat with the men at Xiang's house. We were offered some of the choice parts of the meal( chicken head, chicken foot) but they were not offended when we passed on those. Another dish had chicken intestines mixed with blood which was not my favorite. The deep fried bread and pumpkin were good and easy to grab with my chopsticks. Before eating the old man ( La Boa) took several bowls of food and placed them on the mantle as an offering to the ancestors then squatted and sang as he slowly spooned rice from another bowl onto a very short stool. I think he was asking the ancestors to help bring rain for the crop they hope to plant soon. After much feasting and toasting with rice wine (tasted a lot like firewater to me), Steve and Roger went back to our job but only to be pulled away to another house and another meal with almost all the same village men. Again much toasting and some cigarettes (its ok to just light it and let it burn) and we went back to finish our job.
Bull Fight
Good thing it was a small job because we were next invited to go to the bullfight which was in the next village. We walked part way then a motorcycle from the village picked me up and I rode the rest of the way sandwiched between two of the village men. There was a country fair atmosphere with food booths and large crowds of people gathered about the fenced in area. Many bulls were tied about the grounds and a couple were led into the ring where groups of men talked and probably decided which one would win the fight. Then the bulls were led close to each other and their lead ropes were removed. After a brief hesitation they lowered their heads and locked horns close to the ground. Pushing and straining with all they had they tried to force the other one back until one gave up and turning away quickly made an escape. No damage...just a fun way to spend the day for people who usually spend day after day tending their mountain terraces. After Rog left Jane stayed for a while. Being the only white person around, she got lots of stares. One lady came up to her and jabbered away as though they were best friends. After quite a long wait to see another bull fight, Jane got up close to the fence to get pictures. She got one taken when suddenly she was hanked back and pulled away--it was her friend "saving her"--so much for getting pictures!! Sure made her friend feel proud.
Motorcycle Accident
Leaving the bullfight we once again headed to Rao Ma Lu. On the way we came upon a motorcycle lying on its side and in the middle of the road was an unconscious man lying face down. We stayed with him until he came around and helped him off the road. When an ambulance was on its way we left him to the local population. The man had a large gash above on his forehead which looked very bad but he probably will be fine after some stitches. We were annoyed that a man and his wife were close by the scene of the accident but had been afraid to get involved so stayed away until we arrived. When asked for water and a blanket they refused to help. Our interpreter said that they were very selfish people. They had let him lay in the middle of the road for about three minutes before we got there. Later I found out once the man was conscious they realized that they actually knew the man.
Stereotype
The people we have met and seen do not fit the stereotype that I somehow have visualized of the chinese people. Why would that surprise me? I probably got it from watching cartoons and comic strips and an occasional picture in the paper or TV. Instead we see chinese of many shapes and shades with features that are as varied as the people we see in America. Part of the joy of traveling is finding out not how we are different but how much we are alike. The people do not seem to be under scrutiny and seem also to be able to conduct business as they choose. That is another surprise as I expected much more control over their every lives.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Hi all (from Rog),
I am back in Qiu Bei at the hotel. All is well here & hope there too.
Leaving Jui Dao Ma Lu
We had too many people to make it to town with just one trip so Yuan brought Steve, Ong, Sophie, and me then went back to get the rest of our crew. Our 1 !/2 hour trip to town was slowed by many animals in the road and a market in a town that we came through. The people we slowly drove past in the market town just stared at me like I was an alien (well, I guess that is what I am here!)
Village Farewell Festival
Last night we ate dinner in the village where we have been tenting. The men sat around one small table on short stools and we were served with bowl after bowl of food that everyone just helped themselves to using their chopsticks. There were plain dishes (potatoes, yams, tofu, and fried bread) that were intended for dipping in a special hot sauce. Also spicy fish (carp?) complete with heads, greens, pork, chicken feet (& we know what they'd been walking through), roots, and rice. There was also a dish of chicken livers mixed with chicken blood (not my favorite). Jenny brought smoked salmon & we'd bought fresh tangerines at the market to pass out. Bet you know what Jane ate. This was all preceded with cigarettes being passed all around (to help chase away the flies?) and more bowls filled with beer for each person. After many toasts we were told that the next one was "bottoms up" and the bowls were refilled. Some of the men played a drinking game a bit like rock, paper scissors where the loser had to take a drink. They wanted us to play, too, but after one short round we were ready to call it quits for the night even though it wasn't late.
Final Village Meeting
We met with the villagers again this morning and they seemed to be very happy with the help we have given them. We built solar lights, built a cover over the latrine, drilled for water, played with and read to the kids, and Jenny taught the women to sew and some of them got sewing machines. Xiang, the young man that I trained to put solar lights together, was very appreciative. He shook my hand and even hugged me as we said goodbye. He put five solar lights together while we were there and yesterday we took three of the lights to a village where there is no electricity.
Le Hong Ka
That village (with no electricity) was in a beautiful valley with a good supply of water (coming from a seep in the side of the mountain). The people and children were very clean and their crops looked good even though they have had three years of drought. The leader of the village started raising goats four years ago. They now have about 100 goats that look very healthy. The men took us to visit a cave near their village. We were interested to see what possibilities there might be for water inside the mountain. It was steep and dark with stalactites and stagmites, curtains, and combs formed by the action of water in the limestone cave. I didn't see any life in the cave, but Steve saw a couple of wood rats about a foot long! Jane assessed the children's education level (which was higher than any other children she'd assessed) and left word cards & books so the oldest girl can teach the younger ones. Jan also talked to the ladies about hygiene and such...and they were very responsive to wearing the washable menstral pads. Though this has been the nicest village we'd visited, they had lost 7 of their youth recently to city life. As we left, many of the people followed us up a steep trail to the the road where we had parked the SUV and we passed out a few treats as we said good bye. Someone from the village had put a large bag of hard boiled eggs (still warm!) in the car for us to enjoy on our trip back. It was very thoughtful and we enjoyed them as we bounced along the rough mountain road overlooking beautiful valleys and terraces. If our driver, Yuan hadn't proven himself to be very careful we might have been scared as the road (if you can call it that) was narrow with no guard rails and the drop was often 50- 100 ft. -- sometimes several hundred feet.
I am back in Qiu Bei at the hotel. All is well here & hope there too.
Leaving Jui Dao Ma Lu
We had too many people to make it to town with just one trip so Yuan brought Steve, Ong, Sophie, and me then went back to get the rest of our crew. Our 1 !/2 hour trip to town was slowed by many animals in the road and a market in a town that we came through. The people we slowly drove past in the market town just stared at me like I was an alien (well, I guess that is what I am here!)
Village Farewell Festival
Last night we ate dinner in the village where we have been tenting. The men sat around one small table on short stools and we were served with bowl after bowl of food that everyone just helped themselves to using their chopsticks. There were plain dishes (potatoes, yams, tofu, and fried bread) that were intended for dipping in a special hot sauce. Also spicy fish (carp?) complete with heads, greens, pork, chicken feet (& we know what they'd been walking through), roots, and rice. There was also a dish of chicken livers mixed with chicken blood (not my favorite). Jenny brought smoked salmon & we'd bought fresh tangerines at the market to pass out. Bet you know what Jane ate. This was all preceded with cigarettes being passed all around (to help chase away the flies?) and more bowls filled with beer for each person. After many toasts we were told that the next one was "bottoms up" and the bowls were refilled. Some of the men played a drinking game a bit like rock, paper scissors where the loser had to take a drink. They wanted us to play, too, but after one short round we were ready to call it quits for the night even though it wasn't late.
Final Village Meeting
We met with the villagers again this morning and they seemed to be very happy with the help we have given them. We built solar lights, built a cover over the latrine, drilled for water, played with and read to the kids, and Jenny taught the women to sew and some of them got sewing machines. Xiang, the young man that I trained to put solar lights together, was very appreciative. He shook my hand and even hugged me as we said goodbye. He put five solar lights together while we were there and yesterday we took three of the lights to a village where there is no electricity.
Le Hong Ka
That village (with no electricity) was in a beautiful valley with a good supply of water (coming from a seep in the side of the mountain). The people and children were very clean and their crops looked good even though they have had three years of drought. The leader of the village started raising goats four years ago. They now have about 100 goats that look very healthy. The men took us to visit a cave near their village. We were interested to see what possibilities there might be for water inside the mountain. It was steep and dark with stalactites and stagmites, curtains, and combs formed by the action of water in the limestone cave. I didn't see any life in the cave, but Steve saw a couple of wood rats about a foot long! Jane assessed the children's education level (which was higher than any other children she'd assessed) and left word cards & books so the oldest girl can teach the younger ones. Jan also talked to the ladies about hygiene and such...and they were very responsive to wearing the washable menstral pads. Though this has been the nicest village we'd visited, they had lost 7 of their youth recently to city life. As we left, many of the people followed us up a steep trail to the the road where we had parked the SUV and we passed out a few treats as we said good bye. Someone from the village had put a large bag of hard boiled eggs (still warm!) in the car for us to enjoy on our trip back. It was very thoughtful and we enjoyed them as we bounced along the rough mountain road overlooking beautiful valleys and terraces. If our driver, Yuan hadn't proven himself to be very careful we might have been scared as the road (if you can call it that) was narrow with no guard rails and the drop was often 50- 100 ft. -- sometimes several hundred feet.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Hello from the other side of the world!
Well--as things so often happen--we had to make another run to town as Jenny (from Canada) got bit by one of the villagers dogs. Luckily she had on two pairs of pants but it still broke her skin so we thought it best to come to the nearest hospital. So the women jumped in the jeep with Yuan & off we went. By the time we got to Qiu Bei, everything was closed so we'll go ASAP in a.m.. She is feeling fine & has a call into her own doctor so we aren't too worried. But while we're here...
The Wash
We quickly gathered up the filthiest clothes to wash in Qiu Bei--and filthiest is being a bit under descriptive. The lady at our hotel took us up to the roof where they had what you might call "half wash machines" as first you put clothes in to wash, then take them out and put in the spinner, next take them out and put in tub of rinse water, whosh them around and finally put them back into spinner. We hung them out on the lines and cross our fingers that they won't blow away and are mostly dry by a.m.... We also each took a hot shower marveling about how wonderful it felt.
Well--as things so often happen--we had to make another run to town as Jenny (from Canada) got bit by one of the villagers dogs. Luckily she had on two pairs of pants but it still broke her skin so we thought it best to come to the nearest hospital. So the women jumped in the jeep with Yuan & off we went. By the time we got to Qiu Bei, everything was closed so we'll go ASAP in a.m.. She is feeling fine & has a call into her own doctor so we aren't too worried. But while we're here...
The Wash
We quickly gathered up the filthiest clothes to wash in Qiu Bei--and filthiest is being a bit under descriptive. The lady at our hotel took us up to the roof where they had what you might call "half wash machines" as first you put clothes in to wash, then take them out and put in the spinner, next take them out and put in tub of rinse water, whosh them around and finally put them back into spinner. We hung them out on the lines and cross our fingers that they won't blow away and are mostly dry by a.m.... We also each took a hot shower marveling about how wonderful it felt.
Lesson Learned
I am learning that it is not possible to come into a place and make a change that is lasting unless the people really want that change to happen. Our efforts are all well intentioned but will fail over time unless the villagers take ownership of the plan and actually do it themselves with guidance and encouragement (money and /or materials). Its hard to do because doing "for" them is not good and guiding them to change takes so long that it feels like everything is in slow motion. Previous "help" was the introduction of pampers to the village. Now their latrine is plugged with pampers and a new problem has to be solved.
The Latrine
When we first arrived in Jui Duo Ma La, I (& all the other girls) could not force ourselves to go into the latrine. I have seen some pretty gross sites but this topped my list. The shovel was a much better option. At the village meeting, when asked what we could do to help--the latrine ranked right after the well. So once the well project came to a halt due to hitting rock, the latrine was next. So....our men joined the village men and dug in....literally. Can't imagine a shittier job! A hole was dug to put the pampers & liquids in. An overflow caused quite a raucous as the chickens where running through it--but was resolved by quickly covering it with dirt. Then the solids were put into another hole. If they'd leave the solids covered for about a year, they could then use it as fertilizer...but in their culture, one never uses human waste for anything...so more holes will be dug later. Next the guys covered the shit pit with corrugated mat'l so rain wouldn't get in & a pipe was put in so the liquids would drain out into a hole. Finally, using cement, they built a spot to use if you were only going #1. With pride, the villagers cleaned the latrine with bleach water and re-painted the signs on the outside indicating Male & Female--in both Chinese & English.
Outdoor latrine at school in southwest Yunnan Provincechinaschoolsfoundation.org:
Dinner & Lucky
(Warning: Karen & Terri should not read this!!)
It's true. They eat dog. I happened to look around just as a man was skinning one while a live dog circled him. Then he took it over & holding its tail, put it down in a hole where a fire had been built. Many kids gathered round the hole to watch. Several hours later, Yuan & Steve went to a villagers home to indulge. Roger declined. Steve later told us that the men were celebrating the completion of the latrine improvements. So we named that dog, Dinner & all the rest (around 15) Lucky...though we figured one should be called Next.
TP
Without a doubt, I have used much more TP on runny noses than in the on my behind!!! I actually carry a bag on my arm with a roll of TP so while I'm working or playing with kids, I can pass out TP & they can throw the used wad in the bag....I need a third hand just to deal with their runny noses!!!
Communication
No wonder the UN finds it so difficult to get anything done!! In this one little village, it's been a struggle to communicate. It goes like this: villager speaks in their dialect, Yuan tells our translator who then tell us. Then the reverse, English to translator, to Yuan to villagers--whose way of thinking and customs often twist or change what they hear. Several time there have been misunderstandings...and I can certainly understand why!!!
Superstitions
We've learned about so many superstitions held by some Chinese. Examples: Leaving your chopsticks in your dish means the food was not good enough for even the dead. After childbirth, a woman cannot enter another person's house until the baby is a month old.
The Girl with Sore Eyes
One of the little village girls has swollen & infected eyes. I asked her if they hurt & for how long. She said they have been hurting her for more than a year. I took her to Yuan to see what he could find out. He said her father tells everyone her eyes are like that because she cried so much as a baby. That made me want to cry!! Yuan took pictures & will try to get some meds to her.
Sewing Progress
Jenny now has 4 women excited about sewing! She has offered each a sewing machine in exchange for making 40 pants or 20 coats (or any combination) for other villagers. And they are now diligently working...some with babies strapped to their back...while their encouraging husbands do the cooking so they can sew longer!!! Success!!!
Student Teacher
Sophie (Chinese name: Li Yoo Xiang) is a great student teacher! She is in her second year at Yunnan Univ and hopes to be an elementary teacher. She's a natural. She gets rights down to the kids level, smiles & encourages them. Takes my direction and runs with it. Her enthusiasm overflows!
Learning Progress
With joy & pride in their faces, two little boys who learned to write the first characters of their names, went racing to show Yuan. They had practiced & practiced while several of the villagers looked over their shoulders and encouraged them. There was lots of joy & pride on Sophie & my face too! Another major thrill was when two older boys (who hadn't wanted to be part of our "class") moseyed over to check out what we were doing and ending up reading to some of the younger children. And the younger kids actually asked Yong to read aloud to them today!!!!
Peanuts for Counting
This is actually winter break for the kids...so I feel a bit quilty asking them to do school work...besides working in the fields...so I usually give them a treat...like peanuts for counting. I say a number...they say the next three numbers & get a peanut. We both get smiles.
Bio Sand Filter
A bio sand filter is up & running thanks to Steve. After carefully explaining how contaminated water that has run through the layers of rocks, gravel & sand can actually come out ready to drink, the villagers gladly helped him put on together. Hopefully they'll build more themselves!
Solar Light Kits
Rog has successfully taught Seurg to put the solar light kits together. He as completed 5 now & EVHS will pay him & take them to the village without electricity. Next time HANDA comes to his village, they'll bring more so he can continue to earn $$. Seurg will try to find other markets as well.
Debriefing Meeting
After the failed well drilling & latrine overflow, the debriefing meeting that we have each night was kind of a downer. But Renay was firm in saying that our team was working hard & success would follow. I smiled when she said Roger was like the salt of the earth. She is so right. The very next debriefing meeting, the latrine & bio sand filter were finished, the sewing was taking off, the kids were excited about learning and the villagers were thrilled about all of it. What a high!
Warmer Weather
Ahhh! The sun!! The last several days have been gorgeous! We are all stripping down to one layer again. Even the nights are warmer and the stars are so clear in the cloudless skies. Loving it!
Chinese Fire Drill
When we took off today for Ra Ma Lu, Rog needed to switch with Renay so he could talk to Steve...so Yuan stopped the truck. Renay & Rog jumped out, ran around the truck and hopped back in on the opposite sides. That's what we use to do when we were teenagers for fun & we called it a Chinese Fire Drill!!!
Better get to bed...who knows what tomorrow will bring. Know we love hearing from you and miss you!!!!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Boomerang
After the guys finally got back from shopping, we took off after eating lunch. (Renay, Jenny & OuYang left with Meizi & her husband who met us here in QiuBei.) After about an hour's drive, we came to a small stream where Steve asked Yuan to stop. Since they had not been able to find clean sand for the bio sand filter, he thought he could find some there. About 2 1/2 hours of carefully digging & cleaning the sand using a bucket and a grain bag that I found in a nearby ditch, the guys had about 4 gallons of cleaner sand. But while leaning on the truck, Yuan noticed a nail in the front tire. He decided that he needed to get it fixed before heading deeper into the mountains--so back we went stopping at two repair shops but not finding anyone who could fix it. Finally, we ended up about a mile from where we started out this a.m.--got the tire fixed and then checked into the same hotel we were at last night. Enjoy the journey!
Terrace Farming
While waiting for the guys, I took a walk and got a close look at terrace farming on the nearby mountain. It's simply amazing to see how they have used so much of the mountain for farming. Plots about the size of a large garden have been leveled & a rock wall built to form terraces. One after another after another after another. Most the way up the mountain--some all the way up. The contrast between the bright green ones where something is growing is shoking next to the bleak stone & dryness of areas that are not cultivated. Can you imagine climbing up to work in the top terraces?? As Steve said, how would you have any energy left to work???
After the guys finally got back from shopping, we took off after eating lunch. (Renay, Jenny & OuYang left with Meizi & her husband who met us here in QiuBei.) After about an hour's drive, we came to a small stream where Steve asked Yuan to stop. Since they had not been able to find clean sand for the bio sand filter, he thought he could find some there. About 2 1/2 hours of carefully digging & cleaning the sand using a bucket and a grain bag that I found in a nearby ditch, the guys had about 4 gallons of cleaner sand. But while leaning on the truck, Yuan noticed a nail in the front tire. He decided that he needed to get it fixed before heading deeper into the mountains--so back we went stopping at two repair shops but not finding anyone who could fix it. Finally, we ended up about a mile from where we started out this a.m.--got the tire fixed and then checked into the same hotel we were at last night. Enjoy the journey!
Terrace Farming
While waiting for the guys, I took a walk and got a close look at terrace farming on the nearby mountain. It's simply amazing to see how they have used so much of the mountain for farming. Plots about the size of a large garden have been leveled & a rock wall built to form terraces. One after another after another after another. Most the way up the mountain--some all the way up. The contrast between the bright green ones where something is growing is shoking next to the bleak stone & dryness of areas that are not cultivated. Can you imagine climbing up to work in the top terraces?? As Steve said, how would you have any energy left to work???
Back at the hotel in Qiu Bei (sounds like chew bye) tonight. Try to find it! We were on our way back to the village when a nail in our tire sent us back here for repair and now will leave early in the morning for the village.
Our driver is very careful and we feel comfortable riding with him. We saw some beautiful views of the mountains and terraces again today and it warmed up some with several hours of sun. Spent a few hours washing sand in a stream for use in a water filter for the village. We plan to work in the village for another day or two then move to another village. Love to all! Dad
Our driver is very careful and we feel comfortable riding with him. We saw some beautiful views of the mountains and terraces again today and it warmed up some with several hours of sun. Spent a few hours washing sand in a stream for use in a water filter for the village. We plan to work in the village for another day or two then move to another village. Love to all! Dad
I'm back...looks like the guys will take a bit longer to finish their shopping so I'll keep in typing...
Yong--
Needed to add one more thing about Yong. She only completed 5th grade in Guang Dong but now must go to the smaller local school--probably because she could not pass the examination to get into 6th grade. So much potential but so little opportunity.
Flowers
You know you are appreciated when you find fresh picked flowers outside your tent!!
Cook & Bottle Washer
Renay is a fabulous cook! How lucky can we get--she has taught Chinese cooking classes & written a cook book. We've been gobbling down delicious meals--how will I lose that 10 lbs???? She bought lots of fresh vege's & brought a suitcase full of other stuff to add to them. We brought a rice cooker & put all that together and you've got a great meal. All eight of us huddle around a table the size of a card table, sitting on stools and using our chopsticks manage to eat lots. Renay all insist on doing most of the dishes as well...and always with a smile!
Jenny: The Seamstress
Jenny seamstress skills are amazing! She brought with her a suitcase full of needles, thread, zippers, elastic, etc.....and the company she works for sent rolls of fabric. With the sewing machines she bought in Kunming, she has already taught several ladies how to make pants & shirts. She shows them how to make patterns too. It's so neat to watch them start with a piece of paper, draw a pattern, cut it out & presto, sew it up!!!
Scarves for all
We woke up to a drizzle so Jenny pulled out some cloth & starting cutting. In no time, she was wrapping pink scarves around the heads & necks of all the little girls who were poking their heads in our door. Soon all the women were coming, so more scarves were made. Then Jenny pulled out a roll of blue cloth & soon the boys were sporting them. It made a great picture!
Scooter Lady
As I was walking to my tent, I saw an older woman sitting on a low scooter working her way up a muddy, manure covered hill toward her home. I bent down & started pushing her as she squealed with laughter. It was all I could do to get her up that hill the whole time wondering how in the world she does it herself!!! She beckoned me to come in to her home...actually I think she was insisting...so she, I and her husband sat around a small fire that was in the middle of the room--grinning at each other. After a bit, she offered me food & he offered me his bong pipe (yes, I refused both). With the stubs she had for hands, she kept pushing the hot coals into the center of the fire. She was missing part of her leg also--but she sure wasn't missing a smile!! When I motioned that I needed to leave, she frowned. I did go back the next day & we watched a bit of traditional dancing & singing on her TV--the only thing besides a rice cooker of the western world I saw in her house. I hope to do that several times. It seemed to bring her such joy--and me too!
Always Teaching
Once a teacher, always a teacher. Every minute I can, I spend with the children. We have done lots of pattern games, follow the leader, Doggie Doggie Where's Your Bone, Counting while playing London Bridges, drawing self portraits, tic-tac-toe but their favorite is Blue Bird In & Out My Window--which they try to sing all the time even though I can not get them to say "bird"--they say "burr"--which since it's so cold, maybe makes more sense!! They also have devoured the Zoo magazines I brought. They have spents hours scouring them. Yesterday, I thought the kids were home eating supper, so I was walking toward our tents when I heard them shouting. They came bounding over a heaping manure pile and grabbed me. I surely didn't want to take all those manure filled shoes into our tenting area, so we headed up the mountain instead--singing Do, a deer, a female deer.... Just like Sound of Music...well close anyways. Later that night, I was drying dishes when a bunch showed up & asked if I could come out and play--what could I say???????
Little Mothers
The 8-10 year old girls seem to be in charge of the babies. Several of them have one strapped on their backs & they carry them most the day. That doesn't stop them from doing whatever is going on. After I gave them balloons to swat around--they joined right in. Jumping, hopping & swatting the balloon--all right next the the 4 ft ditch right next to us. No safety nets here! I've seen the same little one twice carrying a 12 in curved knife around and those stumbling toddlers also walk right next to that ditch--with no one even semi-close. Makes my heart stop beating...and I think of my little grandbabies that have safety everything everywhere.
Yong--
Needed to add one more thing about Yong. She only completed 5th grade in Guang Dong but now must go to the smaller local school--probably because she could not pass the examination to get into 6th grade. So much potential but so little opportunity.
Flowers
You know you are appreciated when you find fresh picked flowers outside your tent!!
Cook & Bottle Washer
Renay is a fabulous cook! How lucky can we get--she has taught Chinese cooking classes & written a cook book. We've been gobbling down delicious meals--how will I lose that 10 lbs???? She bought lots of fresh vege's & brought a suitcase full of other stuff to add to them. We brought a rice cooker & put all that together and you've got a great meal. All eight of us huddle around a table the size of a card table, sitting on stools and using our chopsticks manage to eat lots. Renay all insist on doing most of the dishes as well...and always with a smile!
Jenny: The Seamstress
Jenny seamstress skills are amazing! She brought with her a suitcase full of needles, thread, zippers, elastic, etc.....and the company she works for sent rolls of fabric. With the sewing machines she bought in Kunming, she has already taught several ladies how to make pants & shirts. She shows them how to make patterns too. It's so neat to watch them start with a piece of paper, draw a pattern, cut it out & presto, sew it up!!!
Scarves for all
We woke up to a drizzle so Jenny pulled out some cloth & starting cutting. In no time, she was wrapping pink scarves around the heads & necks of all the little girls who were poking their heads in our door. Soon all the women were coming, so more scarves were made. Then Jenny pulled out a roll of blue cloth & soon the boys were sporting them. It made a great picture!
Scooter Lady
As I was walking to my tent, I saw an older woman sitting on a low scooter working her way up a muddy, manure covered hill toward her home. I bent down & started pushing her as she squealed with laughter. It was all I could do to get her up that hill the whole time wondering how in the world she does it herself!!! She beckoned me to come in to her home...actually I think she was insisting...so she, I and her husband sat around a small fire that was in the middle of the room--grinning at each other. After a bit, she offered me food & he offered me his bong pipe (yes, I refused both). With the stubs she had for hands, she kept pushing the hot coals into the center of the fire. She was missing part of her leg also--but she sure wasn't missing a smile!! When I motioned that I needed to leave, she frowned. I did go back the next day & we watched a bit of traditional dancing & singing on her TV--the only thing besides a rice cooker of the western world I saw in her house. I hope to do that several times. It seemed to bring her such joy--and me too!
Always Teaching
Once a teacher, always a teacher. Every minute I can, I spend with the children. We have done lots of pattern games, follow the leader, Doggie Doggie Where's Your Bone, Counting while playing London Bridges, drawing self portraits, tic-tac-toe but their favorite is Blue Bird In & Out My Window--which they try to sing all the time even though I can not get them to say "bird"--they say "burr"--which since it's so cold, maybe makes more sense!! They also have devoured the Zoo magazines I brought. They have spents hours scouring them. Yesterday, I thought the kids were home eating supper, so I was walking toward our tents when I heard them shouting. They came bounding over a heaping manure pile and grabbed me. I surely didn't want to take all those manure filled shoes into our tenting area, so we headed up the mountain instead--singing Do, a deer, a female deer.... Just like Sound of Music...well close anyways. Later that night, I was drying dishes when a bunch showed up & asked if I could come out and play--what could I say???????
Little Mothers
The 8-10 year old girls seem to be in charge of the babies. Several of them have one strapped on their backs & they carry them most the day. That doesn't stop them from doing whatever is going on. After I gave them balloons to swat around--they joined right in. Jumping, hopping & swatting the balloon--all right next the the 4 ft ditch right next to us. No safety nets here! I've seen the same little one twice carrying a 12 in curved knife around and those stumbling toddlers also walk right next to that ditch--with no one even semi-close. Makes my heart stop beating...and I think of my little grandbabies that have safety everything everywhere.
Village Meeting
After our first whole day in the village, Yuan asked one person from each home to come to a meeting. They were excited as that day the clay coming out of the drilling was wet so there was much hope in the air. They profusely thanked us for all that we were doing. I was told I could continue working with the children. Jenny explained that the sewing could bring them in some money & hoped they would encourage the woman to continue learning. Steve was not feeling well so not there...but Rog explained about how they could build a bio sand filter so the water they got from their cisterns could be safe. He also asked permission to cement the hill going up to the scooter lady's home. They were pleased with both ideas. Much discussion followed about the latrine--the only one in the village so used by all. (How can I explain them--let's just say you don't want to know or smell it.) It's totally backed up as pampers & pads are thrown there & the pit is not covered so it's very soupy--maybe that's not the best word. The final decision was to drain the liquid, dig a hole for pampers & pads and another hole for the solids. After a year, the solids can be dug up & used as fertilizers. Yuan made them all laugh when he told them human feces make sweeter vegetables! Yuan is an talented & trusted negotiator always asking the villagers to express their opinions.
Hitting Rock
Why do these people have such a tough life?? First having someone in their family contract leprosy...then being banned to the poorest land where it's cold...and with no water. All yesterday's excited quickly came to a crash when the drillers again hit rock. They'd drilled down almost 9 feet when they hit the rock...and after spending most of another day trying to break it--they gave up. It had been so much fun for Rog & Steve to see them take charge of the drilling--having one of them hop on top to add weight--grinning as they went round & round drilling deeper & deeper and watching the children make pots & other art projects from the wet clay. Everyone had been so hopeful... I can only ask WHY????
Shopping For Supplies
While we're in town, the guys are out shopping for stuff to clean up the latrine, build a bio sand filter water system & cement the scooter lady's ramp. We certainly don't want to leave their village without some very visible success. The sewing is wonderful...but only affects a few. We want to help all of them ...with sustainable projects...that will improve their living conditions.
Wagon Train
Our tents are set up in a circle which reminds me of how wagon trains circled up at night. Rog & I must sleep pretty good as Jenny told us each morning that we added to the "snoring symphony"--along with Renay,Yuan, Steve & Ong. Renay informed Jenny that she too snored--only more quietly and almost creating a song.
Rocking
One of the little rascals climbed on my lap. I began to rock him singing "Rock A Bye Baby." He quickly put his head on my shoulder & nuzzled down...letting me rock & rock & rock him. When he finally got up...another about 8 yr old girl came. Again I rocked & she nuzzled down as I sang. I knew that this little girl's mother had left her 4 children & the village after her two husbands had died--she had probably been ostersized as others thought she brought bad luck. As I rocked her, I had to wonder if she was thinking about her mother. Painful.
Animals
Everywhere. Dogs barking, pigs snorting, roosters crowing, chicks peeping, goats bleating, ox mooing...begins just before dawn & last until...when not sure when it ends!!! All these animals produce lots of manure...so there's piles everywhere also!
Nicer Home
Rog & I & others were invited into the home of the nephew of the village leader. THough it was built exactly like every other home, it was much cleaner & neater. They had a nice pink couch & love seat. A Tv, dvd & shelf unit. The kitchen had a large cement stove with huge opening for the wok to sit. Lots of dried vege's hanging. The pork was drying upstairs. Obviously, lots of pride in that home. The nephew is the same guy who learned to put the solar light kits together quickly & seems to be the key pin in the welling project. We were told he has worked outside of the village so he had more money to spend. The village leader & his wife are working outside now.
Leaving the Village
It would seem everyone would just leave this village...but we were told that one must apply to leave their village & are often denied. They can go work other places but cannot get any benefits outside their village. Benefits like medical & schooling. As explained, if people were allowed to leave, large cities would become way overcrowded with poor people and there would be many fewer farmers--whom they depend on. So even with a good education...if that's even possible...very few villagers will have an opportunity to leave permently But a few do. The meaning of freedom has become much more precious to me.
Yuan's Story
After spending over a week with Yuan, we learned his story. He was born in one of the leprosy colonies & was plucked out by a HANDA worker who recognized how clever he was. He was taught how to make prosetics (SP???) and has become an expert at that. (Though HANDA is always scrounging for $$$ so he can make more.) He returns to the leprosy villages often serving the most needy. He found a wife in one of them & they now have a beautiful son & live in Kunming--thanks to HANDA. No wonder you see such love & tenderness in him when he is with the villagers.
Tantrums
Yup--here too. Witnessed a full blown tantrum that lasted almost an hour today. One little guy wanted his mother to quit sewing & get him some water. When she refused, he threw himself on the cement & began kicking & screaming. An older lady with one foot twisted in & who had a child already strapped on her back...picked him up & carried him a ways, then set him on the ground. There he continued his tantrum as she sat quietly ignoring him. Kids are the same everywhere.
Shredder
As Rog wa visiting the home of another villager, he saw him throw lots of greens into a shreder then take it all out to the pigs. Made the pigs happy!
Runny Noses
Can't begin to tell you how many runny noses we've wiped!! The adults use the spray method so you have to move quickly when you hear them start to blow....
Gotta go...my ride is here!
After our first whole day in the village, Yuan asked one person from each home to come to a meeting. They were excited as that day the clay coming out of the drilling was wet so there was much hope in the air. They profusely thanked us for all that we were doing. I was told I could continue working with the children. Jenny explained that the sewing could bring them in some money & hoped they would encourage the woman to continue learning. Steve was not feeling well so not there...but Rog explained about how they could build a bio sand filter so the water they got from their cisterns could be safe. He also asked permission to cement the hill going up to the scooter lady's home. They were pleased with both ideas. Much discussion followed about the latrine--the only one in the village so used by all. (How can I explain them--let's just say you don't want to know or smell it.) It's totally backed up as pampers & pads are thrown there & the pit is not covered so it's very soupy--maybe that's not the best word. The final decision was to drain the liquid, dig a hole for pampers & pads and another hole for the solids. After a year, the solids can be dug up & used as fertilizers. Yuan made them all laugh when he told them human feces make sweeter vegetables! Yuan is an talented & trusted negotiator always asking the villagers to express their opinions.
Hitting Rock
Why do these people have such a tough life?? First having someone in their family contract leprosy...then being banned to the poorest land where it's cold...and with no water. All yesterday's excited quickly came to a crash when the drillers again hit rock. They'd drilled down almost 9 feet when they hit the rock...and after spending most of another day trying to break it--they gave up. It had been so much fun for Rog & Steve to see them take charge of the drilling--having one of them hop on top to add weight--grinning as they went round & round drilling deeper & deeper and watching the children make pots & other art projects from the wet clay. Everyone had been so hopeful... I can only ask WHY????
Shopping For Supplies
While we're in town, the guys are out shopping for stuff to clean up the latrine, build a bio sand filter water system & cement the scooter lady's ramp. We certainly don't want to leave their village without some very visible success. The sewing is wonderful...but only affects a few. We want to help all of them ...with sustainable projects...that will improve their living conditions.
Wagon Train
Our tents are set up in a circle which reminds me of how wagon trains circled up at night. Rog & I must sleep pretty good as Jenny told us each morning that we added to the "snoring symphony"--along with Renay,Yuan, Steve & Ong. Renay informed Jenny that she too snored--only more quietly and almost creating a song.
Rocking
One of the little rascals climbed on my lap. I began to rock him singing "Rock A Bye Baby." He quickly put his head on my shoulder & nuzzled down...letting me rock & rock & rock him. When he finally got up...another about 8 yr old girl came. Again I rocked & she nuzzled down as I sang. I knew that this little girl's mother had left her 4 children & the village after her two husbands had died--she had probably been ostersized as others thought she brought bad luck. As I rocked her, I had to wonder if she was thinking about her mother. Painful.
Animals
Everywhere. Dogs barking, pigs snorting, roosters crowing, chicks peeping, goats bleating, ox mooing...begins just before dawn & last until...when not sure when it ends!!! All these animals produce lots of manure...so there's piles everywhere also!
Nicer Home
Rog & I & others were invited into the home of the nephew of the village leader. THough it was built exactly like every other home, it was much cleaner & neater. They had a nice pink couch & love seat. A Tv, dvd & shelf unit. The kitchen had a large cement stove with huge opening for the wok to sit. Lots of dried vege's hanging. The pork was drying upstairs. Obviously, lots of pride in that home. The nephew is the same guy who learned to put the solar light kits together quickly & seems to be the key pin in the welling project. We were told he has worked outside of the village so he had more money to spend. The village leader & his wife are working outside now.
Leaving the Village
It would seem everyone would just leave this village...but we were told that one must apply to leave their village & are often denied. They can go work other places but cannot get any benefits outside their village. Benefits like medical & schooling. As explained, if people were allowed to leave, large cities would become way overcrowded with poor people and there would be many fewer farmers--whom they depend on. So even with a good education...if that's even possible...very few villagers will have an opportunity to leave permently But a few do. The meaning of freedom has become much more precious to me.
Yuan's Story
After spending over a week with Yuan, we learned his story. He was born in one of the leprosy colonies & was plucked out by a HANDA worker who recognized how clever he was. He was taught how to make prosetics (SP???) and has become an expert at that. (Though HANDA is always scrounging for $$$ so he can make more.) He returns to the leprosy villages often serving the most needy. He found a wife in one of them & they now have a beautiful son & live in Kunming--thanks to HANDA. No wonder you see such love & tenderness in him when he is with the villagers.
Tantrums
Yup--here too. Witnessed a full blown tantrum that lasted almost an hour today. One little guy wanted his mother to quit sewing & get him some water. When she refused, he threw himself on the cement & began kicking & screaming. An older lady with one foot twisted in & who had a child already strapped on her back...picked him up & carried him a ways, then set him on the ground. There he continued his tantrum as she sat quietly ignoring him. Kids are the same everywhere.
Shredder
As Rog wa visiting the home of another villager, he saw him throw lots of greens into a shreder then take it all out to the pigs. Made the pigs happy!
Runny Noses
Can't begin to tell you how many runny noses we've wiped!! The adults use the spray method so you have to move quickly when you hear them start to blow....
Gotta go...my ride is here!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Hi All!! Hope you are all keeping warmer than we are!! We are back in a hotel now as our tents got wet & it was still drizzling so we drove the one & one half hours to town.... but here's the story from where I left off :
Jui Dao Ma Lua
After swerving for semis, motorcycles, ox & carts, goats, people and various other moving objects while driving on switchback roads climbing higher & higher (therefore the cliff beside us was getting steeper & steeper), we came to the end of the road. Then we started down a wide path & then finally turned onto the lane which ended at Jui Dao Ma Lua. Excited children raced down a hill to greet us as we tried to take in the site before us. Poverty. We have seen it before but it always slaps us in the face and it almost feel a deep ache within. But this was not the time to reflect on it...we had people to hug & show that we'd come because we cared. We set up our tents just beyond the main village and one of the locals had given up his main room for our "kitchen, dining room, storage & working space." It's about the size of our living room. The home is constructed of brick, cement floors & wood beams covered by plaster like stuff for walls. No heat. I repeat--no heat & it's probably about 45-50 F. We put on our warmest clothing and started cleaning up the best we could. Those diaper wipes I brought came in handy. I used 6 to clean off one shelf. The guys went out to meet the local men & figure out where they wanted to start drilling for water. It didn't take them long to find the spot, cut a tree to erect a tripod, attach the pulley & drilling head and begin. Renay plugged in a small heating unit & put on a kettle of water. Soon we were showing the kids the proper way to wash hands, faces & blow their nose. Who knew that could bring such bubbling laughter!!
Assessments
With the help of OnYung, I began assessing the kids. The first girl was 15, married with 1 or 2 kids & beautiful. She willingly correctly named the words on the flashcards I showed her (thank goodness I'd found some in the USA that were in Chinese) but when I asked her to read, she said "I'm married and don't need to do that." Most of the next ones were between the ages of 7 & 11...most didn't know any of the words but could count correctly the 20 buttons I showed them. Some could even figure out how many were left when I took one or two away. One 4 yr old didn't know how old he was & wouldn't tell us his name. He said he didn't know but maybe he was just pretending cause he was quite the character. I found two who could read the level 1-2-3 book I'd purchased in Kunming--one 11 & other 13--both who had gone to school in Guang Dong (nearby city). Since the 11 year old missed stumbled over some of the words, I asked the 13 year old if she was willing to read to the younger ones. With much coaxing, she agreed. We gathered up the kids (which wasn't hard as they seem to follow me like bees around their hive) and with my arm around Yong, she began. It was thrilling...but the kids were a bit too noisy & rambunctious The next day, I again asked her & made it very clear to the kids that they were to listen quietly (& if they did, we'd give them a cookie.) They lwere great & clapped when Yong finished the story. I asked if they wanted to hear another & they loudly said yes! So after three stories, I told Yong that if she read to the children often, they would become better readers and she would be like a teacher to them. She said she would like to do that so I gave her the book. She beamed! Then I handed her the cookies to hand out to her students. What a thrill for me--and I hadn't even noticed I was cold!!!
Gotta go--we're heading back to the village.....
Jui Dao Ma Lua
After swerving for semis, motorcycles, ox & carts, goats, people and various other moving objects while driving on switchback roads climbing higher & higher (therefore the cliff beside us was getting steeper & steeper), we came to the end of the road. Then we started down a wide path & then finally turned onto the lane which ended at Jui Dao Ma Lua. Excited children raced down a hill to greet us as we tried to take in the site before us. Poverty. We have seen it before but it always slaps us in the face and it almost feel a deep ache within. But this was not the time to reflect on it...we had people to hug & show that we'd come because we cared. We set up our tents just beyond the main village and one of the locals had given up his main room for our "kitchen, dining room, storage & working space." It's about the size of our living room. The home is constructed of brick, cement floors & wood beams covered by plaster like stuff for walls. No heat. I repeat--no heat & it's probably about 45-50 F. We put on our warmest clothing and started cleaning up the best we could. Those diaper wipes I brought came in handy. I used 6 to clean off one shelf. The guys went out to meet the local men & figure out where they wanted to start drilling for water. It didn't take them long to find the spot, cut a tree to erect a tripod, attach the pulley & drilling head and begin. Renay plugged in a small heating unit & put on a kettle of water. Soon we were showing the kids the proper way to wash hands, faces & blow their nose. Who knew that could bring such bubbling laughter!!
Assessments
With the help of OnYung, I began assessing the kids. The first girl was 15, married with 1 or 2 kids & beautiful. She willingly correctly named the words on the flashcards I showed her (thank goodness I'd found some in the USA that were in Chinese) but when I asked her to read, she said "I'm married and don't need to do that." Most of the next ones were between the ages of 7 & 11...most didn't know any of the words but could count correctly the 20 buttons I showed them. Some could even figure out how many were left when I took one or two away. One 4 yr old didn't know how old he was & wouldn't tell us his name. He said he didn't know but maybe he was just pretending cause he was quite the character. I found two who could read the level 1-2-3 book I'd purchased in Kunming--one 11 & other 13--both who had gone to school in Guang Dong (nearby city). Since the 11 year old missed stumbled over some of the words, I asked the 13 year old if she was willing to read to the younger ones. With much coaxing, she agreed. We gathered up the kids (which wasn't hard as they seem to follow me like bees around their hive) and with my arm around Yong, she began. It was thrilling...but the kids were a bit too noisy & rambunctious The next day, I again asked her & made it very clear to the kids that they were to listen quietly (& if they did, we'd give them a cookie.) They lwere great & clapped when Yong finished the story. I asked if they wanted to hear another & they loudly said yes! So after three stories, I told Yong that if she read to the children often, they would become better readers and she would be like a teacher to them. She said she would like to do that so I gave her the book. She beamed! Then I handed her the cookies to hand out to her students. What a thrill for me--and I hadn't even noticed I was cold!!!
Gotta go--we're heading back to the village.....
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Hi-
Can't believe I got to use a computer two days in a row!!!!
Valentine's Day in Kunming
Yup--red roses are here too & lots of couples were enjoying each other & dinner out tonight. We spent the afternoon packing up bags with soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, towels and 6 pairs of undies in ziplocks so we'd be ready to pass them out to the woman in the villages many of which have none of the above. We then boxed up things so we'd be ready to take off tomorrow. Jenny was off with Meizi shopping for sewing machines which they found and had 15 shipped to one of the villages. The Yuan took Jenny & us to the Nationalities Museum where we got to see many of the area nationalities native clothing & housing. Finally, we were ready to celebrate our last night in Kunming. Yuan & his wife & young son, Meizi & her husband, Li, Jenny, Roger and I went out for a Dai dinner complete with 12 dishes and another enjoyable evening with our new found friends.
The Gangs All Here
Renay, founder of Eco Village of Hope & Steve who has worked with Water4 arrived late last night. We all met up for a meeting to get everyone on the same page this a.m. and then packed the truck to the gills, sent Rog, Steve & two others who will help with translation & whatever else we need (haven't got the spelling of their names yet) off to the bus station and with trusty Yuan at the wheel, the rest of us piled in the truck & headed for the nearest large city about two hours from the first village we'll be visiting: Jui Dao Ma Lu. We enjoyed another bountiful meal and are staying in a pretty nice hotel...that allows us to use the internet!! Life is good.
Can't believe I got to use a computer two days in a row!!!!
Valentine's Day in Kunming
Yup--red roses are here too & lots of couples were enjoying each other & dinner out tonight. We spent the afternoon packing up bags with soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, towels and 6 pairs of undies in ziplocks so we'd be ready to pass them out to the woman in the villages many of which have none of the above. We then boxed up things so we'd be ready to take off tomorrow. Jenny was off with Meizi shopping for sewing machines which they found and had 15 shipped to one of the villages. The Yuan took Jenny & us to the Nationalities Museum where we got to see many of the area nationalities native clothing & housing. Finally, we were ready to celebrate our last night in Kunming. Yuan & his wife & young son, Meizi & her husband, Li, Jenny, Roger and I went out for a Dai dinner complete with 12 dishes and another enjoyable evening with our new found friends.
The Gangs All Here
Renay, founder of Eco Village of Hope & Steve who has worked with Water4 arrived late last night. We all met up for a meeting to get everyone on the same page this a.m. and then packed the truck to the gills, sent Rog, Steve & two others who will help with translation & whatever else we need (haven't got the spelling of their names yet) off to the bus station and with trusty Yuan at the wheel, the rest of us piled in the truck & headed for the nearest large city about two hours from the first village we'll be visiting: Jui Dao Ma Lu. We enjoyed another bountiful meal and are staying in a pretty nice hotel...that allows us to use the internet!! Life is good.
Renay: 
Unofficial Meeting Minutes:
Renay warmly welcomed everyone to the team by passing out Valentine candy boxes. She then introduced each of us noting what area we'd be heading up. Renay was clear in tellin us the key words to all our projects was "We'll try." We don't want to raise expectations and then have the villagers lose faith in us...and themselves. Steve (who has spent much time in third world countries) called it "Poverty Fatigue": when people work & work & things don't get better pretty soon they quit & don't have any hope that things will ever improve. If we go in there saying we are going to do this or that and it doesn't work...we add to the poverty fatigue. Renay also made it clear that nothing is to be done without the approval of the village head with Yuan or Meizi doing the communiction. Steve told a story that made that point clear: A man standing next to a dog was asked by another man if his dog bites. The man said "No." So the second man bent down to pet the dog and it bit his hand off. He shouted at the first man, "I thought you said your dog did not bite!" The first man said, "My dog doesn't. That dog isn't my dog." Morale of the story: Make sure the villagers (and us) totally understand what we've come to do. We are here to teach & supply tools and give HANDA support. HANDA is here for the long run & makes frequent visits to each village providing them with essential needs. EVHS is here to enhance a little at a time, the life of the villagers. But foremost we must remember, it is their village and we must respect their wishes. If we can encourage a more hopeful & positive mind set of the villagers just a bit, progress will happen over time.
Until I get another chance to write....take care & keep in touch
Unofficial Meeting Minutes:
Renay warmly welcomed everyone to the team by passing out Valentine candy boxes. She then introduced each of us noting what area we'd be heading up. Renay was clear in tellin us the key words to all our projects was "We'll try." We don't want to raise expectations and then have the villagers lose faith in us...and themselves. Steve (who has spent much time in third world countries) called it "Poverty Fatigue": when people work & work & things don't get better pretty soon they quit & don't have any hope that things will ever improve. If we go in there saying we are going to do this or that and it doesn't work...we add to the poverty fatigue. Renay also made it clear that nothing is to be done without the approval of the village head with Yuan or Meizi doing the communiction. Steve told a story that made that point clear: A man standing next to a dog was asked by another man if his dog bites. The man said "No." So the second man bent down to pet the dog and it bit his hand off. He shouted at the first man, "I thought you said your dog did not bite!" The first man said, "My dog doesn't. That dog isn't my dog." Morale of the story: Make sure the villagers (and us) totally understand what we've come to do. We are here to teach & supply tools and give HANDA support. HANDA is here for the long run & makes frequent visits to each village providing them with essential needs. EVHS is here to enhance a little at a time, the life of the villagers. But foremost we must remember, it is their village and we must respect their wishes. If we can encourage a more hopeful & positive mind set of the villagers just a bit, progress will happen over time.
Until I get another chance to write....take care & keep in touch
Monday, February 13, 2012
I'm so excited that the last update appeared to have sent so I will just keep going....not that you have to keep reading!!!
Roads
The best. Almost all the roads seem new & very well constructed with ramps going every which way in the city and beautifully landscapes. Street sweepers are out in huge numbers using broom made of probably some type of straw. It's so clean around here. Outside the downtown area, the roads are like super highways...but still often landscaped. We've been through several loooong tunnels and over loooong bridges.
Shopping
We spent two entire days shopping for things we'll be taking to the leprosy villages. Jenny for sewing & hygiene. Rog for projects mat'l & tools. Me for classrooms & students. We were in huge supply buildings ( 11 4 story buildings) crammed with everything you can imagine. With our list in hand, we sorted through the mountains trying to find what we think we need. Not an easy task. I thought it was hard in Thailand to give out reading glasses. I truly struggled with trying to pick out reading books that I could not read for students when I don't even know their reading levels. LiRunJiang was helping me--thank goodness--but he has very limited English so we must have been a comical pair trying to figure out what I needed to buy. I was able to get lots of posters, maps, pencils, scissors, etc...so atleast it'll be a good start for the two classrooms we will be setting up. Rog was with Yuan--who spoke no English but is very smart & they were able to find much of what was on Rog's list. Jenny, of course, speaks fluent Chinese and her company & many friends had given her about $6000 to spend---most was for sewing machines but her shopping pile is huge: scissors, thread, sewing kit boxes, towels, undies, soap, q-tips, etc.... What we couldn't find at the supply centers, we found at Walmart!!
The Three Amigos
We've been having a blast with the three local Chinese who have been driving us everywhere & feeding us constantly: Meizi, Yuan & LiRun. They laugh loudly & often & try to please us in everyway possible. We feel so pampered & lucky!!! And to top it off, we have Jenny to intrepret for us!!!!
Housing & Building Cost
Back to all those millions of housing units...we were told that each is about 100 sq meters and cost about $600 a month which is about what one person can make per month. And the cost of construction is between $10 -20,000 per sq meter. What a housing boom!
Breakfast
Normal breakfast here is a very large bowl of a soup with rice noodles topped with lots of hot sause and you can add fried pork rind, onions, chilis, peppers, etc. or....boiled eggs & steamed rolls. Can you guess which I choose??? Even Rog is eating the eggs.
Lunch & Supper
Huge. It's amazing how many main dishes on set in front of you at each meal--at least 6. And an overflowing bowl of rice too. Everyone uses their chopsticks to dig in taking from each main dish and adding rice to their bowl. Rog is now an expert at using sticks & I'm improving though it's okay that it takes me much longer to eat!! Rog is trying everything and as you can imagine--liking everything. Our Three Amigos took us to a western style restraurant where one of the dishes we had was pizza. Li even ate his pizza with chopsticks. I wanted spring rolls last night so they knew where we should eat. We also got a plate mounded with deep fried fish--about 2 inches long. Yuan must have eaten 20 of them...with chopsticks....expertly eating around the tiny bones. His plate was full of those bones.
Fashion
Boy am I underdressed here! Women around here wear gorgeous clothing with lots of glitter & frills and fancy high heel shoes. (Marcee, you'd love it) Many young girls wear very short skirts & high heeled black boots. Picture someone dressed like that driving a motorcycle!
Language Barrier
Though we know we are missing out on lots because we have NO idea what is being said around us--and it seems no one speaks English anywhere we go--the good side of that is that we have lots more time to observe what's happening all around us and notice details that we usually don't because we are too busy talking!!
School Visit
We were welcomed into a private school that teaching English to students after school & on weekends. I felt at home being surrounded by word walls & sight words, posters of word families, and student work displayed that looked so similiar to USA. Most students were not there as it's still New Year holiday here but the few there were fun to visit with. This school was the first in the area to use the Smart Board and the head master was proud that so many other school officials came to visit & are now using them. I still can't fathom how we'll be able to use them in the villages as it even at that school, they did not have them hooked to the internet but had purchased a Houghton Miflin program--and I don't think we''' have that. What will be will be! Befire I left, the head master offered me a job--which I heard would pay about $1000 per month and housing was not included. Not even tempting.
Stone Forest
Since our shopping was done, the Three Amigos & us headed out of town about one hour to the Stone Forest. Stunning and humungous---(give me a break about spelling as I don't want to take the time for spell check or re-reading!!!) Giant limestone towers of every shape and size erupted over miles. These towers are called Karst--which is what the towers we canoes to by Pughet last year were. So here we are seeing karst on land! A rather new park has been established there with well built paths throughout the towering stone structures---some going waaaay down & some going waaaay up. We hiked around taking lots of pictures & truly enjoying the beautiful warm day. THe most famous tower was Ashima--named after a legendary lady who refused to marry a wealthy & powerful man but instead waited for her true love. We'd brought lunch (bread, peanut butter, chips, buns filled with beans, sweet rolls & diet& reg Coke we'd bought at Walmart) & found a perfect tables with six stools all carved from the limestone & nestled in the between the towers. Jenny pulled out smoked salmon she'd brought from Vancouver--delicious. What an amazing place to truly enjoy a wonderful feast. Only 3 people passed through as we ate & ate & ate. How lucky can one get?????? After lunch, we hiked around a bit more and then came to a stage where the local tribe (Asi) were performing traditional dancing & singing. We went to an adjacent Black Stone Forest where we again climbed among the towers, stopping to eat again & taking a rest on the green grass. Besides the towers, we enjoyed the many blossoming trees. One path we walked had blossoming cherry trees that had been connected to form an arch over us. What a wonderful day. I will try to remember one of the sayings I read on a sign that explained how the stone forest was formed by rain breaking down the limestone: Time & softness overcomes hardness.
Terrace Farming
As we drove to & from the Stone Forest, we passed lots of active terrace farming. So many hillsides had areas leveled and filled with manicured rows of vegetables. In the valleys surrounding the villages where all the houses were built, the flat land was being farmed in small plots. There were also hundreds of green houses. It seemed no land sat idle.
Fruits & Nuts
Everywhere you go there are fruits & nuts for sale--many we've seen in other countries but many other we have not. Jenny is very adventurous and trying lots of them even she has never seen. She & Rog both really enjoyed the snake skin fruit they ate yesterday. Jenny is loving the roasted sweet potatoes & was in heaven when she was given some root that she remembered eating as a child. It's not unusual to see people eating all these cooked roots anywhere we go. When I looked at the deli in Walmart, I could not recognize one thing.
Streets
Visions of playing frogger in Kolkata are returning to us as we watch pedestrian after pedestrian dogged moving vehicles. Rog said it puts real meaning to the saying A miss is as good as a mile. And once they do get to the sidewalk, they really can't walk safely there either as cars park by backing up right over the sidewalk.
Sunday at the Park
While waiting for Juan to pick us up Sunday, we went to a park. Rog & Li sat with our purchases which drew lots of attention & they were soon surrounded by kids & teens interested in looking at a map they had out. I strolled around delighted to see so many people enjoying themselves. Many kids were with grandparents and playing on the swings & slides. There were lots of games of chess & mohjong being played by groups of men. Several tables were being used for adults & kids who were painting. There was a roller skating ring & jump house too. So much fun being had.
Translation
We have had many laughs as we read signs that do show an English translation below the Chinese. Here's just two examples:
Carefully slip
Don't Drive Tiredly
Wow!! I think I'm caught up...which is good since I sure don't know when I'll have this much time to use someone's computer again!!! Hope all is well with you and yours! Please feel free to email us as we were able to read some today & loved hearing from home.........
Roads
The best. Almost all the roads seem new & very well constructed with ramps going every which way in the city and beautifully landscapes. Street sweepers are out in huge numbers using broom made of probably some type of straw. It's so clean around here. Outside the downtown area, the roads are like super highways...but still often landscaped. We've been through several loooong tunnels and over loooong bridges.
Shopping
We spent two entire days shopping for things we'll be taking to the leprosy villages. Jenny for sewing & hygiene. Rog for projects mat'l & tools. Me for classrooms & students. We were in huge supply buildings ( 11 4 story buildings) crammed with everything you can imagine. With our list in hand, we sorted through the mountains trying to find what we think we need. Not an easy task. I thought it was hard in Thailand to give out reading glasses. I truly struggled with trying to pick out reading books that I could not read for students when I don't even know their reading levels. LiRunJiang was helping me--thank goodness--but he has very limited English so we must have been a comical pair trying to figure out what I needed to buy. I was able to get lots of posters, maps, pencils, scissors, etc...so atleast it'll be a good start for the two classrooms we will be setting up. Rog was with Yuan--who spoke no English but is very smart & they were able to find much of what was on Rog's list. Jenny, of course, speaks fluent Chinese and her company & many friends had given her about $6000 to spend---most was for sewing machines but her shopping pile is huge: scissors, thread, sewing kit boxes, towels, undies, soap, q-tips, etc.... What we couldn't find at the supply centers, we found at Walmart!!
The Three Amigos
We've been having a blast with the three local Chinese who have been driving us everywhere & feeding us constantly: Meizi, Yuan & LiRun. They laugh loudly & often & try to please us in everyway possible. We feel so pampered & lucky!!! And to top it off, we have Jenny to intrepret for us!!!!
Housing & Building Cost
Back to all those millions of housing units...we were told that each is about 100 sq meters and cost about $600 a month which is about what one person can make per month. And the cost of construction is between $10 -20,000 per sq meter. What a housing boom!
Breakfast
Normal breakfast here is a very large bowl of a soup with rice noodles topped with lots of hot sause and you can add fried pork rind, onions, chilis, peppers, etc. or....boiled eggs & steamed rolls. Can you guess which I choose??? Even Rog is eating the eggs.
Lunch & Supper
Huge. It's amazing how many main dishes on set in front of you at each meal--at least 6. And an overflowing bowl of rice too. Everyone uses their chopsticks to dig in taking from each main dish and adding rice to their bowl. Rog is now an expert at using sticks & I'm improving though it's okay that it takes me much longer to eat!! Rog is trying everything and as you can imagine--liking everything. Our Three Amigos took us to a western style restraurant where one of the dishes we had was pizza. Li even ate his pizza with chopsticks. I wanted spring rolls last night so they knew where we should eat. We also got a plate mounded with deep fried fish--about 2 inches long. Yuan must have eaten 20 of them...with chopsticks....expertly eating around the tiny bones. His plate was full of those bones.
Fashion
Boy am I underdressed here! Women around here wear gorgeous clothing with lots of glitter & frills and fancy high heel shoes. (Marcee, you'd love it) Many young girls wear very short skirts & high heeled black boots. Picture someone dressed like that driving a motorcycle!
Language Barrier
Though we know we are missing out on lots because we have NO idea what is being said around us--and it seems no one speaks English anywhere we go--the good side of that is that we have lots more time to observe what's happening all around us and notice details that we usually don't because we are too busy talking!!
School Visit
We were welcomed into a private school that teaching English to students after school & on weekends. I felt at home being surrounded by word walls & sight words, posters of word families, and student work displayed that looked so similiar to USA. Most students were not there as it's still New Year holiday here but the few there were fun to visit with. This school was the first in the area to use the Smart Board and the head master was proud that so many other school officials came to visit & are now using them. I still can't fathom how we'll be able to use them in the villages as it even at that school, they did not have them hooked to the internet but had purchased a Houghton Miflin program--and I don't think we''' have that. What will be will be! Befire I left, the head master offered me a job--which I heard would pay about $1000 per month and housing was not included. Not even tempting.
Stone Forest
Since our shopping was done, the Three Amigos & us headed out of town about one hour to the Stone Forest. Stunning and humungous---(give me a break about spelling as I don't want to take the time for spell check or re-reading!!!) Giant limestone towers of every shape and size erupted over miles. These towers are called Karst--which is what the towers we canoes to by Pughet last year were. So here we are seeing karst on land! A rather new park has been established there with well built paths throughout the towering stone structures---some going waaaay down & some going waaaay up. We hiked around taking lots of pictures & truly enjoying the beautiful warm day. THe most famous tower was Ashima--named after a legendary lady who refused to marry a wealthy & powerful man but instead waited for her true love. We'd brought lunch (bread, peanut butter, chips, buns filled with beans, sweet rolls & diet& reg Coke we'd bought at Walmart) & found a perfect tables with six stools all carved from the limestone & nestled in the between the towers. Jenny pulled out smoked salmon she'd brought from Vancouver--delicious. What an amazing place to truly enjoy a wonderful feast. Only 3 people passed through as we ate & ate & ate. How lucky can one get?????? After lunch, we hiked around a bit more and then came to a stage where the local tribe (Asi) were performing traditional dancing & singing. We went to an adjacent Black Stone Forest where we again climbed among the towers, stopping to eat again & taking a rest on the green grass. Besides the towers, we enjoyed the many blossoming trees. One path we walked had blossoming cherry trees that had been connected to form an arch over us. What a wonderful day. I will try to remember one of the sayings I read on a sign that explained how the stone forest was formed by rain breaking down the limestone: Time & softness overcomes hardness.
Terrace Farming
As we drove to & from the Stone Forest, we passed lots of active terrace farming. So many hillsides had areas leveled and filled with manicured rows of vegetables. In the valleys surrounding the villages where all the houses were built, the flat land was being farmed in small plots. There were also hundreds of green houses. It seemed no land sat idle.
Fruits & Nuts
Everywhere you go there are fruits & nuts for sale--many we've seen in other countries but many other we have not. Jenny is very adventurous and trying lots of them even she has never seen. She & Rog both really enjoyed the snake skin fruit they ate yesterday. Jenny is loving the roasted sweet potatoes & was in heaven when she was given some root that she remembered eating as a child. It's not unusual to see people eating all these cooked roots anywhere we go. When I looked at the deli in Walmart, I could not recognize one thing.
Streets
Visions of playing frogger in Kolkata are returning to us as we watch pedestrian after pedestrian dogged moving vehicles. Rog said it puts real meaning to the saying A miss is as good as a mile. And once they do get to the sidewalk, they really can't walk safely there either as cars park by backing up right over the sidewalk.
Sunday at the Park
While waiting for Juan to pick us up Sunday, we went to a park. Rog & Li sat with our purchases which drew lots of attention & they were soon surrounded by kids & teens interested in looking at a map they had out. I strolled around delighted to see so many people enjoying themselves. Many kids were with grandparents and playing on the swings & slides. There were lots of games of chess & mohjong being played by groups of men. Several tables were being used for adults & kids who were painting. There was a roller skating ring & jump house too. So much fun being had.
Translation
We have had many laughs as we read signs that do show an English translation below the Chinese. Here's just two examples:
Carefully slip
Don't Drive Tiredly
Wow!! I think I'm caught up...which is good since I sure don't know when I'll have this much time to use someone's computer again!!! Hope all is well with you and yours! Please feel free to email us as we were able to read some today & loved hearing from home.........
Nihao,
Where do I begin....We've done & seen so much since last I could spend time on a computer. First a quick correction on my lastupdate--the Tse boys will get to attend a gov't school. We are still in Kunming but headed to leprosy villages early tomorrow. Here's a bit of what we've been experiencing...
Invitation
After spending a couple days with a local woman who was invited to join us because she'd worked with Renay, she wrapped her arm in min & invited us into her home. She beamed as we toured her 100 year old home filled with drying vegetables, wood stove, small kindkling sticks, piles of bagged clothing, mosq netted beds, ancestor worship altar... and TV...and flat screen computer! We even climbed the ladder for a view from the rooftop ducking the bambooo clothes lines. How authentic can you get?? This is the reason we travel the way we do!!
Cold
We expected to be cold in China--but not inside too!! Even though we stayed in one of the nicest homes in Taishan, it didn't have heat-nor did the fancy restraurant where we were served a 5 or 6 course meal by waitresses in pink coats--nor the bank or travel agency. Not anywhere!! Everyone wears their coats inside & outside and often with gloves if working cash registers. Our long underwear hasn't had a break!
Chairman Li
After yet a final feast prepared by Chairman Li & a neighbor, we hugged her & told her (through Jenny) that she was so kind & generous to us and she replied that it was our example--coming to help her people when we were not even Chinese--that she followed. Those words warmed my heart....and took all the chill out of the air!!
Off to Kunming
While flying to Kunming on Air China, we finally began to thaw out. Meizi & Yuan were waiting for us with huge smiles when we arrived. Both work for HANDA (an NGO helping lepers). With Yan at the wheel, we made our way to our hotel dodging traffice that weaved in & out, adding lanes at random with motorcyles & bicyles &pedestrians filling in any cracks. Bazaar!! We were rewarded with a warm hotel room with a hot shower!! The next morning we were greeted by the sun --first time since we arrived in China-- and the temperature was 20 C--so good!! This city is in the Yunnan province which is know as the Province of Eternal Spring....and boy is it nice to see it's true!! Many tress are in blossom & though most Chinese are wearing big coats...we took off our long underwear and are wearing light jackets.
High Rises
When I was trying to help my students understad number sense, I'd put marbles in jars & ask them to quess how many. As we drive through & around Kunming's miles of high rise housing, I started tryint o estimate the # of people: # of floors (@30) x number of housing units (@10) x # of people in each unit (@5) x # of high rises (too many to count)...only then did I begin to grasp what the meaning of their 1.4 population (USA is .4) Mind boggling. Can you even begin to imagine the amount of food, water, plumbing, electricity, waste control etc that is needed here???
More, More & More
Cranes are everywhere as more high rises are being built in tremendous numbers. One site we went by today had 25 high rises in construction...with bamboo sdcaffolding and mesh surrounding each.
Factoreis
Now we've seen why & where so much of what we buy in USA comes from! The factories are gigantic and they surround Kunming...and more are being built. There is housing on the site for most of the workers who we are told sleep 5 or ore to each housing unit.
Babies
Babies are adored here! Everyone I've seen has been bundled in many layers and carefully tended to. Their pants have a large slit up the back where their diaper hangs out. Many are being cared for by both grandparents. And for the first time in my life, I can't even smile at them!!! --because after I made three of them cry by trying, I realized I am only scaring them.
Few & Far Between
We've been in China a week now and seen less than 5 other caucasins & none with gray hair or as a couple. We've even had a lady ask to have her picure taken with us. And talk about getting stares!!!
Where do I begin....We've done & seen so much since last I could spend time on a computer. First a quick correction on my lastupdate--the Tse boys will get to attend a gov't school. We are still in Kunming but headed to leprosy villages early tomorrow. Here's a bit of what we've been experiencing...
Invitation
After spending a couple days with a local woman who was invited to join us because she'd worked with Renay, she wrapped her arm in min & invited us into her home. She beamed as we toured her 100 year old home filled with drying vegetables, wood stove, small kindkling sticks, piles of bagged clothing, mosq netted beds, ancestor worship altar... and TV...and flat screen computer! We even climbed the ladder for a view from the rooftop ducking the bambooo clothes lines. How authentic can you get?? This is the reason we travel the way we do!!
Cold
We expected to be cold in China--but not inside too!! Even though we stayed in one of the nicest homes in Taishan, it didn't have heat-nor did the fancy restraurant where we were served a 5 or 6 course meal by waitresses in pink coats--nor the bank or travel agency. Not anywhere!! Everyone wears their coats inside & outside and often with gloves if working cash registers. Our long underwear hasn't had a break!
Chairman Li
After yet a final feast prepared by Chairman Li & a neighbor, we hugged her & told her (through Jenny) that she was so kind & generous to us and she replied that it was our example--coming to help her people when we were not even Chinese--that she followed. Those words warmed my heart....and took all the chill out of the air!!
Off to Kunming
While flying to Kunming on Air China, we finally began to thaw out. Meizi & Yuan were waiting for us with huge smiles when we arrived. Both work for HANDA (an NGO helping lepers). With Yan at the wheel, we made our way to our hotel dodging traffice that weaved in & out, adding lanes at random with motorcyles & bicyles &pedestrians filling in any cracks. Bazaar!! We were rewarded with a warm hotel room with a hot shower!! The next morning we were greeted by the sun --first time since we arrived in China-- and the temperature was 20 C--so good!! This city is in the Yunnan province which is know as the Province of Eternal Spring....and boy is it nice to see it's true!! Many tress are in blossom & though most Chinese are wearing big coats...we took off our long underwear and are wearing light jackets.
High Rises
When I was trying to help my students understad number sense, I'd put marbles in jars & ask them to quess how many. As we drive through & around Kunming's miles of high rise housing, I started tryint o estimate the # of people: # of floors (@30) x number of housing units (@10) x # of people in each unit (@5) x # of high rises (too many to count)...only then did I begin to grasp what the meaning of their 1.4 population (USA is .4) Mind boggling. Can you even begin to imagine the amount of food, water, plumbing, electricity, waste control etc that is needed here???
More, More & More
Cranes are everywhere as more high rises are being built in tremendous numbers. One site we went by today had 25 high rises in construction...with bamboo sdcaffolding and mesh surrounding each.
Factoreis
Now we've seen why & where so much of what we buy in USA comes from! The factories are gigantic and they surround Kunming...and more are being built. There is housing on the site for most of the workers who we are told sleep 5 or ore to each housing unit.
Babies
Babies are adored here! Everyone I've seen has been bundled in many layers and carefully tended to. Their pants have a large slit up the back where their diaper hangs out. Many are being cared for by both grandparents. And for the first time in my life, I can't even smile at them!!! --because after I made three of them cry by trying, I realized I am only scaring them.
Few & Far Between
We've been in China a week now and seen less than 5 other caucasins & none with gray hair or as a couple. We've even had a lady ask to have her picure taken with us. And talk about getting stares!!!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
This will be really short as computer use can only be done with Chinese person with you and our cells do not work here....we are well and definitely immersed...we have been here in Kunming for two days and have not seen another caucasian person...with arms linked, we have been led through many homes...offered much tea and food and through our smiles, we communicate a mutual enjoyment of each other. We will be here one more day shopping for things we will need in the leprosy colonies and meeting with smartboard representatives and visiting a school. Hope all is well there...and don't worry if you don't hear from us!! The Chinese people we are with are taking very good care of us!
ARRIVED IN CHINA
Hi Everyone...For those of you interested in reading our emails from China...here's the first. Not sure when the next time will be as finding a computer has been tricky and we are headed for even more remote areas...I expect it will get tougher...
After over 30 hours of traveling, we were grandly rewarded with a gorgeous view of the Hong Kong harbor from our 23rd floor hotel room...and woke up the next morning eager to do some roaming and found a gorgeous park where many were exercising and birds were singing, large ships were loading next to small fishing boats, and chic store fronts were next to market stalls...in other words, much contrast. A short time later, we met a Canadian, Jenny who had lived in China for her first twelve years and was returning as part of the group we'll be working with. She's a wonderfully, energetic girl who speaks Chinese & is so excited about helping in her home country...and we're so excited she is helping us get around. She had brought with her a cousin's husband who helped haul our luggage & two heavy bags of tools first to the subway and then to the train which took us to the mainland where we went through customs and then met up with our driver, Ming. If this sounds easy...it wasn't. Thanks goodness Jenny knew how to get through the maze! Then we were off...Jenny's cousin & her mother joined us...driving over an hour through the huge high-rises that were huddled together...it seemed like we were in a thick forest of high-rises...most with balconies where their laundry was hanging.
Our first real meal
Around 2, we stopped at a local restaurant for our first real meal in China...turtle & chicken soup and eel & fried rice. As dishes were set on the table, the cousin & her mom washed all the dishes with the hot tea before filling our soup bowls. I timidly tried it & was surprised it tasted so flavorful. Rog lapped it up and quickly learned to use the chopsticks to gobble down the eel & fried rice. After applauded Rog, I admit they had to bring me a fork after watching me struggle.
Jenny's home village
Then we drove off to the village where Jenny lived. It appeared to be a ghost town for the most part. Jenny found her old house that still was filled with lots of pieces of furniture, pictures on the wall, the cook stove, pig pen, chicken crate, ancestor shrine, scales and even a elegant tea pot. Jenny's memories overwhelmed her as she went from one area to another recalling her life there. A few locals started joining us--coming from those seemingly empty homes. Jenny emptied one of her suitcases spreading cookies, candy, dried salmon, dried fruit & cakes on an ancient table. That brought everyone else left in her hometown and such a party of chattering began. If only we could have understood...but without a doubt, there was much happiness. A local lady climbed the lady to light incense in front of the ancestor's shrine. Jenny then asked us to follow as she went in search of an old woman who helped her mother care for her. She found her in her home...dark, cold & barren...Jenny ladened her with warm clothes & good foods and the smile on her beaming face is one I'll never forget. Rog & I then explored abit as Jenny soaked up her time with the villagers & the memories of her long ago home. How different her life would have been had not her desperate parents...as so many of those who farmed in this village...left to find a better life. We made another stop dropping off Jenny's cousin & her mother and a suitcase filled with clothing.
Sheng On Tuin
About four hours from the border, we started seeing fields, sheds and villages that wer built on a large cement slab with house clustered together and surrounded by fish ponds, small gardens & rice paddies...built about 3 ft below the heighth of the village. We stopped in Sheng On Tuin and got out in front of the nicest home around. It belongs to Chairman Li (who is like the head of the social welfare of about 1 million people). She doesn't live in it but lets the vp of the village there . Chairman Li is a friend of Renay who heads up the Eco Village of Hope (EVH) so she generously allows EVH voluteers to stay overnight. The house has decorative tile, inlaid wooden doors, marble door knobs, huge dining room table with lazy susan, a western toilet without the flush...but no heat. I haven't taken my long undies off since I put them on shortly after we got her. But what they lack in heat, they make up in food. Today we were literally forced to stuff ourselves...twice. I am now thankful for chopsticks because they allowed me to appear to be eating for hours without actually getting much in my mouth. Rog of course, was delighted to try the quail, shrimp, tree mushrooms, various roots & other unknown vegetables even covering them in a variety of sauces. He is snoring like a happy Chinaman as I'm typing this.
ATM
We spent over 3 hours today getting tickets to Kunming at a travel agency. They would not take anything but cash so we went to a bank--they did not have an ATM so we had to go to a bigger bank. They had an ATM but it did not have money in it. Chairman Li took us to the "right bank teller" who recorded all our info...then we had to wait for another teller to give us the cash...so one ATM stop took almost 2 hours. But we succeeded!
Orphanage
Rog & I seemed to be drawn to orphanages. Chairman Li asked permission for us to visit the local one. Most of the children we off to school or therapies so we could give lots of hugs & play with the four there. They each had some type of birth defect but that didn't stop them from laughing when we tickled them or trying to dance with us. It melted our hearts when one threw a kiss as we left...leaving behind large bags of candy & milk.
Tse Family
We took a side road that led to a small group of corregated steel homes and there met the Tse family. To say they welcomed us would be a gross understatement. They opened a bag of cookies, filled a bowl with candies and an made a fresh pot of tea. They beamed as they showed us the carboard walls where they displayed their children's school awards. Unlike most, they had five kids...one of which , Alice is being sponsored by one of Renay's friends so she'd asked us to visit them. While we waited for Alice to come from school, they proudly walked us around their vegetable farm where two of their sons were gathering lettuce heads. We also visited their neighbor's pig & chicken farm and got a close up look at their two wheel tractor. When Alice came, she brought out her report cards & newest awards. She was delighted to speak a bit of English and wanted to see pictures of America. She is studying computers...and I could only marvel at the vast span between the computer world and this sparse, dark, dirt floor, ramshackle of a building that was her home. When the cold really settled in...not that we hadn't been cold the whole time...we said our good bye & then drove Alice back to her school in town (about 20 minutes away) where she stays coming home usually only once or twice a month. It cost about $1000 for room, board & books per year which her sponsor provides. Her parents hoped Renay would find sponsors for their sons but Chairman Li told us that since they had not follwed the suggested one child rule, they should deal with the consequences of their decision. My guess is that those boys have a rough life ahead of them.
After over 30 hours of traveling, we were grandly rewarded with a gorgeous view of the Hong Kong harbor from our 23rd floor hotel room...and woke up the next morning eager to do some roaming and found a gorgeous park where many were exercising and birds were singing, large ships were loading next to small fishing boats, and chic store fronts were next to market stalls...in other words, much contrast. A short time later, we met a Canadian, Jenny who had lived in China for her first twelve years and was returning as part of the group we'll be working with. She's a wonderfully, energetic girl who speaks Chinese & is so excited about helping in her home country...and we're so excited she is helping us get around. She had brought with her a cousin's husband who helped haul our luggage & two heavy bags of tools first to the subway and then to the train which took us to the mainland where we went through customs and then met up with our driver, Ming. If this sounds easy...it wasn't. Thanks goodness Jenny knew how to get through the maze! Then we were off...Jenny's cousin & her mother joined us...driving over an hour through the huge high-rises that were huddled together...it seemed like we were in a thick forest of high-rises...most with balconies where their laundry was hanging.
Our first real meal
Around 2, we stopped at a local restaurant for our first real meal in China...turtle & chicken soup and eel & fried rice. As dishes were set on the table, the cousin & her mom washed all the dishes with the hot tea before filling our soup bowls. I timidly tried it & was surprised it tasted so flavorful. Rog lapped it up and quickly learned to use the chopsticks to gobble down the eel & fried rice. After applauded Rog, I admit they had to bring me a fork after watching me struggle.
Jenny's home village
Then we drove off to the village where Jenny lived. It appeared to be a ghost town for the most part. Jenny found her old house that still was filled with lots of pieces of furniture, pictures on the wall, the cook stove, pig pen, chicken crate, ancestor shrine, scales and even a elegant tea pot. Jenny's memories overwhelmed her as she went from one area to another recalling her life there. A few locals started joining us--coming from those seemingly empty homes. Jenny emptied one of her suitcases spreading cookies, candy, dried salmon, dried fruit & cakes on an ancient table. That brought everyone else left in her hometown and such a party of chattering began. If only we could have understood...but without a doubt, there was much happiness. A local lady climbed the lady to light incense in front of the ancestor's shrine. Jenny then asked us to follow as she went in search of an old woman who helped her mother care for her. She found her in her home...dark, cold & barren...Jenny ladened her with warm clothes & good foods and the smile on her beaming face is one I'll never forget. Rog & I then explored abit as Jenny soaked up her time with the villagers & the memories of her long ago home. How different her life would have been had not her desperate parents...as so many of those who farmed in this village...left to find a better life. We made another stop dropping off Jenny's cousin & her mother and a suitcase filled with clothing.
Sheng On Tuin
About four hours from the border, we started seeing fields, sheds and villages that wer built on a large cement slab with house clustered together and surrounded by fish ponds, small gardens & rice paddies...built about 3 ft below the heighth of the village. We stopped in Sheng On Tuin and got out in front of the nicest home around. It belongs to Chairman Li (who is like the head of the social welfare of about 1 million people). She doesn't live in it but lets the vp of the village there . Chairman Li is a friend of Renay who heads up the Eco Village of Hope (EVH) so she generously allows EVH voluteers to stay overnight. The house has decorative tile, inlaid wooden doors, marble door knobs, huge dining room table with lazy susan, a western toilet without the flush...but no heat. I haven't taken my long undies off since I put them on shortly after we got her. But what they lack in heat, they make up in food. Today we were literally forced to stuff ourselves...twice. I am now thankful for chopsticks because they allowed me to appear to be eating for hours without actually getting much in my mouth. Rog of course, was delighted to try the quail, shrimp, tree mushrooms, various roots & other unknown vegetables even covering them in a variety of sauces. He is snoring like a happy Chinaman as I'm typing this.
ATM
We spent over 3 hours today getting tickets to Kunming at a travel agency. They would not take anything but cash so we went to a bank--they did not have an ATM so we had to go to a bigger bank. They had an ATM but it did not have money in it. Chairman Li took us to the "right bank teller" who recorded all our info...then we had to wait for another teller to give us the cash...so one ATM stop took almost 2 hours. But we succeeded!
Orphanage
Rog & I seemed to be drawn to orphanages. Chairman Li asked permission for us to visit the local one. Most of the children we off to school or therapies so we could give lots of hugs & play with the four there. They each had some type of birth defect but that didn't stop them from laughing when we tickled them or trying to dance with us. It melted our hearts when one threw a kiss as we left...leaving behind large bags of candy & milk.
Tse Family
We took a side road that led to a small group of corregated steel homes and there met the Tse family. To say they welcomed us would be a gross understatement. They opened a bag of cookies, filled a bowl with candies and an made a fresh pot of tea. They beamed as they showed us the carboard walls where they displayed their children's school awards. Unlike most, they had five kids...one of which , Alice is being sponsored by one of Renay's friends so she'd asked us to visit them. While we waited for Alice to come from school, they proudly walked us around their vegetable farm where two of their sons were gathering lettuce heads. We also visited their neighbor's pig & chicken farm and got a close up look at their two wheel tractor. When Alice came, she brought out her report cards & newest awards. She was delighted to speak a bit of English and wanted to see pictures of America. She is studying computers...and I could only marvel at the vast span between the computer world and this sparse, dark, dirt floor, ramshackle of a building that was her home. When the cold really settled in...not that we hadn't been cold the whole time...we said our good bye & then drove Alice back to her school in town (about 20 minutes away) where she stays coming home usually only once or twice a month. It cost about $1000 for room, board & books per year which her sponsor provides. Her parents hoped Renay would find sponsors for their sons but Chairman Li told us that since they had not follwed the suggested one child rule, they should deal with the consequences of their decision. My guess is that those boys have a rough life ahead of them.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Final thoughts on Thailand
Jane's Final thoughts:
I feel so fortunate to have had yet another amazing experience...and if you've been following, you know exactly why so I sure don't need to go into any more detail...only thanks for all your support & kind words. I so hope you too feel as blessed.
Rog's Final Thoughts on Thailand:
Longtail boats on the river in Bangkok, Thai food with ants and ant eggs, Spring green rice paddies, water buffalo being led by children with a rope, children sleeping on the family motorcycle as they are being carried home, beautiful sunsets, cobras being caught bare handed by their handlers...
As we prepare to leave for America we have said many goodbyes and often are asked,
...but there is still much of the world that we haven't seen so it is not likely that we will be back to Thailand. "Do you like Thailand? Will you come to visit again?"
I reply, " Thailand has been wonderful to visit. The people are so friendly and everyone smiles and waves when they see you. The children are very respectful and everyone has fun and often there is laughter whenever people
are together (which seems like most of the time). The country is beautiful and warm (when it isn't hot)! There are beautiful beaches and fascinating ruins of previous civilizations. So Yes, I would love to return someday."
Thailand #31
Up Country:
At 8 p.m. we met up with Cori (30 yr old from Idaho wheat farm), Skye (23 yr old nurse from hills of Alabama) & Jup & jumped into a cab to the bus station for a 6 hour trip to Bplaa Bplaa Chi in the Buriram Providence which is about the only area we hadn't been to. Around 3:30 a.m., we stumbled off the bus & got into the back of a pick up truck for the 30 minute ride to Prong's (Thai former bar girl) home. We crashed until 8 p.m. & then jumped back into the pick up to meet up with a group called Operation Blessings Foundation. They are all Thai except for one doctor who is English but lives along with the rest of them in Chaing Mai. They are a Christian group that do many outreach programs throughout Thailand--one of the very few Thai groups. We went to a small village of mostly Cambodians and set up a clinic that included taking blood pressure, height, weight, doctor check up, Rx if needed, reading glasses, lice check & shampoo if needed, haircut and time with a Christian prayer partner/councilor. Luckily we had several interpreters available as the local spoke Khmer to the Thai who translated it to English for us. I was kept busy at the reading glass center--guessing as best I could what each person needed--often I think they just wanted the free glasses as wearing glasses is very popular here. Rog spent the morning doing misc. stuff & the afternoon helping me. We chuckled when we finally decided which glasses worked for the locals & they gave us a huge grin--which meant showing their black, crooked & missing teeth. I could not help but think how much more they needed a dentist!!! We were sure ready for a shower & rest when we got back to Prong's. Around 5, we walked around her village to remind people that the clinic would be at her house the next day. After an hour or so, a pick up truck came by--so typical as we really never knew what was going to happen next--so in we hopped & soon arrived at a local church where we ate (well, I did the best I could) and then a rousing church service that began with Blessed be the Name in Thai. The minister--who had been at the clinic with us--announced that we had serviced 334 people and 135 had accepted Jesus. Long & loud hallelujah shouts filled the room. Next morning at 6:30, Rog & I were cleaning red hot peppers to be added to the breakfast menu that fed the clinic workers. While they ate, I washed my hands and ate a granola bar!! Though the crowd was smaller that day--Prong was beaming as it was all her friends & neighbors being helped...thanks to her. Again, I worked the reading glass station & Rog cut some hair. The local women prepared lunch--which included fresh ant & ant eggs cooked with the rice. I have pictures to prove that I am married to a truly crazy man who ate them and licked his lips when done. A local told us that it was a very special treat to have ants & eggs as you only get them once a year & it was a sign that the rainy season would be good. I much prefer plum pudding once a year and ate yet another peanut butter sandwich. After dismantling the clinic set up, shower & rest, 11 of us climbed on 4 motorcycles and rode around 8-10 miles to Prong's friend's restaurant. Dinner was fun as a bucket with a hot charcoal chula with a small grill on top was set in the middle of the table. First you poured chicken broth into a bowl that surrounded the grill& when it boiled added the cabbage, beans, etc.. You put some suet on top & then laid chicken & liver on. In other words--a fondue type experience. On the way home we stopped at a drive in movie that had been set up. Prong told us a local person had died & so his family was expected to give her village a party. Another day we'd seen several small groups partying & she had told us it was because the king had a dream that included a certain name so he had announced that anyone with that name must have a party for their neighbors...and Thai do whatever the kings says. Next morning 6 a.m., the pick up arrived so we could help at the clinic set up in another small village about an hour away. Since we were out of free glasses, I was measuring height...and did a mental survey of the condition of teeth compared to age. Not one my age had white teeth or all their teeth. By age 40, most had lost teeth & had many cavities. Even by age 5, cavities were obvious. Good thing they live on rice. Rog spent his day with the many kids helping to educate them about brushing their teeth, checking for head lice & do lice shampooing when needed. After a group photo & many, many hugs, we were headed back to Prong's stopping by to check out some Cambodian/Khmer ruins. It had been a full and fulfilling three days and we were ready for Sunday--a day of rest.
English Doctor:
One of the marvelous things about helping out, is meeting the other people who are helping out. The English doctor,Jill is just one example. She & her husband adopted 3 Thai children who were around 10 and after a couple years of trying to raise them in England, decided to move them back to their home country as the adjustment was just too great for them. They have lived here about 8 yrs now & she spends a weekend a month plus a ten day trip working with Operation Blessings clinics. She felt strongly that the Thai Christian churches needed to take over the work that western missionaries have been doing for years--allowing the Thai to become dependent on them. She was thrilled when a couple young Thai girls were assigned to help her so she could train them a bit & encourage them to become nurses or doctors. Jill felt that even though it was quite cheap for the Thai to go to the doctors & Thai has excellent health care--most Thai doctors... who are Buddhist... did not care about treating the poor (which is most Thai)--and to appease them, they just five them lots of pills--and more if they come back. She'd only met a few Christian Thai doctors who actually cared about truly treating the poor. And since there is much inbreeding in the small villages, there is a much higher number with genetic diseases. As I watched her with patient after patient, I could almost see the love flowing out of her hands & eyes.
Religion:
Several people have added to our understanding of major religions of the country we are in as we have travel about and it often seems that many of the problems stem from those religions. For example, the Buddhist believe in doing merit (good deeds) so that they can achieve a higher next life. Not that they care for the people they do good deeds for--those poor are poor because of their previous life. So the good deed is for themselves. Similar to the Hindu belief. Both for the good of self only. Also, there is little community feeling as they worship individually. Even the Christian churches have a hard time convincing their members to serve others as it's just not been their mindset. American's giving nature is very rare here...and for that reason & many more, I feel so lucky & proud to be an American and Christian.
My Buddy:
One the first day of the clinic I met a Thai woman who said she was Joker--I wasn't sure if it was her name or just a nickname but since I grinned, she laughed and hugged me. After that, every time we met she'd wink at me & say my buddy--then we'd lace our little fingers & she'd turn her checks so I could kiss her and she'd give me the biggest belly laugh. Every time the group got together for meals or pre/post meeting or church service, she was the life of the party shouting out things that must of been funny cause everyone would crack up. Day 2 she said if I came the next day, she had a green scarf she would give me. The last day, sure enough, she had a beautiful green scarf she wrapped around me and then she had an interpreter ask me to stay with her in Thailand. I said I'd rather have her come stay with me in America. She got so excited and started shouting America. I showed her a picture of our house & she kept saying--Me America. And since she was rather large, she indicated she needed a big seat on the airplane. She asked for my email & said she'd write. We parted doing our ritual one more time. I sure I could have brought that laugh home with me!!
Sunday Church:
15 people--mostly relatives & their kids--gathered in front of Prong's & soon the pick up came by taking us to the local church where for over 2 hours there was much passionate praising going on and followed by a potluck dinner. Lucky for us, Rog & I ended up sitting on mats in the back with the kids spending our time coloring & playing with stickers. Though it would have been nice to know what was being said--it was fun being with the kids who crawled all over us. We did get to spend time with the minister who spoke good English. He's a builder by trade which explained why he had a nice big home next to the church...which he & his wife share along with their college educated daughter who choice to join them in their ministry and 12 local orphan children they take care of. Several times, one of the orphans would come over to him & he would pick them up and hug them so lovingly. Truly a unique and admirable man in a land where most men don't even care for their own children.
Coconut Run:
When asked if I wanted to go get some coconuts, I said sure & hopped on the motorbike for a short ride to a neighbor's back yard. He took a large bamboo stick with a knife on the end and in a few minutes, I was dodging the falling coconuts. Jup grabbed a hatchet type knife and cut off the end. With a glass over the hole, the coconut was tipped over and out flowed the coconut milk. We drank that sweet stuff up & then cracked up the coconut so we could spoon out the meat. Mmmmmm. After about just a 15 minute stop, we headed back carrying six coconuts for later.
Pedicure/Manicure:
As we sat on the porch with the fan blowing on us, one of Prong's nieces walked over and asked if she could polish my toenails & fingernails. Sure! She meticulously worked on cleaning my toenails--a huge feat (pun)--and then polished them with much expertise...all while salamanders, mosquitoes, flies & various other insects buzzed around us. She also offered to give me a massage but I didn't take her up on that because she'd already done so much...for only a smile & piece of gum from me.
Thai Cooking Lesson:
The guide books tell you to make sure you take a Thai cooking class--and that's just what I did--in Prong's kitchen preparing fried rice & stir fried veges with a pinch of salt, cane sugar, spices , greens from her garden, soy sauce and freshly crushed garlic. Rog is hoping I will cook it often in USA.
Silk Production:
Silk has long been a main source of income here in the villages. Prong's mom has done it her whole life. We watched each morning as she fed her worms gobs of mulberry leaves and later as she pulled the silk from the cocoon & spun it ever so carefully. What a time consuming job that would end up earning her so little and yet produce such beauty!!
Prong:
A woman torn and struggling as she tries to recover from her life in Bangkok bars. She talked about how often she thought how hard it is to make money to support her two kids & mom by spinning silk & making dresses, purses & scarves from it. How much more she earned as a bar girl. But she knew that it was wrong and degrading and more than anything, she had to show her daughter, nieces & other young village girls that you could have a good life without going to Bangkok bars. What an inspiration!
Back to Bangkok:
As we pulled away from the bus station headed back to Bangkok, Prong, her daughter, sister, several nieces & nephews & our trusty truck driver stood waving & throwing kisses. We felt so much like they had welcomed us and that we had had a true Thai family experience. We were sure glad we'd taken that leap of faith. On the ride home, we had lots of time to hash over the last several days remember lots to laugh about, learn more about each other and also learn more about The Well from Jup, Cori & Skye.
Sex Trade:
During the Viet Nam War Bangkok came to be #1 in sex trade in the world. The friendly and mild mannered people are easily lured to the city as they search for a way to provide for their families and/or escape the labor of life in the rice fields. Debt and increased expectations for material possessions combined with low education levels and unwillingness to adapt to changing markets or use new technology efficiently has led to financial difficulties in the rural areas. Many young women are encouraged by their own parents to go to Bangkok so they can can send money to support their families remaining in the countryside. The best chance for the women to provide long term support for their families is for them to find a Western man who will give them money. This may also mean a life of comforts and relative ease. The women often feel that they cannot depend on their Thai husbands to stay with them and provide for their families. So when the men leave, children are left with relatives and they go to Bangkok to get money to send home. It becomes a terrible cycle of despair for families caught in this as they are the example for the next generation.
Sight Seeing in Bangkok:
In the two days we had to sight see, we crammed in: Jim Thompson's--American WWII vet who served in Thai and came back to rejuvenate the silk industry & at 61 went for a walk in the jungle & never was seen again--house which is now a museum as he had been a collector of Thai paintings & crafts; dragged Rog to the snake farm where they milk to venomous snakes to make the antivenin needed in this country where there's over 10,000 bites a year; rode the ferry all the way to the end & back; and enjoyed a quiet afternoon by a pond in a large central park.
Up Country:
At 8 p.m. we met up with Cori (30 yr old from Idaho wheat farm), Skye (23 yr old nurse from hills of Alabama) & Jup & jumped into a cab to the bus station for a 6 hour trip to Bplaa Bplaa Chi in the Buriram Providence which is about the only area we hadn't been to. Around 3:30 a.m., we stumbled off the bus & got into the back of a pick up truck for the 30 minute ride to Prong's (Thai former bar girl) home. We crashed until 8 p.m. & then jumped back into the pick up to meet up with a group called Operation Blessings Foundation. They are all Thai except for one doctor who is English but lives along with the rest of them in Chaing Mai. They are a Christian group that do many outreach programs throughout Thailand--one of the very few Thai groups. We went to a small village of mostly Cambodians and set up a clinic that included taking blood pressure, height, weight, doctor check up, Rx if needed, reading glasses, lice check & shampoo if needed, haircut and time with a Christian prayer partner/councilor. Luckily we had several interpreters available as the local spoke Khmer to the Thai who translated it to English for us. I was kept busy at the reading glass center--guessing as best I could what each person needed--often I think they just wanted the free glasses as wearing glasses is very popular here. Rog spent the morning doing misc. stuff & the afternoon helping me. We chuckled when we finally decided which glasses worked for the locals & they gave us a huge grin--which meant showing their black, crooked & missing teeth. I could not help but think how much more they needed a dentist!!! We were sure ready for a shower & rest when we got back to Prong's. Around 5, we walked around her village to remind people that the clinic would be at her house the next day. After an hour or so, a pick up truck came by--so typical as we really never knew what was going to happen next--so in we hopped & soon arrived at a local church where we ate (well, I did the best I could) and then a rousing church service that began with Blessed be the Name in Thai. The minister--who had been at the clinic with us--announced that we had serviced 334 people and 135 had accepted Jesus. Long & loud hallelujah shouts filled the room. Next morning at 6:30, Rog & I were cleaning red hot peppers to be added to the breakfast menu that fed the clinic workers. While they ate, I washed my hands and ate a granola bar!! Though the crowd was smaller that day--Prong was beaming as it was all her friends & neighbors being helped...thanks to her. Again, I worked the reading glass station & Rog cut some hair. The local women prepared lunch--which included fresh ant & ant eggs cooked with the rice. I have pictures to prove that I am married to a truly crazy man who ate them and licked his lips when done. A local told us that it was a very special treat to have ants & eggs as you only get them once a year & it was a sign that the rainy season would be good. I much prefer plum pudding once a year and ate yet another peanut butter sandwich. After dismantling the clinic set up, shower & rest, 11 of us climbed on 4 motorcycles and rode around 8-10 miles to Prong's friend's restaurant. Dinner was fun as a bucket with a hot charcoal chula with a small grill on top was set in the middle of the table. First you poured chicken broth into a bowl that surrounded the grill& when it boiled added the cabbage, beans, etc.. You put some suet on top & then laid chicken & liver on. In other words--a fondue type experience. On the way home we stopped at a drive in movie that had been set up. Prong told us a local person had died & so his family was expected to give her village a party. Another day we'd seen several small groups partying & she had told us it was because the king had a dream that included a certain name so he had announced that anyone with that name must have a party for their neighbors...and Thai do whatever the kings says. Next morning 6 a.m., the pick up arrived so we could help at the clinic set up in another small village about an hour away. Since we were out of free glasses, I was measuring height...and did a mental survey of the condition of teeth compared to age. Not one my age had white teeth or all their teeth. By age 40, most had lost teeth & had many cavities. Even by age 5, cavities were obvious. Good thing they live on rice. Rog spent his day with the many kids helping to educate them about brushing their teeth, checking for head lice & do lice shampooing when needed. After a group photo & many, many hugs, we were headed back to Prong's stopping by to check out some Cambodian/Khmer ruins. It had been a full and fulfilling three days and we were ready for Sunday--a day of rest.
English Doctor:
One of the marvelous things about helping out, is meeting the other people who are helping out. The English doctor,Jill is just one example. She & her husband adopted 3 Thai children who were around 10 and after a couple years of trying to raise them in England, decided to move them back to their home country as the adjustment was just too great for them. They have lived here about 8 yrs now & she spends a weekend a month plus a ten day trip working with Operation Blessings clinics. She felt strongly that the Thai Christian churches needed to take over the work that western missionaries have been doing for years--allowing the Thai to become dependent on them. She was thrilled when a couple young Thai girls were assigned to help her so she could train them a bit & encourage them to become nurses or doctors. Jill felt that even though it was quite cheap for the Thai to go to the doctors & Thai has excellent health care--most Thai doctors... who are Buddhist... did not care about treating the poor (which is most Thai)--and to appease them, they just five them lots of pills--and more if they come back. She'd only met a few Christian Thai doctors who actually cared about truly treating the poor. And since there is much inbreeding in the small villages, there is a much higher number with genetic diseases. As I watched her with patient after patient, I could almost see the love flowing out of her hands & eyes.
Religion:
Several people have added to our understanding of major religions of the country we are in as we have travel about and it often seems that many of the problems stem from those religions. For example, the Buddhist believe in doing merit (good deeds) so that they can achieve a higher next life. Not that they care for the people they do good deeds for--those poor are poor because of their previous life. So the good deed is for themselves. Similar to the Hindu belief. Both for the good of self only. Also, there is little community feeling as they worship individually. Even the Christian churches have a hard time convincing their members to serve others as it's just not been their mindset. American's giving nature is very rare here...and for that reason & many more, I feel so lucky & proud to be an American and Christian.
My Buddy:
One the first day of the clinic I met a Thai woman who said she was Joker--I wasn't sure if it was her name or just a nickname but since I grinned, she laughed and hugged me. After that, every time we met she'd wink at me & say my buddy--then we'd lace our little fingers & she'd turn her checks so I could kiss her and she'd give me the biggest belly laugh. Every time the group got together for meals or pre/post meeting or church service, she was the life of the party shouting out things that must of been funny cause everyone would crack up. Day 2 she said if I came the next day, she had a green scarf she would give me. The last day, sure enough, she had a beautiful green scarf she wrapped around me and then she had an interpreter ask me to stay with her in Thailand. I said I'd rather have her come stay with me in America. She got so excited and started shouting America. I showed her a picture of our house & she kept saying--Me America. And since she was rather large, she indicated she needed a big seat on the airplane. She asked for my email & said she'd write. We parted doing our ritual one more time. I sure I could have brought that laugh home with me!!
Sunday Church:
15 people--mostly relatives & their kids--gathered in front of Prong's & soon the pick up came by taking us to the local church where for over 2 hours there was much passionate praising going on and followed by a potluck dinner. Lucky for us, Rog & I ended up sitting on mats in the back with the kids spending our time coloring & playing with stickers. Though it would have been nice to know what was being said--it was fun being with the kids who crawled all over us. We did get to spend time with the minister who spoke good English. He's a builder by trade which explained why he had a nice big home next to the church...which he & his wife share along with their college educated daughter who choice to join them in their ministry and 12 local orphan children they take care of. Several times, one of the orphans would come over to him & he would pick them up and hug them so lovingly. Truly a unique and admirable man in a land where most men don't even care for their own children.
Coconut Run:
When asked if I wanted to go get some coconuts, I said sure & hopped on the motorbike for a short ride to a neighbor's back yard. He took a large bamboo stick with a knife on the end and in a few minutes, I was dodging the falling coconuts. Jup grabbed a hatchet type knife and cut off the end. With a glass over the hole, the coconut was tipped over and out flowed the coconut milk. We drank that sweet stuff up & then cracked up the coconut so we could spoon out the meat. Mmmmmm. After about just a 15 minute stop, we headed back carrying six coconuts for later.
Pedicure/Manicure:
As we sat on the porch with the fan blowing on us, one of Prong's nieces walked over and asked if she could polish my toenails & fingernails. Sure! She meticulously worked on cleaning my toenails--a huge feat (pun)--and then polished them with much expertise...all while salamanders, mosquitoes, flies & various other insects buzzed around us. She also offered to give me a massage but I didn't take her up on that because she'd already done so much...for only a smile & piece of gum from me.
Thai Cooking Lesson:
The guide books tell you to make sure you take a Thai cooking class--and that's just what I did--in Prong's kitchen preparing fried rice & stir fried veges with a pinch of salt, cane sugar, spices , greens from her garden, soy sauce and freshly crushed garlic. Rog is hoping I will cook it often in USA.
Silk Production:
Silk has long been a main source of income here in the villages. Prong's mom has done it her whole life. We watched each morning as she fed her worms gobs of mulberry leaves and later as she pulled the silk from the cocoon & spun it ever so carefully. What a time consuming job that would end up earning her so little and yet produce such beauty!!
Prong:
A woman torn and struggling as she tries to recover from her life in Bangkok bars. She talked about how often she thought how hard it is to make money to support her two kids & mom by spinning silk & making dresses, purses & scarves from it. How much more she earned as a bar girl. But she knew that it was wrong and degrading and more than anything, she had to show her daughter, nieces & other young village girls that you could have a good life without going to Bangkok bars. What an inspiration!
Back to Bangkok:
As we pulled away from the bus station headed back to Bangkok, Prong, her daughter, sister, several nieces & nephews & our trusty truck driver stood waving & throwing kisses. We felt so much like they had welcomed us and that we had had a true Thai family experience. We were sure glad we'd taken that leap of faith. On the ride home, we had lots of time to hash over the last several days remember lots to laugh about, learn more about each other and also learn more about The Well from Jup, Cori & Skye.
Sex Trade:
During the Viet Nam War Bangkok came to be #1 in sex trade in the world. The friendly and mild mannered people are easily lured to the city as they search for a way to provide for their families and/or escape the labor of life in the rice fields. Debt and increased expectations for material possessions combined with low education levels and unwillingness to adapt to changing markets or use new technology efficiently has led to financial difficulties in the rural areas. Many young women are encouraged by their own parents to go to Bangkok so they can can send money to support their families remaining in the countryside. The best chance for the women to provide long term support for their families is for them to find a Western man who will give them money. This may also mean a life of comforts and relative ease. The women often feel that they cannot depend on their Thai husbands to stay with them and provide for their families. So when the men leave, children are left with relatives and they go to Bangkok to get money to send home. It becomes a terrible cycle of despair for families caught in this as they are the example for the next generation.
Sight Seeing in Bangkok:
In the two days we had to sight see, we crammed in: Jim Thompson's--American WWII vet who served in Thai and came back to rejuvenate the silk industry & at 61 went for a walk in the jungle & never was seen again--house which is now a museum as he had been a collector of Thai paintings & crafts; dragged Rog to the snake farm where they milk to venomous snakes to make the antivenin needed in this country where there's over 10,000 bites a year; rode the ferry all the way to the end & back; and enjoyed a quiet afternoon by a pond in a large central park.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thailand #30
Restaurants:
Just have to describe many of the restaurants in Thailand. In smaller villages, if you have a house that opens on a street, you just need to put a couple tables near the street and fill a half barrel with charcoal & poof...you have a restaurant. How handy...you just serve whatever you cook for your family. Maybe I should try that on Dancer Road!!! In the bigger towns, you can set up on any street...in front of any store...even 7/ll and clean fancy restaurants...you just need a propane tank, an enormous pan, various size dishes of whatever and you got yourself a restaurant. Chairs & tables are optional. Our guidebook says they are safe to eat at...and Rog has done that several times but I much prefer going into 7/ll.
Back in Bangkok--Puppet Show:
Goodbye beach--Hello Bangkok! We arrived back just in time to catch the Aksra Puppet Show and what a delight!! Ornately decorated puppets about 3 ft. tall were gracefully made to dance by three performers creating scenes from long ago with fabulous backgrounds. All together there were 7 scenes which included cock fights, kick boxing, Buddha worship, romantic encounter ,Hindu goddess worship , an elaborate carnival... and the funniest was the monkey gods who after performing came out to play with the audience. Music, lighting & other stage effects made it most entertaining. (Sorry Elsi you had to missed it--you would have been pinching yourself until you were black & blue!!)
The Well:
Their website: http://www.servantworks.com/well
We had arranged to meet Cori who was introduced to us via email by Matt & Heather Hook. They work for a ministry called The Well that is trying to help girls caught in the sex trade find a better life. Cori is an Idaho farm girl and she spent most of the afternoon showing us around The Well...sewing, jewelry, painting, classrooms. We also had the privilege to meet Jim & Judy Larson from Chicago who are the founders. We had quite an in depth discussion about what needs to happen in Thailand to reduce the sex trade situation without changing the many wonderful things about the Thai culture. They certainly have a grand and long range vision for the future. The long and short of it is that somehow the farmers need to make more money so they can provide food & education for their families. Currently, their daughters often go to big cities to make money to send home...and since they have limited education & skills...the sex trade gobbles them up. What a tragedy...
So after offering to help in anyway we could, we were asked to travel with Cori & Jup (Thai minister) & a local nurse to upcountry village...we aren't sure where or how long or for sure how we are getting there but...off we go. As we said in India--Take a Leap of Faith and See the Journey!!
Where else would you see...
-toilet paper used for napkins??
-taxi motorcycles...roaring down the sidewalk?
-sundresses with Fun in the Snow stitched on it?
Misspellings:
We are always getting a kick out of the many misspellings & unusual wording used but after noticing how we mispronounce many Thai words, we thought maybe we misspell a lot of words from other countries based on how we pronounce them. So maybe we shouldn't laugh.
Restaurants:
Just have to describe many of the restaurants in Thailand. In smaller villages, if you have a house that opens on a street, you just need to put a couple tables near the street and fill a half barrel with charcoal & poof...you have a restaurant. How handy...you just serve whatever you cook for your family. Maybe I should try that on Dancer Road!!! In the bigger towns, you can set up on any street...in front of any store...even 7/ll and clean fancy restaurants...you just need a propane tank, an enormous pan, various size dishes of whatever and you got yourself a restaurant. Chairs & tables are optional. Our guidebook says they are safe to eat at...and Rog has done that several times but I much prefer going into 7/ll.
Back in Bangkok--Puppet Show:
Goodbye beach--Hello Bangkok! We arrived back just in time to catch the Aksra Puppet Show and what a delight!! Ornately decorated puppets about 3 ft. tall were gracefully made to dance by three performers creating scenes from long ago with fabulous backgrounds. All together there were 7 scenes which included cock fights, kick boxing, Buddha worship, romantic encounter ,Hindu goddess worship , an elaborate carnival... and the funniest was the monkey gods who after performing came out to play with the audience. Music, lighting & other stage effects made it most entertaining. (Sorry Elsi you had to missed it--you would have been pinching yourself until you were black & blue!!)
The Well:
Their website: http://www.servantworks.com/well
We had arranged to meet Cori who was introduced to us via email by Matt & Heather Hook. They work for a ministry called The Well that is trying to help girls caught in the sex trade find a better life. Cori is an Idaho farm girl and she spent most of the afternoon showing us around The Well...sewing, jewelry, painting, classrooms. We also had the privilege to meet Jim & Judy Larson from Chicago who are the founders. We had quite an in depth discussion about what needs to happen in Thailand to reduce the sex trade situation without changing the many wonderful things about the Thai culture. They certainly have a grand and long range vision for the future. The long and short of it is that somehow the farmers need to make more money so they can provide food & education for their families. Currently, their daughters often go to big cities to make money to send home...and since they have limited education & skills...the sex trade gobbles them up. What a tragedy...
So after offering to help in anyway we could, we were asked to travel with Cori & Jup (Thai minister) & a local nurse to upcountry village...we aren't sure where or how long or for sure how we are getting there but...off we go. As we said in India--Take a Leap of Faith and See the Journey!!
Where else would you see...
-toilet paper used for napkins??
-taxi motorcycles...roaring down the sidewalk?
-sundresses with Fun in the Snow stitched on it?
Misspellings:
We are always getting a kick out of the many misspellings & unusual wording used but after noticing how we mispronounce many Thai words, we thought maybe we misspell a lot of words from other countries based on how we pronounce them. So maybe we shouldn't laugh.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thailand 29
Stay in Udon Thani:
We had to spend a day in Udon Thani waiting to catch a train back to Bangkok so we did our usual stroll around looking for whatever. What we found was lots of bars and even more western men with young Thai girls. It made me angry. So many of the men were old or fat or just ugly or a combination. Udon was a US military base in the 60's and our guide book said that's when Udon became much more westernized. Another casualty of war. On the lighter side, we did have the opportunity to buy some fried crispy & crunchy variety of bugs including caterpillars, locust & grasshoppers...right outside a most plush five story mall. And right around the corner was a McDonald's--can you guess what I choose to eat???? Speaking of eating, since it was very difficult finding food we could eat in Nong Ban Lampu, we had eaten up most of the supply of food we'd brought from USA. Luckily, we found a large grocery store (very rare) and found Jiffy peanut butter & granola bars--first time we'd seen either of these in Thai. They also had cheese--but at about $10 for a 1/2 lb I figured I could wait until I got home to indulge.
Train ride from Udon to Bangkok:
We were sure ready to leave Udon...and anxious to see the country side. We'd purchased a 2nd class ticket (air cond) but after discovering the windows were dirty...we headed back to the 3rd class seats where the open windows kept you cool & we could clearly see the rice paddies, water buffalos, farmers, groves of banana, coconut, pineapple and rubber trees, small towns, mountains and rivers. Soon we saw a pattern...open farm fields, shacky houses, less shacky houses, a few nice homes, village, a few nice homes, shacky houses, more shacky house, open farm fields...etc. Though we had thought we'd see more during the 12 hour train ride...we sure felt like we'd seen lots of Thailand and after about 7 hours as 3rd class got crowded & hot...we gladly went back to our 2nd class air cond seats to eat our PB sandwiches.
Back in Bangkok...only to catch ride to Ko Sumet:
Somewhere along the line, someone recommended a hotel in Bangkok so when we arrived late & tired, we just showed the name to a taxi driver and soon found ourselves in gorgeous hotel. At $85, it was the most we'd paid since Pucket but...it was nice to be in a luxury with a great view of the city lights! After asking for info about getting to Ko Sumet, they quickly lined us up with a mini bus ride the next morning complete with ferry ride to the island--and they'd handle the luggage (which we were tired of hauling around & which we have promised ourselves never travel with so much luggage again!!!) On the ferry ride there, we heard there were no rooms available on the island as it was Music Festival weekend (Thais have many festivals) but we'd already adopted the India & Thai motto: No problem...and there wasn't as the ferry dropped us at a hotel with available bungalows...and handled our luggage so by noon...we were sitting a tropical island beach.
Ko Sumet:
Now I won't go into much detail as I certainly don't want to make anyone too jealous...let's just say it was everything you dream of...emerald green warm water, white powdery sand, lush shade trees, 80 degree sunny weather, fresh fruits, cold diet coke, bungalow with air, western bathroom & frig...in other words, paradise...for $50 a night...though we could have just rented a tent & slept on the beach for much cheaper. We hunkered down from 3 days on a pineapple diet. Pineapple pancakes, smoothies, in fresh salads with pineapple dressing and grilled on kabobs with meats/onion/tomatoes/potatoes/corn. MMMMM. I'm addicted.
Though I must admit, fresh coconut smoothies come in a close second!!! Lots of Thai families were there also. It was a joy watching them frolic in the water...usually with their clothes on... and enjoying all the food cooked & sold on the beach. We also saw lots of western men with young Thai girls. Grrrr. We took a cruise of the smaller islands around, snorkeling a bit. Though we saw lots of fish & coral, we only caught glimpses of the radiant color that reminded us of our best snorkeling at St. John's. We also visited a fish & turtle farm where we were a bit nervous walking the ancient planks with no guard rails next to pools of huge sharks, groupers & giant turtles. We discovered a trail that led to a cliff where we could watch the sunset...and reflect on just how fortunate we are.
Shame on me...
I have to admit, I was feeling a bit bummed about not having a beach front bungalow... but God has a way of opening my eyes. We took a walk on the dirt road that ran through the center of the island and there we saw where the smiling & eager to please waiters & vendors live. Back in the mosquito invested jungle without the cool ocean breeze or view and far, far from the beach...and without the time to lounge there anyways. Shame on me.
Stay in Udon Thani:
We had to spend a day in Udon Thani waiting to catch a train back to Bangkok so we did our usual stroll around looking for whatever. What we found was lots of bars and even more western men with young Thai girls. It made me angry. So many of the men were old or fat or just ugly or a combination. Udon was a US military base in the 60's and our guide book said that's when Udon became much more westernized. Another casualty of war. On the lighter side, we did have the opportunity to buy some fried crispy & crunchy variety of bugs including caterpillars, locust & grasshoppers...right outside a most plush five story mall. And right around the corner was a McDonald's--can you guess what I choose to eat???? Speaking of eating, since it was very difficult finding food we could eat in Nong Ban Lampu, we had eaten up most of the supply of food we'd brought from USA. Luckily, we found a large grocery store (very rare) and found Jiffy peanut butter & granola bars--first time we'd seen either of these in Thai. They also had cheese--but at about $10 for a 1/2 lb I figured I could wait until I got home to indulge.
Train ride from Udon to Bangkok:
We were sure ready to leave Udon...and anxious to see the country side. We'd purchased a 2nd class ticket (air cond) but after discovering the windows were dirty...we headed back to the 3rd class seats where the open windows kept you cool & we could clearly see the rice paddies, water buffalos, farmers, groves of banana, coconut, pineapple and rubber trees, small towns, mountains and rivers. Soon we saw a pattern...open farm fields, shacky houses, less shacky houses, a few nice homes, village, a few nice homes, shacky houses, more shacky house, open farm fields...etc. Though we had thought we'd see more during the 12 hour train ride...we sure felt like we'd seen lots of Thailand and after about 7 hours as 3rd class got crowded & hot...we gladly went back to our 2nd class air cond seats to eat our PB sandwiches.
Back in Bangkok...only to catch ride to Ko Sumet:
Somewhere along the line, someone recommended a hotel in Bangkok so when we arrived late & tired, we just showed the name to a taxi driver and soon found ourselves in gorgeous hotel. At $85, it was the most we'd paid since Pucket but...it was nice to be in a luxury with a great view of the city lights! After asking for info about getting to Ko Sumet, they quickly lined us up with a mini bus ride the next morning complete with ferry ride to the island--and they'd handle the luggage (which we were tired of hauling around & which we have promised ourselves never travel with so much luggage again!!!) On the ferry ride there, we heard there were no rooms available on the island as it was Music Festival weekend (Thais have many festivals) but we'd already adopted the India & Thai motto: No problem...and there wasn't as the ferry dropped us at a hotel with available bungalows...and handled our luggage so by noon...we were sitting a tropical island beach.
Ko Sumet:
Now I won't go into much detail as I certainly don't want to make anyone too jealous...let's just say it was everything you dream of...emerald green warm water, white powdery sand, lush shade trees, 80 degree sunny weather, fresh fruits, cold diet coke, bungalow with air, western bathroom & frig...in other words, paradise...for $50 a night...though we could have just rented a tent & slept on the beach for much cheaper. We hunkered down from 3 days on a pineapple diet. Pineapple pancakes, smoothies, in fresh salads with pineapple dressing and grilled on kabobs with meats/onion/tomatoes/potatoes/corn. MMMMM. I'm addicted.
Though I must admit, fresh coconut smoothies come in a close second!!! Lots of Thai families were there also. It was a joy watching them frolic in the water...usually with their clothes on... and enjoying all the food cooked & sold on the beach. We also saw lots of western men with young Thai girls. Grrrr. We took a cruise of the smaller islands around, snorkeling a bit. Though we saw lots of fish & coral, we only caught glimpses of the radiant color that reminded us of our best snorkeling at St. John's. We also visited a fish & turtle farm where we were a bit nervous walking the ancient planks with no guard rails next to pools of huge sharks, groupers & giant turtles. We discovered a trail that led to a cliff where we could watch the sunset...and reflect on just how fortunate we are.Shame on me...
I have to admit, I was feeling a bit bummed about not having a beach front bungalow... but God has a way of opening my eyes. We took a walk on the dirt road that ran through the center of the island and there we saw where the smiling & eager to please waiters & vendors live. Back in the mosquito invested jungle without the cool ocean breeze or view and far, far from the beach...and without the time to lounge there anyways. Shame on me.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Update #28
Another Bulletin Board:
So what happens when someone is impressed with the job you did??? They ask you to do it! There was another large bulletin board that was looking shabby so we weren't too surprised when sister asked us to redo it. It was a Kid of the Month board so we brainstormed some ideas & let sister pick the one she wanted. Next we were off to the office supply store again for supplies for an underwater scene with a fish for each kid. Again, we got rave reviews ...and though we sure didn't expect to dig up that part of our teaching experience...we were glad to please & fill the need.
Broken and Angry Children:
Sister Marie Paul spent much time with us today talking about her children...broken and angry. First they were rejected by parents & then the orphanage they were first in rejected them due to their AIDS and on top of it all, they are so confused & angry about having AIDS through no fault of their own. They have been loved by no one. They trust no one. Sisters' love is the first and it has taken them years to quell some of that anger and soothe their broken hearts just a bit. I must admit spending time with them was tough as they were quite wild and it was only with a bit of humor that I could get them to stop painting the table, or taking from my supply bag whatever they wanted, or cutting up good paper, or etc.... Sister has been to some training but is often at a loss as to how to handle situations. I think she felt like she could confide in us and use us as a sounding board...listening ears. I hope so.
Painting/Cutting/Glitter Marathon:
When the kids came home on Valentines Day, we were ready...and it's a good thing. The first ones came about 4:30 and the last ones left around 8:30!! They painted, cut &/or glittered nearly every piece of paper we had. We showed them how to make hearts...and soon there were hearts everywhere. Glitter was the highlight. Some painted slowly and with much skill...others loved being able to paint the entire sheet with multiple colors. By 8, the room was lined with drying art work and the kids, sisters, a teacher & some Vietnam visiting priest were walking around admiring the work. When I realized that the crowd, paint, glitter & scissors was getting a bit too much in one room, the teacher in me came out. I motioned for them to follow & Rog and I each grabbed a taller kid to form a London Bridge--and a better place for all their energy. When we tired of that, we had them sit in a large circle and showed them how to play Duck, Duck, Goose. Though I am sure they had no idea what a duck or goose was--they caught on quickly. They loved picking Rog as he tried to corner them and out smart them by reversing the direction he ran. So who cares it broke the rules--it sure made them laugh!! Finally--it was time for the kids to go to bed (and us too!). The sisters led the kids in singing the same Thank you song that the kids in Kolkata sang to us--only in Thai first and then English. We gave each a chocolate gold coin & a huge hug. Several ran out and picked blossoms off the tree to give us. The sisters thanked us profusely and we in turn thanked them for opening their home & hearts to us. What a full and loving Valentines Day! p.s. And to add even more delight to the day, I savored two diet cokes & a Dove chocolate bar...Rog ate a Black Chocolate bar (Thai product).
Kindness everywhere in Thailand:
Here's just a few of the kind acts that the Thai do for us all the time--
-While unsuccessfully trying to tag down a taxi, a young girl asked us where we were headed & then literally jumped in front of the next taxi that went by, told the driver where we were headed & negotiated the price, smiled & waved good bye as we drove off.
-One evening, rather late, we were trying to find a art supply store. As we walked by a grocery store, the keeper came out & asked us if he could help. After telling us the art store was not near, he handed us four oranges and bowed.
-As I was sitting in a bus stop, I was curiously looking at something a young man was drinking. He spoke up and told me what it was--in Thai--and seemed to indicate where I could buy some. I just smiled & shook my head no. Then just as we went to get on the bus, he brought me over two cold water bottles. He had the biggest grin on his face & refused money.
-Though Rog often has to lug around his suitcases, I seldom do as Thai gentlemen quickly take mine.
Service everywhere in Thailand:
Remember gas attendants? Door attendants? etc...they are still here.
Education:
We can't believe how many schools/colleges we see as we travel about. Thais put a high emphasis on education. Many appear to be boarding schools & all require uniforms. Even the colleges. They are well maintained & quite nice with ornate gates surrounding them. I did chuckle as we passed one ornate gilded entrance gate...with a water buffalo lounging right in front of it.
Another Bulletin Board:
So what happens when someone is impressed with the job you did??? They ask you to do it! There was another large bulletin board that was looking shabby so we weren't too surprised when sister asked us to redo it. It was a Kid of the Month board so we brainstormed some ideas & let sister pick the one she wanted. Next we were off to the office supply store again for supplies for an underwater scene with a fish for each kid. Again, we got rave reviews ...and though we sure didn't expect to dig up that part of our teaching experience...we were glad to please & fill the need.
Broken and Angry Children:
Sister Marie Paul spent much time with us today talking about her children...broken and angry. First they were rejected by parents & then the orphanage they were first in rejected them due to their AIDS and on top of it all, they are so confused & angry about having AIDS through no fault of their own. They have been loved by no one. They trust no one. Sisters' love is the first and it has taken them years to quell some of that anger and soothe their broken hearts just a bit. I must admit spending time with them was tough as they were quite wild and it was only with a bit of humor that I could get them to stop painting the table, or taking from my supply bag whatever they wanted, or cutting up good paper, or etc.... Sister has been to some training but is often at a loss as to how to handle situations. I think she felt like she could confide in us and use us as a sounding board...listening ears. I hope so.
Painting/Cutting/Glitter Marathon:
When the kids came home on Valentines Day, we were ready...and it's a good thing. The first ones came about 4:30 and the last ones left around 8:30!! They painted, cut &/or glittered nearly every piece of paper we had. We showed them how to make hearts...and soon there were hearts everywhere. Glitter was the highlight. Some painted slowly and with much skill...others loved being able to paint the entire sheet with multiple colors. By 8, the room was lined with drying art work and the kids, sisters, a teacher & some Vietnam visiting priest were walking around admiring the work. When I realized that the crowd, paint, glitter & scissors was getting a bit too much in one room, the teacher in me came out. I motioned for them to follow & Rog and I each grabbed a taller kid to form a London Bridge--and a better place for all their energy. When we tired of that, we had them sit in a large circle and showed them how to play Duck, Duck, Goose. Though I am sure they had no idea what a duck or goose was--they caught on quickly. They loved picking Rog as he tried to corner them and out smart them by reversing the direction he ran. So who cares it broke the rules--it sure made them laugh!! Finally--it was time for the kids to go to bed (and us too!). The sisters led the kids in singing the same Thank you song that the kids in Kolkata sang to us--only in Thai first and then English. We gave each a chocolate gold coin & a huge hug. Several ran out and picked blossoms off the tree to give us. The sisters thanked us profusely and we in turn thanked them for opening their home & hearts to us. What a full and loving Valentines Day! p.s. And to add even more delight to the day, I savored two diet cokes & a Dove chocolate bar...Rog ate a Black Chocolate bar (Thai product).
Kindness everywhere in Thailand:
Here's just a few of the kind acts that the Thai do for us all the time--
-While unsuccessfully trying to tag down a taxi, a young girl asked us where we were headed & then literally jumped in front of the next taxi that went by, told the driver where we were headed & negotiated the price, smiled & waved good bye as we drove off.
-One evening, rather late, we were trying to find a art supply store. As we walked by a grocery store, the keeper came out & asked us if he could help. After telling us the art store was not near, he handed us four oranges and bowed.
-As I was sitting in a bus stop, I was curiously looking at something a young man was drinking. He spoke up and told me what it was--in Thai--and seemed to indicate where I could buy some. I just smiled & shook my head no. Then just as we went to get on the bus, he brought me over two cold water bottles. He had the biggest grin on his face & refused money.
-Though Rog often has to lug around his suitcases, I seldom do as Thai gentlemen quickly take mine.
Service everywhere in Thailand:
Remember gas attendants? Door attendants? etc...they are still here.
Education:
We can't believe how many schools/colleges we see as we travel about. Thais put a high emphasis on education. Many appear to be boarding schools & all require uniforms. Even the colleges. They are well maintained & quite nice with ornate gates surrounding them. I did chuckle as we passed one ornate gilded entrance gate...with a water buffalo lounging right in front of it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)