Two in Thailand

Our Peace Corps Thailand Experience

2009-11-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

Our experience as Peace Corps Volunteers from January, 2006, to April 1, 2008, was an incredible life journey. It was more than just a journey to a foreign land because it took us to places deep within ourselves. It altered our perceptions of relationships, customs (both foreign and domestic), religion, and the "American Way of Life". It taught us that a "simple" life is not necessarily a "poor" life and made us rearrange priorities in our lives. It taught us that poverty is not necessarily a lack of money, but a lack of happiness ... and in that respect, many countries that we perceive as being poor are, in fact, very rich.

Being a Peace Corps Volunteer, however, is not easy! You have to give up so many of your "comforts", but you will return as a much stronger and complete person. We strongly urge Americans to either join or support the Peace Corps. What you give to others will be returned a hundred times over in ways that you cannot imagine.

Since this blog was first published, we have taken the liberty to occasionally add reflection at the end of some of the posts. When we first published the blog, we were still adjusting to "culture shock". We found that during our first year we kept questioning the customs and practices of this foreign land. By the time we entered the second year, we were finally assimilating into the culture and began questioning our own culture. We soon discovered that many cultures have much to offer to us and that "Americanizing" another country is not necessarily in their own best interest. Ultimately, we discovered that our mission in Peace Corps was not to change the people we served, but to enable them to lead a better life while at the same time showing them that Americans are kind and sharing people that respect cultural differences.

In Memory of Our Thailand Supervisor

2009-11-12T19:50:00.001-08:00

On Fridays, we would catch a bus to travel to the site of the Educational Service Area Office which was about a 50-minute ride. There we met with our supervisor, Khun Sura. He was so proud to have the very first Peace Corps Volunteers Volunteers to serve in his district in the 40+ years of Peace Corps in Thailand and went out of his way to always take us places and introduce us to many administrators and teachers in the very large district he served. He would constantly check on us and make sure that we were safe and had everything we needed. He was a natural comedian and always had people laughing. His last name was Yuen-yao, but he would always mispronounce it (not difficult to do since Thai is a tonal language) so it would mean "standing while peeing" to get a laugh among the Thai people at any meeting we attended. His nickname meant "whiskey" so that he would always joke that the alcohol made him want to pee.

After we returned to the United States, we received an e-mail from one of our co-teachers that he had been killed in an auto accident. We dedicate this blog to the memory of Khun Sura, who not only made our stay memorable and safe but also insured that we got the best possible Thai counterparts.

Note: This blog is currently under reconstruction. The post dates are being reorganized so that the blog reads in chronological order, rather than the most recent posts being at the beginning.

Currently, only January 2006 through June 2006 have been rearranged. When you are finished reading this post, go to the right hand side and click January 2006 under "Archives". Then proceed to February 2006 and onward to June 2006. We hope you enjoy the blog and plan to be finished restructuring it by mid-December of this year.

Ceremony at Baan KhoKlaan

2008-03-17T21:39:00.000-07:00

Carol and I were given a ceremony at Baan KhoKlaan School (the village where we lived for two years). Bob was presented with a Thai silk shirt that had the name of the school embroidered on the sleeve and Carol was presented a beautiful hand-made shawl. We were then blessed during a 30-minute Thai ceremony. At the conclusion, the parents got out of their seats and sat near us before individually blessing us.

Students Paying Respect

2008-03-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

Each student presented a flower placed banana leaf in a small rolled banana leaf with candles or incense sticks. They knelt before us before presenting the flower and we wished them good luck. The last picture is the same ceremony at Bob's other school where he said good-bye to 150 students.

Gifts from the Students

2008-03-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

We took home the ceremonial "tree" and Bob placed the gifts under the "tree". Many of the gifts were something that the students found in their house and some were just a 5-cent snack but each gift was "priceless" because of the effort came from the heart. Some of them had nothing, so they gave back pictures or items won at the auction. However, one of the gifts was exceptionally different. It came from Panyawadee (Goldilocks in the play "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears)) and was a 3-piece towel set -- each towel had a bear on it!

Saying Good-bye to the Parents

2008-03-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Parents came by bicycle, motorcycle, and on foot, but we were surprised to see a busload of parents arrive at the ceremony. They watched the play presented by Bob's students, listened to the speeches and took part in the ceremony by tying strings around our wrists. We only wished our Thai language was better to tell them that

their children are so special and deserve the best that life can offer, but we think we conveyed that in another manner during our two years in the village.

Saying Good-bye to the Students

2008-03-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

It was a time to be happy and sad! Happy that we met so many wonderful students and sad to say good-bye. As the students were presenting gifts to Bob, one student broke down and started crying. Bob instinctively gave her a hug. A few minutes later, all the students lined up to say good-bye and Carol started hugging the first students and a nervous (and excited) expression filled the faces of the remaining students. They then started asking for a hug (a tradition that is not necessarily a part of Thai culture). We gladly responded and embraced them, passing along a symbol of American culture and a hope that we will meet them again.

Ceremony at Submuang Wittaya

2008-03-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

Carol's school put on an elaborate two-hour ceremony for us. A play (in English), speeches, and a ceremony with a 12-page Thai chant that obviously had some teasing and jokes due to the laughter and cheering of the parents, students, and teachers.

We then had strings tied to our wrists and many a tearful good-bye was said. We had not expected the emotion from the Thai people as well as ourselves!! The and then came up in small groups to have their picture taken. The second picture is the ceremonial centerpiece that took the woman 12 hours to prepare. We placed it in our home for three days to help bring us good luck and a safe trip home.

Auction - 30 stars Going Once, Twice, ......Sold!!!!

2008-03-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

We reward our students for their effort in speaking English with pep points or stars. Carol had held an auction and it was very successful, so Bob decided to have the students at both schools to use their stars to bid on items (watches, bookbags, UNO card games, stuffed animals, DVD's, billfolds, socks, frisbees, balls, and a variety of inexpensive trinkets). It was fun to watch the students bid against each other and the students cheered when the final bid was accepted. They had to bid in English and to our surprise they have become very fluent in English numbers!

Teaching Kickball

2008-03-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

We conducted a 3-day "Make and Take" Workshop where we demonstrated an activity to teach English. to 90 teachers in our area. The first 30 minutes, the teachers did the activity and the next hour, they created the visuals (charts, posters, flash cards). Their recreations of our visuals were incredible -- they are very artistic, creative, and meticulous to detail. They had never attended a workshop where they could actually make and take. We got funding to supply all materials and they really appreciate it! What amazed us is that they wanted us to teach them kickball (a sport that Bob introduced two months ago) on the third day. We were surprised how popular it became and many students told Bob that it was now their favorite sport. We believe the reason for that is it combines baseball with a soccer approach. Bob had some students come to the workshop and demonstrate the sport along with two other Peace Corps Volunteers. Thirty students then went outside and played a game so that the teachers could get a better idea of the game. We then we had the teachers play the game for 90 minutes! The only problem is you can't get rubbery kickballs in Thailand!!!! We had a co-teacher order 8 kickballs to give away and they delivered water polo balls. We promised the teachers that we would send kickballs when we returned to America!!!

Thai Wedding

2008-03-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

My co-teacher got married and we were invited to an intimate ceremony inside the living room of her house. Small wreaths of flowers were placed on the heads of the bride and groom and were connected by a string to represent a unity of their spirits. Guests tied string around their wrists as a symbol of good health, long life, happiness, and good luck. Afterwards, we were invited to take a picture with them. We wish Rewadee a long, happy marriage. She is a wonderful person who is beautiful in body and mind. We will miss her!!!

Open House - Part 1

2008-02-21T04:19:00.000-08:00

Carol has the Community Learning Center (funded, in part, through the generosity of friends and family) dedicated during an open house. It was the culmination of a year's planning and implementation by Carol and her co-teachers. The idea of an open house was a new concept. The staff spent three days preparing for it (classes cancelled!!!) The local government official cut the ribbon and three Peace Corps Staff members drove 5 hours to attend the dedication! The rgistration table is shown in the last photo.

Open House - Part 2

2008-02-21T04:09:00.000-08:00

The play. "Goldilocks and the Three Bears - the Musical!" was such a hit, that Bob's students were asked to perform it again at the Open House. Notice the expressions on the faces of some of the members of the audience (click picture to increase the size). Some of the Peace Corps staff posed with the drama club. (We are now negotiating a contract with a prominent Broadway theatre!!)

Open House - Part 3

2008-02-21T03:54:00.000-08:00

Carol presented an award to the student who designed the mural painted in the Learning Center (which can be seen,in part, in the second picture). In addition, many door prizes were awarded!

Open House Part 4

2008-02-21T03:22:00.000-08:00

Two long line of booths were set up to allow school organizations to display their projects. We even had the YouthPEP team (which we had helped form) set up a game booth to give information about the prevention of HIV/AIDS (see last two pictures).

Thailand Youth Festival

2008-02-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

Bob and his Thai counterpart took 15 students to the Thailand Youth Theatre Festival in Suphanburi. It was an exciting event for the students, most of whom had never been very far from their village. They attended workshops on make-up, stage fighting, voice projection, and acting. There were also a lot of games. Bob led an impromptu game. The 300 students sat in circles with their drama team and passed around an object. When the music stopped the 16 students had to come up and act out a situation. Bob had judges pick the winner of each round. The winner received a prizes for each member of the drama team.

Getting Ready for the Play

2008-02-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

The students enjoyed using make-up.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears - the Musical

2008-02-07T19:39:00.000-08:00

The students did an excellent job, especially when the three bears danced to "We are Family" and Goldilocks did her disco moves to "Born to Be Wild". The audience reacted with enthusiasm to her dancing and acting abilities.

After the Performance

2008-02-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

The students received many compliments from the new volunteers (Group 120) that attended the Festival. They posed for a few final photos before returning to their village. Hopefully, they took back some great memories and an increased confidence.

Introducing an American Game - Kickball

2008-01-24T19:31:00.000-08:00

Since Thailand students really enjoy soccer ("football"), I decided it was time to infuse some American culture into my teachings. I had kickballs delivered from the U.S. and I was anxious to teach the sport while also introducing a little English. ("How many outs?" "How many runs?" "You're safe!") My co-teacher and I briefly described the game and then took the students outside. I had to laugh when I discovered "safe" did not translate to "Bplawt pai" which means safe in Thai. The kept yelling "yuu dai" which means "you can stay". I did this 4 times at each of my schools and am now nursing extreme sunburn to my face and arms. January in Thailand can be HOT!!!!!!

We Got Spirit!

2008-01-24T19:23:00.000-08:00

The students really got into the game! It took about 2 innings before they figured out the game and strategies. After that, they were extremely excited and didn't want to stop! We decided to have a contest between the two schools next month during a sports day. The students from my second school will travel to the first school. My co-teachers will be the coaches and I will be the umpire! Maybe this will start a new tradition!!!

A Principal's Duties

2008-01-24T19:16:00.000-08:00

For the last week, I have noticed that no one has been teaching and the principal has been spending most of his time watering plants. I found out today that the school is being evaluated next week and the appearance of the school speaks highly of the school. The teachers have been cleaning their rooms while the students sit idly or run around the campus.

English Corner

2008-01-11T19:20:00.000-08:00

Carol has worked hard to establish an "English Corner" at one of her schools. Thai schools do not have books written in English (due to the high price), so Carol has worked hard to obtain books through grants and donations (some of them from service groups in Moreno Valley, CA). Many of the students have never seen a book written in English (even though they are required to learn English every year in school). Carol has also bought games that teach English as well as logic. She has also created many games which she donates to the school. In this picture, the students must ask Carol (in English) for materials.

Christmas at the English Corner

2008-01-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

During Christmas the students were brought to the "English Corner" to make Christmas decorations, an easy way to teach culture as well as English. They must ask for all materials using English ("May I have scissors.") The Thai English teachers seem to enjoy the activities as much as the students.

Note:You can tell it is Thursday by the uniforms. Every Thursday is "Scout Day".

Sawatdee Bee Mai!!!!!!

2008-01-05T00:03:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from Thailand!!! We celebrated New Year's Eve Thai style. Our neighbors shown in the last photo invited us to their home for New Year's Eve. Bua (shown bending down on the left) and her sister Ying (directly behind Bua which means "lotus flower") pose with their mother, younger sister, and Bua's daughter, Faa (which means "sky"). New Year's is a time for gift exchange (as opposed to Christmas in America). Games followed for the children and everyone seemed to have a good time. Being the old people we are, we left the party well before midnight, but the party moved over a block for karaoke that continued until 4 a.m. -- and it was loud. We know no one complained, since it is the Thai way to "save face" and of course, Thai's love to party. We thought that would wear everyone out -- we were wrong!!!! The next three nights were a repeat of New Year's Eve. Loud music until the early morning hours!!! No wonder you find vendors, security guards, and workers sleeping on the job!!! To everyone in America and Thailand --- Happy New Year. May your year be full of hope and promise. Kaw hai mii kwaam suh dawlawt bee (may you have happiness all year).

The Best Christmas Gift Ever!!!

2007-12-27T19:26:00.000-08:00

Our son, Rion, and his wife, Anne Marie arrived in Thailand to help us celebrate Christmas! We spent the first three days in Bangkok before travelling to our site on Christmas Eve. The next evening, we exchanged Christmas presents. We then spent 3 days travelling to our four different schools (see below). We were graciously treated at each school and Rion and Anne Marie could really sense the level of respect that Thai people can place on visitors!! After the school visits, we flew Rion and Anne Marie to Krabi (near Phuket) in southern Thailand as a anniversary gift where they will spend a week before returning to Bangkok where they will meet us and do a little more shopping and sightseeing before returning to America.

Christmas at Bob's 1st School

2007-12-27T19:21:00.001-08:00

We all arrived at Bob's school and had the students ask questions. We sang a Christmas song and then watched them open presents they exchanged withe each other. We introduced a gift exchange last year and the students really enjoyed it, so we thought we would do it again this year. We enjoyed watching their excitement as they opened the presents.

Introductions at Carol's High School

2007-12-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

Carol's co-teacher presents Rion and Anne Marie at Carol's school. All 400 students were gathered at the school's stage area. All the girls screamed when Rion was introduced, but he told them that he already had a "girlfriend". We enjoyed a presentation of a play (in English), traditional dancers in beautiful costumes (some of the "beautiful girls" were actually boys), and a rock band. We then entertained them with a few games. We introduced our family and then made students come up. Bob would say, "Shake hands with my wife." The first student to run to the correct person received a small prize. We then encouraged them to come up and ask a question in English.

Pen Pal Letter Exchange

2007-12-27T19:03:00.000-08:00

In November, Anne Marie sent Pen Pal letters from her 4th grade students in California. Bob's 5th and 6th grade students received the letters and wrote letters back to the students. Anne Marie brought back the letters and personally presented the letters to each student. The students were called individually to Anne Marie and kneeled to show respect and returned a "wai" when presented the letter. Rion taped the event so that Anne Marie can show the video when she returns to school.

English Camp for Grade 4

2007-12-27T18:56:00.000-08:00

Bob teachers 5th and 6th grade. The 4th grade, however, has never had a native speaker. So we agreed to do an English Camp for the 4th graders. In the first picture, Carol is telling the students that she is 21 years old. After the camp which include 4 different activities, the students were presented certificates and posed for a picture!

Santa Visits Thailand!

2007-12-27T18:53:00.000-08:00

An anorexic version of Santa Claus greeted the students with a "wai". We are trying to fatten him up with a lot of rice so he can fit the image of the American version of Santa!

Celebrating Christmas at Carol's Second High School

2007-12-27T18:46:00.000-08:00

We did a Christmas English Camp at Carol's second high school. We played "Pin the Nose on Rudolph", Bingo, and speak with a native English speaker. Anne Marie and Rion enjoyed encouraging the students to speak English. On the way back to our site, Carol stopped for the Thai version of the Super Big Gulp.

Bob's Drama Club

2007-12-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

Bob decided to start a theatre group (and everyone wants to know where Lindsay got the genes). On February 2, his group will present "Goldilocks and the Three Bears- the Musical" which includes dancing to "We are Family" and Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild". The play will be in conjunction with 12 other plays (all in English) and be presented at a college north of Bangkok. The students will also do a dress rehearsal for Carol's Open House at her high school. They have the uncanny ability to memorize very quickly. Now, Bob is trying to teach timing and transition to facilitate the smoothness of the play.

If you got my e-mail about supporting this event which includes workshops and training for two days, please donate. The students would greatly appreciate your support -- and remember, most of these students have never been more than 50 miles from their village!!!

Pictures from Bob's School

2007-12-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

Bob loves to teach the primary students. It's the best reward to see their effort and smiles!!! When he first got here two years ago, the students were scared to death to try to speak English. The first picture shows 5th grade students trying to practice introductions, the second picture is a group of boys who would rather pose than practice, and the last picture are a group of 3rd graders that have adopted Bob. They always are putting on white powder because of the heat and the fact that there is no such thing as air-conditioning in village schools. Yesterday, Bob witnessed 60 3rd and 4th grade girls get their hair cut and chemical treatment of their hair for head lice, another disadvantage to being poor and living in the tropics!!!

Peace Corps Quilt

2007-12-13T20:32:00.000-08:00

Several volunteers decided that it would be great to present the Peace Corps Office a quilt that showed the location of each Peace Corps Group 118 member. Carol assisted with the project (and completed squares for several volunteers who had no sewing skills, including Bob). If you look carefully at the second picture you will see Carol and Bob side by side near the purple squares that represent Cambodia). On December 9, 2008, they presented it to the country director, Dr. John Williams.

Planting Flowers with a Frog

2007-12-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

We have a lot of free time in Thailand because we can't get in a car and go to the movies or shopping mall. So what better time to take up a hobby and plant flowers? Bob is planting flowers as Ajaan Gop (Carol's co-teacher) watches. Ajaan means "teacher" and Gop is her nickname which means "frog". After a while, Gop, hopped right over and decided to help Bob. Ajaan Gop has been a blessing to Carol because she is a very motivated teacher and is excellent with the students.

HIV/AIDS Network Conference

2007-11-25T23:22:00.000-08:00

Bob went to Kamphaeng Phet to work with health professionals and teachers. One of the goals of Peace Corps is to help promote education. This activity was creating murals that educated people about HIV?AIDS prevention and compassionate care. The counterparts enjoyed the activity and were eager to take the project back to their communities.

Interview a Farang!

2007-11-17T19:46:00.000-08:00

Everytime the is an event in Thailand, teachers cancel classes and give their students an assignment: "Interview a Farang". The students have prepared questions and actively seek out anyone who looks like they speak English. Fortunately for them, most Europeans speak English since few Americans are encountered. We always praise them and encourage them to speak English. They usually take a picture as proof that they found English English speakers.

American Women's Club English Camp

2007-11-13T20:42:00.000-08:00

We were extremely fortunate to be invited to help with the American Women's Club English Camp which was held in Udon Thani this year. Many of the women are married to men who work for the American Embassy in Bangkok or work for large international companies such as Chevron. 145 girls from the northwest Thailand (Issan) were invited to the camp. They had received scholarships to continue their education and represented the "best of the best". The y spent three days and two nights trying to improve their English skills with the American Women's Club, their husbands, and about 8 Peace Corps members.

English Camp Activities

2007-11-13T20:35:00.000-08:00

Some of the stations they students went to included a "Fun and Games" station and a "Treasure Hunt" activity where the girls had to read clues to find the ingredients to make a floating flower basket. Another activity was "Shopping" where they had to ask the clerk if they had something on their list and then they had to ask the price. They were supplied monopoly money to purchase the items on their list.

AWC English Camp Egg Drop

2007-11-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

The students were allowed to be creative and design a package that would protect an egg from a 25 foot drop. We wanted to encourage the girls to be creative, think scientifically, and have fun. After the event, some of the girls tried to break their eggs in their hands. Bob told them if they held the egg a certain way, that it was impossible to break the egg.

Thailand Culture Exchange

2007-11-13T20:17:00.001-08:00

On the eve of the second day, the students presented traditional dances. The girls hurried back to the classrooms where they were slept and changed into their costumes and prepared their hair for their presentations. The dances were both beautiful and graceful and gave a sense of dignity and pride to the girls.

American Culture Exchange

2007-11-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

After watching the students perform their Thai traditional dances, the Americans demonstrated line dancing and good old rock and roll! The Thai students easily adapted to the American dancing and were quite good. We then had two guests -- Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny who handed out gifts. The girls were so appreciative of the English Camp and we kept urging them to try to speak English everyday. Although these were the best female students in Northwest Thailand (Issan), their speaking skills were very limited. But, it's events like this that break down the barriers and encourage them to keep trying!

Playing UNO

2007-11-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

Bob likes to take time to play board games and cards with his students. It's an excellent way to teach English! "Play the same color! Play the same number!"

"You lose a turn!" (That would be "yut len" in Thai.) "You are the winner!" Although the students had never played UNO and "War", they love to play cards and are very competitive!

The Road to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat

2007-10-28T22:31:00.001-07:00

We have always wanted to see Angkor Wat and took three of our counterparts who had never been inside Cambodia along with us as a way of expressing our gratitude for allowing us to teach with them. We were excited to finally be on the road to Angkor Wat after three months of preparation and paperwork. However, nothing prepared us for the harsh travelling conditions! Our entire body rattled for 4 hours as we sped along a dirt road complete with "washboard" effects. Our driver passed bicycles, motorcycles, buffalo, buses, and trucks with no regard for the safety of others. We hired two "taxis" because the trip by bus would have been six hours and we didn't want to be tired when we arrived. However, the "taxis" had no suspension and we spent the first afternoon in Siem Reap trying to get our brains re-situated in our heads. The second and third picture show a 2-mile stretch that was actually paved. Bob got out to take a picture of the water buffalo pulling the cart. As he was walking, he passed a woman and young child. Notice the expressions on their faces as they stare at the "farang". (For a closer look, click on the picture to enlarge it.)

Sandstone Sculpturing

2007-10-28T22:03:00.001-07:00

We probably took 100 pictures of the sandstone carvings which were on walls, columns, and above entrances. We marveled at the craftsmanship during the 12th century and now realize why some of these temples took 30-40 years to build.

Entrances to Temples

2007-10-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

Some of the entrances had warriors and demons holding on to a long seven-headed serpent. The second picture had 52 figures on each side of the road holding on to the serpent.

Ta Phrom

2007-10-28T21:50:00.000-07:00

Ta Prohm is a sprawling monastic complex overgrown with massive fig and silk-cotton trees. It has been intentionally left partially unrestored because of the "tree-in-temple" photo opportunities.

Other Temples in The Siem Reap Area

2007-10-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

We were amazed by the number of temples in the area. We visited a total of 8 temples and could easily have stayed for another three days visiting a few dozen more!! The pictures are of Pre Rup, Ta Som, and the last one is Neak Pean. The waters in the basin, which contained many animal and human water spouts, were thought to have healing powers.

More Smiles from the "Land of Smiles"

2007-10-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

These are pictures from Bob schools. In the first picture are three 3rd graders who constantly come over to Bob's classroom and tease him. In the second picture are some of Bob's sixth grade students during lunch. We are so lucky to be greeted with smiles and signs of respect. The students have so little, but seem to be much happier than students in the U.S. We believe that they focus on "needs" rather than "wants". The only thing they seemed to be spoiled with is love from their parents and grandparents. We believe that America has a lot to learn from other countries!

Wise Guys Retreat

2007-10-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

This is a view from our hotel where we stayed for the "Wise Guys" Retreat. Nine of the 12 volunteers in Thailand that are over 50 attended.

Peace Corps has started a "50+ Initiative" to attract more "baby boomers" into the Peace Corps. We met with a representative from the main office in Washington DC and gave him our views on the changes Peace Corps can make to attract more "wise guys" as well as suggestions that would help adapt procedures and practices to accommodate them. Currently, only 5% of Peace Corps Volunteers are over 50, yet they represent nearly 40% of all adults in the U.S. "Baby Boomers" have a lot to offer due to their skills and experiences and are highly respected in many countries served by the Peace Corps. Peace Corps is an excellent avenue to serve humanity and the 50+ group has much to offer. Thailand is one of 10 countries that has been targeted to begin the "50+ Initiative".

Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Alphabet Soup

2007-09-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

We use an incentive program to encourage Thai students to learn English. When they reach 20 stars, they are given a certificate. When they reach 30 stars, we take their picture, mount it on card stock and post it in the room. Bob rewards the top students by inviting them to a luch consisting of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches along with Campbell's Alphabet Soup which he can find in one store in Bangkok. The Thai soups are extremely spicy so the alphabet soup seems strangely bland to the students! In the picture you can see that many of them brought their own dish of noodle soup from the school kitchen. Students are then treated to an American movie on DVD!

Multi-Purpose Vehicles

2007-09-22T17:42:00.000-07:00

On the weekends, many villagers travel to the "city" in "dtek-dteks" which are normally used to transport workers to the rice fields. Once at the rice field, the front portion is disengaged from the bed and is used to plow the rice fields. For many villagers, these are the most common mode of transportation along with mortorcycles which are surprisingly cheap (by American standards). A brand new motorcycle costs only about a $1,000 and, of course, used ones are a lot cheaper!

Village Pick-up Truck

2007-09-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

In addition to "dtek-dteks" the more affluent villagers have these versions of pick-up trucks which they drive to the city. What was surprising is that in the back of the truck was a brand new 29" color television. When we look in some of the modest homes, the only piece of furniture is a color tv proudly displayed so that everyone outside can see it through the open doorway.There are no chairs, couches, or tables. Everyone sits or lays on the floor to watch tv.

Village English Lessons

2007-09-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

About 2 months ago, the village leader approached us with a request to conduct English lessons at the meeting hall (a covered cement slab with a raised stage area). We told him that we would be happy to teach a 1-2 hour session each Sunday afternoon. We were both excited to finally resume teaching adults after initiating a similar program one year ago in a neighboring village. We carefully crafted a lesson geared to adults that wanted to learn English. When we arrived for our first lesson, we knew something was wrong when 5 youngsters on bicycles quickly reversed direction and headed to the meeting hall. We turned into the dirt driveway and much to our surprise we saw 60 children (some of them barely out of diapers) running around. We did see a few adults, but they had simply brought their children to attend the Thai version of "Romper Room". We looked at each other and said, "We need a plan!" After a few minutes, we split the group into 2 groups. Anyone with a pacifier or diaper rash went with Carol. The others went with Bob. Actually the group has been a lot of fun especially after it pared down to 20 regulars who come every Sunday. The picture above shows a portion of these regulars who are very anxious to learn English.

Small gift, big smile!

2007-09-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

The young children are so adorable. Bob gave a neighbor girl a small pouch with a doll on it. He told her the doll's name was Ying. The next day, she came over to his classroom, proudly wearing the pouch with doll around her neck and said in Thai, that Ying came to school with her!

Community Learning Center Update

2007-09-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks to many people who donated to our PCPP grant on the Peace Corps website, the "CLC" is beginning to take shape. Five computers, tables, chairs, and storage cabinets have been purchased. In addition, two air-conditioning units (a rarity in rural Thailand schools) were purchased by a catholic priest who saw the center and was very impressed. English learning programs are being installed on the computers to facilitate language acquisition. Games that foster logical thinking have also been purchased. The next purchase is a set of bookshelves and display shelf that will house easy-to-read English books and pamphlets and books (in Thai) that give information about HIV/AIDS, post-secondary training options and career opportunities.

Teacher Appreciation Day

2007-09-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

Each year, schools across Thailand honor their teachers. For three hours, speeches and blessings are given as the students sit on concrete slabs. During the final hour, students individually approach the teachers, kneel at their feet, bow three times and present flowers to the teachers. This display was very touching and unlike anything we had ever experienced in America.

I Can See Clearly Now

2007-08-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

Bob often commented that no students wear glasses in his two schools or in Carol's schools. At first, he thought it was a genetic or cultural difference. However, he noticed that when he was in Bangkok, many students wore glasses. He eventually realized that students in our villages are too poor to buy glasses. Although the government contracts with optometrists to provide an eye exam and a pair of glasses for 1,000 baht ($30), the families still cannot afford eyeglasses. Bob applied for a grant and was awarded enough money to supply 20 students with eyeglasses. The students were loaded into the back of pickup trucks and driven one hour to the "city". The teachers and principals came along to provide transportation and to witness the event. At first, Bob thought that the students would be too shy to wear the glasses, but the very next day he saw students wearing their new glasses on campus. We are sure that this was only the "tip of the iceberg" since it only represented 1% of the entire school populations, but it was a beginning! Bob invites anyone "with connections" to solicit funds so another 20 students can benefit from the gift of sight. We also need to realize, that eventually the eyeglasses will have to be replaced.

Mother's Day in Thailand

2007-08-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is held on the Queen's birthday. A big ceremony is held during school to honor the mothers. Many speeches are given as well as songs and skits to honor the mothers. It is genuinely emotional with many tears being shed. The students realize how many sacrifices their mothers make and don't seem to take everything for granted. Some of the mothers work in Bangkok (about a 5-6 hour bus ride) and made the effort to be at the ceremony. The mothers are seated (8-10 at a time) and their children come up and kneel at their feet, bow three times, and exchange emotional hugs. For the students whose mothers are not in attendance, female teachers are seated and serve as substitute mothers. Although this was just one more instance of classes being cancelled, it plays a major role in preserving culture and promoting respect -- something sorely missed in America.

Family Reunion: Thailand

2007-08-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

The Blasidell Family holds a reunion every two years. Reunions usually take place in home states. Previous reunions have been held in California, Iowa, Delaware, and North Carolina. This year it was our turn to host the reunion. Since we are serving with the Peace Corps we thought a reunion in Thailand would be interesting! But what crazy family would travel half-way around the world to eat, drink wine, and celebrate?

Well, 14 members of the family showed up in the "Land of Smiles, Heat and Humidity" to celebrate the meaning of "family". The first 4 days of the 11-day reunion were spent eating, shopping, eating, visiting famous temples (Wat Po and Wat Phraa Kaeo), eating, visiting the floating market, eating, visiting the Rose Garden, eating, and visiting the ruins of Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam (see pictures above). We enjoyed spending time with family and are anticipating the next reunion in 2009! The next several sets of photos captures our time spent together after we left Bangkok to visit our schools and spend time at Cha-am.

Lunch at Ayutthaya

2007-08-17T18:33:00.001-07:00

After touring the ancient ruins at Ayutthaya, we miraculously found everyone eating at a small restaurant. No meeting place was planned which made this a little scary.... we all think alike? The restaurant workers, who also had no plan, found Adam!!!

Snack Time!

2007-08-17T17:54:00.001-07:00

Family reunions are also a time for treats and snacks! Matt and Kristin try a coconut drink at the floating market, while JC and Jessica eat fried crickets!

Monkey Mountain

2007-08-16T17:10:00.000-07:00

On the way to our village we stopped at a place that the family called "Monkey Mountain". The mountain is overrun by greedy little monkeys that will steal the bag of treats (sold by local vendors) right out of your hand. They tend to be very aggressive as one family member discovered when they put the meaning into "finger food".

Family Reunion: School Visit #1

2007-08-14T17:12:00.001-07:00

The family loaded into two vans and headed north for the first of 4 school visits. In retrospect, this was the most rewarding part of the trip and we wish we could have spent more time visiting the schools. The visit made us aware how special the children are and how we are blessed to have this assignment. It also was quite rewarding for some of the younger members and released the spirit of the "inner teacher" lying within.

When we got at the first school where Bob teaches 5th and 6th grade, we passed a room full of pre-schoolers. They were so precious! They even performed a song for the family. Afterwards, Kristin posed with some of them at the doorway.

The Lineup

2007-08-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

When we got to the pavilion, the students were sitting in desks that had been moved from classrooms. They were anxiously waiting for the foreign visitors. After we introduced ourselves, we invited the students to come up and ask questions. At first, the students were too shy, but once the ice broke, the flood gates opened and we were inundated with questions which we gladly rewarded with gifts the family had brought from home. It was Monday which is "yellow shirt day" in honor of the king who was born on a Monday, so we wore our "2007 Blaisdell Family Thais" reunion t-shirts that Theresa and Kevin brought from North Carolina (also known as Virginia to Bob and Carol).

What is your favorite subject?

2007-08-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

After the students came up to ask us questions, we went out and asked the students questions, This was a giant step forward for the students because one year ago they were scared to death to even try to speak English ... especially to a native speaker! Bob taught them that the answer to "What is your favorite subject?" is "English".

Here's to the biggest kid!

2007-08-13T18:59:00.000-07:00

Q & A's brought out the "inner child" in all of us. The big "kid" is Charlie (Tom) who is Carol's brother. Charlie is giving them advice on getting their merit badge in "Chemical Engineering" by discussing the benefits of polyunsaturated fats.

Group Pictures

2007-08-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

After the "Q & A" session, several family members posed with groups of students. Bob later gave copies of these pictures as incentives to come to the front of the classroom and read a paragraph in English. Many hands went up and all pictures were given away!

Put Your Right Leg In.... Grandma, we said RIGHT Leg!

2007-08-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

Before we left, we got everyone involved by singing and dancing the "Hokey Pokey". However, Blaisdells have always been "directionally challenged"!

Family Reunion: School Visit #2

2007-08-13T01:32:00.002-07:00

The family quickly loaded into the two vans and travelled three kilometers to the next school where Carol teaches. We met in the Community English Resource Center that Carol has supplied computers and furniture through a grant she wrote. They will soon be getting air-conditioning through a contribution that she and the principal procured from the local government office. In the second picture, the family is being introduced to the students to the amusement of Kevin!

Dancers Perform

2007-08-13T01:16:00.000-07:00

In honor of our visit (along with the accreditation team's visit), the students entertained us with song and dance performances. Adam, JC, and Matt posed with the four dancers. They are wearing sashes around their necks that were given as welcome gifts.

School Principal Honors a Great Lady

2007-08-13T01:07:00.000-07:00

At the conclusion of our visit to the school, the principal thanked the matriarch of the Blaisdell family, Helen Blaisdell (Carol's mother) and presented her a hand-woven mat made by the students.

Family Reunion: Third School Visit

2007-08-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

Our family travelled 20 kilometers to visit the third school which is Carol's other assignment. The students were sitting on the floor in anticipation of meeting the "farangs". The village leader recited a mantra and then a ceremony was conducted which blessed the family with good luck.

Lindsay Plays to the Audience

2007-08-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

Lindsay announced that she was single and enjoyed leading on the boys.

New Club formed at High School

2007-08-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

The girls screamed and swooned when Adam was introduced. Before we left the third school, the Adam Fan Club was quickly formed. Adam is shown with some of the members and poses with the Club Officers in the second photo.

Family Reunion: School #4 Visit - Part 1A

2007-08-04T19:43:00.001-07:00

Our final school visit brought us to a remote village where few students had seen a "Westerner" other than ourselves. We met with over 100 students under a pavilion where we introduced ourselves and proceeded to prepare for the interviews. We sat down and individually answered their questions as they hurried to the tables where 16 "farangs" sat. During our introductions, a loud crackling thunderbolt hit directly above the pavilion. Was this a "sign"? We certainly hope it was God's drumroll to our introductions and visit.

Family Reunion: School #4 Visit - Part 1B

2007-08-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

The members of our family loved the interaction with the students! They commented how different they were from American students -- respectful and very appreciative!

Family Reunion: School #4 Visit - Part 2

2007-08-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

When we had finished the visit of the last school, our family said that the expression on the faces of the students was the most memorable part of the trip! Although, it was hectic visiting the four schools, it was the most rewarding aspect of the trip for many members of the family.

Note: Dorothy brought a polaroid camera and you can see two of the "instant" pictures we gave to the students in the top picture.

Family Reunion: Karaoke

2007-08-04T18:41:00.001-07:00

After a busy day visiting the 4 schools where we teach, we settled into our hotel and discovered a bar with karaoke next to the hotel lobby. Karaoke is very popular in Thailand. It gives the worst singers a chance to show they have the right stuff to be the next "Idol". We thought that Thailand had some of the worst singers! We were wrong! The Blaisdells gave a new definition to bad singing. After three hours of listening to the "Blaisdell Sisters and Friends", the workers were glad to close the bar! We gave them a big tip to make up for the torture they endured. But the next day, next to the sign that said. "No Durian" was a sign that said, "No Blaisdells!"

Family Reunion: At the Beach

2007-08-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

The last 4 Days of the Family Reunion was spent at Cha-am where we had three condominiums, each with three bedrooms. We recuperated from a hectic agenda the previous 6 days and enjoyed the food and shopping. Matt and his mom pose for a picture while Jessica downed a treat with tentacles dangling from it.

Family Reunion: Elephant Trekking Part 1

2007-07-31T04:00:00.000-07:00

When we posted a picture of elephant riding a few months ago, several family members e-mailed us and said, "We want to do that during the Blaisdell Reunion in Thailand!" During the final days of the visit, we travelled to Hua Hin which is located on the Gulf of Thailand 30 km south of Cha-am. In the first picture Dorothy and Helen (matriarch of the Blaisdell family) smile and wave. "Grandma B." at the age of 86 was a real trooper, joining us in all the activities despite the unbearable heat and humidity! In the second picture, MaryJean and her son, Adam ("Heart Breaker in Thailand") closely follow Dorothy and Helen.

Family Reunion: Elephant Trekking Part 2

2007-07-31T03:52:00.000-07:00

Lindsay and Kristen appear in the forefront (downstage) while JC and Jessica are in the background (not being "upstaged" by Lindsay). In the second picture, Kevin and Theresa are mellowing out after a few too many Singha beers!

Family Reunion: Elephant Trekking Part 3

2007-07-31T03:17:00.000-07:00

We travelled across a field and through water before ascending a hill for a view of Hua Hin. We then went down and travelled through a small collection of huts where many of the workers and elephant trainers live.

Family Reunion: Carol gets bumped and Adam gets humped!

2007-07-31T02:40:00.000-07:00

The trainers wanted to show how gentle elephants can be. Carol received a gentle massage with a few bumps, while her nephew, Adam, got a little more for his money. Needless to say, all were a lot more relaxed after the experience!

Family Reunion: Lindsay gets a Lift and a Kiss!

2007-07-31T02:27:00.000-07:00

The trainers wanted to show how strong the elephants were. This one lifted Lindsay (which was like lifting a twig) and the baby kissed Lindsay as an appreciation of not overworking its mother!

Family Reunion: After the Elephant Show

2007-07-31T02:06:00.000-07:00

After the rides on the elephants, we were treated to a show and an opportunity to get some "photo ops". Carol and her mom pose with the mother elephant while Matt and Kristin posed with the baby.

Dan Sai, Loei Province (Near Laos)

2007-06-30T02:18:00.000-07:00

We traveled to Dan Sai (an eleven hour bus ride) to witness one of Thailand's most colorful festivals --- the Peetaa Kon Festival (also spelled Pii Ta Khon) --- which is internationally known. It is in a hilly and mountainous area (much different from the flat area where we live). Instead of growing rice, fruit trees dot the landscape and coffee is grown here. Ther bottom picture shows a young hornbill who has taken residence at a local resort about 10 km outside the village.

PeeTaa (Phi Ta) Khon Festival

2007-06-30T01:58:00.001-07:00

This celebration begins with a gathering at Jao Por Guan's house (a medium for the ceremony to offer food to the spirits of the ancestors). The people dance around his house to entice him to come out and lead the ceremony. A procession will lead him and the woman spirit (Jao mae Nangtiam) to the temple where they will wind around the temple three times.

The villagers celebrate in a fashion similar to Halloween (minus the candy). People dress up as spirits for two days, but at the end of the festival Jao Por Guan and Jao Mae Nangtiam protect the people and the spirits disappear. To signify this the masks were thrown into the river. However, as the masks have become more detailed and intricate, they are now simply returned to a safe place for next year!

Waiting to Start the Parade

2007-06-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

This group is waiting for the signal that the Peetaa Kon Festival Parade will begin. The masks are lined up on the street. It was over 90 degrees with 100% humidity and they were about ready to wear the masks for the next 6 hours!

The Big Moment!

2007-06-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

1...2...3.....Action!! "I love a parade!"

Beautifully Carved Masks

2007-06-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

These masks are ornately carved and take many hours to make. Many years ago, the masks were thrown into the river to get rid of the bad spirits. But now they are so elaborate that they are kept for the following year or sold to people after the festival.

Parade Time!

2007-06-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

The groups proudly march in the parade and periodically stop to pose for pictures. There were photographers from China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Israel, as well as many other countries who converged on the little town of Dan Sai for these photo "ops". We enjoyed meeting people from all over the world. One couple we met stopped many of the mask wearers and made deals to buy the masks. They have a website called "Tribal Trappings" where they offer many Asian works of art. The masks ranged from 1,000 baht to more than 4000 baht ($120) for the elaborately carved masks!

A Touch of Halloween

2007-06-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

Some of the masks have evolved to resemble masks you would see in the U.S. These masks are not of the traditional type. The picture at the bottom shows the leg of a baby in the mouth!

Craftsman: Mask Maker

2007-06-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

Many of the masks for the Peetaa Kon Festival are very elaborate and are designed by craftsmen. The top of the mask is a "huad" made from a traditional woven bamboo container normally used for steaming rice. The face is from a coconut leave sheath, while the nose is carved from soft wood.

Beautiful Colors

2007-06-29T20:59:00.000-07:00

Each group has its own style of mask and colors! Originally, only certain colors were used. Now there are many different combinations of colors!

Got mud? Earth Spirits

2007-06-29T20:18:00.000-07:00

People fire rockets into the air to help initiate the onset of rain. The rich soil combined with water will help produce the crops to insure food and prosperity. These men are either symbolizing the rich earth or just came back from a mud spa!

School Competition

2007-06-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

Many schools from the area converge on Dan Sai to participate in the talent contest. The competition features elaborate costumes and choreography! They work for months on their dance and theatrical presentations.

Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick

2007-06-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

The Peetaa Kon Festival also celebrates fertility. Many of the participants carry small swords in the shape of a penis with the tip painted bright red. In an agricultural society, the penis symbolizes abundance of crops. Obviously, these two men believe size does matter!

Carol Meets Elvis

2007-06-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

After the parade, the masked participants wander through the crowds for hours. They tease people, wave their phallic symbols at young girls, or just enjoy having their pictures taken! This participant elected to carry a guitar (which has been known to signify other things at rock concerts).