Happy Christmas Eve everyone!!
Hope you're all well and finished work for Christmas now.
This week has been full of various Christmas celebrations, despite most Thai people being buddist, i'm working with a Christian organisation, hence Christmas is celebrated!
On monday 2 other English volunteers arrived and we've spent the week attending Christmas parties. One at the babies home, then the same day we were invited to a canadian lady's house for carols and cookies. On wednesday night we took about 30 children to see Happy feet 2, in Thai so wasn't quite sure what was going on but the kids loved it!!
Yesterday it was staff sports day in the morning, this involved a parade down the street to declare sports day open. i was asked to lead the green team so was dressed up in traditional thai style clothes to march down the street. Then it was sports day, nothing like any sports day i've experienced before! One of the competitions was volley ball with water balloons and another one involved hiding behind a blanket and jumping up to shout the name of whoever else was hiding the other side! whoever shouted first won!
then last night it was the staff christmas party, basically a variety show, with lots of different acts including 3 lady boys!! there were presentations and presents. I can't begin to describe what an amazing place this is for the children and everyone involved. Seeing all the staff last night, over 60 people work within the projects. What really touched me was that even i was presented with a gift and card, and thanked for being here, especially over Christmas, all very humbling.
So today we're going to pop into Bangkok and then there's a Christmas eve service at the local "little america" community. Tomorrow myself and the other 2 new volunteers have been invited to an american lady's house for christmas day. we havent met her yet, but have been told she takes in all the stray volunteers!! We've been told to arrive for 11am tomorrow!
So wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!!
Lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Friday 23 December 2011
Saturday 17 December 2011
Thailand
hello all!
i arrived back in Bangkok this morning after a night on the overnight train, with a bed i may add. This was after a late dash to the train station on thursday night after i'd accidently booked a seat, not a bed!! Thankfully i was able to change it so i slept reasonably well.
Arrived and met up with some of the English staff who took me to the volunteer house. It sleeps 12, but there's only 3 of us here so i have a room to myself for a while. There are 2 more english volunteers arriving monday. This afternoon i hoped on my thai style bike (this is a bike that functions completely fine, although sounds and feels like it may fall apart at any moment!) to the local market. Sadly yellow mangos are not in season down here, so its green ones all the way. The worst experience of the day however, was trying some durian fruit. This is the thai fruit that smells so strong its not allowed in taxi or the underground and in many hotels. However i had been told that it tasted like custard. Well, if this is what custard tastes like, i'm not keen!!! So that was quickly disposed of in the outside bin, away from the house.
So currently not sure what my role will be here, there are a few projects running so hope to get involved in as much as possible. This is amongst all the Christmas parties and random staff sports day this week.
We have a Christmas tree up in our house and decorations so starting to feel a bit Christmassy, I even heard some festive music earlier. And a shop assistant in tesco had a santa hat on! Can't believe its only a week until Christmas, i've totally lost track of dates!
Now we're watching The Holiday!
lots of love to everyone xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
i arrived back in Bangkok this morning after a night on the overnight train, with a bed i may add. This was after a late dash to the train station on thursday night after i'd accidently booked a seat, not a bed!! Thankfully i was able to change it so i slept reasonably well.
Arrived and met up with some of the English staff who took me to the volunteer house. It sleeps 12, but there's only 3 of us here so i have a room to myself for a while. There are 2 more english volunteers arriving monday. This afternoon i hoped on my thai style bike (this is a bike that functions completely fine, although sounds and feels like it may fall apart at any moment!) to the local market. Sadly yellow mangos are not in season down here, so its green ones all the way. The worst experience of the day however, was trying some durian fruit. This is the thai fruit that smells so strong its not allowed in taxi or the underground and in many hotels. However i had been told that it tasted like custard. Well, if this is what custard tastes like, i'm not keen!!! So that was quickly disposed of in the outside bin, away from the house.
So currently not sure what my role will be here, there are a few projects running so hope to get involved in as much as possible. This is amongst all the Christmas parties and random staff sports day this week.
We have a Christmas tree up in our house and decorations so starting to feel a bit Christmassy, I even heard some festive music earlier. And a shop assistant in tesco had a santa hat on! Can't believe its only a week until Christmas, i've totally lost track of dates!
Now we're watching The Holiday!
lots of love to everyone xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tuesday 6 December 2011
December in Chiang Mai
Hello!!
I've spent the last few weeks just being here in Chiang Mai. The lifestyle here is great!
I've been out with the CM hiking club quite a few weeks now, walking up to waterfalls, viewpoints or round lakes. Its really nice as you get to see a bit more than i would doing tourist trails. I also visited the some of the hot springs last week, very sulphury though!
Last week i met up with Nhoi who was the tour guide when i came to thailand last time. It was really great to see him.
I've been volunteering usually 3 mornings a week at the orphanage. Its still great fun, especially washing time with room 2. They recognise me now so from when i arrive until i leave i have my hands full! If i sit down there's usually a minimum of 4 wanting to sit on my knee, legs, shoulders...! Then i go to room 1 with the younger ones.
On friday 4 new babies arrived, they're currently in a separate room from the rest, i think for infection control. I got to meet 3 of them yesterday. One is only 4 months old and with this beautiful baby girl sat on my knee beaming away, it was by far the most emotional its been just feeling so overwhelmed by sadness for this poor innocent baby girl. I can't even comprehend how this gorgeous being has been abandoned.
On saturday i went with another english volunteer to an orphanage in a local village. The children here have been brought down from the hilltribes, some are orphans but a lot have been abandoned. The children here are all school age and some speak really good english. they were a joy to meet, full of high energy and laughter. We went and bought them ice-creams from the local shop - I think the owner thought she'd won the lottery as we cleared the entire cornetto collection! the children were so grateful as well.
Next week i will leaving CM and heading back to Bangkok to Pakkred where the main orphanages are. My train is booked, normally it takes about 14 hours but i've heard reports of 20 hours, so i'm preparing for a long journey! for 12 pounds including my bed for the night i'm not complaining!
I imagine its very christmassy at home!! I really can't imagine it, they are a few christmas trees but they all look a bit malnorished! It is "cold season" here and the weather reports always show a picture of someone wearing a scarf for this area - this has not been my experience!! although i am now using my thin bed spread at night, when it does get a little cooler - however i am only sleeping in vest and shorts with the window open!
So now its later afternoon, i'm going to a friend's for dinner later but first time for a coconut!
There are now some pictures on my facebook too.
Sending you all lots of sunshine from Chiang Mai xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I've spent the last few weeks just being here in Chiang Mai. The lifestyle here is great!
I've been out with the CM hiking club quite a few weeks now, walking up to waterfalls, viewpoints or round lakes. Its really nice as you get to see a bit more than i would doing tourist trails. I also visited the some of the hot springs last week, very sulphury though!
Last week i met up with Nhoi who was the tour guide when i came to thailand last time. It was really great to see him.
I've been volunteering usually 3 mornings a week at the orphanage. Its still great fun, especially washing time with room 2. They recognise me now so from when i arrive until i leave i have my hands full! If i sit down there's usually a minimum of 4 wanting to sit on my knee, legs, shoulders...! Then i go to room 1 with the younger ones.
On friday 4 new babies arrived, they're currently in a separate room from the rest, i think for infection control. I got to meet 3 of them yesterday. One is only 4 months old and with this beautiful baby girl sat on my knee beaming away, it was by far the most emotional its been just feeling so overwhelmed by sadness for this poor innocent baby girl. I can't even comprehend how this gorgeous being has been abandoned.
On saturday i went with another english volunteer to an orphanage in a local village. The children here have been brought down from the hilltribes, some are orphans but a lot have been abandoned. The children here are all school age and some speak really good english. they were a joy to meet, full of high energy and laughter. We went and bought them ice-creams from the local shop - I think the owner thought she'd won the lottery as we cleared the entire cornetto collection! the children were so grateful as well.
Next week i will leaving CM and heading back to Bangkok to Pakkred where the main orphanages are. My train is booked, normally it takes about 14 hours but i've heard reports of 20 hours, so i'm preparing for a long journey! for 12 pounds including my bed for the night i'm not complaining!
I imagine its very christmassy at home!! I really can't imagine it, they are a few christmas trees but they all look a bit malnorished! It is "cold season" here and the weather reports always show a picture of someone wearing a scarf for this area - this has not been my experience!! although i am now using my thin bed spread at night, when it does get a little cooler - however i am only sleeping in vest and shorts with the window open!
So now its later afternoon, i'm going to a friend's for dinner later but first time for a coconut!
There are now some pictures on my facebook too.
Sending you all lots of sunshine from Chiang Mai xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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