A Whole Lot of Catching Up!!!

English Camp . . .

About a month ago I became completely fed up with my lack of productivity. I love to read, if there is a person in this world who can sit and become completely absorbed in literature, it is me - but there has to be something more to joining the Peace Corps than watching the tally on my "goodreads" page continue to climb. So, sick of sitting around watching the minutes and hours on the clock pass by, I decided to put my schools on the back burner for a bit and see if anyone else near me was looking for help. I made fliers in English and Thai that explained that there was an English speaking volunteer in the area that would be willing to put on Teacher Trainings and English Camps if anyone was interested. Within the week I had 3 English Camps scheduled. These are not my favorite things to do, because they usually end up feeling more like a day of babysitting than learning, but I was up for anything at this point and so went for it.

Unlike the United States, Thailand does not have a Christmas, Thanksgiving, or spring break built into the school year; they do, however, take the month of October off between the first and second terms. It was due to this vacation time that I have only put on one of the three camps thus far. And here is how it went.

Usually I would be expected to create the schedule, provide the teachers, make the materials, plan for catering, and lead the big group activities. On this particular occasion, the camp was already planned and ready to go, but the school thought it would be a beneficial addition to have a native speaker of the language and so invited me to participate without having to do any of the planning. I gladly accepted the offer and was picked up early one Thursday morning and taken to meet the campers. Like most English Camps, this started out with a big group energizer, speeches given by the principals that go on way too long, acknowledgment of the Buddha, another big group activity, and then dividing the students into groups. A Thai teacher, with minimal English skills generally MCs the large group activities, engaging the kids in grammatically incorrect songs, nonsensical games, and then gibbers on in Thai for about 30 minutes of the "English" camp. This experience was much the same.

Once the campers were put into their respective groups they were sent off for a day full of fun and learning. I was assigned Food and Drinks for a topic and was expected to have the students fluent in all things edible within an hour. So, instead I got out flash cards, made sure they knew the names of each culinary item, and then we had vocabulary relay races. We colored pictures, made menus of our favorite foods, and then ended the session by pretending we were at a restaurant ordering tasty treats. They seemed to enjoy themselves and were all excited to participate in the "Farang's" (foreigner's) activities.

While, I felt like this was a fairly successful camp and was impressed by the efficient nature in which is was being run, there was something missing . . . something I was soon to discover, to the dismay of the eleven principals, and eight-teen teachers in attendance.

You see, as efficiently as this particular English Day was being executed, the individuals in charge were still Thai and so have a very warped notion of time. I was unable to eat a single dish being served for lunch, as it was all heaped with peppers and the smell of it alone sent me into a fit of suffocating coughs - it was like I walked into a room which had all the oxygen replaced with pepper spray, and was expected to just keep on breathing! Needless to say, that wasn't going to work out, so I headed back to the auditorium where my belongings were left (I always keep a granola bar on hand) and where we would be meeting back up with all the students after lunch. When 1:00 rolled around and the teachers had yet to return to get the second half of the day under way, it came to me.

There they all were - 200 ten to twelve year olds, sitting in perfect rows, waiting for their instructors to return, and knowing that it could be days before they chose to - and all at once I realized what it was that had been missing all along . . . chaos and disorder.

So, in this train of thought, I grabbed the microphone and started getting them to mimic my frenzied clapping, then I started dancing around and had them copy that as well. I had them singing songs, playing games, screaming and yelling, laughing, running, sitting down, standing up, rolling around on the floor, and climbing all over the room and each other for a solid 30 minutes. It was amazing; I worked them into such a manic frenzy it was as if they were hopped up on 10 lbs of koolaid and and a pint of Ben and Jerri's each. Once they were absolutely beyond any and all control I looked up and saw my counterparts standing in complete shock at the awe inspiring disaster that was taking place before them. Some how I was able to calm them down enough to get them back in their rows and off to their next station for the beginning of the afternoon, but it was clear that it was going to take a true miracle to achieve a state of calm and quiet again for the rest of the afternoon.

While I had an absolute blast and would repeat the episode in a heart beat, I'm not sure anyone else in charge would agree . . . I'd be shocked if they invited me back. But, learning is supposed to be fun and sitting around waiting for someone to fill them with knowledge just wasn't going to cut it. This was my first venture into productivity, my first attempt at being a bigger part of more of my community, and great opportunity to get to spend time with the people I love most and came here for - students. It was a success, exhausting, and totally entertaining.

Field Trip . . .

Three days after my tornado of and English Camp, the middle/high school in which I "teach" was taking the students on a field trip. For the entire term they were taking part in a nation wide competition called "Dream School." It was called a competition, because eventually there is a school named Thailand's "Dream School," but in all actuality it is a ridiculous undertaking that schools are expected to take part in and they are required to continue modifying and improving their "Dream School" performance until the judges deem it good enough to pass. Some schools (those with lots of money and resources) pass on the first try, those of us, however, who are less fortunate are forced to do this whole song and dance over and over and over again. This would all make sense if there was a shred of academic merit to a single second of it, but students are expected to dress up and dance, sing songs, give speeches, and lead tours of the school. The practice and preparation took the students out of the classroom for an entire term and had them learning to fake greatness instead of teaching them to actually achieve it. With that being said, after six attempts the school finally passed and was allowed to end the struggle to please these unrealistic judges. In celebration of the "Dream School's" completion we went on a field trip.

Tip (my counterpart) and I were in charge of the 9th grade class and so were asked to be at the school at 5:30 on Friday morning for a head count and to get everyone on the bus. To my great pleasure, when I arrived, I saw that Tip brought along her seven year old daughter Aum. She is one of my favorite people here and the object of most of my affection while at site . . . it started out a good day. When we made sure the students were all there and made note of those who weren't we got on the bus and headed for Bangkok. Now, it should be mentioned that buses in this country are nothing like what you are picturing at this very moment in your mind; they are plagued with Thailand's two biggest flaws . . . volume and temperature control.

It is like they think that because this is probably the HOTTEST place on the face of the planet earth that they should create the polar ice caps whenever possible. Buses have air condition (for the most part) and it is generally turned up to such a degree that one can see their breath with little to no effort. As if that weren't bad enough they also usually are fully equipped with large speaker systems, T.V.s, and Karaoke. Still don't think I have a legitimate reason to complain? Well, they love to turn the volume up so loud that one's ears ring for days following the trip and the music being played, if you're lucky, is some mushy Thai pop song with music video. If you are one of the more unfortunate travelers, which on this particular day I just so happened to be, they actually have a mic and they sing Karaoke the entire way. Just imagine it . . . 60 9th graders stuck on a bus that is below freezing, singing karaoke songs at the top of their longs, some how forgetting that the little apparatus in their hands actually makes their voices louder all on its own, without their pitchy attempts to project.

Don't worry, I survived and was one of the more blessed victims in fact, because my ticket was a one way deal.

Getting on with the actual field trip. We made three stops in total: the first was a quick refreshment and bathroom break, for anyone who couldn't figure out how to hold it for a 2 hour bus ride (bladder control people . . . I mean come on!), the second was to a huge park that housed eight different museums. We went to three of them, and then headed for our third and final destination - "Dream World" (no connection to the previously mentioned contest). Not needing to use the restroom I passed up the chance to stretch my legs on the first stop, but was in charge of 10 students on the next, so had to get off the bus and get involved.

We went to the museum of technology, the museum of natural history, and the museum of art. The museums were well done and full of interesting displays. Being in charge of a group of students who wanted nothing to do with each other or me, however, was a bit of a struggle. Not to mention the fact that Aum decided to come with me instead of her mom and she was nearly impossible to keep track of. She is tiny (just like me at that age) and loves to get lost in the crowd, only to double back and laugh hysterically when you turn around in a frantic panic to find her. So, while I was interested in the contents of the museums themselves, I had my hands full and can honestly not remember a single thing I learned or saw. I was extremely relieved when we ate lunch, got back on the bus, and put people back in charge of their own destinies.

Final Stop - "Dream World": This is an amusement park with rides, haunted houses, paddle boats, and 3-D movies. Here we gave the students their tickets, told them when to be back on the buses, and let them do their own thing. This was great news to me, because that meant I got Aum all to myself and we had a blast. Tip doesn't like the rides, and wouldn't do a lot of what was there, so I took Aum and we experienced every single thing she was tall enough to enjoy.

I must say, that had it not been for my little companion this would have been something of a disappointing world meant to represent the majestic nature of dreams. There were no big roller coasters, nothing that sent you flying through the air, flipping, turning, diving, racing toward the unforgivable solidity of pavement right before throwing you back into the air, and ending in an immediate and exhilarating halt. Really, it kind of made kiddie land at any amusement park in the States look like a state of the art land of thrills. But paddle boats, mini roller coasters, bumper cars, and haunted houses were enough to keep Aum entertained and that was the goal . . . objective achieved.

For me, this was the end of the road - unfortunately for the rest of the staff, they had to relive the karaoke bus ride one more time before returning home. The field trip was perfect timing for me, as it was on a Friday and it just so happened that it required a trip to Bangkok, where I had plans to spend the weekend - which brings me to the next portion of this novel length update.

Arnie and Brooke . . .

Right around the time I arrived at site I received an e-mail from my Dad informing me that Arnie, an old family friend known as Uncle Arnie, was considering moving to Bangkok to teach at an international school. I was excited about the prospect of having family within such close proximity and wondered how it would effect my time here. Seeing as how I seem to have nothing but time on my hands, I decided that it would be a really nice escape and even better, he was bringing his daughter Brooke, so it was going to give me a chance to know her too.

So, after a full day of field tripping and playing big sister to Aum, I was off to meet up with Arnie and Brooke for the weekend. I had only ever met Brooke once, when she was about five, so didn't really know her at all. Arnie on the other hand, has always been a presence in my life on some level. When I was just a little kid he was one of my very favorite people in the world. He would come over and wrestle with me and Cody until I was covered in whisker burn, Cody ran out of breath and exhausted the deep belly laugh we all loved so much, and Arnie couldn't hardly walk. After years of being my play toy, friend, uncle, supporter, and confidante he decided to move to Africa to pursue a career in international teaching.

I still vividly remember the day my dad told me he wouldn't be around any more. I was at my grandma's house sitting in the lazy boy recliner, which was the only necessary piece of furniture in the whole house, and watching "Bewitched;" I fully admit to being an overly emotional person and know that I take things more seriously than is reasonable on any level, so it should have come as no surprise to anyone when the news hit me like a semi going full speed. I thought my whole world was crumbling beneath me and that I would never survive such a devastating heart break. Good news . . . I survived and instead of letting it kill me, I found sanctuary and joy in making him my e-mail buddy. He was the first of many and, I believe, the start of my passion for staying in touch and connected to people. He stayed in Africa for years, moved back to the states, but never back to Colorado, and is now here - and through it all we have always been in contact.

So, it was easy to pick up where we left off when it came time to reunite. Granted, there would be no wrestling match, but there was lots of great conversation and I was spoiled like the princess I have always secretly known I am. We met for dinner at a big mall, went to a movie, and then headed to his house for the weekend. It was like entering the twilight zone after being at site for nearly 6 months. His housing development is called "Perfect Place" and literally is about as close as Thailand gets. It was full of beautiful, cared for houses, manicured yards, parks, and trails; the school was nicer than most college campuses in the country, and the small town right outside the development was made up of cute little restaurants, various Thai markets, and all the essentials a person could want or need. I felt like I stepped off a plane and was back in the states for a few days. It was fabulous.

We spent our time talking, watching movies, and playing with Brooke. She is adorable, at 9 years old, full of life and energy, and has a truly sweet affect. She told stories, played in the pool, taught me a thing or two about badminton, cuddled with me at night, and colored me a picture to take home before I left. It was perfect.

It was so comforting to be with people who love me, who know me, and who share some of my history. I love the friends I have made here and am sure they will continue to be a part of my life forever, but there is something to say about people who have always known you and love you because they have experienced a substantial part of your life with you. I miss being at home because I miss being around familiar people, who know what my good and bad days look like, and who love me regardless . . . this was a little touch of that, much needed and much appreciated. I fully intend to spend the next year and a half in their company on a regular basis.

Vacation!!! . . .

After six months at site and nine months in country, I decided it was time to take a real vacation. The trip was divided into two very distinctly different experiences. The first half was spent with a friend (Bethany) on the southern island of Kho Samui, taking part in a health retreat. The second half of the time was spent on an island only two hours away, called Kho Tao, where we met up with two other friends (Sarah and Hayden) and enjoyed the beach and being tourists for a week.

Vacation, Week One - Health Retreat:

Living in Thailand is full of interesting struggles and they are different for everyone; for me it has been getting a handle on my diet. The food here is full of MSG, random chemicals, sugar, salt, and EVERYTHING is fried. I know it's hard to believe, but I have been fighting and failing to maintain my figure in a place where everything is so bad for me and tastes so good. I eat dinner with my neighbor four nights a week and have no control over what I'm being fed and the rest of the time I feel so clueless that I eat whatever is around, or whatever someone puts in front of me. It has taken its toll on me physically and emotionally and I was really ready to take the control back and figure out how to be a healthier person while I'm here.

Bethany spent weeks researching and found a health retreat called "Darma Healing Center" and signed us up. This was an intense way to learn about my body's needs, but it was a great experience and totally worth it. We were only allowed to eat fruits and vegetables for 48 hours before arriving, and we would be fasting the whole seven days we spent there. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and really rewarding. We were also asked to do two colonics a day, one with tea and the other with coffee. While I am sure it would be hilarious to go into great detail about the intricasies of this process, it might cause some of my readers minor discomfort, and honestly I'm a little embarrassed about it myself . . . so, I'll spare you the nitty gritty and just say, that it was interesting.

Our days were spent in classes at a bungalow right on the beach, learning about the benefits of healthy eating, what to eat when, and how to prepare things. We also engaged in yoga, a lesson on the healing power of sound (where a man came and did a demonstration with Tebitin singing bowls), creative cleansing, and a whole class on coconuts. In case anyone was wondering, coconuts are like magic . . . they will save your life, keep you young, flavor your food, and keep you from being thristy, so eat them up!! There was a day spent in the kitchen; we made our own juice (and were allowed to drink it), then we made a whole pile of things that would help us break our fasts more successfully. It was extremely difficult to prepare food that I was unable to eat for another three days - I was really grumpy on that particular day :)

The retreat included two massages, a text book, all the classes, and the supplements we took each day. There was a spoonful of clay to be ingested in the morning, and a glass of herbs that made me want to vomit air, seeing as that was all that was in my stomach, two cocnuts a day, and broth (which was water with some garlic in it) each night. The herbs made it so I wasn't physically hungry, but there was no doubt in my mind that my brain was hungry; I thought about food every second of every day I was there.

So, that was our first week. We spent it torturing ourselves and learning to be more healthy individuals, while we cleansed our bodies of the distruction we have been causing since arriving in this country. I learned a lot, loved the classes, enjoyed sitting on the beach reading my books, and was with great company. It was fabulous, though we got the order wrong, because week two was not at all a week of health.

Vacation, Week Two - Kho Tao:

Once the fast was over Bethany and I headed for the next island to meet Sarah and Hayden. Kho Tao is far more beautiful and much more relaxing than Koh Samui, which is dirty, busy, and kind of hard to navigate. On Kho Tao we were able to stay in a bungalow for 4 right on the beach for dollars a night. The beach was fabulous, great for swimming, and perfect to get a nice tan and read a good book. We spent most of our days just laying around soaking up the sun and enjoying the fact that our shoulders were showing and no one even seemed to notice, let alone care.

Koh Tao is a small island and a major destination for divers. There were more foreigners there than there were Thai people, and it was easy to get around. The small streets are lined with food vendors, little shops, and great restaurants. So, we took advantage of all of this and spent most of our afternoons, when it got too hot to sit on the beach, shopping and eating. That's right . . . we ate! We ate anything and everything there was to eat with absolutely not regard for it's nutritional benefits, or lack there of. I had a minimun of 3 coconut milk shakes a day, endless snacks, and huge meals - it was heaven and completely negated any and all progress I made at the retreat. We should have planned the trip in the opposite order :)

Nights were a bit more lively for us. We would take one last evening swim and watch the sunset in the ocean, then we would head back to the bungalow and get dressed for dinner and a night on the town. Hold on to your seats because this is about to get exciting. After grourging on some delicious treat for dinner we would head off to some bar or another, order coconut shakes, and spend the rest of the night playing travel scrabble!!! It was amazing. I finally met people who are just as nerdy as me and they embrace it . . . it made for a great vacation, spent with just the right kind of people.

The return home was a 10 hour, over night bus ride to Bangkok, a sleepless night at the Peace Corps office, and another bus ride back to site the following day. It was daunting, but a nice way to ease back into the solitude that awaits me whenever I am in Ban Chang.

Now . . .

Now, I am back at site and getting ready for school to start next week. I've been continuing my steady diet of good books, and have spent a lot of time planning for the term to come. We made some major schedule changes and have worked to come up with ways to make this a more successful experience for everyone involved. So, I am hopeful that things will start to turn around, and if not, I'm back to the English Camp gig.

I'm spending Thanksgiving in Bangkok with the other volunteers because we don't get American holidays off and there is no planned celebration. So, we have all decided to get together and have dinner and spend the weekend in good company. December is going to be an exciting time because the day I turn 24 my family will be arriving for a two week stay. We have a Mid-service Conference held by Peace Corps in January, where we get a bunch of medical stuff taken care of and we get together to talk about what has been going on in the year since we got here, and Alberto is talking about having me go to Virginia to see him in the middle of Feburary. So there is lots going on and lots to look forward to. If I work hard, make my time here count, and look forward to the treasures coming my way, the next three months should fly by.

The solitude and inactivity are getting to be less and and less of a frustration as I get better and better at entertaining myself, finding productive ways to spend my time, and plan for the future. There have been days when leaving was a serious consideration, now I know that this adventure wasn't embarked upon only to do what I can to help while I'm here, but force me to take a good, long, hard look in the mirror and learn to see myself - keep the things I like and learn to improve upon the things I don't.

And with that, you are completely up to date on all things Abbylee.