Going Back to School

P'Mook, my older host sister, picked me up from my hotel at 8:30 today. We headed about 15 minuets out side of Nakhon Pathom, and into a nearby suburb. The school of our destination was a Chinese Thai emersion school. The school wants to become a three way emersion school, with english as the third language. We sat in a room with about 60 kids and 20 rotarians and school admisistrations. there was a lot of talking, and then some teaching of english to the children. The rotary club of P'Mook gave the school books and a language program to do on the computer. P'Mook invited two other exchange students, both currently on their exchange. A girl from France, Selina, helped to speak english with the students, while Axle, the boy from Mexico didn't say much.

After the children were released, we all went outside and listened to more people talk about a second project by P'Mook's club; giving wheelchairs to those in need. After the talk while everyone else was taking photos, I sneaked away with Axel and Selina to talk about their experiences. the Children at the school were currently having recess and were very intrigued by the three white people. Every once and a while I would glance in their direction and smile, and they would all hide their faces, too shy to say anything. It was obvious that they wanted to meet us, so I stopped my conversation to try and talk to the children. At first when I said hi they all ran away. But soon, after lots of encouragement, I got them to come over to us. They were very surprised that I knew thai, and I think a little shocked because they didn't say much. I introduced my self, said where I was from, and introduced the other exchange students. I then went through and asked each child their name. They were all very quite and a little scared I think. Once I talked to some of them, more and more gathered round. We were intrupted by rotarians wanting to take a photo of us. Before I left, one of the girls came up to me and gave me a pice of her candy. I asked all of the students if they wanted to be exchange students one day, and they all said yes. I asked them if they wanted to travel, and of course that was a yes. They children were so cute. I wish I could have stayed and helped them learn english and have gotten to know them better.

So cute!

Axel, Selina, and Selina's host sister.

After that school trip, we went to deliver some wheelchairs to different people in need. The first house we went to had a high drop for a wheelchair from the ground to the porch. It wasn't a step really, and walking you don't notice it. But i think in a wheelchair it is a high drop. I hope that that woman's family will help to make a ramp for the woman receiving the chair.

Around 3:00 I arrived back at my hotel. I relaxed for a little bit, before heading out to Ong-Prah to meet up with some more rotary friends. I walked to Ong-Prah, about a 15 minute walk. It was getting dark, and a little sketchy, but I didn't want to walk to find a motorcycle taxi. I arrived safe and sound at One-Prah, and met up with my friends Mew and Ray soon after. We walked around the food market of One-Prah.