We were ready to leave for camp around 11:30am. I brought all three of my bags plus my backpack down to the van so that Vaughan could load them up. There were several other youth around including Yu but I felt a little akward not knowing the language. It was about 15 minutes of standing around until we all loaded up into the van (which seats 13 including the driver). Unfortunately the air conditioning didn't work and the ride was two hours long but somehow I survived..probably by sleeping most of the way. When we were just about at the camp we stopped at a 7-eleven to use the bathroom and get some food. I didn't know what to get...everything was in Thai. I ended up with some bread, dried squid, and chocolate. All of it cost about 40baht. (On the right Pbang and left is Yu)
For anyone who's been to Camp Tabarsi at Onas..this camp was a lot like that except a little
more tropical. I needed help to register (the form was in Thai) after that we go set up in our beds and then we wait around until 4:30pm when camp starts. There are maybe 40 youth and we all sit on big straw mats on the concrete floor of a big pavilion. Two guys probably in their early twenties address the group. I don't know what's going on but I try to pay attention to see if I can grab any clues. We read the Ridvan 2008 letter and and NSA letter addressing Thailand (They have copies of these in English for me so I know what's going on.) The letters call upon the youth of the world to take action and be positive influences on the future and to not be dragged down by the materialism in the world. (This is a traditional Thai toilet. Toilet paper is not used. You squat and do your business and then you take a scoop of water from that bucket on the left and pour that into the toilet and that's how it's flushed..takes a bit of getting use to and some muscle)
Unfortunately, I suffered many mosquito bites no matter how hard I tried to protect against them, it was inevitable. I'm worried about malaria already because by now I havn't started to take my medicine for it. The camp is pretty rustic, especially coming from the States and having to adjust to everything so quickly. The girls room is one long room with a raised platform on one side, lined with matresses. It's nothing I'm use to but I'm no wimp and I can handle it...even the squat toilets with not toilet paper! I met the lady, Golee, I will be staying with in Yasothon (where the school is) and the girl who will be my roommate there, Pat. They're both very nice. It's hard living out of a suitcase and I'm not really comfortable with it because I like to have everyting set up a certain way but I'm adapting to dealing with things I'm not usually comfortable with very quickly! (To the right is the room I stayed in at camp and my friends Yu on the left and Jit on the right)
For anyone who's been to Camp Tabarsi at Onas..this camp was a lot like that except a little
more tropical. I needed help to register (the form was in Thai) after that we go set up in our beds and then we wait around until 4:30pm when camp starts. There are maybe 40 youth and we all sit on big straw mats on the concrete floor of a big pavilion. Two guys probably in their early twenties address the group. I don't know what's going on but I try to pay attention to see if I can grab any clues. We read the Ridvan 2008 letter and and NSA letter addressing Thailand (They have copies of these in English for me so I know what's going on.) The letters call upon the youth of the world to take action and be positive influences on the future and to not be dragged down by the materialism in the world. (This is a traditional Thai toilet. Toilet paper is not used. You squat and do your business and then you take a scoop of water from that bucket on the left and pour that into the toilet and that's how it's flushed..takes a bit of getting use to and some muscle)After the letters we eat dinner. It is white rice and some kind of curry with chicken ("gai"). It's very good and spicy! I sit with Yu and a couple of her friends. For the most part they all speak in Thai together but then one of the guys, Walan, speaks to me in English. He's really nice and takes me around and introduces me to people. Everyone is very nice and most of the older kids speak a little English. Unfortunately, it was hard for me to remember everyones names at first, but as I got to know them I began to remember. After dinner we play some icebreaker games (Things I don't like to play in the first place, let alone in a different language!) Though it wasn't so bad and we had some fun. Finally it is time for bed around 9:00pm. I'm very tired from the trip and the weather. I get a good nights rest.
Unfortunately, I suffered many mosquito bites no matter how hard I tried to protect against them, it was inevitable. I'm worried about malaria already because by now I havn't started to take my medicine for it. The camp is pretty rustic, especially coming from the States and having to adjust to everything so quickly. The girls room is one long room with a raised platform on one side, lined with matresses. It's nothing I'm use to but I'm no wimp and I can handle it...even the squat toilets with not toilet paper! I met the lady, Golee, I will be staying with in Yasothon (where the school is) and the girl who will be my roommate there, Pat. They're both very nice. It's hard living out of a suitcase and I'm not really comfortable with it because I like to have everyting set up a certain way but I'm adapting to dealing with things I'm not usually comfortable with very quickly! (To the right is the room I stayed in at camp and my friends Yu on the left and Jit on the right)
2 comments:
Thank you for sharing the pictures. It really does look rustical! It reminds me a little of the Bahai schools at the Bahai center in Cayey, PR, during my childood.
This room looks almost exactly like the room I stayed in in the Dominican Republic for the youth conference I went to. I think I was 11 at the time. We had toilets with toilet paper though. :)
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