Sorry it took so long to finish updating about the trip. Since I got home I have been so busy.
Dec. 12: This was the day we went to the downtown markets of Mae Sot and purchased a guitar for the kids at Wide Horizons. Every time we visited them they played and sang for us, and their voices are so beautiful. We proceeded to head to Wide Horizons to give them the guitar. Only a group of 6 of us went, as this was our free day so there were groups of people doing different things. It was also a Sunday, so it was the students day off. We still managed to gather most of the Wide Horizons students to hang out with us for a bit. We played it off nonchalantly at first, acting as though we brought our guitar along to play with them. One kid asked if he could try it out, so we said yes. After a few songs in, Josh stood up and announced that the guitar was actually theirs. They let out a whoop, and you could see the excitement and thanks in their eyes. We stayed for awhile after that, just listening to them play music and sing. They also showed us some Burmese hiphop moves. We reiterated by showing them the two step and then we taught them a line dance. They were all willing to try it out and we had a blast. On this day we also visited the Rim Moei Market. This is a market right on the Burma border. We were able to see the Friendship Bridge, which is the bridge that joins Thailand to Burma. It was quite interesting, and a little scary. This (the border) is often where fights will break out, so we had to keep an eye out for any changes in the way people were acting. Everything was fine, and the market was very cool. This was the first night I really felt ready to go home, as well. Three weeks is a long time to be gone from your life, even though time has flown by. But I also knew I'd miss Thailand if I left.
Dec. 13: "I am so privileged to be here. This trip was an opportunity of a lifetime, and I have learned so much. Today was our final day in Mae Sot. I am so sad to leave. We started out our day visiting another school. Agape School and Orphanage. My heart melted. These kids were the cutest I have ever seen. They were all playing games together when we arrived. They sang songs while we looked on. This is how they start everyday, singing songs. The reason the headmaster decided to do this was because of what these children have to go through every night. (I will not type everything, so as to protect the children of this school.) Agape School really stuck out to me. I could have spent all day there. I want to do more for the people at that school. Someday I will. After our short time spent at Agape, a group of us went back to the farm to prepare for our final distribution. This was held at New Light School, the school that last year's group built. It was emotional for me watching Brad, Steph and Tarren return to a place that meant so much to them. I can't even begin to imagine what they were feeling. Today was, also, our grand opening at Hlee Bee School. The kids danced for us, and it was so moving to be a part of it all. It was so great to see the joy on the kids faces, and know that it is because of something you did. Even though we were not a part of physically building the school, we still built it. Without our fundraising efforts and our generous donors, there would be no Hlee Bee School. To finish off this wonderful day we invited the students from Wide Horizons over to our hotel for a pool-pizza party. It was fantastic. There was no way it could have gone better." Taken from my journal I wrote throughout the trip. As the kids from Wide Horizons were leaving to head back to the school, they said to us "Once you leave, we have nothing." It was hard to leave the next day with a smile on our face.
Dec. 14: "I am so sad to leave. The connections we have made and the people we have met will be remembered forever. I hate leaving everyone behind. We give these people so much hope, and it is so much more evident when we are here. These people need to go home. They need their rights back. Health rights, education rights, the right to work, eat, live. Everything. They have nothing in Burma. They flee from gunshots to live in fear of being found and of sickness. We've witnessed and learned so much here that I am still trying to understand it all. These people go through so much, nothing of which anyone should experience, yet they are still always smiling. Always smiling." "The drive back to Chiang Mai from Mae Sot was quiet. We all slept, as we are completely wiped from the past 10 days. It was hard to keep from crying during that drive as we left Mae Sot behind. It feels wrong leaving while there is still so much to be done." We arrived in Chiang Mai mid-afternoon. That evening Amber, Nychole and I went to get tattoos. It was something I knew I was going to do well before I left on this trip. I planned to get only one, but on the morning of this day I decided to get two. I got the word 'hope' in the Karen language on my wrist, and 'Always Smiling' between my shoulders. "They are both to remind me about this trip everyday. I never want to forget these people, and their stories and hardships. I want to be reminded of their struggle, and that I helped bring hope to their lives."
Dec. 15: In the morning we went to Maesa Elephant Camp. This is where we rode elephants and watched the elephant show. It was a super cool experience. The afternoon consisted of sitting in the Bangkok airport, waiting to start our journey home. :(
Dec. 16: "We leave for Canada today. We land back in Regina at 11pm on this day, but yet we still have almost 24 hours of travelling ahead of us. Time changes really throw me for a loop. I still don't want to leave. I want to go back to Mae Sot. It is so hard to leave the people we met behind. It definitely feels wrong leaving, as much as I do miss home. My tattoos are healing so fast, and I can't stop looking at them."
Flights back home were good. The flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver was interesting, but you can ask me about that in person. We were delayed in Edmonton for a couple hours, which was a nuisance.
Dec. 17: "This experience was absolutely amazing and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity. It has opened my eyes so much, and showed me a whole other side of life that only seemed to exist in movies. I feel like I have learned a lot, about myself, society and the world. I want nothing more than to share my experiences with others, to educate people on Burma and its cruel, unjust government. This is not the end, but only an open door leading to many more opportunities."
Now that I have been home for a couple weeks, I have had more time to reflect on my trip. I still tear up talking about the experience, but I am not sure that will ever change. I don't want to be hard and clam up my emotions when talking about this journey. Just this morning, I called my mom crying. I was talking to a man I met in Thailand last night and he told me of how things are in Mae Sot for them right now. They are not good.
It's hard knowing what I know. It's hard to live my life, to enjoy things. I know that I cannot allow it to take over my life. I can't be defeated by what I saw. We are very lucky living in Canada. This is how we live. Our lifestyle. Nothing is handed to me. I work hard for what I have, but it still feels like I have too much and take advantage of my golden life. But even though I know our countries are different, it doesn't feel right. How can the world go on like this. A select few countries have it all, while the rest suffer. This is what I think about everyday. How unjust it is, how backwards it is.
The people of Burma inspire me to be a better person. They are amazing people who continue to give, when they have nothing themselves. They smile while standing on a pile of garbage barefoot.
I challenge you to think of all the things you have, and how much of it you actually need. I challenge you to not think of yourself for one day. I challenge you to smile at everyone, even if they will not acknowledge you. I challenge you to give back.
One person can change the world. Because it only takes one to get the ball rolling.
With love,
12.29.2010
12.11.2010
Changing Lives, One Day At A Time
Dec. 5: We all made it to Mae Sot, our final destination. The first school we visited was Wide Horizons. This is a post secondary school that takes 24 students a year and tries to give them the proper education they need to get out into the world and get a good job. It was the original site of Hsa Thoo Lei, which was the school we visited next. We were able to get a tour of the school and learned about the difference Global Neighbors has made to the lives of the kids living and going to school at Hsa Thoo Lei. We were able to go to the garden with the kids who look after it. We all helped them water the plants, and it was a very cool experience to help them out. Hsa Thoo Lei is a school for Burmese kids. Today was also the King's birthday. I took part in a small ceremony for him, which was a very cool experience.
Dec. 6: We visited Hlee Bee School, the one we were supposed to build. Turns out it was already built, but there were still some finishing details that had to be done. So the purpose of visiting was to determine what was left to do. After figuring that out we went to the Global Neighbors farm, where they have offices and a wharehouse. This is where we prepared for our first distribution of blankets, kitchen ware, and necessities for the families and students at Ah Yone Oo School. To see the joy and thanks on the faces of those we helped was so heartwarming. We took a small tour of the school and its surrounding buildings. The place is not in very good shape, but to the people is means everything. Another great part of the day was interacting with the kids. They adored us, even though the language barrier was quite tough. We still were able to play with them and have a lot of fun.
Dec. 7: Today I took part in painting the interior and exterior of Hlee Bee School. Classes did not stop for our disruption, so the kids had a hard time focusing because they kept watching us with interest. This school is for kids in grade one to five, I believe, so they are all very young and completely adorable. We did another distribution at a Buddist school. This one was a clothing distribution. The kids could not have been more excited and thrilled about the items we brought for them. Most put their new outfits on right away and could not stop jumping around. We had supper at a Burmese restuarant on this night. There a man spoke to us about his past with Burma. It was very moving, and and incredible wake up call. It's easy to be blinded by the adorable children, and not think about what their elders had to do to get them to Thailand safely.
Dec. 8: Today was my day to teach Sketch Up to the grade twelves at Hsa Thoo Lei. It was a very rewarding and interesting experience. The language barrier was definitely the hardest challenge, but it was really cool to see the progression of what we were teaching them. In the afternoon we visited Mae La Refugee Camp. This was one of my favorite days here. This is the day that we did the camera project at Henry's School. Before we came to Thailand we had to take pictures of our life and assemble them on a USB. We brought a camera and a USB stick to Mae La to leave behind. At the school we were paired up with two students each. We showed them our pictures and then they brought us around and showed us their life, taking pictures as they went. We then swapped pictures. The students loved this project, as did we. I gave away all of the extra pictures I had printed off at this school. The ones of me and my family went in the blink of an eye.
Dec. 9: I prepared Christmas gifts for the kids at Arthur's Orpanage in Mae La Camp in the morning and taught the grade elevens Sketch Up at Hsa Thoo Lei in the early afternoon. Then we did our final distribution of food at Sky Blue School. The kids here were so happy, and loved having us there. They wanted us to take so many pictures of them, which we gladly did. We finished off the day by going back to Wide Horizons. Here we partnered up with a couple people there and just talked to them. We exchanged information so we can stay in touch, and they shared their stories with us. All filled with hardships.
Dec. 10: We went back to Mae La Camp, this time visiting Arthur's Orphanage. They made us lunch as soon as we arrived, and the food was delicious! Then the kids sang us Christmas songs. Their voices were absolutely beautiful. It was hard to choke back tears. After this we were able to hang out for awhile and get to know some of the kids. I went into one of the girls' dorms and they showed me their weaving work. They also put their make up on us, which was a very cool and humble experience. After spending some time at the camp we left to a Thai Karen village. This is where we stayed the night, getting the full Thailand experience. They cooked us a traditional meal, sang to us and sold us some traditional clothing, blankets and bags. It rained all evening, night and the next day, but the epxerience was still a good one.
Dec. 11: We were supposed to visit a remote waterfall today, but because of the rain the roads were too dangerous. Instead we took a driving tour through the jungle and we ended up in a stunning provincial park. There we stopped and hiked halfway up a moutain in search of a waterfall. We did not find it, as we went the wrong way, but nonetheless is was still breathtaking (exercise and view).
Today is December 12 and it is our free day. Our days are running out and this saddens me. I don't want to come home. Everything is so beautiful here and the weather is quite nice now that I have gotten used to it. I am not ready for the cold, but I do miss snow. I can't wait to jump in it with my brothers and sister. I miss home, and mom's cooking. I miss my friends. And of course I miss my car. We have never been apart this long. ;)
Before I sign off I need to share this quote with you because it made me laugh. FYI, Henry is a Burmese man that works for Global Neighbors. He acted as our tour guide some of the time. On this particular day Denton, who is with Gobal Neighbors (from PA) was driving the van and Henry was in the passenger seat. I just happened to hear this part of the conversation.
Henry: "What are you growing in Canada right now?"
Denton: "Snowballs."
With love,
Dec. 6: We visited Hlee Bee School, the one we were supposed to build. Turns out it was already built, but there were still some finishing details that had to be done. So the purpose of visiting was to determine what was left to do. After figuring that out we went to the Global Neighbors farm, where they have offices and a wharehouse. This is where we prepared for our first distribution of blankets, kitchen ware, and necessities for the families and students at Ah Yone Oo School. To see the joy and thanks on the faces of those we helped was so heartwarming. We took a small tour of the school and its surrounding buildings. The place is not in very good shape, but to the people is means everything. Another great part of the day was interacting with the kids. They adored us, even though the language barrier was quite tough. We still were able to play with them and have a lot of fun.
Dec. 7: Today I took part in painting the interior and exterior of Hlee Bee School. Classes did not stop for our disruption, so the kids had a hard time focusing because they kept watching us with interest. This school is for kids in grade one to five, I believe, so they are all very young and completely adorable. We did another distribution at a Buddist school. This one was a clothing distribution. The kids could not have been more excited and thrilled about the items we brought for them. Most put their new outfits on right away and could not stop jumping around. We had supper at a Burmese restuarant on this night. There a man spoke to us about his past with Burma. It was very moving, and and incredible wake up call. It's easy to be blinded by the adorable children, and not think about what their elders had to do to get them to Thailand safely.
Dec. 8: Today was my day to teach Sketch Up to the grade twelves at Hsa Thoo Lei. It was a very rewarding and interesting experience. The language barrier was definitely the hardest challenge, but it was really cool to see the progression of what we were teaching them. In the afternoon we visited Mae La Refugee Camp. This was one of my favorite days here. This is the day that we did the camera project at Henry's School. Before we came to Thailand we had to take pictures of our life and assemble them on a USB. We brought a camera and a USB stick to Mae La to leave behind. At the school we were paired up with two students each. We showed them our pictures and then they brought us around and showed us their life, taking pictures as they went. We then swapped pictures. The students loved this project, as did we. I gave away all of the extra pictures I had printed off at this school. The ones of me and my family went in the blink of an eye.
Dec. 9: I prepared Christmas gifts for the kids at Arthur's Orpanage in Mae La Camp in the morning and taught the grade elevens Sketch Up at Hsa Thoo Lei in the early afternoon. Then we did our final distribution of food at Sky Blue School. The kids here were so happy, and loved having us there. They wanted us to take so many pictures of them, which we gladly did. We finished off the day by going back to Wide Horizons. Here we partnered up with a couple people there and just talked to them. We exchanged information so we can stay in touch, and they shared their stories with us. All filled with hardships.
Dec. 10: We went back to Mae La Camp, this time visiting Arthur's Orphanage. They made us lunch as soon as we arrived, and the food was delicious! Then the kids sang us Christmas songs. Their voices were absolutely beautiful. It was hard to choke back tears. After this we were able to hang out for awhile and get to know some of the kids. I went into one of the girls' dorms and they showed me their weaving work. They also put their make up on us, which was a very cool and humble experience. After spending some time at the camp we left to a Thai Karen village. This is where we stayed the night, getting the full Thailand experience. They cooked us a traditional meal, sang to us and sold us some traditional clothing, blankets and bags. It rained all evening, night and the next day, but the epxerience was still a good one.
Dec. 11: We were supposed to visit a remote waterfall today, but because of the rain the roads were too dangerous. Instead we took a driving tour through the jungle and we ended up in a stunning provincial park. There we stopped and hiked halfway up a moutain in search of a waterfall. We did not find it, as we went the wrong way, but nonetheless is was still breathtaking (exercise and view).
Today is December 12 and it is our free day. Our days are running out and this saddens me. I don't want to come home. Everything is so beautiful here and the weather is quite nice now that I have gotten used to it. I am not ready for the cold, but I do miss snow. I can't wait to jump in it with my brothers and sister. I miss home, and mom's cooking. I miss my friends. And of course I miss my car. We have never been apart this long. ;)
Before I sign off I need to share this quote with you because it made me laugh. FYI, Henry is a Burmese man that works for Global Neighbors. He acted as our tour guide some of the time. On this particular day Denton, who is with Gobal Neighbors (from PA) was driving the van and Henry was in the passenger seat. I just happened to hear this part of the conversation.
Henry: "What are you growing in Canada right now?"
Denton: "Snowballs."
With love,
Highlights From My First 10 Days in Thailand
Nov. 24: Arrived at our first destination in Thailand, Patong Beach in the province of Phuket. We showered immediately as we felt quite disgusting from our 20 plus hours of travelling. The hostel we stayed at was Coast Star Mansion, and it was plain, but met our needs. It was quite liberating arriving. My first time really travelling alone and with no solid agenda. We were just going with the flow, which felt great and was not stressful at all. We shopped around the markets and tried out our bartering skills, which I will admit were quite weak at the beginning of this trip. We strolled over to the beach, but never did enjoy it as it wasn't super nice and the weather wasn't that great. That evening we took in a Muay Thai Boxing match. It was very cool, and it turns out a guy from Edmonton was fighting.
Nov.26: We did our first tour on this day. We visited a Buddha Cave, had a Thai lunch, went to Tum Pungchang Cave, and then went to the James Bond Island. To finish off the tour we stopped at a Muslim fishing village, called Panyee Island, that housed around 3000 people. It was a very interesting experience. We went to Bangla Road in Patong Beach, which is known for its nightlife, that evening. It was quite interesting to say the least. It was my first up close look at the sex trade here in Thailand, as there were lady boys everywhere. They sure flaunted their, er, stuff. It was disturbing, but Kayla and I did find some hilarity in it.
Nov. 27: The day I bungy jumped! What an incredible experience! It was damn near the hardest thing I have ever done mentally. It was so hard to just let yourself fall. It felt like a very long free fall until the cord caught. But I am so glad I did it. Very worth it. Will I do it again? Maybe, if the right opportunity comes up. After bungy jumping, we headed to Koh Phi Phi Don. I think my favorite place we visited, people and entertainment wise. The island is quite small, but still offered everything I needed or wanted. The ferry ride over was fabulous. We met some Canadians and soaked in the rays for our ride over. The first thing we did was check in to a place to stay. It turned out to be a hut, really far away from the town. No lights at night to find your way. We ended up only staying one night. But the first day on Phi Phi was spent checking things out, getting our first massage, and watching a fire show on the beach. We met up with a couple of Americans and partied with them that night. It was really fun, but things got rowdy with some people around 1am so we called it a night.
Nov. 28: Checked into P&P Place. Much better for only a 100 baht more, plus it was right in town. This was the day we realized that we would not be watching the Rider game. It played at 4am our time and no places offering internet were open at that time. :( But we still wore our green all day and found plenty of people from SK that way! It also rained this day, making it a write off for us. We walked around the island, dropped off some laundry, and booked a tour for the following day. We still managed to spend some time on the beach. The sun was hidden, but it was still warm when it wasn't raining.
Nov. 29: My favorite day in Phi Phi. The weather wasn't superb. It was cloudy and rained a little on and off all day, but we still managed a small sunburn ( the feet were fine! ). We did a boat tour of th surrounding islands. It included Maya Bay (not all its cracked up to be), Monkey Island, and Bamboo Island ( there are more but I forget their names). Bamboo Island was gorgeous! I did some swimming (near shore), which was wonderful, but did not snorkel. It was windy and the water was pretty choppy, and since I am not completely comfortable in water, I nixed the idea. On this tour I met an Aussie named Gordon. He, to this day, remains the coolest person I have met thus far. We hung out with him all day and I went to the beach with him later that night (Kayla was tired and slept).
Nov. 30: Railay! The most beautiful place I have ever seen! It was the smallest place we had visited, and very charming. The island is made up of mostly resorts and the nightlife almost did not exist, but it was very nice to go somewhere low key. We checked in to Ya Ya Resort, which was pretty central and very cute. We had a beautiful supper at a restaurant on the beach, and walked around a little.
Dec. 1: Time is really flying by at this point. We went on another boat tour, this one by long tail boat. It rained all day and was very dreary. The islands we visited were nice, but would have been better had the sun come out. We went out this evening with some guys we met from Sylvania (unsure of the spelling), Rok and Jan. They were really cool and it was interesting getting to know them.
Dec. 2: My rock climbing day! The best day I had! I climbed from 9am to 1pm. It was so amazing!
Dec. 3: Kayla and I met up with the group. It was very good to see familiar faces.
I miss Phi Phi a lot, in its entirety. I also miss home, but only slightly. It is still absolutely amazing being here and I am not ready to go home yet. We only have a few days left. :(
I will try to update you all on the second part of my trip before I am headed home.
With love,
Nov.26: We did our first tour on this day. We visited a Buddha Cave, had a Thai lunch, went to Tum Pungchang Cave, and then went to the James Bond Island. To finish off the tour we stopped at a Muslim fishing village, called Panyee Island, that housed around 3000 people. It was a very interesting experience. We went to Bangla Road in Patong Beach, which is known for its nightlife, that evening. It was quite interesting to say the least. It was my first up close look at the sex trade here in Thailand, as there were lady boys everywhere. They sure flaunted their, er, stuff. It was disturbing, but Kayla and I did find some hilarity in it.
Nov. 27: The day I bungy jumped! What an incredible experience! It was damn near the hardest thing I have ever done mentally. It was so hard to just let yourself fall. It felt like a very long free fall until the cord caught. But I am so glad I did it. Very worth it. Will I do it again? Maybe, if the right opportunity comes up. After bungy jumping, we headed to Koh Phi Phi Don. I think my favorite place we visited, people and entertainment wise. The island is quite small, but still offered everything I needed or wanted. The ferry ride over was fabulous. We met some Canadians and soaked in the rays for our ride over. The first thing we did was check in to a place to stay. It turned out to be a hut, really far away from the town. No lights at night to find your way. We ended up only staying one night. But the first day on Phi Phi was spent checking things out, getting our first massage, and watching a fire show on the beach. We met up with a couple of Americans and partied with them that night. It was really fun, but things got rowdy with some people around 1am so we called it a night.
Nov. 28: Checked into P&P Place. Much better for only a 100 baht more, plus it was right in town. This was the day we realized that we would not be watching the Rider game. It played at 4am our time and no places offering internet were open at that time. :( But we still wore our green all day and found plenty of people from SK that way! It also rained this day, making it a write off for us. We walked around the island, dropped off some laundry, and booked a tour for the following day. We still managed to spend some time on the beach. The sun was hidden, but it was still warm when it wasn't raining.
Nov. 29: My favorite day in Phi Phi. The weather wasn't superb. It was cloudy and rained a little on and off all day, but we still managed a small sunburn ( the feet were fine! ). We did a boat tour of th surrounding islands. It included Maya Bay (not all its cracked up to be), Monkey Island, and Bamboo Island ( there are more but I forget their names). Bamboo Island was gorgeous! I did some swimming (near shore), which was wonderful, but did not snorkel. It was windy and the water was pretty choppy, and since I am not completely comfortable in water, I nixed the idea. On this tour I met an Aussie named Gordon. He, to this day, remains the coolest person I have met thus far. We hung out with him all day and I went to the beach with him later that night (Kayla was tired and slept).
Nov. 30: Railay! The most beautiful place I have ever seen! It was the smallest place we had visited, and very charming. The island is made up of mostly resorts and the nightlife almost did not exist, but it was very nice to go somewhere low key. We checked in to Ya Ya Resort, which was pretty central and very cute. We had a beautiful supper at a restaurant on the beach, and walked around a little.
Dec. 1: Time is really flying by at this point. We went on another boat tour, this one by long tail boat. It rained all day and was very dreary. The islands we visited were nice, but would have been better had the sun come out. We went out this evening with some guys we met from Sylvania (unsure of the spelling), Rok and Jan. They were really cool and it was interesting getting to know them.
Dec. 2: My rock climbing day! The best day I had! I climbed from 9am to 1pm. It was so amazing!
Dec. 3: Kayla and I met up with the group. It was very good to see familiar faces.
I miss Phi Phi a lot, in its entirety. I also miss home, but only slightly. It is still absolutely amazing being here and I am not ready to go home yet. We only have a few days left. :(
I will try to update you all on the second part of my trip before I am headed home.
With love,
12.06.2010
Phase Two
I have now made it to Mae Sot, and am with the entire group.
We have had a crazy couple of days that I don't think will be slowing down any time soon, but that is quite alright with me. I want to do all that I can do while I am here. I can sleep over the holidays!
To summerize:
Phase one of my trip ( the holiday part ) was absolutely fabulous and stunning! I was able to see so many things and I enjoyed it all. Of course rock climbing makes it to the top of my list, along with Phi Phi. I really enjoyed the vibe and lifestyle of the people there.
In Mae Sot we have visited Hsa Thoo Lei School and Orphanage. This is also where we will be teaching our computer and program skills to, starting tomorrow. We were able to see the school we will be working on, as well. Hlee Bee School. The group who is not teaching tomorrow (me) will be working on this school. Today we did our first distribution of relief supplies, too. This happened at Ah Yone Oo School, and was very moving for everyone. It was so good to give back to those who need it desperately. Their smiles and thank yous warmed the heart.
There are many more experience to come, and everyday I wake up excited for the day. The days are long and tiring, no doubt about it. But so worth it.
With love,
We have had a crazy couple of days that I don't think will be slowing down any time soon, but that is quite alright with me. I want to do all that I can do while I am here. I can sleep over the holidays!
To summerize:
Phase one of my trip ( the holiday part ) was absolutely fabulous and stunning! I was able to see so many things and I enjoyed it all. Of course rock climbing makes it to the top of my list, along with Phi Phi. I really enjoyed the vibe and lifestyle of the people there.
In Mae Sot we have visited Hsa Thoo Lei School and Orphanage. This is also where we will be teaching our computer and program skills to, starting tomorrow. We were able to see the school we will be working on, as well. Hlee Bee School. The group who is not teaching tomorrow (me) will be working on this school. Today we did our first distribution of relief supplies, too. This happened at Ah Yone Oo School, and was very moving for everyone. It was so good to give back to those who need it desperately. Their smiles and thank yous warmed the heart.
There are many more experience to come, and everyday I wake up excited for the day. The days are long and tiring, no doubt about it. But so worth it.
With love,
12.02.2010
I am Spiderman (woman)
Rock climbing was everything I wanted it to be and more! It was so fun, but an incredible work out at the same time. My body is so sore, but it was definitely worth it. The highest I climbed was 25 meters. Some courses were more challenging than others with the heights ranging. Of course I was only on beginner courses, but it was hard nonetheless. I want to come back to Thailand just to rock climb now. Haha
Rock climbing was amazing, but I did push myself to my absolute limit doing it. I finished around 1pm and Kayla and I went to eat lunch. I became very dizzy and nearly fainted. I was at the point where I could hear everything around me, but I could not respond. My body went limp. I needed energy and sugar. I freaked Kayla out pretty bad, but I was still able to help her help me. Out of the two previous times I have fainted in my life, this one was the worst. It definitely could have been prevented from me, I was just being careless. I should have eaten a heartier breakfast knowing I would need the energy for rock climbing that day. I also did not drink enough water throughout the climbs. I did drink a lot, but not enough. Mixed in with the heat down here, it was all my body could take. Kayla ran and got me some juice boxes, which I told her to do because I knew they are loaded with sugar. I knew I needed to eat too, but I just didn't have the energy. I was so weak I couldn't even pick up my sandwich. I ate what I could, finished my juice and water and then went to my room to nap. Had I been in Canada I probably would have gone to see a doctor, but here no one helps you. I am good to go now. After a 9 hour sleep and a decent meal later I feel fine. So I am now making sure I drink more water than I deem necessary. I am really careless when it comes to hydrating myself.
Today we leave for Bangkok. The group arrives around midnight tonight. So now I start phase two of this trip. I am excited and nervous. It will be heartbreaking and heart warming at the same time.
I have been eating some Thai food, slowly branching out. And I find it is not as bad as I thought it would be. But of course I am stubborn. I am getting used to the heat, and actually don't mind it a whole lot. I've had a few beer and a bucket (shared) here and there, but otherwise have not been drinking a whole lot. Better to be safe than sorry.
Anyway, I will update you all once I am in Mae Sot.
Love you mom, dad, and kids. And Carter, good luck on your play!! Wish I could watch you in your first big production! Xo
With love (to the rest of you),
Rock climbing was amazing, but I did push myself to my absolute limit doing it. I finished around 1pm and Kayla and I went to eat lunch. I became very dizzy and nearly fainted. I was at the point where I could hear everything around me, but I could not respond. My body went limp. I needed energy and sugar. I freaked Kayla out pretty bad, but I was still able to help her help me. Out of the two previous times I have fainted in my life, this one was the worst. It definitely could have been prevented from me, I was just being careless. I should have eaten a heartier breakfast knowing I would need the energy for rock climbing that day. I also did not drink enough water throughout the climbs. I did drink a lot, but not enough. Mixed in with the heat down here, it was all my body could take. Kayla ran and got me some juice boxes, which I told her to do because I knew they are loaded with sugar. I knew I needed to eat too, but I just didn't have the energy. I was so weak I couldn't even pick up my sandwich. I ate what I could, finished my juice and water and then went to my room to nap. Had I been in Canada I probably would have gone to see a doctor, but here no one helps you. I am good to go now. After a 9 hour sleep and a decent meal later I feel fine. So I am now making sure I drink more water than I deem necessary. I am really careless when it comes to hydrating myself.
Today we leave for Bangkok. The group arrives around midnight tonight. So now I start phase two of this trip. I am excited and nervous. It will be heartbreaking and heart warming at the same time.
I have been eating some Thai food, slowly branching out. And I find it is not as bad as I thought it would be. But of course I am stubborn. I am getting used to the heat, and actually don't mind it a whole lot. I've had a few beer and a bucket (shared) here and there, but otherwise have not been drinking a whole lot. Better to be safe than sorry.
Anyway, I will update you all once I am in Mae Sot.
Love you mom, dad, and kids. And Carter, good luck on your play!! Wish I could watch you in your first big production! Xo
With love (to the rest of you),
11.30.2010
Time is Flying
I wish I had mroe time to update all of you! I am sorry there hasn't been much lately. Have been really busy and I am too cheap to pay for time on the internet! Haha
I am now in Railey, and I LOVE it here! This was the place I wanted to come to most! I finally get to rockclimb, day afer tomorrow! Very pumped.
So just another quick update (sorry!). I promise to write my journal entrys out once I have more time to spend on a computer.
Everything is fine with me, things are good, and I am keeping busy trying to get the most out of this experience!
Love you all,
I am now in Railey, and I LOVE it here! This was the place I wanted to come to most! I finally get to rockclimb, day afer tomorrow! Very pumped.
So just another quick update (sorry!). I promise to write my journal entrys out once I have more time to spend on a computer.
Everything is fine with me, things are good, and I am keeping busy trying to get the most out of this experience!
Love you all,
11.27.2010
Koh Phi Phi
Made it to the island. Ferry ride over was amazing. Don't have much time to blog today, will give a better update soon.
Thinking of you all!
Much love,
Thinking of you all!
Much love,
11.25.2010
Day Two
November 26: 9:30 am
Our first full day in Thailand. We woke up at 7 am today. I think we were the only ones. Haha Seems like most people here are not early risers. There is still no one around.
We went for breakfast across the street from our hostel. It was really good. The only other person that was there eating was a guy from Montreal, Quebec. He didn't even know about the game this Sunday! Can you believe it? But of course he knew that we lost against MTL last year, haha and he rubbed it in our faces. He is heading to Koh Phi Phi in the next few days so we may run into him. Kayla and I are going to Koh Phi Phi tomorrow afternoon.
Today we walked to the beach after breakfast. The water was fabulous. We saw a jelly fish on shore. Very gross, I'd hate to be stung by one. I'm not much into swimming anyway, so I should be okay.
In an hour a minibus is coming to pick us up and take us on a tour. We are visiting some caves by long tail boat and canoes. Also going to the James Bond island. Very excited to get going! That will take most of our day. We are going to walk around tonight and check out the nightlife tonight. Hopefully meet some cool people.
We went to the Muay Thai Boxing last night with a bunch of Aussies. They are everywhere down here.
Anyway, I will sign off with this..
GO RIDERS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much love,
Our first full day in Thailand. We woke up at 7 am today. I think we were the only ones. Haha Seems like most people here are not early risers. There is still no one around.
We went for breakfast across the street from our hostel. It was really good. The only other person that was there eating was a guy from Montreal, Quebec. He didn't even know about the game this Sunday! Can you believe it? But of course he knew that we lost against MTL last year, haha and he rubbed it in our faces. He is heading to Koh Phi Phi in the next few days so we may run into him. Kayla and I are going to Koh Phi Phi tomorrow afternoon.
Today we walked to the beach after breakfast. The water was fabulous. We saw a jelly fish on shore. Very gross, I'd hate to be stung by one. I'm not much into swimming anyway, so I should be okay.
In an hour a minibus is coming to pick us up and take us on a tour. We are visiting some caves by long tail boat and canoes. Also going to the James Bond island. Very excited to get going! That will take most of our day. We are going to walk around tonight and check out the nightlife tonight. Hopefully meet some cool people.
We went to the Muay Thai Boxing last night with a bunch of Aussies. They are everywhere down here.
Anyway, I will sign off with this..
GO RIDERS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much love,
Destination Reached!
I have finally arrived in Thailand!
The whole trip here I have been writing in a journal. A good way to document my trip to remember every detail. So when I find time to write on my blog it will mostly contain excrepts from my journal.
Flight #1: It was uneventful, other than being delayed out of Regina by about 45 minutes. Flying over the mountains was the best, as I love them so much.
Flight #2: This was the 13 hour flight from Vancouver to Hong Kong. Terrible! It was a really long time to be cooped up in a plane. It was very hard to sleep, especially with hundreds of other people doing their own thing. I watched a few movies, some tv shows (CSI) and discovered that I like Rascal Flatts.
Flight #3: Another uneventful flight. It took us to Bangkok, where we had to stay for 6 hours until our flight to Phuket was scheduled.
And then we finally arrived. It was around noon this morning (25th) when we arrived in Phuket. We then took a minibus to Patong Beach where we are staying in a hostel for two nights. The time change has been very hard to get a grip on, but its getting easier. I am very excited to get some real sleep tonight.
Today, Kayla and I walked around the town and did a little shopping. We planned the next two days agenda, and went to see a Muay Thai Boxing fight night. Super cool! We watched a guy from Edmonton in his first fight. He lost, but still put up a good battle.
I have used up my time on the computer and it's getting late here. Big day tomorrow, must get some sleep.
Much love,
The whole trip here I have been writing in a journal. A good way to document my trip to remember every detail. So when I find time to write on my blog it will mostly contain excrepts from my journal.
Flight #1: It was uneventful, other than being delayed out of Regina by about 45 minutes. Flying over the mountains was the best, as I love them so much.
Flight #2: This was the 13 hour flight from Vancouver to Hong Kong. Terrible! It was a really long time to be cooped up in a plane. It was very hard to sleep, especially with hundreds of other people doing their own thing. I watched a few movies, some tv shows (CSI) and discovered that I like Rascal Flatts.
Flight #3: Another uneventful flight. It took us to Bangkok, where we had to stay for 6 hours until our flight to Phuket was scheduled.
And then we finally arrived. It was around noon this morning (25th) when we arrived in Phuket. We then took a minibus to Patong Beach where we are staying in a hostel for two nights. The time change has been very hard to get a grip on, but its getting easier. I am very excited to get some real sleep tonight.
Today, Kayla and I walked around the town and did a little shopping. We planned the next two days agenda, and went to see a Muay Thai Boxing fight night. Super cool! We watched a guy from Edmonton in his first fight. He lost, but still put up a good battle.
I have used up my time on the computer and it's getting late here. Big day tomorrow, must get some sleep.
Much love,
11.15.2010
One week to go!
I leave in 7 days! One Week! I am very, very excited and anxious to start this trip. At the same time I am nervous and stressed.
To elaborate, I still feel like I have 900 million more things to get done, but in reality there is nothing left to do. Everything is organized and ready to go. There are still things that need to be completed, but those things cannot be finished until closer to the date. I have gone over everything a bazillion times. I am ready. It is now a waiting game.
It still seems like I stress for the sake of stressing. It's impossible for me to settle down. (They say I get this from my mother. Love you mom!) I don't think I'll feel better until I am on the plane. Nah, even so I'll be worried about what I forgot. This is one battle I will not win.
I do have everything done. It's all organized, it's all under control. I have gone over my plans numerous times, my financials are figured out. I knew I would make it work, with a little help and support everything has fallen into place. It's go time!
I am leaving for Calgary Wednesday morning. I will be there until Sunday, then it is back to SK for a quick luggage swap and finally I will be on my way to the airport that will take me to Thailand!
So excited for a small vacation, to relax, and most importantly to help improve the lives of so many deserving people! It has arrived so quickly. All the preparations, all the fundraising, all the stress is about to pay off. I don't know what I am going to do once this trip is over. I will have nothing to prepare for anymore. I am sure it won't take me long to take on another project.
Plus I will be going back to school shortly after I return to finish off my program. Then it will be time to find a permanent job in a city I can live in for longer than 4 months! The prospect of living in a nice apartment or house is very thrilling. To decorate knowing I won't have to pick up and move in a few short months will be a foreign feeling to me. But that journey is for another time on another blog.
This will be my last post before my trip. I have packed a lot of bug spray and sunscreen!
Here's to hoping I won't get sunburnt the first day!
With love,
11.05.2010
18 Days!
Well, I am positive I have lost my mind!
It feels like there are still a million things that need to get done before I leave. My biggest concern is money. And of course you can't move forward to get other things done until this is figured out. Sigh.
I have been working two jobs since September to try to save up money for this trip, but so far I haven't saved anything. It just seems like one thing is happening after another to prevent me from saving money. Travelling almost every weekend for fundraisers has not helped either. Gas will never be a reasonable price again.
Speaking of fundraisers, we have our final one this evening in Saskatoon. Followed by our last meeting Saturday morning. I am really hoping this meeting will seal up all loose ends. I have typed up my packing list, my suitcase is empty, but ready to be filled, and I have meetings with the bank to figure out the financial end of this journey.
There is a teeny, tiny sliver of light at the end of this tunnel. All appointments have been made, I am starting to get a pretty good base tan, and I have had amazing support from people back home and family. It is quite surprising who will help you when you ask. Those that you expect to jump right in, don't. And those who sit just on the edge of your social circle, give a giant amount of support without the blink of an eye.
The support we have received thus far has been amazing. I thank everyone who has donated from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot to Global Students Helping Students, and it means so much more to those we are going to help in Thailand.
Physically, I am damn near ready for this trip; emotionally, I am not as certain. It is going to be hard, one of the largest challenges I have faced in my life thus far, but I am positive it will affect me and change me for the better.
So, here I sit, 18 days until I board my flight that'll take me halfway across the world. When looking at the big picture, I am pretty much ready to go, with the exception of financials. That is the one, final issue to work out. The last kink in my preparations. I have 18 days to smooth it out. I am sure I will make it work. I always do.
I will try to add one more post before I leave. One last update.
Until then,
It feels like there are still a million things that need to get done before I leave. My biggest concern is money. And of course you can't move forward to get other things done until this is figured out. Sigh.
I have been working two jobs since September to try to save up money for this trip, but so far I haven't saved anything. It just seems like one thing is happening after another to prevent me from saving money. Travelling almost every weekend for fundraisers has not helped either. Gas will never be a reasonable price again.
Speaking of fundraisers, we have our final one this evening in Saskatoon. Followed by our last meeting Saturday morning. I am really hoping this meeting will seal up all loose ends. I have typed up my packing list, my suitcase is empty, but ready to be filled, and I have meetings with the bank to figure out the financial end of this journey.
There is a teeny, tiny sliver of light at the end of this tunnel. All appointments have been made, I am starting to get a pretty good base tan, and I have had amazing support from people back home and family. It is quite surprising who will help you when you ask. Those that you expect to jump right in, don't. And those who sit just on the edge of your social circle, give a giant amount of support without the blink of an eye.
The support we have received thus far has been amazing. I thank everyone who has donated from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot to Global Students Helping Students, and it means so much more to those we are going to help in Thailand.
Physically, I am damn near ready for this trip; emotionally, I am not as certain. It is going to be hard, one of the largest challenges I have faced in my life thus far, but I am positive it will affect me and change me for the better.
So, here I sit, 18 days until I board my flight that'll take me halfway across the world. When looking at the big picture, I am pretty much ready to go, with the exception of financials. That is the one, final issue to work out. The last kink in my preparations. I have 18 days to smooth it out. I am sure I will make it work. I always do.
I will try to add one more post before I leave. One last update.
Until then,
11.02.2010
Just A Little About Me..
.. I graduated high school in 2008 with honours.
.. I love candy.
.. I am currently in college working towards a diploma in Architectural Technology. I graduate in April of 2011. 6 months! :)
.. My favorite sport to watch is football. Make that Roughrider football.
.. I love to read.
.. I will do anything for my family.
.. The place I feel most comfortable is on a snowmobile on fresh powder.
.. I have the best friends in the whole world. I don't know where I would be without them today.
.. I am finding a unique love for every season of the year.
.. I love extreme sports, cars, trucks, and UFC. That's the boy deep down in me. :)
.. To contradict that statement, I have a soft spot for shoes (particularly heels) and purses.
.. I am the oldest of four children.
.. I've always wanted to work in the construction industry. Only recently have I found a desire to work in this industry in different countries.
.. I have owned three cars in my life.
.. I am very excited to buy a house, but am willing to put that on hold to do some travelling and experiencing.
.. I am a cry baby. If someone else is crying, I cry. Movies and tv shows make me cry too.
.. I really, really want to help others. My focus right now an ethnic group in Burma, the Karen. My goal is to work for some organizations that are set up in the UK, who help out these particular groups; to bring them home again.
.. I moved away from home at the age of 17.
.. I have never broken a bone or gotten stitches.
.. I am trying to learn a new language right now.
.. I love pink. :)
.. I rode on a plane for the first time alone this past summer.
.. Rock music is my number one choice, but I will listen to anything.
.. I love watching movies, but not a fan of war movies.
.. I enjoy meeting people.
.. But I consider myself a shy person.
.. I am addicted to tattoos. :)
.. I miss high school sports.
.. I worry most about losing people I love.
.. I am a facts person.
.. I love learning. I will never stop wanting to understand everything.
.. I like to do things for myself. Hence, why I never want to stop learning.
.. I am quite independent, but enjoy having someone to lean on as well.
.. I have so much love to offer!
With love,
.. I love candy.
.. I am currently in college working towards a diploma in Architectural Technology. I graduate in April of 2011. 6 months! :)
.. My favorite sport to watch is football. Make that Roughrider football.
.. I love to read.
.. I will do anything for my family.
.. The place I feel most comfortable is on a snowmobile on fresh powder.
.. I have the best friends in the whole world. I don't know where I would be without them today.
.. I am finding a unique love for every season of the year.
.. I love extreme sports, cars, trucks, and UFC. That's the boy deep down in me. :)
.. To contradict that statement, I have a soft spot for shoes (particularly heels) and purses.
.. I am the oldest of four children.
.. I've always wanted to work in the construction industry. Only recently have I found a desire to work in this industry in different countries.
.. I have owned three cars in my life.
.. I am very excited to buy a house, but am willing to put that on hold to do some travelling and experiencing.
.. I am a cry baby. If someone else is crying, I cry. Movies and tv shows make me cry too.
.. I really, really want to help others. My focus right now an ethnic group in Burma, the Karen. My goal is to work for some organizations that are set up in the UK, who help out these particular groups; to bring them home again.
.. I moved away from home at the age of 17.
.. I have never broken a bone or gotten stitches.
.. I am trying to learn a new language right now.
.. I love pink. :)
.. I rode on a plane for the first time alone this past summer.
.. Rock music is my number one choice, but I will listen to anything.
.. I love watching movies, but not a fan of war movies.
.. I enjoy meeting people.
.. But I consider myself a shy person.
.. I am addicted to tattoos. :)
.. I miss high school sports.
.. I worry most about losing people I love.
.. I am a facts person.
.. I love learning. I will never stop wanting to understand everything.
.. I like to do things for myself. Hence, why I never want to stop learning.
.. I am quite independent, but enjoy having someone to lean on as well.
.. I have so much love to offer!
With love,
Blog Number 1!
So, here I start, with post number one. I guess an update is necessary.
Well, I leave for Thailand in 20 days. I will be there for three weeks, and it will be my first experience travelling on my own (without family).
The trip has many purposes. We are rebuilding a school that was destroyed in a recent storm. This is happening in the town of Mae Sot. We will be visiting refugee camps and orphanages, donating relief items and bringing Christmas to kids that don't get to enjoy it the way we do. Most of all, we will be helping those in need; putting our greed and privileges aside.
I suppose I should let you know what I mean by "we". I am not doing this alone. I am going with a group of 15 people (mostly students). Our group is going in partnership with Global Neighbors Inc. In December of 2009, a group went on a very similar trip from my school, SIAST, in Moose Jaw, SK. They then created a group they called Global Students Helping Students. I am now a part of this group, and this is the "we" I am referring to.
More information about Global Neighbours and GSHS can be found on our websites: http://www.gnci.ca/
http://gshs.ca/
Here is an article for your enjoyment, as well: http://nipawinjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2798177
Lastly, I want to add, that I have chosen to go to Thailand 10 days earlier than our working trip takes place. I am going with a friend, and this is purely for a vacation. We are basically backpacking in the Southern part of Thailand. We want to tour around some of the islands, and see all the hotspots.
All in all, it will be quite an adventure; from lounging around on the beaches to seeing the conditions Karen Refugees live in. I have a good idea about what I am going to experience, but I know that I will still be stunned and dumbfounded by what I see and witness. This trip will change my life. And it is only the beginning of life changing trips I plan to take.
With love,
Well, I leave for Thailand in 20 days. I will be there for three weeks, and it will be my first experience travelling on my own (without family).
The trip has many purposes. We are rebuilding a school that was destroyed in a recent storm. This is happening in the town of Mae Sot. We will be visiting refugee camps and orphanages, donating relief items and bringing Christmas to kids that don't get to enjoy it the way we do. Most of all, we will be helping those in need; putting our greed and privileges aside.
I suppose I should let you know what I mean by "we". I am not doing this alone. I am going with a group of 15 people (mostly students). Our group is going in partnership with Global Neighbors Inc. In December of 2009, a group went on a very similar trip from my school, SIAST, in Moose Jaw, SK. They then created a group they called Global Students Helping Students. I am now a part of this group, and this is the "we" I am referring to.
More information about Global Neighbours and GSHS can be found on our websites: http://www.gnci.ca/
http://gshs.ca/
Here is an article for your enjoyment, as well: http://nipawinjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2798177
Lastly, I want to add, that I have chosen to go to Thailand 10 days earlier than our working trip takes place. I am going with a friend, and this is purely for a vacation. We are basically backpacking in the Southern part of Thailand. We want to tour around some of the islands, and see all the hotspots.
All in all, it will be quite an adventure; from lounging around on the beaches to seeing the conditions Karen Refugees live in. I have a good idea about what I am going to experience, but I know that I will still be stunned and dumbfounded by what I see and witness. This trip will change my life. And it is only the beginning of life changing trips I plan to take.
With love,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)