Let's go! & other activities

Sa-wat-dee everyone

Hope all is well for each of you. I'm been having a great time helping with an introductory English program at some of the areas poorest schools.  Had a lot of fun and laughs with the kids they just love any form of game or art activity. From what I've been told there isn't much of either in the schools here.  The organisation I'm volunteering with Mercy International has built some good connections with these schools and provides a free english program called "Let's Go!". Today we talked about all the different types of weather around the world... and what a  day to talk weather.. after 8 days of cloudy/rainy conditions I had the joy of experiencing the joy of Thailand's hot humid weather.. must have been close to 35 degrees C... don't worry I'd definitely prefer some of Brisbane's winter right now.

I met another Australian guy volunteering here at the moment, a consultant from Sydney. Series of random events have lead him here and he is now helping with the organisation's 5 year strategic plan and building/designing the supporting infrastructure for this... so to my surprise I also going to be spending some time assisting with something that I know a little bit about.. I'm looking forward to applying some of my skills and look forward to the weeks ahead.

What else to share?.. I woke up this morning at 4 am just cause I could.. plus it was hot and all... looked out the window to see the most amazing moon set.. tried as much as I could to get a good photo but was worth it just to watch the moon set... 

Went for a wander through the streets of Phrae this afternoon.. a little bit silly given the temperature.  Saw some interesting sights and had to wonder why the hotel (sign pictured) had to go out of it's way to say "Absolutely clean".. if they thought it would help with business... it definitely didn't work for me..

Over the last couple of meals and car trips I've been hearing little bits of the children's stories.. It's sad to hear some of the circumstances that some of these kids have been through (AIDS, abandonment and other families just too poor to care for their children). While heart breaking stories and really sad to think about what some of these kids have seen and been a part of, it's comforting to know that the kids now have hope for a better future.

Till we next speak.

(Oh yeah, one more thing.. I'm really missing my electronic toothbrush at the moment.. I'm trying whatever I can to get a good clean but the world (I mean MY world) isn't the same without my trusty Oral-B)

Wishing you all good oral health.

Damo

 

Some shots from Thailand

Alive in Thailand

I'm alive, in northern Thailand. Was a long trip.. 19 hours in total after a plane, taxi, bus and car trek I made it to the orphanage alive. All is going well and settling into life here. I'm spending a couple of months here at the HIV/Aids baby house just helping with general labouring and the most fun part of all.. playing with the kids... The orphange is in the middle of a soft opening with only five babies here at the moment.. it's serious business looking after 5 babies and a full time job for the carers that are already here.

The place is close to Phrae and it is a rural village about 12kms from the Phrae town centre. The land surrounding where I am is rice fields as far as the eye can see. It rains almost everyday and there are no water restrictions.. great fun.. Fook (a 3 year old boy or Dook as he calls himself.. he can't pronounce the "f") and I had a good hour of fun yesterday running around under the sprinkler.. and just generally wasting water... ah good times.. On the construction side there is one final baby house to be fitted out.. tiling, ceiling, painting and windows... I'm splitting my time evenly between working and playing with the kids.

Alright that's all your going to get.. the net is playing up and I'm not going to push my luck.
I'll keep you posted. The summary, I'm alive, enjoying life here in Thailand and wondering if two months will be too short a stay..!!