I've seen things...

Nearly 3 weeks have passed since I departed for my little volunteer adventure in Thailand, and it has gone far too quickly. Now, I’m near the end, I guess it’s time to reflect!

At various times in this whole process I wondered whether 3 weeks would be too long (would there be enough for me to do?!) or too short (can I achieve anything in that time?).

To answer the first question, 3 weeks definitely isn’t too long, and to answer the second question, there is enough time to achieve something.

I always thought 3 weeks was a safe amount of time as I figured what could possible wrong in 3 weeks?! I also thought it would give me a good amount of time to ‘scratch’ my international development/working abroad/travelling ‘itch’ (and I couldn’t get any further time off work!).

However, as I near the end, the last few days have been a mixture of mild frustration, satisfaction and realisation.

I started the week well aware that I was running out of time, and I needed to suggest my plans/ideas on how to improve things ASAP, so I could agree them and then implement them. Unfortunately, the planned meeting on Monday was delayed until Tuesday (Monday was very hectic and everyone was busy – the busiest I have seen the office!). This was mildly frustrating (although fully understandable), but, I started to panic that I wouldn’t accomplish anything in my time here – as Tuesday was the last day all the relevant staff would be in the office.

Tuesday was more productive and satisfying, I managed to explain my thoughts, plans and suggestions…and the main points were agreed with, understood and accepted - which was a relief - and should hopefully make things easier for the Foundation and the accountant. In the evening I had a BBQ with Ralf and his family, and we went over some final bits and pieces for my review/report – the evening was very pleasant and the meat glorious! For the second time, my watch got stolen from me by a kid (Ralfs Daughter this time!) – they seem fascinated by them (it’s only a cheap Casio!), I think it’s because no-one seems to wear a watch in Thailand – which may explain  the phenomenon, which I’ve started affectionately calling ‘Thai Time’…

Definition: Thai Time

Meaning: An agreed time, which can mean a completely different time.

Here are some pics of my 'business meetings' with Ralf...

Since then, there has been realisation that it is easier to suggest improvements than implementing them - especially with a limited time frame – as tweaks, adjustments and unexpected issues arise. However, I am satisfied the main ideas are in place and will be taken forward and there is scope for a future volunteer to finish what I’ve started.

I feel I have developed and gained experience over the last couple of weeks and managed to undertake tasks that I wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to do. I also feel like I’ve learnt about a different culture – relationships before business,  ‘Thai Time’, that Asia is a lot more family orientated etc. I’ve also learnt that the English (or just me) are lazy when learning new languages…I think we just expect everyone to speak English. I have enjoyed trying to communicate with people with limited English, through smiles, thumbs and pointing (I think ‘thumbs up’, may not be as universal as I expected and maybe I need to develop a new smile). I have renewed desire to learn a new language, I just don’t know which one, I’ve spent the last 3 weeks with Germans and Thai’s…but I’m not sure how useful these languages are globally!

So, I have one day left, today we went out for lunch as a farewell, and I was given a traditional North Thailand scarf and a Karen (local hill tribe) bag…from what I hear, the scarf will be useful when back in the UK, I have also got a token to stay in a nice hotel in the centre of Chiang Mai for one night! I felt a bit humble receiving the gifts, as I fear I have got more out of this experience than them, and everyone has been so kind to me! 

Luckily, I don’t think 3 weeks is enough time to miss much about the the UK – although, of course, I miss my mates, family and work. I thought I would miss Football and going for a pint more, but maybe, just maybe there is more to life than watching football down the pub with mates?! Naaaah!

I would like to reiterate how nice, kind and welcoming everyone has been at the Foundation, and the Country as a whole. I’ll miss my morning wave and ‘sawadee’ with the locals, the glorious food (I can’t imagine eating a meal that doesn’t include Rice or Noodles!) and the warm weather. I think the Rain Tree Foundation is a worthwhile cause with lovely people, so I  hope I keep in contact with the staff, and I plan to continue to help out from the UK (but I bet everyone says that!).

So…go on, make a difference, donate a water filter or foster a child http://www.raintree-foundation.org/index.php/sponsoring.html…I’m going to (and I’ve seen their finances!).

If you’re thinking about volunteering through AfID…just do it - if you know me, feel free to contact me with any questions, if you don't know me, feel free to contact me with any questions!

Finally, I’ve realised, the problem with scratching an itch is that you want to keep scratching it*!

Fin

*This isn’t a reference to the two, three, four mosquito bites I have recently acquired.

Kayaks, Songthaews & Automobiles…

A long weekend has just finished, my legs ache, I’m tired, and I am sunburnt. However, I also had fun, learnt a lot more about the Rain Tree Foundation, saw a lot more of country, and may have fallen in love…with Thailand!

A lot of the weekend was spent on the road or in a river!

First we travelled from Chiang Mai, to Mai Sarieng (200km south west), stopping off to create some fruit baskets as gifts…and later for lunch! The plan was to go to Mai Sarieng, and to visit some of the Childrens Homes in the area - to help form some links in the area and to see if there was anything the Rain Tree Foundation could learn from how these homes are run. Also, all the volunteers were meeting here, for a bit of rest, relaxation…and work.

I won’t write a report about each of the childrens home visits…but I will summarise the highlights!

Firstly, for some reason, I was delegated the job of giving the fruit basket gifts to each of the Children homes owners, which sounds easy enough, sure, but maybe I put too much pressure on myself, as I was panicking that I would; give the gift to soon, give the gift to the wrong person, drop the gift (fruit is heavy!), but my biggest concern was how to ‘wai’ when carrying a fruit basket in one hand! I think I did OK, although I wished I had dressed for the occasion…

The second home we visited, was very small, but very well run – the kids put on a little performance for us, and sang us a song! Ralf talked to the kids, and it was clear he was in his element when doing this. One of the kids, whilst younger, had been at one of the children projects that the Rain Tree Foundation runs, and it was good to see that since he graduated from the Rain Tree Foundations project, he was now doing well elsewhere!

We also had to introduce ourselves, firstly, I don’t think they understood what ‘accountant’ was…as Ralfs translation looked very much like an imaginary abacus! I also said I liked football…they wanted to know which team I supported, and I am ashamed to say I lied, as I said ‘Manchester United’…not my beloved AFC Bournemouth - I figured this would be easier, but I have been riddled with guilt ever since. As we left, I was asked if I wanted to play soccer the next day…I panicked again, and pointed to my knee to feign an injury  - as we wouldn’t have been around for KO and I only had walking boots with me (not to mention I’m rubbish!).

The next day, the plan was to go kayaking along the Yuam River, approx 30km from the Burmese border! However, there was a parade/carnival in the town in the morning, and this was delayed, so we went to visit the remaining children’s homes.

Once we got around to kayaking it was very enjoyable - the scenery was amazing, and just how I had imagined rural Asia – I did keep expecting to hear Ride of the Valkyries and the sound of helicopters though! As a Man, I decided I didn’t need to put any suntan lotion on, this was a mistake. I did jump out of my kayak at one point and go for a paddle swim, this wasn’t a mistake, as it was lovely!

We then travelled back to Chiang Mai, via Menachorn and through the mountains - we had to go to Hot Coffee to speak to some of the children who had been misbehaving, and I was given the task of clearing a bees nest! We then had one more stop to make in Mae Chaem, where we got caught up in a big ‘Cotton’ festival was taking place!  The journey took about 6 hours in total, and was tiring, but was compensated by the beautiful Thai countryside! The journey also gave us plenty of time to talk about the Rain Tree Foundation and its plans.

With 6 days remaining, and the last two weekends being spent up in the Mountains (which I wouldn’t change)…my Chiang Mai bucket list hadn’t progressed much. However, I had one free Sunday left, and I planned to use it! The mission – Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, this mission was successfully completed, and I think you’ll agree, it’s pretty spectacular (I definitely didn’t get sunburnt again)…

All the volunteers were in Chiang Mai, so we all met up in the late afternoon sun, and went to the Sunday Walking Street, which was very busy and had lots of stalls (and food), I used this time to buy some friends and family some pointless gifts that they will probably don’t want, and definately won’t use, it also turns out that my ‘bartering’ skills are not very good!

I had been on my feet all day by this time, and it was getting late, so wanted to get back to my guesthouse, as per usual, the Songthaew accepted to take us back to the guesthouse (I showed them the address on the guesthouse’s ‘business card’), but then had to stop, make lots of phone calls and ask a petrol pump assistant where it was. If he had asked me, I could have told him (by which I mean, I could have pointed a lot!).

Anyway, after a long enjoyable weekend my last weekend in Thailand was over. I feel like I’ve just got to the stage where I feel quite comfortable with the country, the people and the Rain Tree Foundation, but annoyingly I only have a week left, and feel like I have a lot left to do…I think my plans to spend a few days on a sandy beach relaxing at the end of the placement  may have to be on hold for another holiday!

I read the news today…

So, I’ve been busy since my last blog, but I’m afraid there are no tales of fried insects or bamboo rafting - the week seems to have gone far too quickly!

I’ve more or less been working all week, so I figured it was about time to do the standard ‘day in a life’ post…

3am-6.30am: I get woken up by one of the following:  Cockerel #1 or Cockerel #2

7.38am: My alarm goes off. I have a superstition not to wake up at a time that ends in a 0 or 5 – to my horror, I’ve recently discovered my Mum has the same superstition. Ironically, I also set all my clocks 3 minutes fast, so it’s all pointless!

7.38-7.55am: Shower, clean teeth, cover myself in ‘Jungle Fever’ (no, not a new range from Lynx, but insect repellent), put clothes on etc. In the UK I clean my teeth in the shower (ingenious time saving ploy)…but the Shower holder has broken here, so I can nooooooo do that.

8:00am: Cycle to work.

8:01am: Avoid dogs!

8.10am: Arrive at work and set up!

8.11am: First Cup of Tea.

8.16am: Second Cup of Tea (let me know if im going into too much detail!)

8.17am – 12pm: Work on the various tasks and talk to Staff!

12pm – 1pm: Lunch, this is my favourite part. Everyone sits around together for lunch – I don’t think I’ve had a bad lunch yet. No eating sandwiches at the desk like back home!

1pm – 5pm: Continue with tasks.

5.30pm: Go home! I usually go for a cycle around the area, a different direction every evening.

5.42pm: Avoid dogs!

6.30pm: Have dinner. I’m usually pretty tired by this time. I usually walk down to the local shop to get some food. To prevent developing a rice belly, I usually get various snacks from the shop - I’m trying to try every different chocolate bar and cake – so, I may still get a ‘belly’, but I won’t be able to just blame the rice!

7.00 – 9.30pm: Either; go for another wander, chat to the guesthouse staff, read, do some exercise, do some more work, or catch up on the football news from back home!

9.30 – 11pm: Fall asleep at some point.

11.03pm: Wake up, panicking I haven’t locked the door.

12.02am: Wake up, air conditioning isn’t on, it’s too hot.

1.34am: Wake up, air conditioning is on, it’s too cold!

Monday evening I decided to go for a jog. I looked at my watch, and decided I would run for 10minutes, and then turn back. I hadn’t seen any ‘joggers’ since being in Thailand, in Brighton, you can’t move for them!  An old man started jogging with me when I ran past, I smiled and ran off, as a) I didn’t want to start a Forrest Gump situation and b) I didn’t want to give him a heart attack! Anyway, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, the run lasted longer than I expected (I definitely didn’t get lost/go round in circles), as the map shows, I was close to doing my planned loop, but then inadvertently took a wrong turning and added 2 miles to my run!

I had 40baht in my sock, that I planned to buy dinner with at the end of my run…but then, whilst approaching the stall, I realised the feet are considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body in Thailand…and whipping my money out of my sock would be impolite, rude and a cultural taboo (even if I hadn't just gone for a run!)…so, I went home first and changed my money. I decided to throw the 40baht away!

The next day, I started to feel a cold coming on…I think the mixture of getting pretty hot from the run, then having the air condition too cold messed me up a bit! 

After work on Tuesday I was shattered…but in the evening I had an epiphany on a way to progress with one of the tasks…so I worked on that!

This evening (Thursday!), after my daily cycle, I went to the local market. There is a food market nearby every night, but tonight there seemed to be more stalls, so I popped on over. I’m glad I ate before I went, as otherwise I would have tried everything in sight! It was pleasant walking around, and there wasn’t another ‘farang’ (Westerner) in sight. I didn’t buy anything, but it was pleasant.

I then decided to check out the interesting temple nearby…

Tomorrow I’m off into the mountains for a couple of days, to check out some potential work for the Rain Tree Foundation, and to meet up with the other volunteers for some canoeing!

As mentioned earlier, the time is flying by, and i'm enjoying myself, but I have a nagging fear I won’t be able to achieve everything I want to in the time I have left, we will see…