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Other entries in Mae Rim

mothers day

there aren't too many things sadder than mothers day at an orphanage. but this gave me another reason to be amazed with these kids. the queens b-day was this weekend and the whole country celebrates a mothers day in her honor. if I was a mother, I'd want to be here cause it was the best nation-wide tribute to mums I've ever seen.

joy, the 'mom' of school for life, was honored in doisuket (town near here), so we put on sarongs, piled into a songtau and spent the morning surrounded by thai school kids (giggling through the whole ceremony - so much for respect for elders), a few adults, and at one point, a monk presiding over it all (who was taking really, really deep breaths. could be spriritual, but I think it's really cause he was trying to stay calm given the 100-some squirming kids in his audience).

we were back at school for life for a ceremony in the afternoon. last post I mentioned the lack of sadness. well, today it built and built to the point where, when joy lit the incense at the altar and the kids filed past giving us wais (bows), flowers, and hugs, lots of the kids finally started loosing it. (I'm amazed they lasted this long) I'd only been at SfL 3 days but this was intense - couldn't help but cry along with them, but felt like such a dolt. I mean, c'mon, I have my mother.....

but these kids have joy and that says alot. I swear the look in their faces was more gratitude than   anguish. maybe I'm making that up, but there was so much respect towards joy. especially the tsunami families (they moved 5 families up here) - those mothers were the most affected of all and didn't want to stop hugging joy. so yeah, by the end of the ceremony, she had hugged EVERY kid. at one point, she sat on the stage and talked to them in this quiet voice - like a mom whispering to one child, not 150.

we left SfL that night and stayed at joy's guest house through the weekend. then next day we spoke to an expat group in chiang mai about the school. I *willingly* spoke in front of 75 people. first time in my life! but I was more than happy to share what I knew about this place. next I bought art supplies for my time here. we drank (some) beer. ate more insanely spicy food. practiced english with some of the kids (joy brings 10-20 home with her every weekend). planned the fundraiser. met more cool peeps saying more good things about chiang mai. it's liked I've stumbled into some happy vortex.

today were my first art classes (moms day mucked up my schedule up until now). I had the kids make name tags first. funny how many of them know how to say their name in english, but not write it. I have to sound out names like "parinya" (soft 'p', roll your 'r', say the 'n' like that special way in spanish) and then hope I'm spelling it right. also noticed some of the kids didn't know how to peel off stickers....wow - what kid doesn't know how to work a sticker? it's easy to forget where I am sometimes.

this week's art idea is having each class create a map of the school for life grounds. I have a big sheet of paper, they draw things like the canteen, dorms, pottery hut, office, pond, pitches, etc, cut out, then paste onto the map. it's cool cause each group thinks of something new (including a cat on a hot tin roof - not joking). so far so good, given the language barrier, cause luckily they know words like "classroom, boy, girl, dog, pottery, bike" etc., plus they help each other alot too (all hoped for when planning this idea).

I had 3 classes today (and I'm exhausted!!!) have 5 more to give over the next 4 school days. and supposedly I'm working with the 'talented artists' this weekend to get ready for this fundraiser. still nervous about what we can accomplish. but all is still good and not a single regret about being here (OK, maybe one - we can't wear shorts or tank tops so I do miss my bikini on the beach a little....). but overall, this may be happiest I've been since I started traveling.

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