When I was young, I was bit by the travel bug. Since then, I’ve been extremely fortunate to have the ability to not only travel to numerous countries around the world, but also live in foreign countries. These posts include stories about my travels, cultural differences and travel tips.
I am currently working with a group of students to prepare a performance for the Thai Youth Theatre Festival. This year, the Festival will bring together 150 students from all across the country to learn about the performing arts. In order to make this a reality, we need your help. Check out this video and please donate today.
Update! We reaching our funding needs and the Festival was a great success.
Ten years ago, some Peace Corps Thailand volunteers in tandem with some British volunteers recognized the benefit of learning and confidence building through the performing arts. They worked with their Thai counterparts and students to adapt a Shakespearean play to be performed in their local communities. After the success of the local performances, they came together for the Bangkok Shakespeare Festival. That initial festival was such a success that they decided to make it an annual event and the Thai Youth Theatre Project was founded.
Nearly a month ago, Thailand’s government dissolved as a response to ongoing protests in Bangkok. The crown issued a decree for new elections to be held.
The election date has been set for February 2 and registration for the election has taken place. The Democrat Party, which is in support of the protests calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and an appointment of a “people’s council”, has vowed to boycott the elections. The Democrat Party has not won an election since 1992 and the common analysis is that Yingluck’s Puea Thai Party will win in the new election, as it has won every election since 2001.
Recently some of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers held the first Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) Camp in Thailand. GLOW started with some Peace Corps volunteers in Romania, where they saw that there was a specific need for girls to be encouraged and supported. Since then, it has spread like wildfire throughout Peace Corps countries. Check out this video of what the young girls did!
In Thailand, a bpai tiao is a trip of any length. I’ve written about some of my more significant bpai tiaos to tourist destinations here, to be used as travel ideas and tips.
I am fortunate enough to be serving in Peace Corps in a country that has several locations that consistently find their way onto lists with names like “Top Places to Visit Before You Die” or “Best Beach Getaways.” This means that my holiday travels are often jam packed with everyone going to the same place, which tips the scale on the stress factor.
A year ago I was sitting in my parents’ house, feeling like I was standing on the precipice to a canyon, though I was surrounded in fog. I had no idea of the topography of the canyon. All I knew was that I was going to jump.
I was scared. I was nervous. I was a little sad. I was very excited.
In Thailand, a bpai tiao is a trip of any length. I’ve written about some of my more significant bpai tiaos to tourist destinations here, to be used as travel ideas and tips.
Recently I went to help out friend and fellow volunteer Michael with an event for the bike club in his community. We all biked to the nearby national park and then did a variety of activities with the students there that focus on developing team building and leadership skills. It was truly a blast for both the visiting volunteers and the kids. Check it out!
In Thailand, a bpai tiao is a trip of any length. I’ve written about some of my more significant bpai tiaos to tourist destinations here, to be used as travel ideas and tips.
Thailand may be 98% Buddhist, but Christmas is a big deal here. Christmas has been all over the advertisements and the big box stores have been decking the halls. Of course, many schools that have a Peace Corps volunteer see this it as an opportunity to get “the real deal” American Christmas experience at their school and enlist their volunteer to plan Christmas Day activities. My friend Jill was one of those volunteers whose school wanted some Christmas activities and she asked me to come and help her out. Happy to have to chance to spend the holiday with a friend, I agreed. Check out some of my Christmas Day activities!
Back in May, Peace Corps put out this press release, titled “Peace Corps Announces New Service Opportunity for Same-Sex Couples.”
It stated:
“Expanding service opportunities to same-sex domestic partners who want to volunteer together further diversifies the pool of Peace Corps applicants and the skills of those invited to serve overseas in the fields of education, health, community economic development, environment, youth in development and agriculture. Married heterosexual couples have been serving together in the Peace Corps since its inception in 1961. Currently, 7 percent of Peace Corps assignments are filled by married volunteers serving together.”
Phra That Phanom is a temple located in Nakhon Phanom in Isaan (Northeastern Thailand). It is said that some relics of the Buddha are interred in the stupa there. Because of this, it is a pilgrimage site for many Thai Buddhists to come and make merit. Check it out!