Tag: peace corps

A Village Cleansing Tessagan or Festival

May 24, 2013

I was told that school started for teachers on May 13 and for students on May 16. I showed up for work ready to do whatever it was for the teachers to do on Monday and found out that I would have my own classroom, but which of two rooms would be mine was undecided (one room was the meeting room, the other was just built and has no fans). Other teachers cleaned their rooms. After a couple hours, I was told I could go home and not come on Tuesday. OK, Thailand. On Wednesday morning I woke up and it was one of those things where you know that something is happening.

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Bpai Tiao: Khao Yai National Park

May 21, 2013

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.

Before going to Khon Kaen, one of my fellow PCVs put out a request for help with an English camp for Paw Aws in Surin. I decided to volunteer to give a hand and hopefully help make things less stressful than my own experience. It was also taking place the last week before school was supposed to start and she suggested going on a weekend bpai tiao after the camp was over, which I was all about. One last big trip before buckling down to get to work.

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Bpai Tiao Video: Tat Ton Waterfall

May 19, 2013

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.

School is out, and so that means plenty of English camps being held for all kinds of school staff. After Jessie helped me out with my principals training, I happily returned the favor for her. Her training was held at Tat Ton National Park, where I visited with my host family not too long ago. Being more prepared to go this time, I made a video for you to experience it yourself a bit better.

Bpai Tiao: a Visit to Khon Kaen City

May 17, 2013

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.

Per Peace Corps policy, freshly minted PCVs are not allowed to leave their site at all for the first month in order to encourage integration. Vacation days are not to be used during the first three months of service. However, that still leaves weekends and holidays free for travel after the first month logged at site. In celebration of making it through the first month, Cinco de Mayo and Coronation Day (a national Thai holiday) all falling on the same long weekend members of Group 124, who have been here for a year, arranged a meet up in Khon Kaen.

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Taking Part in Thai Buddhist Funeral Rites

May 14, 2013

In between the training that I did for the PESAO staff and the training for 200 principals on conversational English, I spent a weekend at my homestead. I found out the day that I got home that one of the yaais (grandmothers) in the village had died.

Just before I left the US, my great aunt had died and so I had recently experienced a funeral in the US and I wanted to share about the differences between the rituals around death between Thailand and the US.

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Bpai Tiao Video: Khao Yai National Park

May 12, 2013

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.

Khao Yai National Park is Thailand’s largest national park and it’s in my home province, Nakhon Ratchasima. After helping out with another volunteer’s camp that was being held near the park, some friends and I decided to make a trip out of it. There’s lots of awesome animals and the guides know all the good spots to go. Check out the video, and visit virtually.

An Unexpected Principals Training

May 10, 2013

As I said in my last post, I was finally called upon to do some more traditional work and do some trainings in conversational English. Only this time, I was given three days to find help and plan for 2 two-day trainings for 200 principals in total. Half of the principals would attend the first two days and the other half would attend the second two days. Seeing as it was Friday when I was informed and the training would start on the following Wednesday (and the trainers be at the hotel on Tuesday) I didn’t have an ideal amount of time.

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Adjusting Expectations at an English Training

May 7, 2013

After nearly a month after moving to site I was finally called upon to do some work in the traditional sense; my Saw Naw (supervisor at the Primary Education Service Area Office, equivalent to a school district) asked me to do a training in conversational English for some of the office’s directors. It would be around 35 people over the span of two days at a resort in a different district called Wang Nam Khiao.

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Sounds of Village Life in Thailand

May 5, 2013

When you’re in a new place, you suddenly become hyperaware of everything around you. There are new smells, new sights, new tastes and new sounds. While a lot of these sounds may be somewhat familiar, I’m coming across them in a new context and I wanted to share some of what I hear with you. Check out the video and hear what I do every day.

Bpai Tiao: Korat Fossil Museum and the Mall

May 3, 2013

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.

Tat Ton Waterfall was not the only bpai tiao that I was taken on after moving to my site. I was also taken on a day long trip the Khorat’s Amphur Muang (province’s main city and kind of like a state’s capital) by my co-teacher and we also brought along Gee, one of my host sisters.

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