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Published: September 16th 2007
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I notice the things that are really important here. It’s the stripping away of all the excess, all the unnecessary that reveals the core of things underneath. I need communication, I need sleep, I need stimulation. I don’t miss the television, the culture of want or the pace of life at home.
I do miss some things though. The intensity of relationships for example. It’s difficult to reach that same level here with the extreme language and culture barriers. But still, most times it is a welcome relief from the constant management of relations.
Simple things are bets. I am sitting on my front stoop watching Mae Cee make Som Tam in a mortar and pestle. It’s beautiful to watch the way she makes food. It’s simple, ingredients pounded together and served with grated green papaya. I can’t eat this batch as it has the traditional inclusion of peanuts, but I am full already after having shared a meal with the staff of roast bananas, sticky rice and spicy ground pork salad.
Miles and Marrin are both sick today…a little feverish, sluggish and wheezy. Miles had a rough morning with his asthma. Good thing there was a doctor
at the orphanage visiting. I had him look at Miles for a quick minute. He’ll be okay.
The kids were making Glooay Kanom. Sticky rice, sweetened condensed milk and banana with seeds. It was neat to watch them doing this mass production style. One of the older village ladies comes now and then to teach the kids how to cook. Then they have things to sell at the night market for extra money, or one of the staff sell it and the kids all share the profits for pocket money. If the bloody rain would stop soon, I could take the kids out to tag along, but Miles breathing is so affected by the rain, I’m concerned about him being out and wet for long periods. It should clear up soon. The morning was better today and Britt stayed back at the apartment and slept most of the day. I think she’s fighting the bug too.
Kat and I went out to the market and into Takua Pa on our own. I found some bleach to use on the bathroom and just in case the “dying dog” returns to my back porch, although our “gates” are working out
well.
So Kat and I went out to see what we could see. I found a beautiful black print Sarong with an orchid pattern which I love. I realize with the clothes I left here last time with Sang, I have a full wardrobe already as do the kids, so there isn’t much I need. It’s kind of nice actually, but it’s still fun to search the markets for found objects. Currently I am on the hunt for jasmine oil…the real night blooming jasmine scent. It’s heavenly…so much so that the women in Esaan wear the flowers in their hair. The first time I saw that was when Stephen’s friend Dao came to the University where we stayed to see him. She had them tied in her hair with bits of white thread.
The smell of them is one I won’t forget. The flowers are a beautiful white and not really jasmine at all, but they smell similar.
Scouring the markets for things is really educational as it forces you to get up close and personal with the shop keepers. It’s great practice for my Thai as well.
“nam man Malie, yoo tee nai?”….”Mai Chai, mai chai,
dok mai…nam man malie!”
It basically forces you to repeat your self ten times using the same words in varying orders until the dawn of realization crosses the stall owners face…
The weather has been cool because of the rain…cool but still very humid. It’s been nice but it takes FOREVER for a pair of jeans to dry. Sometimes a few days of damp denim is all it takes for the must to develop and then you have to start over again. I’ve put together a system of moving laundry around so the first day is outside then I move the clothes indoors and string them across my living room overnight with a fan set on them. Seems to work and I don’t have to battle the mildew!
The kids are all gathered around at the orphanage for a “surprise draw”. People in this country love gifts of favours and sentimental things. A homemade bracelet (gam lai ko tao) can bring the biggest smile. The draw is made of little bags of things t-shirts, shorts, new facecloths and the staff have each person draw one. It’s a mad pile of bodies rushing for a turn. And its
tons of fun!
Soon after the Dr. (Marcus) left, a couple from the states came to visit the children and make a donation. I realized why we were in a frenzy earlier in the morning to clean the place up. I had to teeter on top of a chair rail to reach the icky cobwebs on the top of the bookcases in the main corridor. I don’t think they are “dusted” often…I HATE mamoom (spiders).
The couple, Joe and Ann were really anxious to be involved. As usual when visitors from other countries come by, the children sat in their rows and showed respect with their songs and small performances. Then they all received gifts of toys and treats. It’s been a good day for gift today!
Once the packaging was all collected and the kids were settling in with untold amounts of new playthings, kat and I managed to sit and chat with the couple.
They asked a lot about how the orphanage was run, how funds distributed etc. Many of the same things anyone would ask of a place that may be receiving large sums of their money. I realized again how vital it
is that a sponsorship program be developed properly for individuals and organizations willing and interested in helping out.
The good news is that a website is being developed and new brochures designed. However, the site is being developed by donation from an individual in Singapore who does not work for the orphanage and there are no plans or means to keep it continually updated. Communication has been my rant since the beginning of becoming involved here and its clear I am not about to leave the rant behind anytime soon.
Additionally, I have learned that the number of ongoing longterm sponsors has been reduced to four. One which coordinates some of the independent sponsors for specific children,
Dragonfly.
We spoke a bit about the pieces of the puzzle that needed to come together on a larger scale: sponsorship, staff training, transparency, volunteer organization and medical/dental care and about the day to day needs of the orphanage: enough food (currently they go through one 100 lb bag of rice a week, toothpaste, toilet papers, powder, underwear etc.
Joe asked intelligent questions that prompted me to start keeping closer details again.
At the end of the day,
Joe and Ann left with a promise to forward an unspecified amount as donation in the near future and the children returned to what they do every day.
The pace of life continues here whether visitors bring treats or not, there is still laundry to hang dry, rice to serve, clothes to mend and currently 42 mouths to feed and put to bed.
It was a good day though, everyone in a good playful mood and the usual wonderful food.
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