Orientation training with Open Mind Projects in Nong Khai

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Since I started my training at the Open Minded house, I have not had time to paste anything on my blog, however, better late than never!

Wow! What a great experience it has been. Cultural training, Thai language lessons, Learning about the organisation, it's sucesses & objectives, practical lessons involving purchasing ingredients from the market (in Thai) to role play in the classroom.

I have also learned more about my first placement. Phou Khouay, Ba Na Villiage (Central Laos, 90 minutes from Vientiane). The focus here will be to teach English to villiage guides & home stay providers, to enable them to comunicate with potential tourists. You can visit www.trekkingcentrallaos.com to get an idea about the project.

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Photos

P2080018
Gave, myself, Surya, Iman & Ram.

The Sculpture park in Nong Khai.
Part of culture training. An amazing place with scuptures that explain some of the buddhist culture & beliefs.

Comments

[Ola Francombe]

Happy TigerToms!
You look much happier now that you are part of the team! What about the loggo of Harley davidson in the background - where is that from?

[ST100mph]

Harley Logo
Not sure where it came from, but they do get volunteers from America, so maybe from one of them.

[Sheila Rajan]

Back home!
Hi Shaun, I was hoping to come to Vientiane and maybe catch up with you and Ida before I left NongKhai but it all got too rushed with school sports carnivals and the like! I'm back home in Aus now, and still a little dazed with the travel, but have to say that the school experience in Ho Kham village was amazing and I loved it. I saw Sven's photos of the weekend he and Tim spent with you guys in Ban Na and you seemed to be having a great time. Hope the teaching is going well. Is it as you expected? For me, it was both more than I expected and less. The Temple School novices were English language experts in comparison with what I found in the village, and 2 weeks wasn't near enough to touch the tip of the iceberg, but it comforts me to know that there is now a school of 120 village children in Thailand who canall now draw and spell "kangaroo" and were well on the way to learing all the words to "Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree" when I left! A pocket of Australia! Be in touch later.