"While Americans may not look the same or have roots in the same countries, we are still Americans."- Peace Corps Thailand Volunteer Erin Capina, “Being an Asian American Volunteer in Asia”
Early morning yoga classes during a Healthy Lifestyle & Leadership camp in Thailand. http://bit.ly/20c6okU
loucaitystotallyawesomeadventure:
Tonight we are helping our family prepare food for tomorrow morning’s tamboon (merit making). Being a country that relies heavily on agriculture it is traditional to make merit at the start of the rainy season to bring rain and prosperity. Mother Nature is one step ahead though. ⛈
(Source: loucaitystotallyawesomeadve-blog)
Site Day #396: Global Youth Service Day 2016!
Today, my site celebrated Global Youth Service Day. GYSD is celebrated all around the world and it is basically youth inspired to do community service in their towns and villages. We wrangled some students together to pick up trash around the Tessaban and eat snacks. Last year, the group was larger, but that’s okay. It gave me an oppurtunity to chat and catch up with my students. They were really awesome troopers and the area is nice and clean now. We also talked about the importance of community service and of trash clean up.
loucaitystotallyawesomeadventure:
sǎa-laa complete. now we eat meals here and relax with our fam.
(Source: loucaitystotallyawesomeadve-blog)
Site Day #388: It’s my Birthday!
That’s right folks, I’m officially 24 years old and what a day. My birthday happens to fall on the Senior Day in my village where we celebrate the seniors for their contributions to our community. We played games and offered our thanks. Afterward, I experienced two birthday parties, three cakes, and a lot of karaoke singing. I feel so thankful to be in my town for my birthday and so happy that my community cares this much about me.
Happy birthday!
“Find out for yourself about peace and whether or not it’s true that our fundamental situation is joyful.” – Peace Corps Thailand Volunteer http://bit.ly/1YpChpp
loucaitystotallyawesomeadventure:
Gluuai-Mod performing for Songkran. #peacecorps #thailand
(Source: loucaitystotallyawesomeadve-blog)
Where are you going? Thailand.
“where are you going?” in Thai, “”bpai nai?” is a typical greeting in my community in Thailand. When I first arrived, I was asked several times a day and during PST I didn’t know how to answer them. First, I asked myself, why they wanted to know where I am going. Second, it was about my privacy, a typical American response. Beside, I didn’t have the language to tell them where I was about to go. Now, at least i know some simple Thai phrases that describe direction and places, and that I understand it is their way of starting conversation and one don’t have to give an exact location of where one is going. Simple answer of “here” or “there” is enough in this context. Now you know.
“Have you eaten yet?” in Thai, “Kin Kao Lyeo Yu Yen” another way of Thai people start conversation in my community. You can simply answer yes/no or give the person exact detail of what you ate, up to you. It’s a greeting and conversation starter. Now you know this too.
(Source: yeschaoticstranger-blog)
loucaitystotallyawesomeadventure:
Making green curry (แกงเขียวหวาน) with mɛ̂ɛ and friend for host family farewell dinner. We used ground fish balls and served it over noodles.
(Source: loucaitystotallyawesomeadve-blog)
loucaitystotallyawesomeadventure:
As of this morning we are officially Peace Corps Volunteers 🇺🇸✌🏼️🇹🇭 #peacecorps #peacecorpsthailand128
Welcome to the family!
(Source: loucaitystotallyawesomeadve-blog)
Site Day #306: Responsibility Score
I’ve been thinking about ways to encourage students to attend our after school program regularly. I came up with a “responsibility score,” a way for students to track their progress in our class. The kids really like it and were using it right away. They liked that they could mark it themselves which encourages more responsibility.
Site Day #302: Tuna Day
Today, my co teacher and I worked with the students to make tuna sandwich crackers. We were teaching the students about English words associated with sandwiches but we kind of made some weird contraptions. But, the students had a good time so no worries.
Today marks one year I’ve been in Thailand. Through all the changes and the new experiences, I’m still smiling at my experience. I’m so thankful for the opportunities and the new friends I have made. The Peace Corps is more than just a two year volunteering experience, it’s a 27 month long cultural exchange and learning oppurtunity. We do more than just provide ideas and help to our community. We learn to live within our new enviroment and learn to accept ourselves for who we are. As much as I am helping my community, they are helping me to become the person I hope to be someday.
Site Day #253: TYT Peter Pan Practice!
Today was the first official Peter Pan rehearsal. We selected the characters and decided the students who would work on the set, costumes, and make up. It was amazing to see the kids so excited and most of them are in fourth grade, so this is an excellent chance for them to work on their English. I’m so excited and I hope we can get everything together.