So I'm currently in Laos (it's right north of where I live in Thailand), getting my visa updated so I can stay in Thailand longer. It was four hours waiting at the embassy, but finally got it processed. I go back tomorrow at 1pm to pick up my passport with the visa (which let's you get into and stay in the country).
There are a crazy amount of foreigners around because this is one of the most popular spots around Thailand to do this. I've seen people from at least 20 different countries in the last 6 hours.
In front of me at the cafe at the hotel are two German guys about my age.
One of them has a tiny laptop with Skype (video chat) that he's waving around the street to show his friend back in Germany what it's like here. Weird. And at the Thai/Laos border I met a guy from France and a guy from Ireland, we went through all the stuff together and now we're staying the same hotel. Alex and Jason, respectively. Tomorrow we're gonna head back to the embassy, get our passports/visas, then head back to the Thai border. Things are much cheaper if you go with a group.
It's hard to not meet new people when you're traveling around, even if you're anti-social.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
AIDS Orphanage Pictures
These kids were ridiculous! Climbing around everywhere, just running up, latching onto you and trying to pull you off to play. They were probably some of the happiest kids I've met in my life. Which when you consider they they're all HIV/AIDS positive, and orphans, is pretty impressive! The program that cares for them is a Christian group that gets a tremendous amount of donations, so the kids are all really well cared for. Good food, good resources, lots of staff.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
In Other News
One of the other volunteers has gone missing. We last saw him very early Thursday morning at 3am. He said he was going off to visit some friends. It's now noon Friday and no one has seen/heard from him since.
We've been showing his pictures all around the neighborhood, checked with the hospitals, and the police are also looking, but still no luck. We found the bike he was using, but no sign of him.
We're all hoping he's okay and doing our best to track him down. In any country it's dangerous to be alone that late. But when traveling you have to be extra careful to not put yourself in potentially dangerous situations.
He doesn't have his wallet, his passport or his phone with him. We think he has his laptop, but he hasn't logged onto Facebook or any other websites we know he uses.
Here's hoping we find him soon.
EDIT: Volunteer has been found. He's okay.
We've been showing his pictures all around the neighborhood, checked with the hospitals, and the police are also looking, but still no luck. We found the bike he was using, but no sign of him.
We're all hoping he's okay and doing our best to track him down. In any country it's dangerous to be alone that late. But when traveling you have to be extra careful to not put yourself in potentially dangerous situations.
He doesn't have his wallet, his passport or his phone with him. We think he has his laptop, but he hasn't logged onto Facebook or any other websites we know he uses.
Here's hoping we find him soon.
EDIT: Volunteer has been found. He's okay.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Andrew meets a slave
So today I was teaching my special class for three business women who are moving to Cambodia, or Malaysia or somewhere. Been teaching for the last week, not a bad group. I prefer teaching kids, but they might sponsor the school, so heck yes I'll teach them.
But today they brought in a young girl with them as well. She sat directly next to one of the women, chairs touching, and didn't say a word. When one of the Thai teachers asked if she was studying also, we were told no, she can't understand. I didn't put it together immediately what the deal was.
So after another teacher takes over for a bit, I go to see our director who spoke with them. Apparently she's a young girl from Laos (a country next to Thailand), and she gets paid 2000baht each month. That's about $65, $2 a day. So the entire lesson, she just sat there, smiling briefly once or twice at jokes in Thai, but not participating.
At the end of class the director wants to get more information to see if there's a way we can help her, or help educate her some. Whenever he asked her a question, she didn't answer and just looked at the woman she was with to answer for her.
Her name was Noy, she said she was 19 years old but we're pretty sure that was a lie. We're hoping that they bring her again tomorrow so we can get her away from the women while they're in class, and maybe help her practice reading/writing Thai and English. Small steps, but it's better than nothing. This isn't uncommon, it's not illegal, and it is another culture so I can't say that they're wrong. But we can do what we can to help her grow, maybe someday she'll pick up enough where she can find a better job.
Kinda sad.
But today they brought in a young girl with them as well. She sat directly next to one of the women, chairs touching, and didn't say a word. When one of the Thai teachers asked if she was studying also, we were told no, she can't understand. I didn't put it together immediately what the deal was.
So after another teacher takes over for a bit, I go to see our director who spoke with them. Apparently she's a young girl from Laos (a country next to Thailand), and she gets paid 2000baht each month. That's about $65, $2 a day. So the entire lesson, she just sat there, smiling briefly once or twice at jokes in Thai, but not participating.
At the end of class the director wants to get more information to see if there's a way we can help her, or help educate her some. Whenever he asked her a question, she didn't answer and just looked at the woman she was with to answer for her.
Her name was Noy, she said she was 19 years old but we're pretty sure that was a lie. We're hoping that they bring her again tomorrow so we can get her away from the women while they're in class, and maybe help her practice reading/writing Thai and English. Small steps, but it's better than nothing. This isn't uncommon, it's not illegal, and it is another culture so I can't say that they're wrong. But we can do what we can to help her grow, maybe someday she'll pick up enough where she can find a better job.
Kinda sad.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Classes in Thailand
Every MWF morning, the teachers from Isara travel to a local school and teach an hour of English lessons to three classes. I was mostly observing today, but here are some pictures I took. (At least, the not terrible ones.) It is very different from America and Thailand. Though this school does feel a lot like MO.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
on the way to the airport
ahhhhhhh. my life into three small bags. (that are killing my back) by tonight, i will have visited kuala lum pur, and be in thailand. will try to update as i go.
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