2010 EDGE Leadership
Read the blogs as they come in from Thailand:
March 15 - March 16 - March 20 -
Please click here to see a gallery of Ban Natoe construction photos
A Shawnigan EDGE team will travel to Ban Natoe to once again collaborate with Chiangrai College of Agriculture and Technology on a construction project. Last year our EDGE team helped to build a hut (adobe walls and thatched roof) that now serves as accommodation for teachers who visit the remote rural campus two days a week. This year we will help to build a similar structure, this one to provide accommodation for several hilltribe students whose home villages are too distant for a daily commute. It seems fitting that we are helping to make possible a boarding school education, albeit a very different experience to that of Shawnigan!
Ban Natoe is located in the northern tip of Thailand, just a few kilometres from the Myanmar border. There are six hilltribe cultures within a relatively short radius, making it a place of rich and fascinating diversity—especially because each hilltribe has its own first language and distinctive culture. The Karen people hail from Burma, the Hmong originated in Mongolia, the Akha and the Lisu came from Tibet, and the Lahu and the Yao have their roots in China. All of the hilltribes are relative newcomers, most having moved to Thailand within the past 200 years. Being isolated by their rural locations and their cultural differences, they are hampered by poverty and a lack of education.
CRCAT’s Ban Natoe campus brings education and agricultural training to hilltribe students. It is a privilege for Shawnigan students to work alongside the hilltribe peoples in a shared endeavour, to appreciate by experience something of what life is like for the less-privileged 98% of the world’s population, and to witness firsthand how happiness can exist in the complete absence of material wealth.
There are twelve grade 11 students and three staff on this year’s EDGE Thailand team.
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March 15 – Our EDGE Leadership students arrived safely in Chiangrai and were happily united with their Thai hosts. They are now on their way to Ban Natoe and are looking forward to meeting their first real live elephants!
Peter: Our happy troop – and they ARE a bubbly lot – is about to wake to their first full day in
Thailand. The 30hour journey, bus-ferry-bus-plane-plane-plane-minibus, was uneventful in a good way (although I was taken aback by the number of students I caught surreptitiously working away at the likes of AP European History and math. Me? I watched three movies on the YVR-HK flight).
One aspect of this trip that I’m really looking forward to is getting to know people on a deeper level. I never would have suspected Erica of being a Martha Stewart wannabe, nor an avid fan of vampire literature and movies, although I didn’t find it particularly out of character (albeit a tad weird) when she commented that she actually likes the smell of wet dogs.
We were warmly greeted at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport by our great friend Jerdruedee Chinvaroj, better known to many at Shawnigan by her nickname Tue. We had the pleasure of her company for our first two days in Thailand, and will look forward to her rejoining us at the end of the Ban Natoe project. She is not only wonderful company but also incredibly knowledgeable and resourceful: with Tue anything can be accomplished—the impossible merely takes a little longer.
More friends awaited our arrival in Chiangrai, and draped lei-like necklaces of fragrant jasmine blossoms around our necks in the airport. Elegant and eloquent Khun Jip, the coordinator of our program while in Chiangrai Province, led the procession, accompanied by Khun Pon, an assistant directors of CRCAT, and Khun Somdeth, director of Ban Natoe, and his wife, Vijan. Several other support staff made up the entourage and we knew we had arrived.
Jip arranged our first night’s accommodation in the Fellowship Building of a church on the outskirts of the city, a very comfortable and quiet retreat. Our introduction to Thai food was an excellent restaurant meal. I loved watching James tasting each dish—I could see the wheels turn in his head as he analyzed the flavours and ingredients. We capped off the day with a visit to the Chiangrai Night Market, and our very tired but happy group melted into their beds and were asleep in a flash.
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Tuesday, March 16
Peter: Our first morning waking up in Thailand began with a formal welcome by the recently appointed new Director of CRCAT. He is, of course, a busy man, and I think that we are fortunate to have his blessing and support for our project at Ban Natoe.
Our day’s itinerary en route to Ban Natoe included a visit to a Karen Hilltribe Elephant Camp, lunch at a Phad Thai noodle shop, and a tea tasting in Maesalong.
Wednesday, March 17 – the following is a collection of blogs written by members of the group over the past couple of days.
James: After what felt like a week of traveling, we arrived in Ban Natoe. The only word that could come out of my mouth was “Wow.” The thatch roof houses look like something Robinson Crusoe would have fashioned with his pal Friday. We were greeted with warm smiles and respect by everyone. It’s been great to learn about and be part of the proud Hilltribe culture, as well as about the student perspective of SLS and Thailand. I think we’re fifteen very lucky people, to be part of such an experience.
Alex: Every day in Thailand somehow manages to exceed the day that came before it; whether it be the food, the building, or the experience with friends and Thai students. For me, and probably many others, the elephant riding was a real highlight. Being with people that I go to class with, or watch a movie with on Sundays, all seems so distant when I’m sitting on the back of an elephant with them! Going through rivers, in a picturesque scene I’d only imagine in a movie, on the back of an elephant, was amazing. Right now I’m lying on my sleeping bag, just about to head out to build again before we have lunch. Hi to all my family back home!
Tim: Thailand has been awesome so far. One of the things that I have found to most interesting is how a house can be built with a machete, some bricks and the materials found around the area. The machete is used for everything. Today I used it to slice up banana tree trunks to make feed for the pigs, and later in the morning I used it to chop straw to mix with mud for coating the walls. It is also used to cut bamboo. As well, for framing the roof, instead of a miter saw, the machete is used to cut 45degree angles.
Even though I do not like bananas, I have been fascinated by the way every part of the banana tree is used and for so many things. The fruit is eaten, the leaves are used to make bowls or wrap food, and the trunk for pig feed as well as for a soup we were served last night.
Alex and I are counting the meals without rice, including breakfast, and so far we are at one. This is absolutely fine with me because rice is my favourite food. I have a feeling that as fun as the past few days have been, what’s to come is going to be even better.
Saeed: Helping put the roof on our building was something else. Sitting up among the rafters all I could think about at first was falling. I managed to stay up for quite awhile, but I was happy to be back on the ground.
Robert: Shawnigan EDGE trip 2010 has been an awesome experience so far. We have enjoyed the spice of Thai food and the many mopeds used by the Thai people. One thing I find interesting and fun is the shopping because there are no set prices: even if you aren’t able to get your price quite as low as you hoped the bartering is still fun. I am looking forward to haggling my way through the rest of the trip.
As soon as we arrived in Ban Natoe we could see how different the weather, lifestyle and culture of the hill tribes were compared to our Shawnigan home. Despite the differences, the Thai students and the Shawnigan crew still easily manage to work and communicate together as a great group of friends. One of my favourite experiences so far was after our first day of work when we all spontaneously started a soccer game. Even though we could hardly say more than “Hello” or “Thank-you” to them we enjoyed a great game of soccer together. I am looking forward to many more opportunities to get to know the Thai students.
Al Brunet: I consider myself a reasonably handy guy around the house and so I figure that buying good power tools is money well spent. Rona and Home Depot do well by me! That is why watching some of the Thai workers is quite an education. It is amazing to watch someone, matter-of-factly, cut a compound 45degree angle on a 2x4 stud, with a machete, or "shovel" sand, mix cement and any number of other things with a simple hoe. It is not that they don't own some power tools . . .they are just not "dis-abled" without them.
I expected our hosts to be friendly because that is what being a good host is all about, but the genuine and sustained happiness from the people here is nearly overwhelming. Where it really caught my attention was walking through the village, about a kilometre from our spot, and having people who do not know who we are, or why we are intruding in their space, treat us with the same courtesy and friendliness as our hosts.
I am also very impressed with our student travel/workmates. This is a quality group of people who know how to work and behave. I feel privileged to be a part of their project.
Anne Brunet: Coming from the therapeutic/horticultural community at Providence Farm, and watching our Thai hosts patiently teach all of us to do everything from weaving thatched roof material, mixing cement by hand, and creating banana leaf serving bowls to feeding piglets, transplanting bedding plants, and speaking Thai, I am reminded of how we are all connected through our willingness to reach out. In both communities of Ban Natoe and Providence Farm, it is that willingness, and the shared teaching/learning experience, that not only benefits each of us individually but, ultimately, the greater community.
The excitement of seeing our building project quickly evolve is also evidence of the great enthusiasm and good spiritedness of the Shawnigan students and leaders and the hard work and spirit of cooperation of our Thai counterparts.
We will all go away from here feeling that the world is a much smaller place....even if it takes thirty hours to get here!!
Sylvia: I love Thai food! Before I came here, pad Thai was the only Thai food I knew about, but now that I have experienced many different types of Thai food I can truly say that I love Thai food! Thai people love coconut. Literally, they put coconut in everything. Coconut milk, gelatines with coconut, coconut ice cream, and even coconut curry! I loved coconut before I came here; however, now that I literally eat coconut everyday, I am not a big fan of it anymore. Also, we have rice every single meal. Wow. Although I am from Asia and eat rice all the time at home, I do not think I have eaten this much rice before. I certainly think I won’t be able to eat rice for quite awhile when we go back.
Elena: The best part of my trip was stepping out of a truck in the Akha village. All I saw at first were thatch houses and dirty animals, but when I looked again I saw so much more. Everywhere there were smiling faces and family connections that I have never seen anywhere else. The beauty of it all I will never understand. It is impossible for me to fathom how the children could laugh and love so much. The joy they got from us giving them high fives and piggyback rides are almost unworldly. It makes me wonder if maybe that’s the way we should all live. Maybe we are all greedy for thinking that more is better, and maybe to be truly happy we must have what these people have. For they have so much more. They have happiness and love and trust that I doubt I will ever be able to understand. We stayed and played with the children and at the end of the day we got into the truck and drove away. When we looked back we saw them all running for the trucks and waving. After this trip it is obvious to me that we need no more than a roof over our heads to taste true happiness, and I hope one day I’ll taste their kind of happiness too.
Esme: When I look outside a car window I wish my thoughts took photos of everything. I could then refer to them forever. I am saddened because I brought only three disposable cameras. Our eyes widened and we met new people as we drove through smiling faces and fields. We are new at Ban Natoe, and being surrounded by pigs, people, thatch houses and life has never been so nice. We are learning how to truly enjoy experiences through watching these amazing people find joy in the simplest of things like giving children a piggyback ride!
Savannah: Today we drove up the narrow road to visit a small village in which “Akha” hill tribe people live. From the back of the pick up, holding onto the side rails for balance, we saw children playing soccer, chickens crossing the road up ahead and pigs whipping their tails trying to get the flies off their bodies. I wasn’t fully aware of what I was seeing until we got out of the truck. Nearly all the children from the village gathered to see what was going on. At first they seemed a little worried and intimidated but it only took a few minutes for them to feel like one of us. The smiles on their faces were priceless. This taught me that we don’t nee more than a thatch house in order to be happy! I took the hands of two young boys who were very fascinated by our presence. We walked through the village hand in hand with a group of children trailing behind. I tried my best to communicate with them and they simply smiled back at me, confused by what I was saying. Before leaving the village our group gave the children piggyback rides up the dirt road. The only thing I could hear was the laughter of the little girl on my back. I was a complete stranger to her, yet she welcomed me into her life for a few minutes. Today the children of this small village shared the simple gift of happiness. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here.
Erica: What a great group we have brought halfway across the world to experience Thailand. A blend of seasoned and not-so-seasoned travellers is the perfect mix for finding excitement in the different experiences we are presented. From the airports to the remote village of Ban Natoe, we all seem to be taking the time to figure out how it is all impacting us. The project itself is off to a great start. It has been going up quite quickly, which is expected when you neglect to measure twice, cut once. The Thai people must certainly have a better “eye” when building such structures. If only all buildings could go up just using a hand saw, clay, and a plumb line. Holmes on Homes would be having a breakdown by now. My job for the first day was thatching the straw roof, a skill that would have been very useful when I was ten years old building cabins in the woods. As far as accommodations are concerned, we can all agree that you don’t need a lot to feel at home. My little abode is a little straw roofed bamboo A-frame hut, where my roommates, the friendly rats and geckos, also call home. Rule #1, do not leave a bag of almonds near the underwear bag.
What I feel has been important up to now is the connection that our students have made with the Thai students. Watching them build and play, you would never know that there was a significant language and culture barrier. Nor would you think that when asked by the Thai students to sing a song, that “Lord of the dance” would be our first choice!
As we are only on day three, I cannot start to explain all the interesting things we have done or seen thus far. It is truly a beautiful and special place in its simplicity.
Tessa: The first day we arrived at Ban Natoe we all were very tired. We lethargically strolled to our cabins. As soon as we got inside, immediately in front of us was an ironing board with a dusty cat perched on it. Our Thai room-mate told us that its name was Motchi, but because I cannot remember Asian names I officially dubbed it Mocha Latte. The name was controversial. Elena liked its real name but eventually mine won. The next few days were very boring cat-wise. The third night though, Esme, Elena and I walked into the cabin and went to our rooms to grab something. I asked where Mocha Latte and then glanced out my door to see something terrifying. Mocha Latte had not quite killed a live rat and had it in its mouth and it was in the cabin! We all screamed and slammed the doors in case it dropped it but the loud noises just scared Mocha away. The next morning after breakfast I came to get changed for work. Mocha Chocolate Latte was sleeping quite soundly on my pillow. It was cute in a “just killed a small rodent” kind of way. I took some pictures to show people we had a “cute” pet cat. I hope I don’t get fleas!
Peter: I was very aware of living in the moment, today. I don’t yet have a strategy for sustaining that state of being, but I like it and I think it is worth pursuing.
I was also very aware of what a privilege it is to be welcomed into the cultures and communities of this area. It would be impossible (and I use that word carefully and deliberately) to see and experience a fraction of what we are treated to on a daily basis if it weren’t for the generosity of the staff and students of Ban Natoe. I visited three hill tribe villages today, each of which was home to one of the students we are working with. I’m sure that if a felung (foreigner) such as myself were to enter one of these remote villages on his own, people would simply stare or retreat to a safe distance. Many of the hill tribe peoples do not speak Thai (they speak their own particular dialect, which might be from China or Tibet or Mongolia or Burma or Laos) and most of the peoples in this particular region of Chiangrai maintain a very isolated way of life. A Caucasian felung like me must seem a very strange creature!
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Saturday, March 20
Peter: The Akha and Lahu hill tribe villages that we visited recently were located at relatively high elevations (4000’ on Al’s GPS) and situated near or right atop their mountain settings. The steep and rugged terrain mandates that most homes be built on stilts and ensures that the people who live there are decidedly strong and fit. In terms of gradient and rutted surfaces, the roads to these villages are comparable to the more extreme fire roads on Mt. Tzouhalem and Cobble Hill. One difference, though, is that the steepest sections are almost always paved with concrete, presumably to provide some semblance of traction when it rains, because wet clay soil is at least as slippery as motor oil. In the rainy season some sections of these roads would be impossible to negotiate, even on foot. At one point we came across a work party paving a stretch of hill, and I realized that they were mixing the concrete by hand on site. Imagine building a concrete slab, 6” thick and one lane wide, on a very steep slope, with only hoes and buckets for tools. Such patience and tenacity!
I once made the mistake of describing a hill tribe village as being in the middle-of-nowhere, but I have since realized how that comment merely highlighted my ignorance. Every remote village is the centre of somebody’s universe, and in some cases that somebody might never range more than 20km from it during the course of a lifetime (in fact, from that person’s perspective the little village would actually be “in the middle of everywhere”).
We have enjoyed sumptuous Thai meals during our stay in Ban Natoe, including a number of “local foods” such as deep fried bamboo worms, ant egg soup, sliced banana flowers and curried banana tree trunk (and of course there were fried crickets and water beetles for sale in the night market, though so far none of our group has opted to sample these treats).
Star Fruit
How much is this
Wow, it is only how much?
Five baht for ten, great!
Oh Fruit of the star
Why are you oh so sour
Why did I buy you?
Oh star fruit so sour
Take it, no really it’s fine
Yeah it’s not very ripe
- Esme
James: When people come to the kitchen at Shawnigan, they are in awe of both what we can produce as well as what equipment we have. I feel the same about Ban Natoe. With two propane burners, three rice cookers and a forty-five gallon drum cut in half for a grill, I’ve been privy to some incredible meals here. I’ve asked everyday what can I do to help and I’m put to task or told come back at a certain time. The banter between everyone is universal to any kitchen I’ve worked in, such as someone telling a funny story or giving another a hard time for not doing something right. I have no idea what they’re saying, it’s just the feel you get.
The cooks get excited when I all of a sudden pipe up and say “cone” (the Thai word to stir) or point to a pot and say “tom?” (soup). They ask me what the English name is for items while I reciprocate for the Thai name.
No school or apprenticeship could ever pass on this experience.
Erica: When you are on the road or travelling, you end up having to bunk in with roommates that you didn’t think you would initially get along with. I have to admit that I didn’t really like my roommate “Y-D” the first time I met him. He was a little greedy, stealing my bag of almonds and making a mess of the floor. I was up most of the night listening for him to steal more or, even worse, use my clothing to make himself a little bed. After a night or two though, he decided to leave me alone. I think he may have just been a little lonely. Of course, not paying attention one day after breakfast I left a little squeeze bottle of sweetened condensed milk on a ledge inside my hut. After dinner that night, I opened my door to find the little squeeze bottle on the floor with a giant gnawed hole in it. If Y-D could just wait for me to get back, I would have given him some. I really hate it when roommates steal your food.
I have decided to forgive him though. I know that he is not used to Western food and that he was just trying a taste of our culture. After all, that is what we are doing here.
Sylvia: Two days ago, we got off work a little early to go to two villages. One was an Aka village. It was a place full of warmth and happiness. When we arrived, children greeted us with the biggest smiles. Since I ADORE children, I ran towards them. Oh my gosh, they were so adorable! As we were walking away, they kept following us as if we were celebrities. I tried to teach them to high-five. First, they just seemed very confused but as Alex and I showed them how, they caught on pretty quickly. One of the children who were following us was called “Abu”. She was such a cute little girl. We held hands the whole time. I tried to speak Thai with them but they all just started laughing at me. Although they were making fun of my poor Thai, I knew that all of us brightened up their day.
Maddie: Yesterday morning, upon arising at the crack of dawn, we piled into trucks once again. After a windy drive, we arrived at a small, rural market that stretched the length of two streets. Imagine an explosion of colour, vegetables, vats of boiling oil, and the wafting aroma of fried food. There was an array of sights and people. Despite all the interesting things to gaze upon, the one I found the most captivating was something that would likely shock any North American. Two Thai women approached a vendor selling different types of meat, ordering something in Thai. The man behind the table then turned to open a small cage, pulling out a live chicken with one hand. Peeling a plastic bag open with the other, he then stuffed the squawking bird inside as though loading groceries. The Thai women paid the vendor and continued their morning shop, the plastic bag ruffling and swinging as they went. Only in Thailand!
Jenna: There are things at home that we take for granted. We know this. However, there are some commodities which we have that we do not know how valuable they are. One of these is water. Before coming to Thailand I would take a 15-minute shower without ever thinking about the waste. Here in Ban Natoe we do not have the kind of showers we have at home. First of all there is no hot, or even warm, water. Second, instead of a shower, we have a huge bucket (a garbage can, really) filled with freezing cold water. In order to shower I take a small bucket, fill it with the water, and pour it all over myself. I actually get an adrenaline rush from the cold water. My showers here last at most 5 minutes. Also, in the house where the girls are staying we never know when the taps will be working, so every drop of water we can get to fall in the sink gets put to some use. The thing is, even though we are using about a quarter of the water we use at home, my hair still gets washed, my teeth still get brushed and my body is still as clean as ever. This just shows me how extremely valuable water is. I can tell you one thing. I won’t be taking 15-minute showers any more.
Robert: We have spent about a week here in Thailand, and five of those days in Ban Natoe, and still the entire atmosphere amazes me. Each morning I wake up and realise how far away I am from my own setting, and its sooo cool. One aspect of this adventure that I find intensely great is the outrageous numbers of mopeds that occupy this foreign land. On any given day you are bound to witness multiple sightings of dozens of mopeds whenever and wherever you go. Every person here uses them, and they share them with one another. It makes life here seem so fun and simple. I now know what I want to buy as soon as I get home. It will most likely be a moped. But my mom doesn’t want me to get one, so we will see.
Saeed: I haven’t seen the sun in awhile. And it is quite hot in this general region. And everyone here, including myself, seems to be complaining about their certain lack of a special tan. Very annoying. That is because the sun is blocked out by a thick smog created by the burning of trees and brush. They burn to clear land. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live half of your life not seeing any blue skies, ever. When we were visiting some towns the other day, we saw the surrounding area of Ban Natoe and other villages. The amount of pollution that blanketed these hidden beauties of the world shocked us all. They burn the landscape for a quick, easy fix, but I don’t think they realise the effects of their actions. The harm inflicted on mother earth reminds me of the precious roosters. I think that the roosters howl at ridiculous hours because they have no idea where the sun is and they don’t know when to call. Every tear I shed over the burning is a tear for a rooster.
Haiku for Tessa: March 20, 2010
Like a pig in mud
Having buckets of fun that
Left me in stitches.
- Peter
Alex: Every night the Shawnigan and Thai students all gather for our evening activity. No matter what the planned activity is, whether it is games, Thai boxing or language lessons, we always end up dancing to someone’s ipod. The fact that the music can break the language barrier and just allow both groups to have fun is amazing. Club Na Toe is definitely a great way to end a tiring day!
Tim: Ta Kraw is a game played with a woven-bamboo ball and a volleyball net. Simple, right? Wrong! It is extremely difficult to grasp and even harder to master, and it is what Rob, Saeed, Alex and I have spent most of our free time playing. The rules, as I understand them, are fairly similar to volleyball. Three players per team, max three touches per team before the ball must go to the other team, and one person can hit it multiple times. The games are played to 15 (sip-ha) with the point per rally system. The mechanics of the game are very similar to hacky-sac: you can use any part of your body to contact the hard wooden ball, except your arms. The Thai people must develop rather hard heads because I already have a small bump on mine from all the heading. At the next market we visit I am definitely going to buy some Ta Kraw balls so I can try to bring this game back to Canada.
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Tuesday, March 23
Al Brunet: This place is not a tourist mecca so, as we were walking through an early morning market, sticking out like a sore thumb since we are not Asian, an old couple came up to me indicating that they wanted to talk. They indicated that they wanted to know where we were from and they recognized the word "Canada". For the next 5 minutes we gesticulated, winced, pursed our lips, repeated simple words, and somehow carried on a conversation, even though I knew no Thai and they knew no English. I gathered that he was down from the hills, that he was a reader as he had books he wanted to show me, and that he was a leader in his village. I have no idea what he gathered about me.
In another village there was a little boy, about seven years old, keeping up with our walking pace, "sneaking" very admiring looks at Anne. I told her to take his hand to see what he would do. A very proud smile lit up his face and he walked with us, hand in hand, through the village in front of all the villagers. At the end, we pinned a little Canada pin on his shirt and he joined the other children. The Shawnigan students gave him and the others piggy-back rides. Nothing was said but somehow an entire micro public relations campaign evolved between Canada and this village.
All of us here get into these types of conversations every day. One badly pronounced word of English on their side, one atrociously pronounced word of Thai on ours. We all walk away getting something positive out of it without really talking.
Every night, our students and the young Thai people sing and dance up a storm. There is joking and laughing and comparing ipod selections, all in broken Thai/English. But communicate they do! I guess real communication is not only about words . . . but about the willingness to try.
Anne Brunet: I've noticed many contrasts during our stay in this part of Thailand. The daytime temperature reaches at least 35 degrees, but three hot meals are served every day and much of the food eaten here is spicy hot, sometimes extremely so.
The living conditions of most people in Ban Natoe and surrounding villages are very simple (most people in this area live in small thatched roofed homes), but there are satellite dishes everywhere. Material possessions are very sparse, (for example, clothes are hand-washed, running water and flushing toilets are not a given, and women can be seen on their front step pounding rice into flour using a large, homemade mortar & pestle), but young people are often seen with shiny new scooters, cell phones and ipods.
The village people speak no English for the most part, but t-shirts with English phrases and familiar characters or logos can often be seen on both children and adults. Further contrasted with that are the exquisitely handcrafted traditional costumes, complete with highly decorated head gear, the regular wear of some hilltribe people as they tend local marketplace stalls.
There is lush green tropical vegetation and beautiful blooming plants and trees all over the countryside, but the small yard in front of virtually every home is bare, hardened sand and dirt, usually complete with a hen and chicks that wander freely. People are extremely courteous and polite, but, behind the wheel of a vehicle, they are aggressively 'in your face'.
Cultural traditions and customs are practiced and maintained by old and young, but visitors are never made to feel that they must conform, are out of place, or have made an error. Yes, we are in a place of many fascinating and remarkable contrasts.
Tessa: The other day we started putting mud on the walls of the hut. It was quite an experience because it wasn’t just clay but included a variety of things such as hay, rice husks and bits of rock. As a result, the mud fights were fun yet painful at times. To wash up we went down to the river where a water fight commenced. During this water fight I was hit in the face with a bucket, due to my lack of cat-like reflexes. There was a lot of blood. Sylvia was freaking out, as was everyone else, but Mr. Yates was calm and held my eyebrow together and kept me from dying from loss of blood. The Land Rover came and took me, accompanied by my good friend Alex, to the hospital. I lay on a table and the doctor did such a good job of freezing the area around the cut that even three days later I still can’t feel it. I now am sporting THREE beautiful stitches, given to me by the very nice English-speaking Thai doctor. I am very thankful to everyone who helped me to get to the hospital, and I’m especially thankful to Mr. Yates for keeping me alive. And Hutch, for making me laugh when we were at the hospital.
Peter: Khun Somdet is the Director of Ban Natoe Learning Centre. He is 53 years old, has a degree in agronomy from Chiang Mai University, and has been teaching since he was 23. His wife, Winah, is a high school home economics teacher; his eldest son, Dew, is 28, lives at home, and is an information technology specialist for a major bank; his youngest son, Dep, is 23 and about to graduate from university with a degree in engineering. Yesterday, Somdet and I made a brief stop at his house, which is located in a quiet neighbourhood adjacent to an expanse of rice fields on the outskirts of Chiangrai, and I was impressed by its tasteful and comfortable furnishings and decor, and also by the beautiful gardens which are one of his wife’s passions.
The Ban Natoe Learning Centre is Somdet’s concept, and the innovative and widely acclaimed Na Toe Model is his design. The story, as I understand it, is that he was involved in teaching agriculture to students in thirteen schools along the Myanmar border. He saw that the vast majority of people in the region had little or no access to education, in part because they are so poor, in part because they have so many responsibilities to their families and communities, and (for many) in part because they do not have legal citizenship papers. The essence of the Na Toe Model is to bring education to the people, and to deliver it with sufficient flexibility to accommodate individual circumstances.
Somdet successfully presented his concept proposal to the Royal Princess’s special projects committee and it was approved by the Royal Princess. The Department of Forests then provided 28 rai (about 11 acres) of land, the government contributed some funding, the Chiang Rai College of Agriculture and Technology put its support behind the initiative, and two international NGOs—PLAN International and Child’s Dream Foundation—came onboard with funding for various buildings as well as some financial support for students. Tuition, room and board are fully funded for students at Ban Natoe. Although some live in the immediate area and can commute on a daily basis, most students rely on campus housing from Monday to Friday and return to their homes on weekends. One feature of the Na Toe Model is that students may choose to do their major (agricultural) projects in their home villages, which not only allows them to keep up their roles as wage-earners but also gives them the opportunity to demonstrate and teach their new found knowledge and skills.
The Ban Natoe Learning Centre is in its third year of operation, and is about to graduate its first class of students at Level I, which I understand is equivalent to high school graduation. When the next school year commences in May there will be fifteen students embarking on the 2 year Level II diploma program. Enrolment at Ban Natoe is anticipated to be one hundred students next year. Meanwhile Somdet is looking for funding for three more teachers (English, mathematics and fish-farming) to bolster the present four person teaching staff. Wages are low by Canadian standards (approx. CAD$3000/year) but still present a substantial challenge, especially given that one-time donations are only a short-term fix. Somdet has already overcome huge hurdles in bringing Ban Natoe into existence and I think that, as much as anything, this next funding challenge will be mostly a matter of connecting people to the generous spirit of this man and this place. I’m reminded of W.P.Kinsella’s novel Shoeless Joe: “If you build it, they will come.”
Tim: Narin “Aof” Sae Yang is one of my favourite Thai students. He earned the name “Avatar” from us, because he is always climbing whatever is around. I discovered that this is especially fitting because it turns out that Avatar is his favourite American movie. He was born in Ban Natoe 19 years ago, and has lived here ever since. He is part of the local Chinese community, and therefore speaks both Mandarin and Thai. This is his third year at this college, and after he graduates he wants to teach Mandarin. He loves basketball but had to stop playing last year when most his team moved to Taiwan. Yao Ming is favourite NBA player, because he is Chinese. Singing and playing guitar are two of his other passions. He also knows many magic tricks, some of which he has taught me. He actually knows more about Canada than I thought he would. He knew that Canada is the second largest country in terms of land, and he has seen some ice hockey on TV. He enjoys having us here because we are punctual and hard working. The bread pudding was his favourite part of the Canadian meal we prepared the other night. Staying here Ban Natoe was not his original plan. At first he planned to go to Taiwan to study; however, his dad died and he therefore needed to stay and help his three older sisters to look after his mom. Eventually he wants to be able to go to China to visit his aunts and other relatives. Getting to know Narin better has been interesting.
Anne: My conversation with Agee, whose nickname is G.G., revealed a very considerate, thoughtful, and focused young man who seems to be a bit a loner. In his third year as a student here, Agee is the second child in a family of five and comes from the village of Maemoh, about 24 km from Ban Natoe. His first language was Aka, but he also speaks two other hilltribe languages, Thai, and Mandarin. The Chinese language was learned during seven years of attending school as a boarding student in Therdthai which followed his first three years of school in Maemoh.
Also at Therdthai, he also learned to play the guitar, mostly from a friend, and he likes music that expresses feelings. He listens to Thai musicians and did not seem to be familiar with North American groups. He is also artistic and enjoys types of basket weaving that includes making things like lampshades and other items.
Sports has not been part of Agee's life mostly, I think, because he has had serious vision problems throughout his life. Worsening and severe cataracts clouded his sight to the point of not really being able to see in recent years. Because he is not officially registered as a Thai citizen, he could not access any health care which would help cover the cost of expensive eye surgery. Two years ago, this was brought to the attention of Oyz' mother, Sivika when she was visiting this campus. At the same time, the Thai Princess Si Ri Thorn was also here, and she personally committed to covering the cost of Agee's eye operations. Although it was too late for one of his eyes, the other was saved and his vision in that eye is much improved.
Agee noted that approximately 60,000 people in this region do not have 'official registration' as Thai citizens. He is trying to get his documentation with the help of Som Deht, but, at the moment, is unable to even leave the country as he would not be able to get a passport.
When asked about his goals, Agee said he would like to complete two more years of college here, receive his diploma, and return to his village to try and be a role model and even establish a learning centre for the hilltribe farmers to help them understand better farming practices which would eliminate the use of chemicals and burning. His dream is to own his own farm, and he would very much like for us to come back when that happens so he could show us.
Agee would also like to go to Laos and volunteer at agricultural schools to pass on what he has learned because, he says, they are not as far along as the agricultural colleges in Thailand. At 25, Agee seems to have a mission in life to improve the lot of farmers and take care of the earth. He is a focused student and is very proud to have recently represented this campus and won first place in a nation-wide competition between the agricultural colleges.
One last note...he thought our Canadian food, although tasty, could have been a bit more salty.
Al: Everyone in Thailand seems to have a nickname. I forgot to ask Wasin what his nickname was because all of us Canadians have tagged him with "Photographer Guy" due to the fact that we never see him without a camera around his neck.
Wasin is from an area close by called Phayao, and has two sisters and both parents at home. He is well educated and holds a Masters in mathematics. His current home is Changrai where he teaches Math at the Agricultural College. When he has time, he volunteers here in Ban Natoe.
He has never been out of Thailand but knows his country well. Asked if he had any aspirations to travel to other countries and where he would like to go, he said that he knows so little about other countries that he doesn't understand what the benefits would be if he did go.
Asked if there was one thing he could do for Thailand, if he had the power to do so, he said without hesitation, "Stop the burning." The entire countryside in the north, from Laos across Thailand and right through Myanmar, is burning as farmers clear any land they can access to plant corn, a crop that they know how to work with and that requires little maintenance or chemicals, resulting in higher pay. He said the farmers don't understand that this incredible level of smoke pollution, coupled with the eventual oversupply of corn, will not ultimately improve their lives.
He talked of how difficult it is to form high profile organizations such as Co-ops or Marketing Boards as most farmers, even though they were born in Thailand, have no papers proving they are citizens and therefore have a fear of drawing attention to themselves. Getting one's papers can cost thousands to corrupt officials who will always take their money but not necessarily deliver the promised papers. He tries to counsel young people in how to get their papers and said that the UN will often help to "push" or speed along the hoops that the locals must endure in order to become officially recognized citizens.
Oyz, the well educated, well traveled young lady who interpreted for me, echoed Wasin's opinion that trying to change the habits of the farmers in the area and overcoming the corruption from local leaders is a herculian and disheartening task. One can only wish these young people well and support their efforts whenever possible.
Alex: Bank is undoubtedly one of the most popular Thai students among our group. Supap is his real name, and his nickname, Bank, comes from a famous Thai singer. He was born in Chiang Rai, attended school there, and is now at Ban Natoe college to improve his English and to, hopefully, find a career in mechanics. Bank has one brother and one sister; both live with him in his hometown of the Bakoy Village. He thoroughly enjoys our company as, in his own words, “We’re all happy together.” He loves dancing with us at “Club Na Toe,” playing soccer and takraw with us, and building with us. Banks’s favourite part of our being here is seeing Canadians and their customs—and he loved the hamburgers we made for our Canadian dinner. Bank is the happiest, most smiley person, and really is a pretty cool guy to have around.
Maddie: Naruemit is better known to us and his friends as “Dome.” He is seventeen and was born in Chumporn, in the south of Thailand, where his mother, father, stepmother, three sisters and two brothers live currently. Before he came to Ban Natoe, he attended the Phatowitlaya School in Chumporn. Dome speaks very good English, which he learned from his stepmother who is Dutch. Coming to Ban Natoe to learn and study agriculture and culture, and to meet new people, was his own decision; he arrived at age sixteen. Dome loves all sports, including Thailand’s national sport, Ta Kraw, and Muay Thai (Thai boxing). He also loves playing guitar. Dome acts as a bridge between us and the other Thai students, as the language barrier makes for some difficulty at times. When he is finished his time here at the college, he wants to study somewhere in Bangkok, or travel the world, Canada included! Later on in life he hopes to work in the tourism industry.
Esme: Today I spoke at length with Jinnan/Patty. She was born in Chiang Rai Province in Doi Mae Salong (Doi means mountain and Mae Salong is a famous tea growing area). She told me her dad was a womanizer which led her mother into depression, and to punish her husband she poisoned herself and all of her children. Patty “was lucky” and survived. Her dad re-married and Patty started attending “welfare school.” Patty and her stepmother got along well until Patty had a child of her own. Her dad told her about training at Ban Natoe College and at first she liked it, but now they get so many visitors that she has to do a lot more work. She likes the Shawnigan students, though. She is a normal seventeen-year-old girl who enjoys listening to music and reading magazines, but she has been through so much trauma. Patty usually lives on campus, but is currently staying with a friend close by and helping her to tend to her mother. Patty aspires to own a bakery one day.
Tessa: I interviewed a young (19) lad named Kraingsak whose nickname, Tawain, means Sweet Eyes. When he was a kid he had an eye problem which caused his eyes to always only open half way. Our Thailand team affectionately calls him “Brett” because he looks quite a bit like Brett Johnson (and he also has styled hair which he fixes often, and he sports mirrored aviator glasses). He wears the same blue-palm-tree long-sleeved shirt every day. Thai Brett grew up in Chiang Rai. He has three sisters. When he graduates he wants to be a farmer and grow corn. He likes to cook, watch movies, sing and play ta-kraw. Thai Brett loves ta-kraw and he is considered the ta-kraw god of Ban Natoe. Brett/Tawain is a very nice, hard-working guy, and our whole Thailand team enjoys having him around.
Saeed: Som Pon, or Lhu for short, is a 19-year-old who has been studying at Ban Natoe for three years. He has orange hair and is soft spoken. He’s a pretty quiet guy, yet it’s pretty obvious that he’s respected here. He lives about twenty kilometres from the college, so he’s always been a boarder. He remembers when the EDGE team came last year and also when some students from Singapore came to build the first dormitory. He plans to stay here for another two years and earn a university diploma, and he hopes that his five younger brothers will come to study here one day. At the moment, his siblings are studying at the school in their village. He wondered what Canadian schools are like, and was surprised that Shawnigan (like Ban Natoe) has barely any day students. Som Pon has never been outside of Thailand; however, he’s looking forward to one day having an opportunity to see another part of the world.
Robert: Born in the year 2595 (1952 by our Western calendar), Anan Malavilas has been a Chiang Rai resident his entire life. As a child Anan grew up with three sisters, a stay-at-home dad, and a market owner mother. Once he was old enough to leave home, Anan went to the Chiang Rai Head College to learn to be an electrician. And finally after studying for a few years, he was able to sign a five-year contract to be an electrician, working of the Thai government. After his contract was up, though, he was forced to find work elsewhere. Eventually he was hired as a driver for a college, and he worked there for seven years. When Ban Natoe opened three years ago, Anan switched colleges and became a Ban Natoe employee. His time at this school is scheduled to end in two years, at which time he hopes to retire.
Apart from this local driver’s work life, he and his wife live a quiet life at the Chiang Rai Head College. With their two children grown up and out of the house, Anan and his wife just enjoy each other’s company. His daughter is currently a primary school teacher in a local village just five kilometres from Ban Natoe. His son works in a jean factory in the heart of Bangkok, and they rarely get to see one another.
Even though Anan plans to retire in two years, his plans don’t extend much beyond that. Because of his lack of money he is forced to live locally instead of exploring his desires to travel. Despite his inability to travel, though, Anan enjoys spending his free time at home with his wife and working on his passion for building fireworks.
James: I had the opportunity to interview a woman at the Ban Natoe Learning Centre by the name of Pandida (aka Toom). As I have been working in the kitchen I had thought she would be the equivalent of a kitchen manager. As I started to question her I found out that she teaches accounting and is responsible for all the accounts and inventory at the school. Cooking is just a personal interest for her and she helps out with the snacks and desserts.
Pandida was born in Bangkok and has been a teacher for the last 27 years. The last 18 years she has been based out of the Chiang Rai Learning Centre, the “parent” school for Ban Natoe. She is very proud to be a teacher because she got her job on her own. No contacts or help to get her foot in the door. Her favourite thing about teaching is the fact that she can pass on to the students all of her experience and knowledge.
Pandida is married with 2 sons. One of them lives and works in Chiang Rai and the other is off at university. Her overall goal is to get a farm where she can live self-sufficiently. She doesn’t mind where the farm is located as long as there isn’t a lot of people around her but there are some resources near by. I think she might fit in on Salt Spring Island.
Savannah: A couple days ago was my first ever birthday out of Canada. My day started off with a lovely surprise that the toilet was clogged up and someone had to do the dirty business, and that someone happened to be me. Afterwards, I was welcomed by the EDGE group with many happy birthdays. The table was set with an amazing breakfast, the best one yet. It consisted of Thai pork porridge, coconut yoghurt and many pieces of “western” toast which I covered in condensed milk. After breakfast I took my sweet time knowing that a long day in the sun was ahead of me. It never occurred to me how much I missed chocolate until Maddie gave me these amazing dark chocolate balls. Upon arriving at the work site, it didn’t take long before I was covered in mud. We were given the opportunity to sign our names right into the walls of the structure. After a long day in the blistering sun, we started preparing the “Canadian” dinner which consisted of hamburgers, fries, coleslaw and, for dessert, a delicious apple bread pudding infused with sweetened condensed milk. I am glad we had the western dinner on my birthday because it made me feel at home. For some of the Thai students it was only their first time eating hamburgers and some have never had the food served to them at the table. After lingering around after dinner, the lights turned off and “Aof” (a Thai student) presented me with a delicious chocolate cake. We closed the night off with dance party at Club Na Toe where I busted out some pretty sweet moves (although compared to the way the Thai students dance, it wasn’t much at all). I can safely say that it was the best birthday ever.
Today I interviewed a young man named Sarun Keereesanpoom. He is also commonly known by his friends and by our EDGE group as “Jay”. He is 18 years old and comes from a very large family of 10 kids. He is originally from Chiang Rai (a 2-hour drive east of Ban Natoe) and has come to the Chiang Rai School of Agriculture and Technology to be part of this Canadian-Thai experience. It didn’t take long for our EDGE group to discover that Sarun likes to “break down on the flow”. He is a very talented guy and loses us in his dance moves. We have tried our best to follow his lead, but it has been a great struggle throughout our many dance parties in Club Na Toe. During his free time, Jay enjoys reading books and someday he would like to study at a higher level in another country since he has recently graduated from his 3 years of schooling. Jay would also like to join the Thai military. For the past week and a half we have tried our best to communicate to the Thai students, although our Thai vocabulary is near non-existent. Jay hopes that one day the Shawnigan people will be able to speak more Thai. At the same time, he wishes we could stay in Thailand longer because he will miss us very much.
Erica: From the moment we arrived at Ban Natoe, I was absolutely intrigued by how flawless and beautiful one of the teachers skin was. What was his secret? For days I have watched him work rest and eat (not stalking of course) looking for a clue to what seems to be a perfect completion. Was it the curry? Maybe the red sandy dust mixed in with the constant ash floating in the air? Whatever it was, I was going to find it. We have formed tight relationships with both the students and teachers here; Peter suggested that we write our next blog entry about someone who we would like to get to know a little more in depth. Sam was someone who I noticed right away as someone special. Born in Myanmar, Sam moved here when he was three years old escaping the war. He was accepted into one of the hill tribes and hasn’t left. A contractor, gardener, farmer, cook, and teacher, Sam is quite a valuable person here in Ban Natoe. I asked him why he thinks he is so well respected and he feels that it is because of his willingness to model what he teaches. If he is not out in the heavy rain turning the soil, how does he expect his students to comply? When asked what he is most proud about in his life, he responded by saying how much he loves his job, and loves to learn; education is central to his being. As one of the initial teachers here at the school, he has taken ownership in the success of this centre. Proud, yet very humble, Sam strives to give back to the land that saved his life. As for his perfect skin, he claims genetics. I don’t believe him.
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April 2010 – Reflections
Elena: The trip to Thailand with our EDGE team was great. We did so much in three weeks, from the small things like basket-weaving to the huge thing of building a house. Sometimes when we had time on our hands we sat with the Thais and learned to make bracelets. Through these types of activities we ended up becoming good friends with the people of Ban Natoe. We made friends with the Thai boys through playing sports, such as soccer and volleyball, and they also taught us how to play takraw, which is the Thai national sport. And we of course got even closer with them by dancing and singing and playing music together. We also learned how to cook. This was usually the time we spent with the Thai girls, so cooking and making bracelets brought us closer together. Even though there was a great language barrier separating us, we were able to form strong bonds through these activities. It is obvious that we learned to make several things in Thailand, including friends!
Tessa: The Thailand EDGE trip was a trip to remember. We have so many great stories to tell everyone, from riding elephants to getting attacked by swarms of fish. A big part of the Thailand experience for me was all the different animals and giant bugs we grew to live with. Ban Natoe was a place of adorable baby chickens, puppies, evil dogs (as Hutch will tell), and a leaf bug the size of a small aircraft carrier. Elena and I had a fun time catching a chick in the first village we visited, and I know that everyone had an awesome time riding elephants through the streets and down the river. Even the snake was pretty fun—scary, but fun. Near the end of the trip when we flew south to Phuket and the tourist resorts, we had completely new things to deal with. Snorkeling with those fish was quite an experience: I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared of getting eaten before. Being in a completely different area of the world lets us see new things and open out our perspective.
James: I would say the highlight of the trip was the warmth and hospitality of the people. I was able to see some beautiful things and take part in some incredible and amazing stuff. But it is the people that make the difference.
Pretty much everywhere I went I was greeted with a smile. Not a forced or put on one, but a genuine smile. It was like they were saying, “Welcome! We’re glad you could make it” (vs. the feeling of “what are you doing here?”).
When meeting Thais they often wanted to know how much I was enjoying Thailand. You could tell that everyone, from the smallest villages to the biggest cities, loves their country and takes great pride in being from Thailand. At any chance the Thais also make an effort to make you welcome and feel comfortable. Any corporation would be envious of such an awesome display of customer service.
The only criticism I would have for Thailand is the litter. For a people who care so much for their country, there are just so many who don’t seem to think twice about throwing garbage on the ground.
I hope that I’m fortunate enough to return to Thailand one day.
Robert: My trip to Thailand was pretty extraordinary and completely eye-opening to a very different part of the world. We began our trip in the northern part of the country, in the small village of Ban Natoe. There we saw how the Thai people live, working long days off their land, sleeping in bare adobe or bamboo huts, and maybe making an income of CAD$1000 a year. Each village is extremely poor and contains a very small population. Their lifestyles are very different from ours; for example, it wouldn’t be weird to see a villager sitting in the middle of the street all but completely naked and smoking a bong. When we made the transition from Ban Natoe to the tourist resorts near Phuket, I felt strange. The wealth and quality of life in the southern tourist areas was a tremendous step away from the hill tribe life of northern Thailand. It is amazing how tourists from all over the world come to visit Thailand but only stay in five star hotels eating whatever foods they want and lying on beaches all day. To me that’s not what the real Thailand is.
Maddie: My trip to Thailand with the Shawnigan EDGE team was enlightening. Despite breathtaking scenery and wonderful people, the experience that resonated with me the most was the opportunity of perspective and contrasts. Beginning in a rural village in the north of Chiang Rai, and ending up in a luxury hotel in a tourist resort near Phuket, the contrasts were apparent; however, it is not these physical differences that have moved me most. I am amazed that I was equally as happy, fulfilled and joyful sleeping on the floor in a wooden hut as I was staying in a plush suite. Therefore I’ve come to the conclusion that there are many misconceptions about true joy and happiness. Although warm water and mattresses are comforts no doubt, they are only that. No fluffy pillows or air conditioning can replace what is truly important in our lives. If there is one thing I learned on this trip, it is the value of relationships.
Tim: Thailand was probably the best three weeks of my life. Even though I will probably never see them again, the connections I made with the Thai students will last forever. I will never forget the game of soccer we played on the first day in Ban Natoe. Thai and Canadian students were mixed up and everyone had a great time. Even though we spoke no Thai and they spoke no English, we still communicated and had fun.
As well, I witnessed poverty like I had never seen before and I will never forget the children in those villages. The food and the Thai hospitality were amazing. The best part of the trip was sharing all these experiences with my friends.
Erica: After the Olympics, there was an essay written to sum up the Canadian experience. A line from that essay stuck with me. It said, “Don’t underestimate the power of a collective experience.” I feel that our experience here in Thailand could be summed up with that line. Our project of building an adobe hut served as a vehicle for this collective experience. It was in the chopping straw, sifting sand, and digging and throwing clay that we were able to learn more about our group's character and personalities, about both Thai culture and our own, and about simplicity, appreciation, generosity and the power of relationships. One of the other things that I took away from this experience is the importance of showing people that you care about what they do by accepting their culture and ways of living. The Thai teachers in Ban Natoe brought passion and expertise to their jobs every day, and some came from very difficult and diverse backgrounds. Allowing them to show us what they do and why was very powerful, and this was proven in their willingness to share their life stories through our interviews.
Our group was clearly a special group. They were able to take every opportunity to fully experience Thailand; from the food to methods of travel, this particular group of students didn’t hold back from learning this culture. When removing ourselves from the remote area of Ban Natoe, it was interesting to see how attitudes changed when in more touristy areas. It was more difficult to develop relationships as well as maintain that strong sense of “Thailand.” It is definitely something to think about the next time I travel.
I feel that I am a well-traveled individual, yet this opportunity impacted my life in a new way. I am unsure how to characterize or identify this feeling. I can only say that I feel more satisfied, and more fulfilled by the relationships with our own group and the generous Thai people. I feel privileged to have shared my experience in Thailand with such a special group.
Alex: If I were to describe Thailand in four words I’d say it was the “trip of my life.” Friendships within our group grew stronger as we shared experiences past and present. We enjoyed elephant riding and seeing people’s reactions and pleasure in the simplest things—like feeding pigs. Though I will never forget anything we have seen and done in the past three weeks, I will especially hold on to the moments we shared at Ban Natoe and the hilltribe villages. Seeing the way that the Thai people reacted to our invasion was heartwarming, and the picture of a little girl blowing me a kiss will be engraved in my mind forever. The kindness that the Thais possess is astonishing and I hope to bring their optimism and easygoing way back to Shawnigan.
Sylvia: The Thailand EDGE trip was unforgettable. From riding an elephant to showering with buckets, everything was such a different experience, especially at Ban Natoe where we spent the most memorable and incredible ten days building a mud hut that will be used as student accommodations. Helping us build the hut were many Thai vocational college students who knew little to no English. Even though there was a huge language barrier, we still managed to form great friendships throughout the trip. One thing I found fascinating about the Thai students was how happy they were all the time, despite their lack of possessions and comforts. That made me realize you don’t need a nice car, a huge house or a comfy bed to be happy. The people at Ban Natoe were just as happy with a moped, a wooden hut and a mat on the floor. They were content with what they had. From this trip I learned how to value things that I used to take for granted.
Jenna: I believe the main thing that I am going to take away from this experience is attaining a different perspective. Living 3 weeks through another set of eyes has changed my perspective on the world around me. When I arrived at Ban Natoe, it was only then I realized I was literally on the other side of the globe and I could not possibly be more out of my element. The toilets were holes in the ground, the showers were garbage bins filled with water, and running water was not guaranteed. Plus (not a major thing), the breakfasts consisted of rice and stir-fry, normally a lunch or a dinner meal for me, and for a girl whose favourite meal is breakfast ( I mean the whole eggs, pancakes, cereal type deal) it was definitely something to get used to. But all these changes that I at first noticeably recognized quickly turned into habit and a way of life. From this experience I have had what I would call an epiphany. I have realized that, honestly, you do not need material objects to be happy. At home almost everyone has an iPod, cell phone, computer, etc., and you still hear people complaining constantly. In Ban Natoe I did not once hear a complaint from my new Thai friends. They consistently had smiles spread across their faces and embraced every day as it came. Thai people are among the happiest people I have ever had the honour of meeting. They have taught me that simply, "with a little help from my friends," I can truly be happy. So I would like to thank the people of the Land of Smiles for getting me out of my comfort zone and altering my perspective.
Saeed: Thailand was something else. It was more of a learning experience than anything. We learned that you don’t need words to make friends. During our stay with the rural hill tribes we saw how actions speak louder than words.
I think we can all take a lesson from the weather, for it doesn’t care what anyone thinks of it as I learned waking up in the middle of he night shivering, or sitting on a hotel porch watching the lagoon overflow with rain and hearing the thunder roar while the trees looked like they were about to get shot out of the grand (and I didn’t even bother to bring a jacket). Also on the list of stuff I should have packed was sunscreen, and I had a good lesson in humility as I pompously spent a full afternoon under the Thai sun without a drop of sunscreen. That night I was unable to touch my own skin except for one small white patch on my chest in the shape of a maple leaf, which had been protected by a stick-on tattoo.
Suwanna: "Before you judge someone you should walk a mile in their shoes." I left Canada naïve to the emotions I would feel on this adventure--I actually felt very knowledgeable--but upon arriving at Ban Natoe everything seemed different, although all in a positive way. The sky was thick with smoke that blanketed the sun and many of the sights around me were unlike any I had ever seen before. The Thai people welcomed us with smiles and laughter (some even approached us with crazy dance moves). It took me a few days to fully realize where I was and what exactly was coming my way. One of the many experiences along the journey that has been engraved in my mind was when we visited two Akha and Lahu villages that were located not too far from Ban Natoe. The people of these villages lived a very simple life in small thatched houses that rested on stilts, but for them it was an average lifestyle. The thing that struck me the most was the children's reaction to our presence in their village. We were complete strangers to them, yet they shared their happiness with us in every possible way. We held their hands, taught them how to high-five each other, and even gave them piggyback rides around their homes. For us it was another eye-opening experience in our busy program, and for the children it was a day they may never forget. Seeing how happy the people of these small villages were made me realize that happiness comes in all different ways, and to be fully understood it must be experienced. I tried thinking of a word that would describe my time in the Akha village and what came to mind was "gratitude." It shows us that even the simplest things can bring us the joy and happiness we were all granted. My experiences in Thailand have changed my perspective on life. It didn't take years or even a month, just a single mile in their shoes.
Esme: "It was the time of my life." Relationships were built within our group, and with the Thai students and teachers. It is amazing to think that but a few weeks ago I had little idea about the character of the Thai people. The way that they interacted with us and each other was incredible--their optimistic and kind way is astounding. This truly became apparent at Ban Natoe, which was the heart of our adventure. Upon arriving we were immediately swept off our feet by the amazing food that the Thais prepared. Throughout our stay we were never let down by the อร่อย cuisine. Nor were we let down in anyway by the daily activities, one of which was the expansion of our Thai vocabulary while we taught the Thai students some English words. A common question asked by our new Thai friends was, “What do you know in Thai?” and at first I'd respond with the obvious sah-wah-dee-kaa, but my favorite became something I learned from Savannah which was, "Phood Thai mai dai" (“I don’t speak Thai”). Although our language skills provided a bit of comedy for the Thai people, it was more of a laughing with us than at us. Each day progressed from work to evening activities, which led to the creation of Club Natoe where some swift dance moves were born, and reborn from the night before, in every direction. Though our days were quite packed we never felt rushed. We spent one afternoon visiting some of the hill tribe villages. The overwhelming emotions I felt when entering these communities was immense. We were greeted in one village by smiling faces staring up at us. We gave these children piggy-back-rides in the spur of the moment, and it wasn’t until we were leaving that I felt the enormous poverty but ignorant bliss of these wonderful people. I will forever remember the first van pulling away and a small girl blowing me a kiss with her friends gathered glowing-faced behind her. On our last night in Ban Natoe there was a riveting presentation put on by the Thai students and teachers, then we headed to the more touristy parts of Thailand to see the contrasts in people's living. I preferred Chang Rai. Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles, and from meeting the people firsthand I can truly see that this is so.
Anne: So many of our experiences in Thailand have been very special and memorable, but I am quite sure that the one that will stick with me forever is being on the beach where Thailand was hit hardest by the Tsunami of December 26, 2004. Recalling where I was that day, and remembering the sadness that I felt at that time does not begin to compare to seeing the memorial dedicated to so many lives lost--children, whole families, couples, and individuals--and hearing first hand from local people about their own losses.
One of our Thai hosts, Tue, who lives in Bangkok, talked about coming to this area to try and help over a period of many weeks, and how, in the final count, forty of her students were taken by the tsunami. Still very emotional, she described how she helped pull dismembered bodies from the rubble, how the smell of decaying bodies will forever be stuck in her mind, and how so many bodies were ultimately unidentifiable. She also talked about the trauma of those who were injured, many quite severely, and how non-medical volunteers were often the only ones around who could stitch up people's gaping wounds and try to comfort them.
A woman selling souvenirs at the site of the memorial lost at least five immediate family members, one of whom was her son whose body was never found. And yet she carries on with her life and tries to make the best of it.
One couple whose home was completely demolished by the tsunami, and who lost family members, friends, and neighbors, had their place rebuilt by a group of Shawnigan Lake School leaders and students, and they have since suffered more loss in that their son was murdered and they are now raising their small granddaughter.
And seeing a massive police boat that was left one kilometer inland, and fishing boats deposited in neighborhoods a long way from the beach, can only leave a person shaking their head.
All of this leaves me in awe of the resiliency of these people and the power of mother nature...and extremely grateful for my own life.
Al: There is a thing about "intellectually knowing something" and that of knowing through experience.
I knew, more or less, about Thailand. It was a kingdom, it had a lot of poor people, it produced a lot of goods for export, its people were very friendly and it suffered a devastating blow from the tsunami five years ago.
"Feeling" Thailand was a whole new ball of wax. There is no explaining the genuine one-to-one caring and respectful attitude of the people. I also learned many lessons on the practical application of simple tools and materials provided by nature. It wasn't that the Thais don't have the technology and education to "go plastic and power," it's just that they seem to have a better idea on how to blend everything.
Of course, there is no explaining their driving habits--scary!--or their ability to make you feel really good about having a spicy hot meal on a really hot day.
And when it comes to overcoming adversity . . . .I'm speechless!
Peter: "Gang mah mah": that’s Thai for “outstanding.” One of the main reasons it was such a good trip was the people on our team. To a person they were full of wonderment and curiosity, and open to new perspectives and ways of being. An EDGE trip is truly a 24/7 experience and it can be really draining at times, but day in and day out every single member of the team sustained the effort that’s necessary to be fully present and to fully participate.
The team engaged with the Thai people from the time they woke in the morning till the time they hit the sack at night, and this was especially obvious in the strong relationships they built with the Thai students and teachers that we worked with. Every member of the team now has Thai friends, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them make the effort to reconnect.
Every member of the team ate almost exclusively Thai food while we were living in that country, and sampled virtually every dish and delicacy that was put in front of them, including fried bamboo worms and ant egg soup.
Everyone worked hard on the building project, keeping pace with the Thais and plugging away steadily and without complaint on the monotonous tasks such as chopping straw or sifting sand or pounding clay. Somehow they always managed to find fun and amusement in what they were doing or who they were doing it with, and the work site was a busy and productive place.
The team looked after themselves as individuals and they looked after each another. They lived up to the trust I placed in them. Respect is a cornerstone of Thai culture and it was a cornerstone for our team.
At the start of the trip many of us did not know each other particularly well, but by the end of the journey we had all becomes friends who had shared a very special experience. And I think that these strong friendships are the biggest reason that this year’s EDGE Thailand adventure was absolutely “gang mah mah.”