The Young Leader

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THAILAND – Cultural Kaleidoscope – June 21 – July 11, 2017

Sawatdee kaa (hello) from Thailand!

After many hours (or even days) of travel, everyone has arrived and is ready to go! Our first day in Chaing Mai was full of food, fun, and making new friends.

On our walking tour in the old city we visited temples and learned about Thai culture from our amazing local staff.

At first of many market visits we learned about what ingredients are used in Thai cuisine and tried our hand at making some typical Thai dishes like green curry, pad Thai, and tom kha.

Today we embraced the Thai saying that, “We only eat one meal a day. It starts when we wake up and ends when we go to bed!”

Day 3

Cultural Kaleidoscope began  with an artistic twist to several thai pottery factories. There, we took a group lesson and were given the opportunity to create our own “masterpieces” of sorts, imitating the other beautiful Thai pottery surrounding us. All the while the amazing Thai staff discretely  found amusement in our mishaps.. We extended our day of relaxation to _____ lake where partook in bonding activities and enjoyed another taste of Thai cuisine in the Buegaios. After returning to the base we engaged in more group activities where we got to learn about our peers through our newfound skills– active listening. For the final act of the day we were split up into mentor groups where we were asked to contemplate our reasons for being here, Overall, it seems that Thailand is shaping up to be our greatest adventure yet!

By: Maria, Biancat Ethan

June 25, 2017

We began our day with a Monk chat at Wat Suan Dok. Praha KK taught us about the four noble truths and the noble 8 fold path along with the other fundamentals of Buddhism. Afterwards, the group had a long Q&A with KK and asked many important questions they had about Buddhism, KK, and Thai culture involving Buddhism. We also learned Praha KK’s favorite method of meditation and cleared our minds during a group meditation with Praha KK following with a small your of the temple including MCU Buddhist University. After our special time with Praha KK, we went for the lunch the boat restaurant. Once we were all filled up, we headed over to House of Blessing Children’s Home to begin our FIRST DAY of service!!! Julie and P’Nut gave us a brief history of House of Blessing Children’s Home before we split into two groups. One group sanded down old playground structures in order for the sets to get a shiny new coat of paint! The other group helped start construction on a new laundry facility by digging large 6 foot holes and painting beams (with plenty of girl power involved). Everyone had a great group sweat while working hard for the kids on each of their projects. Finally after working super hard in the heat and sweat, the kids arrived back at the home after their long day of hard work at school. As they drove in on the buses, every kid had the biggest smile, waved, and ‘waied’ to all the GLA students as we returned the gesture. The kids all exited their buses and immediately ran to greet us. All of us GLAers we’re just as excited to meet and play with the kids as they were to meet and play with us! The playing commenced and games of ping pong, soccer/football, tag, and duck duck goose all broke out. There was laughing; so much laughing. Each child was grabbing for one of our hands and a couple GLAers developed some pretty cool fan groups. Every single human there had the largest smile plastered to their faces throughout the entire time we had together. To wrap up our day, we split up into mentor groups and discussed how rewarding all of this service would be after working there for four days.

By Meg Fordyce

June 30, 2017

After a lovely breakfast we made our way to the Regina Coeli all girls high school. Once we were at the high school some of the girls preformed a traditional Thai dance that was beautiful and we had a few performances ourselves, including two songs and a dance. We then learned how to weave fish out of ribbon which was quite difficult but fun. After that, we toured their lovely school and made some great friends!
After the school we went straight to service site where we worked extra hard to finish our projects. All the hard work was definitely worth it! Leaving the kids was so especially hard but knowing we have a fun day planned with some of them tomorrow is exciting. We ended our night with a big face mask and snack party in the hallway where many unforgettable memories were made!

July 1, 2017

This morning we were all very happy to have a late breakfast, which started at nine instead of seven. After breakfast, we started some lesson plans so we could present our plan to our mentors, ensuring our plans were okay. Then we went to the Chiang Mai Night Safari with the kids from House of Blessings, and no it was not at night, it was a walk around zoo. Afterwards we went to the mall to get some KFC, which is a treat here in Thailand. The children were all very excited to enjoy some tasty food. Some people who like veggies went to go find subway but we found out that it actually moved, so we ventured around the mall to find some good thai food. In this insane mall that people were mistaking for an office or hospital, there was a bowling alley so we took the kids bowling and it turns out none of them had bowled before. It was pretty chaotic as the kids crowded together to get their turn, but eventually we had a system established and all was well. We then slowly made our way out the mall trying not to say our goodbyes yet. Too soon, it was time to leave and some tears were shed as we said goodbye to the children we’d spent the past week with. back at homebase, we watched a documentary called the Last Elephants in Thailand showing the treatment of elephants in tourism in Thailand. We found out that a lot of cool things happen and that there are people working to save the elephants and protect them. This one lady Syriah had opened the first elephant hospital and has an elephant with the prosthetic leg after it was blown off after stepping on a landmine. We discussed how we felt about the video and then talked about what we’re going to do at the elephant place tomorrow. We ended the night was some more teaching prep and are all excited to meet the new children.

July 2, 2017

Everyone was exhausted but excited at our early wake up call the morning of our elephant adventure. Many of us had been eagerly awaiting this day from the beginning of this trip, and it was finally here. We piled into the vans for a hour and forty minute ride through the jungles of Thailand. As we arrived, excitement bubbled as we began to see the elephants from the windows of our vans. We all piled out of the vans to be greeted by mahoots with baskets full of bananas to feed the massive creatures that awaited our arrival. Huge smiles spread across every student’s face as the elephants harassed us for the bananas. After the all the bananas had run out, we got a safety briefing and a change of clothes. Before we left, a mahoot lead us in a prayer to the elephant, and then we were off.  We walked alongside one of the biggest, most graceful animals on the earth in the jungles of Chiang Mai, Thailand, halfway across the world from our homes. It was surreal. Once we approached the river, the mahoots motioned for us to ride the elephants. Getting up was an ordeal, but once we were up, we were on top of the world. The elephants carried us across the river, up, and down a mountain showing us amazing views along the way. Some of us were scared….ok most of us were scared, but we were also having the time of our lives. The elephants dropped us off at a secluded lunch spot by a mud hole somewhere on a tall mountain again in THAILAND. We all enjoyed a delicious lunch while we discussed how unreal this whole experience was. Once we finished eating, the mahoots motioned us over to the mud hole. They offered us the opportunity to rub the mud on our faces and bodies as it would supposedly be amazing for our skin, and some of us took the opportunity…. and some did not. Despite that, the elephants began to lay in the mud as we rubbed the magical mud all over their extremely large bodies. It was extra special because one of the elephants we massaged was pregnant with twins! We felt her babies kick while we continued to give her a luxuriating mud bath. After the elephants were completely covered in mud, we hopped back on for another ride on the mountain back to the original river we crossed. As we rode, a slight drizzle began to sprinkle our mud covered faces and elephants. We arrived back at the river and the elephants dove right in… with us on top of them. We all slipped of the mighty beasts and into the chilling water. Then began the chaos. We had water fights, elephant washing, elephant kisses, elephants lifting us up on their trunks. It was by far the best way to end the best experience of our lives. After we all took a group photo with the elephants, the mahoots jumped on their backs and rode away as we all waved, regrettably knowing it was over. Next we all tried our best to rid ourselves of the lingering smell of elephant poo poo. We were then shown a beautiful slideshow of all the photos the photographer took on the ride as we were stuffed with pineapple. Every student left the Thai Elephant Home with a smile because they knew they would never forget the experience they had that day. The hour and forty minute ride back to the home base went quickly as most of us were knocked, and once we arrived everyone took a long, well deserved, necessary shower. We finished our long, exhausting, life-changing, beautiful day at the vibrant ‪Sunday Night‬ Market. For me, it was the most amazing day of our already unreal experience here in Thailand with GLA, and I know most students feel the same way.
~ Meg Fordyce

July 3, 2017

Today we started our first day of teaching! After splitting up into two schools, every group taught two classes within the span of three periods. The children were adorable, grades 3-6. After we went to a 3D museum and took a lot of pictures. Now it’s time to prep for our second day of teaching.
Written by Charlotte

July 8, 2017

Today we went on a bike and kayak adventure!

– 17 kilometer bike ride where we saw friendly locals, rice farms, and mountains!
– 8 kilometer kayak adventure!
– Bouncy slide in lake and jumping platform!
– “Shout out circle”where we shared things that we love about each other!

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THAILAND – Cultural Kaleidoscope – June 23 – July 6, 2017

June 23, 2017

Throughout the day 29 students from Greece, the UK, China, and the United States arrived in Chiang Mai. With droopy eyelids and a lot of luggage we settled into our home base for the next two weeks. There is much to do, see, learn, and eat in the coming days, but first SLEEP! Let the adventure begin!

June 24

We had a busy first full day in Chiang Mai. After some orientation and acculturation activities we left homebase for a massive Thai buffet followed by a tour where we saw the first and the biggest temples in Chiang Mai. We then got a tour of a local food market and took a cooking class. Our culinary endeavors paid off! It was a great way to fight through the jet lag. We can’t wait to see what Sunday brings!
 

June 25, 2017

Leaders of the Day:

Hunter, Phoebe, and Rhi:

From the perspective of people who have led before, leading our own peers caused us to become more mindful and compassionate. Having more time at home base gave everyone an opportunity to branch out with new people. The encouragement for new people to sit together became an obvious success at dinner. This positively changed the atmosphere and helped those who hadn’t spoken yet open up and become more comfortable. The light-hearted ice breaker activity we ended the day with created a fun atmosphere to end the day on a happy, positive note. Although we all came to be in Thailand it seemed like we all came to be with each other. This is our new beginning, this is our GLA.

June 26, 2017

After a day of experience , our teachers were able to build strong bonds with their students as well as each other. We were able to accurately observe our classes and adjust our lessons to give the students a fun and informative experience with GLA.  Following a long day of difficult but gratifying work, we took out our stress rather unconventionally with a traditional Muay Tai class.  Despite a few of us having to extra push ups, we were able to connect with friends and family at an Internet cafe.  We finished up our day with a couple rounds of broken telephone and learning a traditional Chinese fan dance from our Chinese students.  Though we were tired from a long day of teaching and punching we finished the day feeling like celebrities amongst the students signing countless autographs and being surrounded by so much love and positivity.  We really look forward to continuing our work with the students as well as out Cultural Exchange tomorrow where we will be performing Party In The USA and The Cupid Shuffle.

Today leaders were Gianna S. Millie and Lily

June 27, 2017

Today was our first day of teaching at school and we faced challenges such as adapting our lesson plans from our expectations to what we had actually encountered. Teaching at the school required patience, creativity and tons of communication. Leadership wise, we encountered the conflict of being split into two different schools and having to adapt with leading large groups of people on our own. Once we got back to home base, our tasks were mostly participation oriented. The group as a whole gradually broke out of their shells as demonstrated in our closing activity in which we had to pass a ball without our hands. Despite only being here a couple of days, as leaders we found ourselves bonding with the group and utilizing our creative thinking skills. Leading was easy with a group that was so respectful and understanding.
June 28, 2017

Leaders of the Day: Jaden, Kendall, Sam

Sawadee ka/krap (Hello)! Today we had a cultural exchange with a local private high school. They prepared a traditional Thai dance with music performed live with traditional Thai instruments. They set up stations for us, revealing their culture. They had stations conveying Thai culture, including traditional Thai instruments, desserts, flower making, and religion. As group leaders, in the past two days we prepared for them a traditional Chinese fan dance, the entire group sang am American song (Party in the U.S.A.) and danced the Cupid  Shuffle. We all felt learning Thai culture from kids our own age was very rewarding.

6/29/17

What’s shakin’ bacon? Quinna, Carmo, and Amanda (your leaders of the day) comin’ in hot and spicy from Chiang Mai. Today was out last day of teaching at our schools. We had a squiggalicious time with the kids and we’re for sure going to miss them. Working with the kids has helped us become patient, responsible, and inspirational role models, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity.
After lunch we had the chance to learn about Buddhism from a monk. it was a fascinating opportunity to expand our awareness of the Thai culture that we’re been a part of for the past wonderful week. Circle
Later that evening we took part in an activity call the  Appreciation circle. It was really touching ( no pun intended) to realize how close we are as a group even though we’ve only been together for a week.
Quinna, Carmo, and Amanda peacin’ out from Chiang Mai, ready for week 2!
June 30th, 2017,
-Gianna R., Crystal, Simon
Today started early, as all of us needed to prepare for English camp, which is an activity for the school kids to have fun with English. Saying goodbye to the people that we spent the past week with was hard and tears were shed, but we know it was for a good reason. We made great connections with extremely kind Thai children and we exchanged small gifts. Our large American dinner downtown afterwards was a nice surprise and it was thoroughly enjoyed. Then we explored the amazing night market, seeing big crowds and beautiful products all around. We enjoyed Thai daily life a little more today. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Hey, It’s Liola, Kevin, and Olivia. Today we were able to cross out riding an elephant off our bucket lists’ at Thai Elephant camp. We started camp off right by meeting and feeding our elephants sugar cane and bananas. we crossed the river on the back of our elephants and took an hour and a half hike into the jungle.  Once reaching the top, we stopped for a quick pad Thai lunch while the elephants bathed themselves in the mud. GLA joined the mud party and covered ourselves in clay just like the elephants. The clay is good for your skin! We finished our day by hiking down to the river and giving the elephants a bath.  The elephants were so happy they sprayed us and gave squishy kisses. We quickly rinsed off and boarded the vans for home base. Everyday is a new experience and we can’t wait for another one in Thailand!

Sunday, July 2nd

Today was INCREDIBLE! We got to experience a whole new part of Thailand, as we went to the top pf a mountain and visited a tribe village and a stunning temple. Though it took 306 steps to reach the top of the Doi Sutherp temple, the views and the experience were so worth it! we could see all of Chiang Mai from the top. Displaying breathe taking views. Later, we took a short trip to the Hmong Hill tribe village. The village was so homey and small, so we could see how close of a community they were. The traditional dress was very intricate and and an interesting thing to see because often times, we don’t get to see this kind of culture in our home countries. In the evening  we went to another night market that displayed many different lands, people, foods, and art. All these different experiences give us more of an appreciation for the trip we are so lucky to be on.
L8r g8rs
July 3, 2017

Leaders of the Day: Grace & Alexa

Today we split into two groups to go on different adventures. One group went to discover the jungle in Ahakha Village and got to eat various foods. The next group went to a food market tour and experience new Thai snacks/desserts. We walked around and shopped a little. After we met up at Art in Paradise 3-D Museum. We were all fascinated by the 3D paintings. Then we went to the one place we’ve been waiting for, Thai massages. Spending an hour stretching our bodies in weird positions, the experience exceeded our expectations. Gathering in the vans we went home where we relaxed and ate dinner.
July 4, 2017

Today was a day that we are sure none of us will ever forget! We had the chance to bond with our friends while flying through the jungle zip lining. It might have seemed a little scary at first, but all of us found a little piece of our wild side. After zip lining, we had the chance to make a positive difference in the world by planting some trees. We finished off our day by getting together as an entire group and learning a little more about the interesting and beautiful lives of our mentors. Although we are sad that we only have one more full day together, we are fully prepared to have the best day so far!

Jack and Korbin

July 5, 2017

Our goal today, as leaders of the day, was to make everyone remember the positive traits of all the people that joined us on this life changing and eye opening experience. Some of us visited the Ahkha Village while others toured the Warorot market. Then we went to lunch at Tesco and were able to re-unite at the cafe, where we did our surveys. The evaluations allowed us an opportunity to think back on the amazing times we spent on this awesome trip. At the end if the day we spent a wonderful time having dinner on a dock and chatting as a group for the last time. Since we had dinner outside of home base, we were still able to do shout outs, which made many of us openly emotional. Overall we achieved our goal of ending this divine trip with an activity that made us all reminisce on the great adventures that we were privileged to experience in the past two thrilling weeks.

-Thank you GLA,
Flora Bourdeau and Angel Lee

July 6, 2017
We bid a bittersweet farewell to 29 lovely students. We learned a lot from them and really enjoyed witnessing their growth throughout the last 14 days. The last two weeks were not without their challenges, and we hope that when students reflect on their experience they will see their curiosity, perseverance, and resilience as skills they can use for many years to come. It was a true pleasure to have them all in Thailand on the Cultural Kaleidoscope program. Safe travels home and get some sleep!

Paz, Gurdip, Jessica, and Max

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THAILAND – Cultural Kaleidoscope – July 10 – July 23, 2017

 

All students have arrived in Thailand and are getting a good night of sleep.  Check back soon for a group photo and more updates!

 

July 11, 2017

After a good night of overdue sleep we have started our Cultural Kaleidoscope adventure. Following orientation and a Thai buffet, we are in to a tour of the oldest and biggest temples in Chiang Mai. Later today we will take a cooking class and visit a local market. Staying busy is the first step to beating jet lag!

July 12, 2017

We started the day off at the spiritual house here at our home base. We asked the spirits past and present to bless us and watch over us. After a mentor group meeting exploring The Danger of a Single Story, we were off to lunch and Borsang, an umbrella making factory. We got to paint our own umbrellas and do some souvenir shopping. Tomorrow is the launch of our Leader of the Day program, so stay tuned for the daily blog written by students! Good night from rainy Chiang Mai!


July 13, 2017

Sawasdee ka from Thailand! Today, we began our day with breakfast in the Great Hall, part of our Hogwarts-themed schedule. We visited Hmong Village in the mountains and ate lunch at a local place. After, we walked through a market filled with handmade goods, ranging from purses to jewelry. Everything there was beautiful and it was also amazing to know how much work went into it all. After this, we drove back down the mountain a little and visited the beautiful Temple Doi Suthep on the side of the mountain. It was 550 years old and beautifully made. Knowing that people built this with their bare hands (including the 306 steps leading to the temple) was also really cool. While we were there, we were able to get our fortunes, be blessed by a monk, and pay our respects to Buddha if we chose. Overall it was a very fun and eventful day and we’re all satisfied.

-Leaders of the Day: Jenna, Lexie, Alex

 

July 14, 2017

Hey dudes, be quiet, sit down and listen to our adventure of the day. Spoiler alert: bugs may have been consumed. Breakfast started at am , then we split up into two groups. Half of us went to Ahaka village and the other half went to Wororot market. Compared to Target and Walmart, the market was unusual, yet an awesome experience. We ate everything from worms to the king of fruits. Meanwhile in Ahaka village, rumor has it that under the blazing sun, many had to walk millions of miles, encountering wildlife and snacking on plants along the way. After lunch both groups meet up at pottery village for a tour and first hand experience making pottery. As we arrived back at home base many were eager to chill poolside while others took a quick nap before dinner. After dinner we got into mentor groups and played a silly game of night at the museum.
In conclusion, Live love Thailand (heart emoji).

Leaders of the Day: Hannah, Kate, Callie

 

July 15, 2017

Have you ever heard of durian? Durian. noun. The king of the fruits; extremely smelly; has the consistence of mashed potatoes.

Today was a day of shopping and trying new things, durian included. While half of us went to the Ahaka village, where dogs, plants, and history dot every corner, the other half went to Warorot market, where our day of shopping began. We spent a couple of hours touring the market and trying traditional Thai snacks and candy. Afterwards, we meet up with the other group to prepare for school and complete our “teacher attire”. Our day ended at Walking Street, a two mile long stretch of vendors and street food. We could have spent all day there and still not have seen it all. Family members prepare yourselves for an abundance of gifts! 🙂
Kaylee W., Micaela R., Sarah P.
July 16, 2017

Leaders of the Day: Macy “Mama Ca$h” & Rachael

Sawadee ka! Today was the most anticipated day of the trip… Elephant Day! After changing into elephant trainer clothes we met our elephants and fed them sugar cane and bananas. We then started our trek through the rain forest. It felt like we were in a storybook, surrounded by a lush jungle while we hiked with elephants! Our first stop was a mud bath where we ate our lunch, pad Thai, out of banana leaves. Then we covered both the elephants and each other in a rare exfoliating mud. We then continued our hike downhill, rode the elephants across the river, and splashed around with our new friends. We came back to  home base, had our dinner, and prepared for our first day at school tomorrow! Today definitely lived up to our expectations!
July 16, 2017

Listen up! Dance captains here! AKA Leaders of the *year*. Today was our first day if school! We educated some super bubbly, energetic, Thai kids. It was a great experience, and we can’t wait to continue our intriguing lessons and games. We left after lunch and squadded up with the other group at the Monk Chat. There we were enlightened on the Buddhist philosophy and were given wise words by a super cool monk. We left the chat with a new perspective on Buddhism. Overall a great day.

Signing off,
Kiara, Olivia, Nicole
July 18, 2017

Heyo peeps in the USA! (or other) Welcome to the GLA Thai life today! We ’bout to tell something great so listen up and get ready to be amazed!

Today was our second day at school and it was a challenging yet wonderful experience. The morning was filed with creative, curious, and happy children. After being exhausted by children, we had an afternoon of amazing Thai culture. We learned the art of Muay Thai! At the end, we were all tired and ready for some free time and then dinner. Dinner (filled with AMAZING Thai food) was followed by some fun group activities, and an early night to bed! See you guys soon!
Leaders of the Day: Eva, Gabe, Kenna
July 19, 2017

Today was one of the best days of the program so far. One reason was that most students started settling into the role of teaching. We were also given the opportunity to meet other high school students that attended school here, in Chiang Mai. further, the kids are finally bonding with all of us as teachers more, and never want us to leave when the classes are over. When we met the Sarasas International High School students, they were really excited to meet us. We all got to learn about their culture and way of life here in northern Thailand. It showed the GLA group that even though we are living in different countries, their high school experience is similar to ours. Overall it was a very exciting, educational, and rewarding day for us as students and teachers.

Lillie and Julia
July 20, 2017
Hey to all the folks back home!
Today was our last day of teaching the kids at the schools. Tomorrow we’ll all come together for a day of English camp, so we’re excited to see the kids one last time. In the afternoon, we explored the 3D art museum and it totally blew our minds. Then, we had a nice cool down in the museum cafe before moving onto our Thai massages. Wow what a different experience; the massages were relaxing but a bit intense as well. Overall no regrets! After that, we headed back home for a nice meal, as usual, and some evening activities to end the night. Check back soon!
Your leaders of the day.
Malika, Hanna, and Lauren
July 21, 2017

Although our days of Thailand are becoming limited, these last days have become the most memorable. We just ended our days of teaching the most incredible Thai students you can ask for with English camp! It was so amazing, there were SO many activities that the kiddos got involved in that were ultra fun to be a part of (even if we got a little tired!). The children and the service is by far the best part of the trip (even beats the elephants). Leaving them was SUPER hard but the closing ceremony was very special and the experience will always have a special place in our hearts! The closer the days draw to an end the closer everyone is getting to know each other. Oh i forgot to mention this morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How it got into my pajamas i’ll never know.

Mona and Grace
By: Alanna & Jason

At the beginning of this trip everyone came in not knowing what to expect. Over the past two weeks we have gotten to know many new people, bonded over lots of laughs and inside jokes, created close friendships, and had a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Today was our last day in Thailand with each other. We started off the day with a 35 station zip line course that challenged us all, especially Gurdip. Despite some close calls, we all made it out alive, with only some minor injuries. We ended the day with our farewell dinner overlooking the Ping river. We returned to home base, where most of us had probably just started our packing, ignoring the advice of the mentors. We ended our night with a late bed check, meaning lots of late night fun to close out our two weeks of thrill and excitement abroad. We will miss all the amazing people who changed our lives, all the memories made, and the impeccable food we ate each day. This trip was an incredible adventure that we won’t forget!

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THAILAND – Cultural Kaleidoscope – July 14 – August 3, 2017

July 14, 2017

Sawasdee Kha from Thailand!

After hours of travel across the globe we have arrived in lovely Chiang Mai, smiles still blazing. Since most of us came on the same flight in the morning, we gained a day of fun activities!

We started off by eating some classic but delicious dishes ranging from pad thai, fried rice and curry to the most famous dish only served in the north, khao soi. Full and eager to see where we were, we ventured to Wat Umhong temple in the forest. We explored the ancient tunnels, fed the fish and birds, and were blessed with good luck by a monk who sprayed us with some water.

We’re headed back to home base now for some relaxation (aka, swimming in our fancy pool) and then on to buffet dinner! Thai people always say that there is only one meal a day eaten in Thailand; and it starts when you wake up and ends when you go to bed.

That’s all for now! Looking forward to welcoming Kharra, who arrives in a few days, to our already incredible group!!

 

 

July 15, 2017

Our group jumped right in and shared fun facts about ourselves, talked about expectations for this program, ourselves, others and staff and really set the bar high and the tone positive.

We spent some time learning about Thai culture as well and can now properly greet other Thai’s with our “wai”, say hello, and navigate temples like pro’s.
We went on a city tour to Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Lamchang, learned about Three Kings Monument, and checked out Nong Buak Hard Park within the old city walls. And, of course, drank some cold, fresh coconuts in a small (but air-conditioned) cafe in the middle of the park 🙂
From there we went to the market, saw some wild-looking fruits, and learned about the food we would be cooking with. We made green curry, pad thai, tom kha soup, and mango sticky rice. Needless to say we were stuffed by the time we made it back to home base.
That’s all for now. Love from Chiang Mai!!

 

 7/19/17

    Today, we woke everyone up at 7:48 am for breakfast. In the past, the wake up calls have been quite startling so we decided to wake people up with just a knock. It didn’t work as well. We finally got everyone to breakfast and then took off to a pottery village. While we were there, we saw many different potters that specialize in specific pots. One lady was the third generation to make her specific type of pot; she was 68 years old and has been doing it since she was only 10 years old. Her pots only sell for 90 cents and she only makes about 6 dollars a day. The lady seemed very content with her life and continued to have a huge smile on her face. Many of us were shocked at how small the amount of money she makes for how long she works. In the United States, many schools have pottery wheels that we take for granted. These potters were hand spinning the wheel and molding the pot at the same time. After we watched the potters, we gave it a try. Our pots were horrendous. Luckily the potters were there to help and were able to change our lump of clays in beautiful pots. 

           After visiting the Pottery Village, we went to a restaurant for lunch. I’m not sure how to write it in Thai but it means “the vegetables love you” in English. The restaurant grew its own crops so everything we ate was as fresh as it gets. We had Pad Thai and we went to the ice cream bar. 

           Right from lunch, we went to the Wildflower home. In case it hasn’t been explained before to you, Wildflower home houses moms and their children. Usually women go here if they are pregnant or have kids and suffered through an abusive relationship. At the Wildflower Home, we are making a pavemented sidewalk between the different housing areas. Working at this home helps me to see how lucky I am to have a family that I can fall back on if something goes wrong. These women don’t have that and that’s why they have to resort to a shelter. Two women who live in the house helped us lift heaving buckets of sand and water. One of them was pregnant and has cerebral palsy. Another had a walking disability. It was amazing to see struggling women work so diligently on a project that they should have no part in building. The pregnant women refused to stop even when we tried sitting her down just for a water break. Thai people work very hard even if the outcome is small. 

       

  • Caroline D. and Stephanie 

Photo Credit: Jack Guptill

7/20/17

This morning we had a wonderful Monk Chat. Not only this the Monk teach us about the main teachings and principles of Buddhism but also got us thinking. One

Thingthat really resonated with the group was the fact that you do not have to convert to become a Buddhist as well as that there are two kinds of suffering which are mental and physical. Then we took a brief tour of the Wat and had some time to explore the stunning grounds and temples.   After going to lunch, we headed back to Wildflower for another day of service there. With the strong suggestion of another volunteer we created an assembly line (Ford would be proud).  

 

July 24th, 2017

Today was our first day teaching. In the morning, when we first got to school, the kids had a ceremony where they played the King’s song while they raised the flag, similar to our pledge of allegiance. After, they had a mass prayer and it was interesting because in America, religion does not mix with public school. But seeing as most Thai people are Buddhist it was nothing unusual. All of us each had to teach two classes with a partner. Some of us taught about animals, colors, foods and many more topics. Teaching was more difficult than we all expected it to be due to the language barrier between us. But after a tiring, but fun, day of teaching, we were all looking forward to coming back. In the afternoon, we went to the “Art in Paradise” museum. A museum consisting of interactive, perspective, illusion paintings. On camera, the paintings appeared to be 3D which allowed us to pose with them and be a part of the art. From the museum we went to an Internet cafe and that was the end of our eventful day.

 

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THAILAND – Cultural Kaleidoscope – July 26 – August 8, 2017

 

Day 1

Our group now complete, we kicked off our first full day in Thailand with a tour of the biggest temple and the oldest temple (built in 1279!) in Chiang Mai. We then visited a food market to get an introduction to the food we were about to make at a cooking school. We learned how to make tom yam kung soup, pad thai, and spring rolls. Learning how to make our own Thai dinner was very rewarding… And pretty tasty! We continue to battle jet lag and called it an early night. More adventures tomorrow!

 

Hey, Hey, Hey it’s the first leaders of the day. coming at you live from Thailand: Wylie, Rachel, Megan. Today half of us experienced the self sustaining Ahaka village, while the other half went to the local markets. In both locations we embraced Chiang Mia’s diverse culture and unique foods. Later that day we were able to sit down with a local monk and through discussion were able to further understand Buddhism and monk hood. Afterwards we shared laughs and memories at the 3D art museum. We then adventured to Chiang Mia’s famous “walking street” where we were able to try bargaining and shop along the 2 mile long street. It was a jammed packed day and we were very happy to get to home base to rest our tired feet. See you in 2 weeks!
Love Wylie, Megan, and Rachel!

From Leaders of the Day Eric & Katie B.

Sawadeka from Katie and Eric coming at you live from Chiang Mai! Today we jumped off flimsy wooden structures with only two ropes with us… somehow we all survived. We flew so fast we almost hit trees and got some super awkward pictures. All jokes aside, ziplining was a thrilling and fun experience and after our 40 foot descent towards the Earth, we got lunch and planted a tree (saving the environment with one tree at a time!). After the adrenaline faded, we got a good amount of time at home base to relax and reflect on our awesome zipline day. Now we get to set the alarm and get ready for a week of service at school!

Goodnight and wish us luck!!

 

Hey fam, it’s Hal and Jay.

We got to say, if there was a leaders of the day competition, we would win it. So, because we’re uncreative, we decided to continue the theme of inclusion. But psych! Because we added a twist. We played a little game to promote trip members to talk to new people. Today was exciting, but like also kinda crazy because it was our first day at school. Teaching was hectic, but playing with the kids at recess was so fun. Work hard play hard and whatnot. After school we relaxed. Just kidding: we got Thai massages. Imagine your typical massage, and then forget everything you thought you knew. Let’s just say there were limbs and laughter everywhere. The rest of the day was spent at home base, chilling and prepping for tomorrow. Peace out girl scout!
xoxo
H and J
 

Leaders of the Day: Diana & Emily

Hello GLA friends & family!
Today was a fantastic second day of teaching. After our experiences yesterday, we tweaked our lesson plans and had a successful day with our students. Their smiles brighten our day and we love seeing the process our kids are making. Our favorite word to teach them is BUFFALO. This afternoon we went to a Muay Thai boxing class and tried out some jabs and kicks. Ka Pow! After a tiring workout, we relaxed in a coffee shop and reconnected with friends and family… even though it was 3am U.S. time. In the evening we celebrated the birth of one of our leaders, Max. This was followed by a fabulous talent show with talents including singing, dancing, stand up comedy, and catching Goldfish in one’s mouth. We look forward to another day of teaching tomorrow.
Khob khun ka,
Sawasdeeka!
– Diana & Emily
August 2, 2017

Hello friends and family!

Today was our third day of teaching our adorable Thai students! Their English skills are improving as our bonds with them strengthen. After a rewarding day at school, we cha  chaslided into some cultural exchange rehearsing and free time! after a week of jam packed days, a nap fest reigned during our afternoon off. Lastly we had an American food feast at Duke’s restaurant and another “shop till you drop” session at the downtown Chiang Mai night bazaar!
Zai Jian
Sage and Rui
August 2, 2017

Sawade Ka! from Shaeley and Katie! Today was bittersweet, like the mangosteen we ate for breakfast because GLA students from the Phranon school had to say goodbye to the kids we’ve been teaching this week. It was rewarding to teach the kids, who were grateful to learn English and shouted with joy every morning when we arrived. After lots of hugs and goodbyes, we traveled to a high school in Chiang Mai for cultural exchange. The Thai students performed a traditional welcome dance, and we encouraged them to join us in the Cha Cha Slide. We got to tour the high school and even visit in on some classes. After a delicious dinner at home base, we finished the night with a rowdy game of duck duck goose and a team building maze game. We have to end here so we can get plenty of sleep for an exciting day of fun and games with the kids tomorrow!

Love
Shaeley and Katie
 
August 5

Hello GLA fam! Today is Friday August 4th, only three days left here in Thailand! Today we taught “English Camp” at Wat Pa Khoi Tai school, where all six grade levels participated in activities led by the GLA students. The activities included making PB and J’s, learning Disney songs, Hangman, and other fun stations. After an exciting day with the kids, they thanked us with a closing ceremony and lots of hugs. Because of our long day at school we had a chill night watching a movie. Uff-da, we’re tired!

Love you , your Minnesota girls
Lexi and Martha
Hello! Today is August 5th and the 3rd to last day on our 2 week GLA program. A very exciting day for us. As a group we got to spend the entire day with elephants at the Thai elephant home. After getting introduced to the ten elephants we would be riding we started our adventure. We headed up the mountain for food and a mud bath with the elephants. Afterwards we took off towards the river to swim with the majestic animals. Such an amazing day. It is sad to say only a few days left but it’s been such an amazing experience!
-Your leader of the day Anna!
 
August 6, 2017
We had a very intriguing day, starting at a very beautiful temple. The temple, Doi Suthep was incredible shiny. Covered completely in gold. Some of the student participated in a monk’s blessing. As i have a bruise on my knee, kneeling and scooting on my knees to the monk to receive the blessing was less than serene and peaceful. The Temple we were at was at such an elevation, that we were in the clouds. Fog and a little drizzle were constant reminders of the rainy season here in Chiang Mai. Following the temple we traveled to the Hmong village where we all ate lunch. From there two Hmong children split us up into two groups and gave us a tour of their village. We then saw a beautiful garden with an incredible view. After we went around to collect some of our last souvenirs  we came back to home base then finally to dinner. Overall a wonderful day in paradise.

Stabo and Clive
August 7, 2017
As we prepare to leave Thailand, we had one more chance to soak in the culture by visiting Borsang, an umbrella making district. Not only did we learn how the beautiful umbrellas are made, we also got to paint our own. We concluded the day with a farewell dinner and even got a little gussied up. Despite the rain, it was a relaxing and fun way to close out our last full day in Chiang Mai. It is a bittersweet evening – we hate to leave, but we also can’t wait to be home. It’s been a great journey these last two weeks. This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.

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