Thailand Mission and Cultural Trip 2014 - Journal 7

We are now in the rhythm of things and the daily rituals are the same: Each member has a day to give the devotional to the group; we head to the school to witness the ending of the patriotic and religious exercises; visit with the ladies for a bit, taking pictures and observing them interact with the kids; Rob and I head to the farm to do some hot-sun-hard-labor; leave at 11:30 to join the ladies for lunch at the school; play with the students for a while; head back to the campus to have an half hour repast ; everybody leaves for the farm at 1:00pm for more back-breaking-hot-sun-high-humidity-hard-labor; return to campus at about 4:30pm. Evenings are free for whatever… massages, touring town, hanging

out with AIU friends, etc.

The experience at the school is interesting on a number of fronts. One that caught my attention today was that each student brings a bag of cooked rice, and put it in a big pot which will be part of the common school lunch. Another thing: Whenever the teacher(s) enter the room at the beginning of the class period, the entire class stands and say “good morning, teacher.” That how it was in Jamaica when I was growing up!

Every day we have a great lunch at the school.. Today it was topped off with Milo ice cream!

On the farm, we finished weeding and hoeing the peanut field. Quite an accomplishment! I forgot to mention that a colony of wasps made their home on a peanut leaf. After I disturb it, unintentionally; and the Sargent-at-arms of the colony promptly taught me a lesson on my ear! Anyhow, back to the weeding… This afternoon we began weeding the chili pepper field – a

much easier task than that of the peanuts. Oh, both Rob and Tedi used the hoe today! They have graduated from weeding with their hands!