tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340348392024-03-12T18:17:11.016-05:00WanderingTheWorld.comExcited to serve in Peace Corps Thailand in 2014-2016Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-53564589732926384072015-05-07T01:14:00.002-05:002015-05-07T01:14:46.790-05:00Welcome to WanderingTheWorld.comCurrently I am a Peace Corps volunteer serving in a small village in Thailand. For the latest updates and pictures of my adventures, please check out my Facebook Page. :)
Hello my friends. Somehow you've found yourself here at WanderingTheWorld.com (also known as jim-wandering). I thought it would helpful to introduce myself so we might begin to understand one another.
I think I've always had 'Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-25565935356978376722014-12-30T20:19:00.001-06:002022-03-12T07:34:22.149-06:00Happy New Year 2015 (2558)!!New Year’s EveToday marks the end of a my first year as a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Thailand. And as I say goodbye to 2014 (2557 in Thailand), I’m looking forward to 2015 even more, with renewed commitment and heightened sense of wonder and awe.While my blog, WanderingTheWorld.com, is mostly a photo album of events while I’m here in Thailand, I decided to use this place to try and documentUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-70585686138084615502014-12-25T03:25:00.000-06:002014-12-29T03:36:27.549-06:00Scout CampWent with all the teachers with the grade 4-6 boys and girls to Scout Camp. Scouting is a class in Thai schools so all the teachers and principles are scoutmasters and scout leaders. First the student went to a bunch of activity stations. Then after dinner, put on skits around the campfire. I hitched a ride back home while the rest of the group came home the next day. Again, a fun time had by allUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-77575420092647282622014-12-15T20:16:00.000-06:002014-12-28T20:19:54.767-06:00School Field TripThe entire school, pre-school all the way up to the 9th graders, went on a field trip to Pa Sak Cholasit Dam in Lop Buri and Saraburi provinces, about 3 hours on a train (after a 1-hour bus ride). Most of the kids had never been on a train. At the dam, the kids shopped, bought too many toys and candy, and a few went to the museum that had many of the lakes fish. There was more planned for the Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-72888618355223605912014-11-17T03:38:00.000-06:002014-11-17T03:38:01.679-06:00Thailand + Thanksgiving = FakesgivingMany of the 125 and 126 Peace Corps Thailand volunteers got together for a very PCV kind of Thanksgiving. I'm guessing there were about 40 of us there. Someone rented an apartment and we all came to Bangkok on Friday or Saturday to then descend on the apartment on Saturday afternoon-evening for a ton of food, good conversation and mostly just silly craziness.
Even to just enter the apartment,Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-80947398234422024602014-11-06T19:03:00.002-06:002014-11-06T19:04:45.979-06:00Loi Krathong FestivalLoi Krathong is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and certain parts of Laos and Burma. The name could be translated as "to float a basket", and comes from the tradition of making krathong or buoyant, decorated baskets, which are then floated on a river.
On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal or a pond (or in a bucket of water if they are Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-90219039737300560022014-11-02T02:54:00.004-06:002014-11-02T02:54:56.230-06:00Wedding Receptions #2One of the teachers at my school, Teacher Gai, also got married this weekend too. But instead of having the reception in a school auditorium, she had it in a more traditional place - outside her home at lunchtime.
Gai looked absolutely stunning in traditional dress.
An eight-course banquet feast.
The entrance to Gai's family home.
As with funerals too, people just put of tents on Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-49261477598441755852014-11-02T02:48:00.004-06:002014-11-02T02:49:03.851-06:00Wedding Reception #1I was invited to attend the wedding reception for Teacher Sompong's nephew who was getting married to the daughter of the Phu Keow School principle. It was a huge affair, over 500 guests for the banquet. And the food was the best I've tasted at one of these kinds of events.
500 guests for an eight-course banquet.
The groom and bride make their entrance.
They made a sweet couple.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-305477123193597452014-11-02T02:37:00.001-06:002014-11-02T02:43:11.031-06:00Ban Ngew Teacher Training Camp Day (more pics)Here are few more pictures taken by other people during the Camp.
The Nayok officially opening the camp.
Listening to the opening speeches.
Making my introductions.
How does that go Teacher Jim?
You're getting better.
Way to go!
So, who knows the answer?
See, English is fun!
Having fun.
Now, let's do some reading.
All the teachers involved with the campUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-33494608845346620132014-10-31T19:31:00.000-05:002014-11-02T02:42:51.897-06:00Ban Ngew Teacher Training Camp Day #3Well, the last day of the camp, day #3 for the teachers and day #2 for the students had more lessons and lots of games. A huge success but we were all pretty tired when the everyone finally left school. Had a small party at Laura and Zack's house with some of the staff with lots of conversation, drinking and veggie burgers. SMILE
Teacher Pim doing another great job.
The kids doing Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-85547244254388426012014-10-30T09:15:00.003-05:002014-10-30T09:15:25.626-05:00Ban Ngew Teacher Training Camp Day #2Today, the students came. We had about 100 7th, 8th & 9th graders. Our schedule called for me (and the other PCVs) teaching the first lesson to one group of kids. And then, the 2nd class period, one of the Thai teachers would teach the same lesson to another group of kids. And then a 3rd and 4th class was taught. Even though the Thai teachers were not English teachers, they did a fabulous jobUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-22396745238842667212014-10-29T07:02:00.001-05:002014-10-29T07:02:25.933-05:00Ban Ngew Teacher Training CampTraveled to the southern border of the Chaiyaphum province to help PCV Laura with her husband Zake for a Teacher Training Camp. First day we trained the teachers, and the following two days the students will show up and then the Thai teachers will try out their new skills with us helping them. A great way to have a teacher training camp.
Laura going over everything the night before.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-41195910545028289242014-10-26T02:59:00.000-05:002014-10-26T03:14:44.119-05:00Thai Wedding (oh, not mine!)Attended the wedding of one of the school's teacher's son. Very different than in America. Had a reception at the groom's house the night before (I'm guessing the bride had another reception at her parents house at the same time). Then another early morning breakfast reception at 7am. Eventually after much ceremony for the groom, the entire party danced it's way through the village to the bride'sUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-4694236111609421992014-10-19T02:45:00.000-05:002014-10-23T02:45:39.441-05:00Another parade!The village held a kind of "end of Buddhist lent" fundraiser - at least that's what I think it was. No matter. It was a lot of fun helping everyone prepare for it and then take part. On the last day, they loaded up all the things that had been donated and there was a long procession through the streets to the temple.
Can't have a parade without a band!
This was in the morning after a Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-55137707891828417072014-10-15T08:00:00.000-05:002014-10-24T04:21:19.029-05:00Teacher Trip: Vientiane, Laos - Day 2
That Luang, or The Great Stupa, is the most sacred monument in the whole of Laos, and certainly one of the country’s most beautiful. Dating back to the 16th century, this giant golden temple complex looks more like a fortress than a place of worship with its set of turrets surrounding a central stupa standing 148 feet tall.
You just have to get a group picture!
Those wanting to Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-58397590409741727692014-10-14T02:13:00.000-05:002014-10-24T04:29:40.027-05:00Teacher Trip: Vientiane, Laos - Day 1Took a one-night tour with about 80 Thai teachers to Vientiane, Laos, the capital city which is near the Thai border.
A double decker "party" bus!!
Crossing the Mekong River Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge
Dusty bumpy ride to Vientiane.
One of my co-teachers, Sommai, and her husband, Eddy.
We had lunch on a boat restaurant that moved up and down the river.
More food at our hotel banquet dinner.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-7323115891058652942014-09-24T08:00:00.000-05:002014-10-17T02:06:57.218-05:00Sports competitionsAnd the students also has sports competitions. My school had teams entered in soccer and volleyball, but there were also competitions in sprints (usually done barefoot) and dagraw (cross between soccer and volleyball). The girls volleyball team had a tough time but the boys soccer team won all there games but the championship game was cancelled because of rain.
Ban Nong Weang School
aboutUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-47942686654924858182014-09-11T08:00:00.000-05:002014-10-17T01:36:21.806-05:00Teacher Training CampI was asked by the PESAO (Primary Education Service Area Office) to help with one of their teacher training camps. I gave a presentation on Zoo Phonics for about 40 5th-grade English teachers.
About 40 teachers were there for my presentation.
Sawnaw Sumetta presented me with a gift for helping out.
Afterward, everyone wanted pictures.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-46152724081610609732014-09-05T08:00:00.000-05:002014-10-17T02:44:02.284-05:00Student competitionsMore student competitions:
Singing competition
Here is a sample of her singing
Drawing competition (2nd grader)
Computer Art Competition (3rd graders)
Power Point competition (5th graders)
Cub Scout competition
Scout competitionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-37454769706207759472014-08-28T19:59:00.002-05:002014-08-28T19:59:18.066-05:00Lunch with the AmbassadorOn Wednesday, US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, was visiting the Chaiyaphum province and invited the 3 Peace Corps volunteers who are posted there, including me, to join her for lunch in Chaiyaphum (city).
After a 90-minute bus ride, I arrived a little early so I could spend some time with the other two volunteers, Laura and Zack, a married couple working in the southern part of the province. It Unknownnoreply@blogger.comChaiyaphum, Thailand15.8068173 102.0315027000000313.8535033 99.449715700000027 17.7601313 104.61328970000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-2644966590819980922014-07-19T04:27:00.000-05:002014-07-19T04:27:09.638-05:00The Peace Corps Wants You!
Apply Today!
Apply Today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-1159584543833908742014-05-10T19:20:00.000-05:002014-07-08T19:21:26.657-05:00Before Songkran
A few days before Songkran, there are a lot of activities at the Wat.
With dancing.
And prayer.
With precious jade Buddha's.
And amazing centerpieces
made from palm leaves and flowers.
Simply amazing artistry.
With more ceremonies.
And making the money trees.
And more ceremonies.
With teachers from my school.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-72626720411853246502014-04-30T19:02:00.000-05:002014-07-08T19:11:14.220-05:00April pictures
Mali holds her new grandniece, with mother Gi looking on.
Chickens everywhere!
Went out to the other family house to feed the chickens.
A group of women, including my host mom,
cutting bananas to make candies to sell.
Another neighbor cracking nuts.
Drying out the rice before planting.
Making lumber out of trees with a huge circular saw.
Everyone's favorite food Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-3645532748360520642014-04-23T18:59:00.000-05:002014-07-08T19:11:58.743-05:00Three monk ordination celebrationThere was a procession celebrating 3 young men becoming monks in the village.
It seemed like everyone in the village wanted to participate.
One of the soon-to-be-monks being carried in the back of a pickup.
A procession winds through the village to the temple.
Music is provided by a mobile band blasting out the tunes.
That's a full band sitting on top of giant speakers.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34034839.post-32739516150934877802014-04-11T20:33:00.003-05:002014-04-11T20:34:47.675-05:00Women's Association Shop Grand Opening
Besides the local politicians, I was asked to say hello.
Everyone in the blue and orange shirts was part of the association.
After the speeches came some dance performance.
Lot's of happy parents and grandparents in the crowd.
The dancers being rewarded after their performance.
Outside after the ribbon had been cut.
Inside the Mini-Mart.
Some of the homemade Unknownnoreply@blogger.com