My Summer Adventure : Sawasdee 19 Thailand

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It is the main thing that I should have to get into that place, Thailand. I can't tell the detail about that, but I'll try to deliver it some.

Me, Feni is only a daughter of a farmer and an ex-laborer in garment. I can't have many chance to be able to soaring high, unless I dream it. That day, visa is the most important thing before I start the journey. Well, I couldn't have many chance to get there, Royal Thai Embassy.

The first time I went there wasn't success because I didn't bring my recommendation letter. It is like a pressure for me as I should struggle in the week of final exams went there and asking for the letter. Fortunately, I have two friends along my journey who was also facing similar situation and know about what is our feelings.

Why?? Big why is coming either from myself and my surrounding. The program that I join is like volunteering activity to teach English for students in rural area. In my previous school, I had an experience to be the part of Community Service, similar like this activity. Then, I also have another volunteering experience in my campus. It is like good activity whether to help them or to improve our soft skills. And a simple thing that I think is wonderful that, we can make them believe that whoever can have dream high. Then, I decided to join this program. It was quite hard to me. I should maintain many plus and minus. And me, I ever want to quit but yeah, I keep going till the end.

Exam would ended soon. Most of people had gone to their hometown. I really wanted to go to my hometown in that time. Especially that time was Ramadhan, a special month in Islam where people have to fasting during the day of Ramadhan. Usually people will gather with their families in the end of the month.

I was alone in my rent house near campus. However, I still can find my friend two days before my journey to nowhere.

Heart beat fast. I never had experience like this before. I could not imagine that I'll go overseas. This is my first time to do that, even for having first experience to have flight.

The first three days, there were Incoming Preparation Seminars (IPS). In this project, I join with AIESEC LC-Chulalangkorn University (CU). But in this IPS, LC CU and BU (Bangkok University) were combined together. LC BU was the place where we had those three days IPS.

The building of the campus were really luxury. I really impressed by the uniqueness of the buildings. I think that is one of the reason why this place is used for shooting a movie or video clip. Well, I ever seen of the shooting. And I don't really know who were that people who get shot, but they are handsome and beautiful.

Wonderful experience with all of them. In that night, I was having cultural night in the event named Global Village. All the members of the country at that time were performing dance from each of the country. Instead of that, we were also having a stand which display something traditional from their country. For example like in Portugal, because of the country is very famous with the football, they show us about the football players' shirt. Then, we can find and try a lot of foods from all over the world. Then, there were also some souvenirs which can we get freely. For me, I was with my friends from Indonesia. Surprisingly, I was not alone there because the number of EPs come from China and Indonesia are the biggest.

It is not like in Indonesia where we can easily find a mosque or masjid to pray. But then, we can pray in the top of library building. FYI, we still have Ramadhan in that time, but I don't really feel the atmosphere as there were still time for having breakfast and lunch. Again, this is challenging, I should proud of it that I still can stand with that. In the last day of IPS, we were going to a place inside the Student Activities Center. In this place, we can find small place named Meditation Room. Amazingly, there were Sajadah and Korma in that place. Maybe some people in this university are Islam. Who knows?

In those three days of IPS, I’ve gained knowledge that so important for my next journey in the province. We learned about what should and shouldn’t, culture shock, language, and what should we prepare for our journeys also the simulation of teaching. In the end of IPS, we as the Sawasdee 19 LC CU was first came to Chulalangkorn University and to Siam Square. Again, the building of this university is also very awesome. The different with BU is that, CU just like traditional building in Thailand.

After that, the journey to the province start. We went there by bus. In the next day, we had arrived at one of the school, and this school is going to be the center of everything, including the next agenda which is Evaluation Day. There, all director or our host family would come to the place to pick up us. Before that, there was briefing about the project from the committee. I whispered to ensure myself that I can do it, I can make it, and I can face the new journey which I don’t know what will happen the next!!

In the province, I’ll have another friends come from China. Her English name is Julia but her Chinese name actually is Ziqi Yuan. I am calmed after know that because I’ll not alone in foreign country. Then, we already met our host fam. The first time we went there, we already invited to eat in a place there. This was incredible, since the first time, they had treated us well. Unfortunately, I didn’t eat because I am fasting, but no problem for me, I could see they eat and having chit chat tough.

In this place, I realize why Thailand can be exporter of rice to other country. It has a lot of rice field along the road which I can see during the journey to the village. After I arrived home, my host fam led me to the bed room, which is together my room and also Julia’s during this project. The accommodation is good for me as we have one bathroom in bed room.

The first day in the school was little weird for me. I and Julia must introduce our self in front of all the students. Yeah, I was speaking in front of people who don’t speak English. And in that first day, I was also trying to introduce myself in Thai Language. Then the first class was begun. At the first, the students were so silent. Here, in Baantakhiankuiwittaya School, it such a long name anyway, I teach student in primary school from grade 4 – 6. Then, I also teach secondary from grade 1 until 3. At first, I really could not understand what they were talking about. I always tried using body language, picture and for sure, using digital dictionary.  As the time goes by, I little bit understand what they said. Well, it was not that simple to teach secondary student because they are not like primary student that have good interest in something like game, picture, and singing or dancing. In addition, they are very tall. However, it is not going to reduce my spirit to make them know English. This is challenging for me.

Surprisingly, when there was a festival in the school, I and Julia became the people who stand and wearing traditional clothes. This festival was leading us from the school to the temple. That was my wonderful experience as we were like special guest for them. Moreover, here I do not only teach them English. I also become a student of traditional music, handmade and art. 

Since I began this volunteering, I do not even realize that I was giving them something. Oppositely, they gave me something. I learned from them how to speak Thai, I learned from them to have good spirit in learning something, I learned how to be generous to clean the place for our school, the place where we spent for learning, I learned how to respect when we live in different country, different religion also different language. This experience make me become braver that before. Yes, this is gonna be the start of my future journey, to help people to help make better environment, to create better world!

After long time and I got news that my face was on that page, so excited! on March 2017