Passion to Purpose: My Journey : March 2014

Disclaimer THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BASKETBALL JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A CUTE TITLE SINCE ITS MARCH AND I HAD ALOT GOING ON HAHA!

Helloooo! Its the end of March already and I am back!!!! Everything is going pretty smoothly. 'I Love You' Group is still coming consistently and progressing very well, which I am very excited about. School is out which means the kids have found themselves at my house more often but I love it. The majority of my day is spent at the school, now that school is out, most of my time is spent at the SAO, Sub district Administration Organization, the village government office. Although I love the people here, I have never been one to simply sit. I don't think I know how. I think it is more exhausting then running a 1 million mile race. I dread it. This has definitely been a major struggle thus far and it has only been 2 weeks ha, i cant imagine a month more. The great news is next week is Midservice Conference!!! We have been here for a whole year and now we will all connect and discuss our experiences at site. Most importantly, Ill be out and about, not sitting at a desk!!!! EXCITED does not explain the way I am feeling haha.
This month I feel like I have been 'thai-napped'( when a Thai person comes, picks you up with either partial knowledge or no knowledge at all about what is about to happen, where you are going, or how long you will be gone) about 10000 times. Since they were 'Thai-nappings' I was not prepared and did not have my camera. I went to a number of great places. Although this is true, this month has been filled with fun and some cultural events that I did catch on camera! In this blog, I will post pictures of the events I went to and try to explain a little about each! I will see you all next month! With an update on Midservice Conference, Son Kran ( Thai New Year) and much more! As always thanks sooo much for all your support! All the emails, calls, texts, videos, skypes, letter,cards, and packages!!!! If you would like to send me something or call shoot me a message and ill send the contact info!

This is the wedding of P' Kat and P'Art ( some of my favorite people)

The grooms family and the brides family come together. The grooms family enters the brides family home bearing gifts.

Close up! lots of people and P' Art was crying it was sooo sweet because I have never seen a man cry since I have been here.

The groom must present a 'gift' to the brides family that was agreed upon prior to. As a thank you for allowing me your daughter and taking care of her all of these years. This is 800,000 baht which equals almost 25,000 dollars

Family and friends are praying for them and send well wishes

This is sports day! this is a major part of Thai culture it happens on different levels A LOT throughout the year. I also realized sports day pretty much trumps all other events that may be going on at the same time haha.

Sports day! each school entered in this manner! everything must start with a parade!

At sports day with some of the little dancers

Getting made up... yes these are 1st and 2nd graders

One of the activities I do here is visiting all the kids 0-14 with any disability .. He loves me now haha

Playing with my Ipad

'I LOVE YOU" KING AND QUEEN. Have not missed one classed and answered all their test questions without assistance! Queen Nong Porn and King Nong Six

Little trophies! haha

FUN DAY!!!! Reward day for the kids who came to a majority of the classes and tested well! Baking! Only english! They had to retrieve the ingredients by saying may I please have _____? By the end of class they were using the sentence in other ways without me asking! They are great!

Group 1 made cookies

Group 2 Brownies!!

DONE!

This was the 5 day monk coronation. In Thai culture, 21 yo males must become a monk for a varying amount of time. This was very interesting to watch. First family and friends came to cut a piece of their hair