Triples aren't so bad

Today I went to the project I worked on at Three Pagodas Pass. When I got there I saw the bathrooms and dining room floor were quite dirty. The bathing area was reasonably clean as was the clothes washing area.

I was disappointed at first and then noticed the boys...they were clean, their clothes were clean, and the kitchen was clean. The kids report that they now go to school for 5 hours a day versus 45 minutes that they used to go to school. There is supposed to be another cleaning person starting soon to help take care of cleaning the dirty areas on a daily basis.


I guess it is like hitting a triple in baseball...you got to be happy with it even if you really wanted a home run.

Just say "no" or else

A boy I have met a few times decided to buy a 3 pills as did his two other friends. The police stopped them at the checkpoint and caught them with the narcotics. The rules are pretty straightforward....1 year for each pill. He is not sure if each boy has to go to jail for 3 years or if they will need to go to jail for 9 years since they were carrying a total of 9 pills. Pretty tough stuff.

Attitiya Update

Someone has agreed to pay for Attitya's surgery. Most kids here would never have the opportunity to get better...I guess she is lucky.

Attitiya!

Attitiya is one of my favorite little girls because she is kind of the underdog. She has a sweet but sad disposition. When she laughs and giggles it is impossible not to join in.

Attitya's father, knowing that he was going to die of cancer and that Attitya's mother did not love her decided to bring her to Baan Unrak children's home. The father died 3 months later and the mother never came to visit.

6 months ago a volunteer doctor was doing exams on the children and found she had a whole in her heart which could be fatal.

Attitiya is not a Thai citizen so she can not get medical care unless Baan Unrak finds donors to help. Thus far they have raised about $1500 of the $5500 they need. If you know who can help her or would like to help yourself, please let me know at ssnidero@hotmail.com

Back in Bangkok

We arrived safe and sound last night in Bangkok. All was the same except for a marked increase in aggressive Ladyboy hookers in the tourist areas. We will be here a few days before we move on.

Gumpin again

Today I was following up on a lead to get donated medical supplies. It was something that a friend had tried to put together for some people in Thailand and it just did not work out. I made a call this morning to the organization and after a half hour talk the man I was speaking with said, "I know an organization with $400,000 in medical supplies and nobody to give it to in Thailand." After I wiped the poop from my shorts I told him I could find an organization.

The organization I was trying to help can not take a full container with 20 pallets of supplies so I will have to start searching for others. I have written one and will contact some others. Either way, a pretty cool morning.

PS. My sister officially hates me for the picture I posted below of her daughter who is really quite cute (but a bit of a goofball).

End of vacation

After completing our work here (which some may call terrorizing nieces and nephews including, Justine, my niece with the punk sign on her forehead) we are ready to get going again.

Tuesday we are heading to Bangkok for a couple of weeks. We are going to follow up on what is happening at the temple that I was volunteering at.

In a couple of weeks, we will head to Nepal where we will volunteer at a school for poor children.