Perfect Event

We had our first volunteer activity on Saturday and it was perfect. One of the students organized a trip to Daegu where disabled people play at sport that is a bit like Bocce ball.

We were greeted by a man in a wheelchair.  His arms, and legs were contorted.  His face was contorted when he spoke and was really difficult to understand.  You could see how stressed all the kids looked. As he speed off in his wheelchair (that seemed to be rocket powered) one student said to me, "my heart is beating so fast".

The people who could throw for themselves, did.  The ones who couldn't had these ramps to let the bean bag/ball roll down.  Two of the kids were responsible for moving the ramps.  They had to just listen to the commands of the players and do what they were told.  Then, they would have to help the players hold their ball.

The disabled people (who are referred to as "clients" by the center who organized the event) were remarkably good at this game and incredibly good natured. The guy who met us turned out to be a silver medal winner for Korean Special Olympics which explains why he was so strict about enforcing the rules. He also turned out to be pretty funny.

Naturally they wanted Sandy and I to play against them and predictably, they beat us.  I cannot say that I gave my all, but I am reasonably sure they would have beaten us anyway.  Later, they asked my kids to play.  As much as I like them, I have to say they were really, really bad at this game.

During the break time one man decided to tell his story of how he ended up in a wheelchair.  He was an engineer at an architectural firm.  They gave him a motorcycle as a bonus, he wrecked, had 10 operations, was getting better, something went wrong in the hospital and ended up with physical problems, and by his own estimation, limited mental abilities.  Quite sad, and perfect for kids to hear.

As things began to wind down, one woman needed eye drops put in and the kids were happy to help...one put them in, the other wiped her face. The kids had gotten past being afraid of people with disabilities to jumping quickly to help them. They saw them as people, not freaks.

The participants wanted some group pictures at the end, and by looking at their faces, I think you can see that the kids coming to the event added greatly to their day.

As we were walking out, I asked the kids what they thought.  One said she wants to come every month.  Another said this was a precious memory, another said at first she was scared of them, but now she had fun and liked them.

I cannot think of anyway that this could have gone better.  The kids organized it, they did something good that made somebody else happy, they will likely do it again, and the way they see disabled people has changed. Damn am I proud of them.

Proud as can be

Today was the first fundraiser for the volunteer club.  There were no classes today because of the entrance exam, so the students organized a  movie day.  They charged about 40 cents for the movie, 50 cents for snacks or drinks.  They made nice posters to advertise it which included pictures of the girl who was ill who needed medicine.  The students did almost everything on their own and I was really amazed at how well it went.

As a teacher, you often focus on the problem kids...I guess it is natural.  Things like this give you the chance to celebrate the majority of kids, the ones who are decent, who see a problem that want to help, who want to do good things, but do not have the chance.

I am feeling so proud of my kids right now.

No Trains, Planes or Automobiles

Today is the worst day of most kids lives here...the university entrance exam.  Entrance to most universities is based solely on this test.  It can not be understated how important this test isGood Score=Good University=Good Job=Good Life (maybe).

Everyone accommodates the test. During the listening portion of the tests, flights and trains do not run in the area of the testing centers.   Most businesses start late to provide a quieter atmosphere for the test.

Yesterday the kids bid farewell to the third year students.  The third year students were given some words of wisdom from the teachers, and then the 1st and 2nd year students lined the walk way, played drums and cheered for them.

I do not have much belief in the university entrance system, but I gotta say I love the comradery the kids show.

This morning I went to the high school where the test was being taken in our area.  Again, kids lined up from all the local schools and cheered for their schoolmates. A few parents walked their kids through the crowd, one did something I have never seen here: kissed her daughter on the lips. That maybe normal in the US, but it never happens in Asia.

As I was walking out, I saw one mother turn wistfully back at the school, her daughter inside determining the rest of her life. Funny how I never think of the stress on the parents until I saw that mother's eyes.

Toilet Cleaning Fool

I just got busted.

Kids here (and in Japan) are responsible for cleaning the bathrooms.  As you might guess, high school boys definition of clean differs slightly from the normal person.

I do not worry too much about the toilets because I do everything in my power to not use squat toilets. Urinals and sinks are hard to avoid, so I periodically sneak in and clean them when the kids are in class.

Today I was just about finished with the 2nd round  of cleaning (it takes a few tries to get the shmootz off) and in walks the Principal.  "What are you doing?"  damn...I was busted.  I really did not want anyone to know because I think people would think it was odd.  I explained the bathrooms were just too dirty and I could not stand it. I showed him the chemicals I bought to clean it.  He looked around, "Very clean!".  Soon we were discussing the chemicals and how everyone complains about the toilets.  Then he was on his way after his trademark, "Very Good".

Do Something Good 2nd Month

The volunteer club seems to be going pretty well.  Sometimes it is like making sausage, disgusting to watch, but the end results are good.

The club has about 40 members and is doing the following projects:

Sister School:  Students are raising money to help pay for salaries for teachers in a little school in the jungle.  It is an interesting little village of about 100 people that has been decimated by the pollution caused by a local mine.  Their school is a bamboo hut and their teacher has not graduated high school.  With a bit more money, they can get a better teacher.


Health Care: The students are raising money for a 12 year old girl named Boi Pop Chan who had TB meningitis 3 or 4  years ago and had a lot of brain damage. Since then she is paralyzed, she can not speak, eat on her own or do anything. So her mother is taking care of her full time, so has no income. The father of the kid is a Mon (Burmese ethnic group) soldier. The mother use to be in the Mon army too, as a nurse, but had to stop to take care of her child.

The Mon army is paying for a small house for this kid and her mother. The community is providing them with food. The kid now has a lot of convulsions due to her condition. So she needs to take medicine twice a day. So her monthly treatment just for the convulsions is 1000 baht (about $35) a month. The kids will raise money to pay for that for a while at least.

Animal Care: There are over 100,000 street dogs in Bangkok.  The students are raising money to help support for a spay and neuter program at a clinic for street dogs.

Local Projects: A group of students is looking to help kids, handicapped and old people.  They are going to participate in an event for handicapped people in two weeks.

In the next week or so, the fundraising projects start.  More about that later.


  

Why I stopped for a while.

Why have I stopped blogging lately?  Simple answer: I have not felt like it.  It takes a lot of time and energy and I just have not felt like writing much lately.