Something Good For the Soul (besides good food!)

Yes, I do love food. And as many of you know, I love to take pictures of food. But if you know me in person, hopefully you know I love many other things in life too. So I thought I'd write a few posts to share about some other meaningful aspects of my life here in Thailand. I was in Chiang Mai for the last few months, working with a study abroad program for American college students. One part of the semester is the students' internships. Some go to a rural elementary school just outside of the city. A number of students there come from fairly poor families, and some don't have families at all. We first got introduced to this school through some Maryknoll missionaries that helped kids who were living at the city's dump or who were orphans, by providing a hostel for them to stay in. This is the school they went to. Even though the missionaries are no longer connected to the hostel, we work directly with the school. Our students go four days a week to teach English, play games, and basically just be there to remind the kids that they're loved and valued. I got to go to the school one or more times every week to help the college students out a little. They didn't really need much help! I just kinda tagged along so I could see the kids! Especially these girls:

These girls are just two of the students at the school who never cease to make me smile. When the college students and I arrive at the school, it's not long before I hear their voices shouting "BUA!" That's my Thai name, and of course I love when they yell it! This picture was taken on the last day for their class (fourth grade) to be taught English.  First we taught them various vocabulary and phrases, like wheels/go round and round; baby/waa-waa-waa; horn/beep-beep-beep; wipers/swish-swish-swish; doors/open-and-shut. Then, naturally, we taught them how to sing "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round." I'm sure you can imagine how organized and orderly it was. Well, it was for the first 20-30 minutes, and then all parties involved let lose a bit. It was their last class after all! Things got a little crazy! And so fun!!

I think some people's energy got a bit zapped.

But only because they gave so much love! That's the way it is with these kids; you give and they give back. Last year, on the last day of classes, I was giving out lots of hugs, and even though it's not typical Thai culture, I gave the girls big kisses on their cheeks. They thought it was pretty funny at first, then a bunch of them came running back to get their own kiss on the cheek! So I thought it was pretty cute this year, when I came back, that they remembered me as the one who gives kisses. I don't honestly know which girl comes from what background, which ones live with loving families and which ones live at the hostel without much access to motherly hugs and kisses. Either way, when they hug and hold me and bury their heads in my chest, it doesn't really matter. Because I love them as much as they love me.