Travel to Teach Newsletter March 2005 - Volunteering News, Opportunities and information with Travel to Teach

T2T administrative routines

We have been growing fast the last year. So our administrative routines are pressed for time and we need help from computers. Jeroen Hoexum from the Netherlands came as "The Catcher in the Rye". Not only did he make a database to help us keep track of our past and coming volunteers but he also helped withmaking curriculums for IT teaching. We can only say: Thanks Jeroen, and have a nice trip as you continue around the world! Read Jeroen's volunteer story

New staff again!

Sangklaburi. Our program in Sangklaburi where we teach mainly minority groups, are coordinated by Viola, the latest addition to T2T staff. Viola is from Italy, volunteered here last automne and wanted this life for a change. She helps start programs and voordinate volunteers adn teaching in the bordertown.

The Moose

There is a moose appearing on many T2T pictures from this period. This, rather strange phenomenon might crave an explanation: For the Swedish stand at the Around the World Party, Kerstin made the traffic sign, "Warning for Moose". The sign somehow became a mascot for the volunteers. It went bowling in Udon, made frequent appearences at The "Barnana" disco, and it was the first one up to sign up for the Kanchanaburi Trip 2005. Unfortunately, the Moose dissapered in Bangkok after witnesses saw him cavorting with a young fawn on Kho San Road!

Trip to Kanchanaburi

Volunteers at Tiger wat in Kanchanaburi With the second semester coming to an end and some time to spare before the start of summer camps the opportunity was seized to go and visit our new Sangklaburi project.

So 14 volunteers and 2 staff members hijacked the moose and stowed away on the night train to Bangkok.

A short stop at Kanchanaburi allowed time to see the bridge over the River Kwai, have a brief encounter with some tigers, a touch of karaoke and a few lessons at the monkey school. Then it was onto Sangklaburi to take in the magnificent landscape and encounter the enthusiasm and commitment with which our new students are embracing the English lessons Viola is providing.

A trip to the local Wat proved to be highly eventful with a mass ordination of 99 monks and a chance encounter with a Burmese boxing tournament. All this then a quick dip in the river and a spot of midnight canoeing before venturing back to Bangkok to indulge in a few western comforts before going back home to Nong Khai.

View the Kanchanaburi Trip photo gallery

Lots of summer Camps

Thai English Summercamps Thai schools are closed between the end of February and the middle of May.

So we do all sorts of teaching together with schools or on our own. This year we teach in Namsom library and we made week-long IT Camp and English Camp.

We teach teachers at the Achiva Vocational College in Nongkhai, we have three different levels of English classes, open for everyone, and one Computer class going with the Wat Sisaket, we will be making Summer Camp in Andy's village and we have five volunteers teaching in Sangklaburi.

So our summer season in packed with fun and interesting teaching!

Filming a day in the life…

Kirk Gillok and Nat Manu directing film Kirk Gillock, as the reader of these newsletters may remember, has been a special friend of T2T, helping out from the very beginning.

This time he has lent us his video camera and expertise in filming "A day in the life of a T2T volunteer", part one featuring Leoni Ham as the volunteer! With Kirk as cameraman and director and Nat as producer! We will soon have the video diaries online

Day 1: included: Breakfast at the Noi sisters, teaching in summer classes at Wat Sisaket, lunching on Sum tam on the Mekong, testing the herbal Sauna, dining at Mutmee - a typical Nongkhai day.

Day 2: Will follow next week as 'the Lads' show us around the "Summer Camp in Andy's village" and their Nong Khai . We will make the films available on the website for old and coming volunteers to indulge in Nongkhai and village atmosphere.