Travel to Teach: Thailand Volunteer Story

Maggie, 51, The Netherlands

A dream comes true. Volunteering in the north of Thailand, together with my daughter Marleen.

While she was gathering all the information for her trip, I got so enthusiastic that after speaking with my husband and other two kids I decided to join her for two months. I managed to get unpaid leave from my job in the hospital and on the 18th October we departed towards Bangkok. From there we flew to Udon Thani and a small bus took us to the Meechai-dorm in Nongkai. The first two weeks we would do restoration work in a primary school with the other volunteers.

After the introduction weekend with a few hours Thai language, Thai cooking and a sight-seeing trip by bike through Nongkai, we started our job with 14 men and woman. After cleaning, sanding and painting the walls and decorating them the whole library was transformed into a colourful sunny place. Working together was pleasant and we laughed and talked a lot. The toilet buildings for the kids got a new layer of paint and a beautiful decoration on the outside wall. The first-aid room changed from dark brown to a bright sunny room where it is good to stay even if you are a little bit sick.

Always going by bike back and forth, cosy lunches together with Pat and Prig and Mai and the whole club of volunteers, was really great. All those young people with their own ideas and ideals which they want to realise in their own way has been pretty to experience. In the evening we started an English class with the monks in the temple and we tried to do something for the children of the orphanage. Two different worlds but both in their own way impressive. After two weeks Marleen and I left for Namsom because we had six weeks left for teaching English at BantahasomSchool and in the temple. Namsom is just a small village but great in its simplicity. Friendly open people, authentic Thai culture, delicious food and you feel at home immediately.

Ban Farang the house where the volunteers stay is a beautiful place and it is very quickly your 'Thai home'. Jeap of T2T and Mama Kow are really angels - Thai cooking classes, the radio station, trips to the hairdresser and Thai massage, the marketplace, the temples, weekend breaks - it was heart-warming. At school Pi Ong, Miss Leerat and Usa were great in their support because teaching for the first time is not only fun but sometimes also difficult. Marleen and I had the drop-outs of all the 7 and 8 year olds, and some students could not even read or write Thai. But with games singing talking with hands and feet, patience and power of improvisation we managed to do our job. It was so much fun, and the kids were great.

The lessons in the small hospital of Namsom and in the temple with the monks, where so stimulating because they where all so eager to learn. In addition to teaching, we had enough free time to relax, to do the preparations for the next day and getting to know the people of Namsom. In the evening we usually met our Thai friends for diner at home or at the marketplace. Playing badminton with the locals or doing fitness in the open air, it was always fun. In the weekends we often were taken out by Jeab, Tom and Aung visiting the National parks the forest temple, camping in Loei and the kindness to show us all these things was heart-warming.

After two months of staying in Namsom I had to say goodbye, and that was hard. My backpack filled with impressive memories of the 'land of smiles' with its beautiful culture and people. Their warmth and natural way of taking care of each other it has stolen my heart forever.

Back home just then you realise all you have done and seen. The people of T2T and all the others did everything possible to make my trip unforgettable!!!!

Rick, Prig, Jeap, Mama Kow, Tom, Aung and all people of Namsom it was fantastic and I hope to see you all again some day. Is 51 years too old to volunteer? Of course not, I had the time of my life in Namsom and enjoyed it from the first to the last minute. It's a great challenge and you get so much in return. Just go ahead and do it!!!!!!

Mini Gallery: