This past week my team and I have been familiarizing ourselves with Thai culture and the organization we are partnering with this month, Step Ahead.
Step Ahead was founded by John Quincy ten years ago to come alongside members of the slum community in Khlong Toei. The organization is now run by three amazing Thai women: Si, Ying, and Phon. They run a variety of programs that initiate improved and sustainable lifestyles for community members.
Our “task” this month is teaching English to the staff, as well as children in the community. We currently have six bright youngsters in our class, and hope to acquire more as families hear about the program. A lot of our energy this month will be spent encouraging and empowering the Step Ahead staff to move forward with their vision.
In the meantime we have been adjusting to, and falling in love with Thailand. The people here hold true to the country’s nickname, “The Land of Smiles”. Countless times I have held a conversation of charades, where both parties are searching each other’s face for hidden clues, smiling all the while. It’s comical, and not something I take for granted!
We predominantly eat street food, so the vendors near our building are beginning recognize us (hard not to) and remember what we like to order and what not. The other day I spied some yummy looking yellow curry, and immediately ordered it. I want THAT one! It was only after the dish was brought to my table that I discovered the meaty treats of the dish that had been hiding at the bottom of the bowl….chicken feet and liver. Eek! While these are two Thai favorites, I was a bit at a loss for how to even go about eating the foot, and have already experienced the unforgettable flavor of liver. Needless to say I went back to my safety net of Pad Thai for dinner that day, haha. One can only h
andle so much adventure at a time…!
We feel very fortunate this month to have access to the following amenities: AC in our bedroom, internet access, a washing machine, filtered water, a stove top, refrigerator, microwave, a shower, and the ability to run (aka sidewalks). What else do you need?! There is even a shopping center about one mile away where we can buy groceries. Yes, we drooled over the DQ that we stumbled into, and participated in the dance aerobics held in the mall square the other night. HIL-AR-IOUS. I wish I had it on video for you.
Click here to check out a few snapshots I’ve gotten of the city.
