Month 6: Thailand. Ah, Thailand. I’ve felt a call to this country for a while. I’m not sure why, but I can’t wait to find out! It’s insane to think I’m officially half way through the race…month 6?! Time is flying.

Freedom Writers and I will be in Chiang Mai for the month! We will be partnering with one of the Adventures in Missions’ Bases, Zion Hostel. The base is a for-profit hostel run by former world racers who are living in Chiang Mai. Zion Hostel has partnered us with COIC (Christian Outreach International College). COIC is an international school (daycare – high school) and many of the students are from COIC’s children’s home (kids who have been abused, abandoned, or orphaned). They are in the middle of doing construction a a few of the buildings. We’ve had one week of ministry so far (we work from 9:30-4pm, Monday – Friday) and we’ve already been able to finish painting the daycare and an outside wall, as well as finish the prep work before we can begin painting another building (sanding, spackling, cleaning, washing, etc). COIC is also in the works to build a “lock down” school, which is a school with the resources to protect and educate children who have been rescued from sex trafficking. 

So far, Thailand has already provided so much fun and adventure. The food is absolutely delicious and the people are the friendliest, they don’t call Thailand the “Land of Smiles” for nothing. 

Keep reading to learn more about Thailand as a whole! 

 

THAILAND 

While Thai culture is marketed overseas as a tourist friendly, “anything-goes destination” where normally outlandish behavior is celebrated, most Thais are traditional and conservative. 

There is a great cultural divide between the Bangkok urban area and the more conservative and rural regions of northern Thailand.

Travelers should be respectful around important Buddhist temples and shrines, should avoid wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts at temples or religious sites, and also avoid touching locals on the head or hair, as the head is the most sacred part of the body in Buddhism.

 

FUN FACTS!

Currency: Thai Baht

Language: Thai

Religion: 94% Buddhist, 5% Muslim, 1% other

Random: Caroline wants to spell it “Thialand” every time…thank goodness for autocorrect hahaha

 

CULTURE!

While Thai culture is marketed overseas as a tourist friendly, “anything-goes destination” where normally outlandish behavior is celebrated, most Thais are traditional and conservative. 

There is a great cultural divide between the Bangkok urban area and the more conservative and rural regions of northern Thailand.

Travelers should be respectful around important Buddhist temples and shrines, should avoid wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts at temples or religious sites, and also avoid touching locals on the head or hair, as the head is the most sacred part of the body in Buddhism.

All information was copied and pasted from https://www.worldrace.org/location/thailand

 

VLOGS!