Sowatika= hello, goodbye
Hong nam = toilet
That is the extent of my awesome Thai language skills after two weeks of being in Thailand. It seems like a feat not possible within a month. But when our contact Emmi told us about an opportunity to work with a church and participate in an English camp, I immediately knew I would do it and love it.
As time drew closer to the English camp, I began to become a tad nervous. We knew so little about this camp that we were truly going into it blinded. We knew the times (which would end up being different), we knew English was involved, we were offered 2000 Baht for supplies, and we knew they would feed us a lunch. Monday rolls around and we walk to the Chiang Mai Dramatic Arts College where we are getting picked up. We don’t know who is picking us up, or in what they are picking us up in. 20 minutes later, a truck pulls up, a college aged guy asks us, “Are you going camping?” And we assumed that meant English camp so we say, “sure” and jump into the back of the truck.
We arrive at the church and are fed an awesome lunch. We then go through an orientation learning the schedule and our responsibilities. After that we jump right in with singing songs, playing games and helping with an English lesson. At the end of the afternoon, we are fed dinner. Tuesday morning we are picked up at 7:00am and head to the church. We are fed breakfast. After worship we do story time of Daniel and the Lion’s den.
Then it is time to teach. It was a packed day that went: English lesson.
Coffee Break.
English Lesson.
Lunch.
English Lesson.
Coffee Break.
Then craft/game time. Dinner.
On Wednesday we again were picked up at 7am. Had breakfast, then told the gospel story, made Jesus bracelets . Participated in the closing camp ceremonies. Ate lunch and then went home. Though it was a packed 3 days, it was awesome and it was a blessing to be able to participate in this English camp.
*Attempting to make silly putty our of eggs, flour and glue. Yeah didn't work*
Some of my favorite moments were:
1. After teaching the 2nd English lesson, all the kids, in unison, said, “Thank you Teacher.” And it was absolutely precious.
2. The food they fed us was amazing and there was always plenty of it to go around.
3. Singing songs in English and playing games.
*Playing Senor Lobo which started in Peru and has now made it to Africa and Asia*
*Recieving my certificate for teaching at the camp*
*The 65 students we taught English to*
*Some of the delicious food we were served*
