Last day in Omkoi! Time to catch up.
Banyang School - Day 2
The second day at the school was spent priming and painting the classroom building that we prepped the day before. Painting projects are tricky when it comes to service work--as unskilled laborers, we (the Westminster group) don't want to do a bad job or create more work for our Thai hosts. As such, detail work (e.g. painting doors, ceiling lines) was mostly left to the school staff, and our group focused on rolling and brushing the main colors. Each of the 9 schools in this district has a signature color; we painted the building a bright yellow - the primary color of this school.
We only had one ladder and limited paint supplies, so not all of the group could paint at once. One of our students, Isabel, was generous enough to donate her 42 colors of embroidery thread so our students could work with the Thai kids to make bracelets. I have never seen so much thread disappear so quickly. Isabel, you really saved the day! The Thai kids also participated in a coloring contest, which was then later judged/awarded by our group. It was really nice for the folks that like kids to be able to spend their time and energy playing with the Thai kids while those of us (me me me me me) who are a little...less comfortable...around little kids--or all kids--to focus on the painting job.
That said, I did try and push myself out of my comfort zone to interact with kids as much as my signature brand of Kellie-awkwardness would allow. It's hard work, y'all. And these kids are like...definitely the cutest, sweetest kids on the planet. And it was still hard work.
Mad respect for K-6 teachers.
Joe and Kelsey were on kid duty for pretty much 3 days straight. Thanks!
Photo credit: Masami Tadehara
Banyang School - Day 3
Once the building had dried, the Banyang School staff sketched out a mural for our group to paint. We joked that Noi saw our students' drawings the day before and felt that it was in the school's best interest to have their own staff create the design :)
The mural design
Our group working on the mural. You can see the new yellow and silver colors on the building.
The finished mural
After we finished painting, we had a field day of sorts with the Thai kids, playing sports, musical chairs, and a potato sack race. I have videos from the potato sack race, but they're a little lengthy so I may have figure out a way to compress the file before I post it.
We finished our time at the Banyang school with a celebration and ceremony with the Thai teachers and students. Our students were presented with beautiful Karin-style bags--very cool.
Today 5/25, we visited Omkoi elementary school in the center of the town. After visiting each class, students were paired in groups of 2 or 3 and asked to host a classroom for about an hour. Once again, this is a big ask of students who aren't necessarily the most enthused about kids (and don't get me wrong, we also have a fair number of students on this trip who DO like kids and are great with them!), but everyone really stepped up and did a fantastic job. Folks did art projects, folded paper airplanes and fortune tellers, learned new phrases, sang songs. By the end of the hour, everyone left their classrooms--Thai and Westminster students alike--with big smiles and hugs.
Leo, Isabel, and Masami's class
Joe, Makena, and Madi's class
Kelsey and Lily's class
Kate, Nhu, and Izzy's class
After a short lunch break back at the hotel, we ventured out again to visit the Banyang satellite school--a much smaller school with fewer students, teachers, and resources. Nevertheless, this school had wonderful energy. The teachers were incredibly welcoming and the students were very excited for our visit. Again, we paired off in groups of 2-3 to spend about 20 minutes in individual classrooms doing various activities with the kids. I even joined a team to assist with some activities (Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, Row Row Row Your Boat, I'm a Little Tea Pot--which none of us remembered the lyrics to--the rainstorm sound activity, Macarena, and making paper airplanes--always a hit).
Next year, I will definitely DEFINITELY be reaching out to my colleagues in the School of Education for assistance with lesson planning for English as Second Language (ESL) instruction and/or art education. I'm really excited to lean on their expertise and I think it'll really help set our students up for success in future years!
Limbo contest
The whole group at the Banyang satellite campus
The last thing we did before returning to the hotel was to visit a local cafe, where a few folks purchased some beautiful local Karin crafts (shirts, bags, dresses, spices) and some locally roasted coffee.
Nhu and Masami sitting with Noi, one of our Thai hosts who is the glue that holds this trip together!
Students at the cafe examining a bug
Tomorrow, we head back to Chiang Mai for a few more free days. Han and I have put together a host of optional activities that students can join (or they can do their own thing). I'm excited about the things that I have on my personal docket, which include a return to the Alpine Outpost climbing gym, Chiang Mai Arts and Culture Center, a Thai massage, and eating at Khao Soi Khun Yai. Stay tuned!
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