A sky of love and memories in Thailand
- Aoyumi Jung
- Feb 10, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 11, 2019
Last day of Tet holiday: 10th of Feb, 2019
Yesterday, I re-watched the video of my experience in Thailand 1 year and a half ago in which everything still remains vivid in my mind.
The first day arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport, the first time abroad alone, the first realization that I would never be alone when I traveled alone, the stunning airport made me breathless for a while and met some other international volunteers of the programs. Everyone was nice, close and far… Then I did not really notice anyone else when recognized my phone could not use sim card in Thailand. The whole first night 2 Thai AIESECers stayed up and helped me fix the phone, the next day they took me to all of the Appstores to find out the solution. At the same time, I was kind of shocked to go around the huge campus of Bangkok university which is around 100 times bigger than mine, as a miniature of a real world. That’s how I started the desire to master Thai language in 6 weeks to the extent that I could catch almost what people communicate in daily context.
It was my daily routine to expect to enjoy the breaking-dawn by getting up at 5:30 am joking around the yard and suddenly caught the marching local Buddhists and quickly hid behind the wall and silently looked towards them. I did not know why I had to do such a secret act?
Then I excitedly went to Watsanamchai school to see the sparkling eyes of my little students, the enthusiastic attitude of the teachers, and the colorful atmosphere of the campus. The whole journey was saved in a small notebook that I spent 30 minutes per day wandering in thoughts and writing on the rooftop of the house.
I always brought along another little notebook to write down Thai vocabulary, I was always in the hunger to learn Thai which was initially just my intention to survive without the Internet. Overtime, the culture and the values just penetrated my head, my language, my behavior, my emotions, and my values. I made use of every opportunity by asking my students, my hosts, even the retailers in the Wat Bangkra market. I practiced in all places ranging from classroom, school yard, kitchen, to market, trips, with strangers, with anyone I met.
Everyday ended up 2 hours watching Thai movies and noted down around 20 new words then tried to come up with some ideas of designing the new lessons to motivate my students.
The first weekend was the only weekend that I invested my own budget in while the remaining 5 weekends, I was taken to 5 different provinces by the kindest people ever in my life at that time: Hell and Heaven park, all kinds of Wat, Bangsaen Beach, A cool bar and a restaurant nearby the romantic Chao Phraya river, the museam, a traditional Thai wedding, Bang Pa-in Royal Palace, the mountain with many lovely and naughty monkey that I fed with some little banana,…
In the first week, I could not resist myself from falling asleep as I did not have the habit of staying up over lunch , most of Vietnamese people need a short nap in the middle of the day. I sneaked in a small room at slept in 30 minutes and one time got caught by my students. The teachers also kindly asked me to take a rest in that quiet space and did not push me to perform any hard work. The students have to be present at school at 7am everyday to do the cleaning up, watering plans, setting up the classrooms, then it is the culture to pray 30 minutes before starting the lessons at 8:30.
They even have to spend several days doing labor work rather than studying to prepare for many special events of the country like Mother’s Day, Thai Language’s Day, English Day, King’s birthday, Sports Day… that cost their time, effort and hard work at a young age. This drove me harder to get up early, to learn Thai, to participate in whatever activity that I can engage in like decorating the school, cooking waffle cake, watering the mushroom, joining the sport competitions of running and hoop bowling.
There are 2 activities that I admire and aspire to be good at like my students are table tennis and running. I love running and plying badminton which are not similar to the running of Thai students and their table tennis game at all! They are very professional, clever and fast athletes and my super cool teachers of Thai language, sport and culture!
Some afternoon, a group of students knocked my room’s door and called my name “Yumi teacher” then we all together rode bike around the village and passed by many lovely students’ houses. We came to a riverside place in which I taught them how to play some traditional games of Vietnam called “dragon snake”. They bought me snack and said “we love teacher” next to that river…
One day, I visited 2 students’ houses that are water-proof designed because the location is just right above the water surface. My students must take off shoes whenever they go out and back home… In the rain season, people need to use boats to move around the school and village as there is full of water.
I like others touch my hair thus I usually asked girls to do braids for me in the recess then we took selfie photos together. Boys know that I love watching football, on a super hot summer day, they asked me out to watch them play in the school yard. They also play football afterschool and told me to watch their excellent performance. Sometimes, we played badminton in the cheering of some village kids, the cook man of the school also came and played with me.
On Mother’s Day, I cried looking at the students expressing their gratitude and love for their parents. I bowed with my best sincerity and gratitude in front of my host (Mama) and some teachers. What a great tradition! There was a twin couple in grade 1 sitting crying so much as their parent left them behind. Even the most stubborn student showed their vulnerable self as a child, as a good kid.
On English Day, I held activities in 2 different schools, my school and another one which lacks English teachers. They were very surprised to hear my Thai speaking skill J that I took pride in quite a lot but so far most of them have been
faded away…! They provided me such interesting and creative English materials to deliver the most interactive and funny activities for the students. It was the triggering moment to my aspiration to learn and bring something creative for the education system in Vietnam.
The last day, I came to school in “Ao Dai”, the traditional charming dress of Vietnam. The students clumsily pronounced my name all together. They gave me teddy bear, a cushion, a notebook,… and hugged me in tears. Kwan asked me not to leave…
The students called me “teacher” hundreds of time day by day…
Mama, Papa and adults called me “Yumi” every lunch and dinner…
Everyone said “sawadee ka/krup” and “see you tomorrow” every day…
Thailand has been the warmest land I have ever been to ... Beyond a land of smile, this is a land of warmth, connection and love. No matter where I go, Thailand is still the most touching destination, Thai is still the most lovely language, Thai culture is still the most respected one to me. Millions of thanks to the people that I met, the places that I explored, the memories that nurtured my maturity and my current self.
Send my love and miss to a sky of emotional moments...!
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