December notes

Hello

Saturday, 17 December 2022.

“Our true home is in the present moment where our mind and body are one, where we can be truly ourselves, where we can feel at ease and touch the peace and happiness within us and around us.”

- (Buddhadasa) extracted from the book “Buddhadasa’s Handwritings - Thich Nhat Hanh’s Calligraphy”

Always feel strange that the sleep time passes by too fast when I wake up and feel like not having any sleep. I wish the night was longer…

——

Begin a calm day.

I pulled out all clothes in the wardrobe. I will set a goal of having a smart organization of clothes in the new year. I always have issues with making sure my wardrobe is neat, for a traveler like me. I rearrange my wardrobe once every 1 or 2 months. Most of my friends are moving out, so I don’t do as usual which is to sort out giveaway items. Instead, I was looking for some clothes to give my sister. It was hard to have stylish clothes because I don’t shop or follow fashion trends. I also just received around 10 books from a mate so I decided to take the entire home library of mine for my sister to pick from. Surprisingly, she said “this is what I expect you to show me, not clothes.”

Maybe she knows I am too old-fashioned. And, she also likes to read!

***Khaochamao reflection

I just finished a program in Khaochamao, the last one in the season of JUMP!. 3 words to describe: space, inspiration, and grateful.

love the kayak place, but really really hot! Rayong Botanical Garden

So far, I am able to allocate more time to recharge my energy and dive in my inner mind. There are 4 times I have cried in J! Programs:

1, The first program in Sam Roi Yot- I burst out into tears because the final debrief was taken over by a teacher who looked down on me. I could feel that I am young, small and Asian, so what? I won’t ever cry again after that time, I can stand up for myself at all time.

2, The first overseas J!School in Bangladesh - I cried as hugging goodbye to P’Fai, my roommate, also my co-facilitator, a strong woman, who told me to be strong.

3, The second overseas J!School in Saudi, the first time I received such genuine connection time with students and their takeaways about leadership and privileges - I cried as saying goodbye to my student group, they also waved at me.

every time looking at the beach gives me freedom

4, During the travel in between activities of Khaochamao program, I listened to a song called “Road”. I just randomly found it while being on the bus. I cried reading the translated lyrics. “I don’t know where the road I am walking will lead to. I am still following it…” The road of life, is unclear for many people. Everyone is anxious at some point. I think I will just have to walk in order to create the path. I cried also because one singer didn’t sing, but spaced out. The moment must be either empty or heavy in his mind.

—-

Something I am proud of myself for in this program:

the best pic of stars I took by myself. OMG hahaha

• Being somewhat helpful in Kayak to support those who struggle and eventually went with the fastest team.

• Being flexible and strong in communicating with my student teacher, a person who likes to give me orders and advice.

• Work with a group of 40 % of students who were not active, and most boys use sexist terms with girls. I told them why it matters to see the fear of girls. They complained girls are slow, why did you say “leave no one behind” in group norms? They laugh at the fear of getting their hair wet. I asked to imagine the hair is something you love so much and it gets wet. So, instead of considering girls as the weakest and most sensitive people, would you like to be supportive friends? I was angry at some points.

• Sleep in the tent for 2 nights with good sleep and maintain energy during the program

• Overcome the boredom of separating tents in the storage room

I miss my home when learning how to make fire

Beautiful moments that I will remember:

• See my students talk with the locals in the weaving center

• Hi-fi with all students as they floated to the endpoint with their hand-made raft.

• Watching stars with my students

• Watching my students swim in the waterfall

• See a student sketch and note all the time with their notebook

• Receive thanks from students at the last appreciation circle

• Shake hands with the teacher of my students as goodbye and thanks

• Hugs goodbye to my team

• Play Lazer Tag with my J! friends after the post-program wrap-up. I stayed until midnight and left for my place.

This survival skill got me to watch the movie Cast Away (Tom Hank)....!!!!

Something I want to learn more after this:

• Study the benefits of sea turtles and run the game like Kai did and design more activities like that to introduce scientific facts

• Study river hydrology and plant in the forest for next hiking trips

• Study Micro-plastic to educate students and explain the meaning of beach cleanup

• Study stars to have conversations with students and appreciate the universe

• Jump in a waterfall on the mountain to immerse in the coldness someday

I person I learnt so much from. Thank you Carol for being my empathetic friend. I got the pleasure to work and talk with you!

—-

I have been re-reading my favorite book “Flight”. A travel leads to another travel. Every part of the human body deserves to be loved. I find it easier to read and look at human bodies with my eyes and mind. Blood is also part of us. Let’s not be scared, but be loving. Apply the same to organs, membranes, tissues, death, and whatever.

Found a nice quote:

“What makes us most human is the possession of a unique and irreproducible story, that we take place over time and leave behind our traces.” - (Flight, Olga Tokarczuk)