Starting New Service Projects by Graham

Today, we put down our mud mixtures and pointed our efforts to our next project: designing bathrooms. We split into three groups and scouted out the bathroom our group would be designing and building. We had to think of all of the components of a nice bathroom like lighting, ventilation, and privacy. Then we thought practically about the constraints that we were working with, like the direction of the wind and sun, and the preference of the person whose home we were building for. I'm excited to see an entire project like this from start to finish.

On another note, something that I've noticed is that there is a strong age hierarchy in the village. I first noticed it while playing Takraw with a mix of kids ages 9 to 20 years old. When the ball was sent down the hill next to the playground, the youngest child on the court was always responsible for retrieving it. I offered to do it instead a few times, but everyone, even the young kids shook their heads no. After that, I started noticing it everywhere: younger kids holding flashlights and umbrellas for their older siblings, and getting water for their families. Whenever I tried to do it for them, they just laughed like I was missing something obvious.

It seems like they all agree that this system is fair, and I see its value. It lets kids feel useful and teaches them to respect their elders. Of course, it's also great for the parents to not worry about little chores.

-Graham











Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Days in the Lahu Village by Zara and Addie

Image
Today we left Chiang Mai and drove to the Lahu village, where we will be living for the next four weeks. I met my host mom and spent some time at my homestay unpacking before meeting the group at the village head's house. We were warned that a pig would be killed in a ceremony meant to celebrate our arrival, and a few moments later three Lahu men walked over carrying a small, squealing pig. The sound of the pig squealing made my stomach turn, but the men worked with efficient, practiced movements and the pig quickly went silent and still. The still pig was carried to another spot up the hill to be butchered, and we played in the street with the Lahu kids. A few hours later, a bowl of delicious pork soup was placed in front of me. I've never eaten meat so fresh. Zara  ------------------------------ Playing with the kids of the village was the best part of my day. When we arrived, there were already children lined up, eager to latch onto our hands. With gestures and broken Thai,
Read more

Reflection on Community by Anabelle

Image
It’s hard to miss the sense of community in the village. It’s something I felt when I first entered the village and am continuously reminded of. This type of close-knit community is hard to find when compared to the neighborhoods in Seattle. When a representative from each household meets together before a ceremony, the Lahu people all talk amongst themselves, drinking tea and having a day of rest together. Or even the concept of sitting down and offering a glass of tea to a neighbor or friend is not common in Seattle. But it’s the small gestures like welcoming another person for dinner and tea or playing games with the kids that fosters the deep sense of community. In the same way that the adults talk and visit each other, the kids do too. If there’s a group of kids together at a house, many others will follow and be welcomed in. And they all talk and laugh together, no matter the age differences. The kids grow up living right next to their close friends, which allows them to create t
Read more

Arrived in Thailand by Graham

Image
We woke up today jet-lagged but excited for our first day in Thailand. After a hotel breakfast, we started the day with a steep hike to a Buddhist Temple, where we explored the beautiful gardens and shrines. Krit, a teacher from from the partner organization, led a group meditation for us, and we soaked in the surroundings and reflected on the journey that we've made and our intentions for the next month. After a noodle soup lunch, we ventured into a busy indoor market in the old city. We were each given 100 baht and the challenge to find the coolest thing we could in under 45 minutes. I roamed the packed stalls, stopping to take a closer look at objects that caught my eye, attempting to bargain with half-recalled Thai. At the end of our 45 minutes, my friends and I had collected candy, wood crafts, a jacket, and pants. Not bad for 3 dollars and 50 cents. Tomorrow morning we are driving to the Lahu village. We are so excited to meet our home-stay families.
Read more