Dave at Lampee Primary School

Back in Sydney, Australia, for 2 months now, and I still think of the kids at Lampee Primary School, Anders, Nett, and all the new friends I made in Thai Mueang on an almost daily basis. Though I only spent a week in Thai Mueang with Anders and Nett, I can honestly say that it was the most fulfilling chapter of my life. It felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be – where all my experiences, skills, training, and decisions I’ve made throughout my life brought me to Thai Mueang.

Dave with the sixth graders at Lampee Primary School

In Australia, I am an educator at a university. However, it felt as though I created more value for the kids at Lumpee Primary School in one week than I did in a year of teaching and research at a university. Why? The kids at Lumpee Primary School were disadvantaged, with many having fled Burma to seek refuge in Thailand. These kids were like sponges, attentively listening to every word I uttered, and their enthusiasm was endless. When I speak of creating “value”, I refer to it as meaning, “Is what I am doing easily replaceable and, if I were to leave, would I be missed?” And I must admit, in my everyday job, what I do is indeed quite replaceable and the institution will run as a well-oiled machine – with or without me.

Classroom setting at Lampee Primary School

But compared to the connection I made with the kids at Lumpee Primary School? The connection between myself and the kids is invaluable – to them and to myself. Contrary to teaching at a tertiary level, I’ve come to learn that teaching children involves giving them your full attention, listening to them, and just showing that you care about their welfare. I’ve learnt that this is crucial in developing their sense of self-worth by showing them an adult can take them seriously. More so for the kids at Lumpee Primary School, where most come from a disadvantaged background.

Ice cream on a hot day for the students at Lampee

In terms of logistics, TM Volunteers were great! Anders and Nett were awesome hosts, always ensuring that I was comfortable and happy with my time there in Thai Mueang. The food in Thai Mueang is wonderful, and the people were so warm and friendly. I found the experience to be very nourishing on the soul, giving me a new perspective on my life and the opportunity to re-assess the values many of us take for granted in Australia. I look forward to coming back to Thai Mueang on an annual basis to teach at Lumpee Primary School.

Traditional Burmese song and dance at an ASEAN conference

My favourite memories: Nawin (one of my students in my year 3 class) bawling his eyes out when I was leaving; one of my students giving me a small present (a really pretty key-ring) after class; the kids performing traditional Burmese song and dance at an ASEAN conference.

I have just finished my first year at Uni, and I wanted to push my limits and figured volunteering would be a good bet. Thailand is one of the best places to do volunteering. The people, the culture, the atmosphere and so much more make this experience like nothing you will get at home. I remember first arriving here and meeting Anders, Net and the other volunteers. Instant friendship. Without each and everyone of them I am sure Thailand wouldn’t have been the same.

I had no idea how teaching was going to go. I mean it all sounded pretty straight forward, all you need to do is follow procedure. Screw procedure, I thought, I can do things my way, I don’t need to lesson plan. I will improvise. If I was ever wrong, well, that was the moment. Lesson planning is like the Holy Grail of teaching English as a second language. Make sure to go into the lessons over prepared. Better to be safe than sorry. But once you are in the lessons, you just feed off the kids energy, it’s like your adrenaline is pumping 3 hours straight, every day. There would always be laughter, and the concentration some of them had was just remarkable. Also make sure to cover your ears when you say the word ‘Game’. The kids just go nuts. Best way to end a lesson.

As a volunteer I not only taught English at a public school, but I also experienced Thailand from a non-tourist perspective. Which in my books equals towards: Priceless. Net, the other volunteers and I went to Khao Lak (semi-touristy, but not anywhere close to Patong), to a Waterfall, to shopping malls and almost everyday we went to the beach. Bliss. There is a 13km beach here, just for our pleasure. Not another soul is on the beach. Sweet as. The weekends were filled with fun stuff, and meeting just cool people. The friends that I have made here, will go down in history with me.

The memories are also priceless. I mean how many people can say that they have eaten chicken feet and crocodile, been stung by a scorpion, driving a motorbike everyday and been given fresh coconuts almost every day.

Unfortunately all good things come to an end. And my one month (Not nearly enough, next time I am going for 3 months, for sure) volunteering came to a quick end. Saying goodbye to the kids went alright up until the point where the wanted to hug me and kiss me on the cheek. Crying my eyes out is an understatement, I literally balled my eyes out. And what happens when 25 kids see a ‘farang” (foreigner) cry, well, they all cry, which made it even worse. Cheers. Off I go back to the ‘land of the long white cloud’ aka New Zealand. But as Arnold Schwarzenegger says “I’ll be back!”

Thank you Net, Anders, Rose, Lisa, Tom, Chris, Matt, the lovely people at Bam-Bam’s Restaurant (where we had Dinner almost every night) and the crazy cool people in Khao Lak. This ride has been AWESOME! Cant wait to catch you again soon.
Also future volunteers, a tip: You will have an amazing time here in Thai Mueang. No matter where you come from, how old you are or what your profession is you will love it! I promise!

Smile!

Photography Lesson with Michele and the students

Phratom 3 and Michele volunteer English teacherVolunteers in Thailand swimming in the waterfallMichele having fun with RoseAt Tonprai Waterfall in Phang Nga Province

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