Water, water everywhere~

Yay, back from the water & dams unit!

So, first of all, a bunch of provinces in the Northeast and South are flooded. My roomie thinks it’s just the start to the disaster that will apparently be 2012, but I don’t think so.

We started the journey off in Sisaket province, close to Cambodia. There was danger of the province flooding while we were there, so we were only able to stay for 3 days. I stayed with Katie and Jbo, and my host family was AMAZING. It consisted of a grandpa, grandma, a 16 year old dude, and a 3 year old boy. They made the delicious food, and I feel like we really got to know them. The first day, we were eating their delicious food (eggs and the first and most delicious pumpkin curry I’ve ever had). We were talking about the flood and how host grandma was worried that her rice field would get flooded and all of her crops would be ruined. The family also had upwards of 20 water buffalo which they would have to take to higher ground if it flooded. If that happened, the 16 year old boy had to go to school, so who would take care of the 3 year old kid? However, my host grandma just laughed about it. Meanwhile, on the TV, a bunch of farmers from Korat and Khon Kaen provinces were crying about their lost crops. I asked host grandma why she was laughing, and she said, “What else can you do but laugh?”

Afterwards, we were talking to the 16 year old kid. He was super smart – first in his class, won tons of awards both in Sisaket and Bangkok in quiz bowl-esque competions. He said that his parents were working in Bangkok so that they could send him to school. He also said that he wants to go to Khon Kaen University to be a teacher but fears that he won’t have enough money. I really hope he makes it in; this kid could be a contender

The next day, we weren’t to a parade/festival and saw boat racing with the villagers.

We had that day free with our families, so while my host family was doing their farming thing, I reflected on absurd kpop paper ideas. The Human Rights of K-pop stars. How/why K-pop appeals to Asian Americans. How K-pop is re-masculinizing Asian American men. I don’t even.

The next day after that, we had our exchanges with the Royal Irrigation Department and villagers affected by Rasi Salai and Hua Na dams. Surprisingly, after years of fighting against government-sponsored the large-scale dams (which block the fish and basically ruin the villagers’ livelihoods), they are now FRIENDS with the Royal Irrigation department. They’re not working together to restore the wetlands area, which was really nice to hear.

That night, Katie, Jbo and I played cards with the guys, as their host grandma was our host grandma’s sister. We also got to talk more with our host brother and the guys’ host brother. It was just a nice break from the huge issues that we had been dealing with.

Next, we went to Ubon Ratchathani province. Katie and I lucked out; we had the BEST homestay location. We basically had our own house equipped with two bedrooms, two leather sofas, one big screen TV, a shower room AND a separate toilet room, and no need for a mosquito net! It was so, so nice.

We went to the legendary Pak Mun Dam (which is so big that it slightly alters the Earth’s rotation… yes really) and villagers who are still fighting to keep all of the gates of the dam open, even after 20 years of fighting.

We also took a sketchy, sketchy boat down the Mekong river. We were a few kilometers from Laos, but unfortunately, we couldn’t disembark there because they only let Thai citizens in at that particular point. Oh well.

Laos, straight ahead~

The next day, there were like, hurricane-level winds in the village. It was like, sweatshirt-weather. Like, Chicago in October weather. In Thailand. I know. We found out that our host father was a local leader of the Assembly of the Poor, a huge grassroots movement in Thailand. Mostly, we just hung out with the family. We walked around the village with our host grandmother and met our host… well, I don’t know what he was, but he was our grandmother’s grandson. She told us to go with him on his motorcycle and see all the sights of the province, but when we came back about two hours later, she was super pissed that we had gone. I have no idea what happened, nor did I really understand, as she only spoke Isaan that day. And my Isaan knowledge is very, very limited. So… I don’t know what was up with that.

Day after that, we had an exchange with that Tamui villagers, who are currently trying to keep the government from building a dam near their area. Paw Somkiat, a local leader and NGO-ish figure working in the area (oh, btw, here in Thailand, NGOs are actually NGIs, or non-governmental individuals, and generally work in networks. Unlike the US, of course), gave a rallying cry to them which was super powerful. Later in the day, we had an exchange with him, and he said some really powerful stuff to us as well. In particular, he gave some advice to us: “Dare to challenge yourself. You only have one life to live.” Just think about it.

Landscape from Tamui~

Finally, we left Ubon Ratchathani and went to Sisaket province for a little bit to have an exchange with another NGO, Paw Sanan. I couldn’t really concentrate because we had to sit on the ground which comprised of clumps and clumps of hard, dried dirt. Ouch.

Anyway, now I’m back in Khon Kaen. The past few days have been really relaxing. First day back, I just did some k-pop stuff and caught up with reflecting and all that jazz. Then, we had peer tutors, so I had to get back into the habit of reading and stuff. Afterwards, we went bowling with all of the ajaans, in which I did horribly as usual. I think my high may have been like, a 45. And I got a strike from flinging the ball without any rhyme or reason. And someone got a strike from granny-bowling, which was pretty awesome.

Yesterday, I went to Central with Katie and did some gift shopping. I also may have had an entire veggie thin crust pizza and brownie chocolate Blizzard to myself. Oh, American food cravings. That night, my roomie and I had a nice bonding session over the kpop program broadcast (it looked like Music Bank maybe?), where we watched 2PM’s and BEAST’s comeback songs. I don’t think anyone else can appreciate the glory and happiness that I felt when I saw my favorite kpop idols on mainstream TV. I’m pretty sure my roomie thought I was crazy too. After that, we watched this ghost hunting program and talked about whether we thought ghosts or spirits existed or not. I’m a skeptic, but roomie thinks it might be possible. I thought about people in Tamui village back in Ubon Ratchathani province, who really think that the Naga exists in their river. No, really.

You know, like this guy. Extra cool points if you know where he's from~

Right now, I’m eatin’ some yum kai dow with woonsen at my fav. noodle place. Saturday – Wednesday, I’ll be visiting my family in Bangkok and hangin’ out with my beloved NU grads. SO EXCITED! After that, I’ll be starting the next unit (mining), which I’ll be unit facilitating. Eeeep. Wish me luck!