I would just like to say that Thailand is amazing. I dont think i will ever experience anything like that again. The sights, the people and the culture we amazing and words i dont even think words can describe it! Just like to thank Ashley for writing that blog because i was so tired to write anything. I think it will take some time to get used to the time difference but it is totally worth it.
A BIG THANKS!
I would just like to thank all the teachers that came and organised this trip. You did an amazing job and we are all grateful.
Also a thank you to the students for helping me experience this trip with friends and help create memories that will last a life time.
And to the regent students for being so kind to us when staying with you and helping us feel welcomed when so far away from home. I am glad that we have become friends and we will keep in touch!
So thank you and good bye
Caitlin
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Back Home
So we have finally arrived back in Bermuda and I think all of us were extremely sad to leave Thailand as it was amazing.
Gyu basically said everything that happened between my last post and the point where we all left each other so I'll go from there...
We arrived at the Marriot at 7:30ish in Bangkok and went and got some stuff for dinner and then went to bed as we had to get up at 7 for the tours the next day. We first went around the markets to see them and buy food for our cooking class that afternoon which was really cool. That night we went to the night market which was amazing and the prices were really really cheap...Ms Chase and I had fun haggling the prices down.....sometimes by more that 70%!
The next day we had to get up at 6 am (8pm the day before Bermuda time) to go on a tour to the Orchid Farm and Rose Gardens. At the Rose Garden we saw a cultural performance which was amazing as we saw an example of Thai boxing and some amazing dances over bamboo poles...sometimes the dancers were moving so fast we couldn't see their feet. We then went back to the hotel and relaxed, showered, cleaned our rooms and packed before heading to the pool for dinner while we reflected over the trip and had a "prize giving". We then went back to the rooms, got our bags and said a last goodbye to Thailand before getting on the bus and going to the airport at 10 pm (8 am BDA).
Once at the airport we found out the second flight (as we were split into 2 groups going to Dubai) was delayed, and some people got really stressed out that we would miss the flight to New York and miss the Bermuda flight, so we panicked for a while until we got on the plane and realised it was all going to be ok and we were going to make the next flight (which we did, although we didn't get on the plane until 3 am on the 31st (1 pm BDA on the 30th)). Once in New York after our 18 hours of flying (6 1/2 hours to Dubai and 11 1/2 to New York) we found out we had to go through immagrations, get our bags, go to the 3rd terminal (we were in 1) check back in, get rid of our bags, get through security and to our gate in less that an hour. We got our bags and got through immagrations, but when we went to our flight representative from Emirates airline, we were told we wouldn't make our flight and would be spending the night in NY. After about 45 minutes of Mr. Walter organizing everything for today (April 1st) with the representative we got booked in the Holiday Inn for the night, were given coupons for dinner and flights and transport to and from the airport were arranged, all paid for by Emirates without and arguments! We found out we would be flying to Atlanta, GA at 6 am, and would have to be at the airport for 4 am (which involved waking up at 3!) and from Atlanta we would fly home, adding an extra 5 hours to our travelling...making our total journey of flights to get home 23 hours....from 6 am on the 30st to 3 pm on the 1st.....and we only had about 6 hours of sleep in a bed in those 3 days.
It's nice to be home, but its really really quiet now without everyone and I'm exhausted, as I've only slept for about 8 hours in the last 3 days, as it is really hard for me to sleep on planes!
I think before we were told how much of an amazing, life changing experiance this was but none of us really understood what Mrs. Nash and all the other teachers meant until we've come back home to Bermuda, and have had time to reflect on the trip and words can't describe how amazing this journey was for me personally. We arrive back in Bermuda and although we're home and I thought I would be glad to be home, I miss the people with us, and the amazing things we saw and learned along the way, and I even miss the digging. I think about how much work we did by moving 75 TONNES of soil, how much we perservered and the amount we accomplished and how digging the site, although it didn't involve us to spend any money on the digging as it was all volunteer, manual labour, and it just proves how money is not everything, as we didn't need a huge amount of money in our perspective to make someone's life better. This was a surreal experiance, and although the flights were long, it was hot and we all were exhausted by the end, I would go back in a heartbeat. The way we saw Thailand gave me a completely different outlook on life and makes me appreciate what I have and encouraged me to live in the moment, as you only live once and not only should you live for yourself but how you can help other people, which in turn, helps you to grow as a person.
This trip was a life changing experiance, and the things we did and the people we met are unforgettable.
Ash
P.S - To everyone at Regent's....WE MISS YOU BADDDDLLLLYYYYY......if any of you get this would you please post your e-mails and facebook names (you all promised to get FB!) on as comments or if you group them all together as a post or something for the people (like me!) who forgot ( :( ) to get them before we left so we can all keep in contact?????
Gyu basically said everything that happened between my last post and the point where we all left each other so I'll go from there...
We arrived at the Marriot at 7:30ish in Bangkok and went and got some stuff for dinner and then went to bed as we had to get up at 7 for the tours the next day. We first went around the markets to see them and buy food for our cooking class that afternoon which was really cool. That night we went to the night market which was amazing and the prices were really really cheap...Ms Chase and I had fun haggling the prices down.....sometimes by more that 70%!
The next day we had to get up at 6 am (8pm the day before Bermuda time) to go on a tour to the Orchid Farm and Rose Gardens. At the Rose Garden we saw a cultural performance which was amazing as we saw an example of Thai boxing and some amazing dances over bamboo poles...sometimes the dancers were moving so fast we couldn't see their feet. We then went back to the hotel and relaxed, showered, cleaned our rooms and packed before heading to the pool for dinner while we reflected over the trip and had a "prize giving". We then went back to the rooms, got our bags and said a last goodbye to Thailand before getting on the bus and going to the airport at 10 pm (8 am BDA).
Once at the airport we found out the second flight (as we were split into 2 groups going to Dubai) was delayed, and some people got really stressed out that we would miss the flight to New York and miss the Bermuda flight, so we panicked for a while until we got on the plane and realised it was all going to be ok and we were going to make the next flight (which we did, although we didn't get on the plane until 3 am on the 31st (1 pm BDA on the 30th)). Once in New York after our 18 hours of flying (6 1/2 hours to Dubai and 11 1/2 to New York) we found out we had to go through immagrations, get our bags, go to the 3rd terminal (we were in 1) check back in, get rid of our bags, get through security and to our gate in less that an hour. We got our bags and got through immagrations, but when we went to our flight representative from Emirates airline, we were told we wouldn't make our flight and would be spending the night in NY. After about 45 minutes of Mr. Walter organizing everything for today (April 1st) with the representative we got booked in the Holiday Inn for the night, were given coupons for dinner and flights and transport to and from the airport were arranged, all paid for by Emirates without and arguments! We found out we would be flying to Atlanta, GA at 6 am, and would have to be at the airport for 4 am (which involved waking up at 3!) and from Atlanta we would fly home, adding an extra 5 hours to our travelling...making our total journey of flights to get home 23 hours....from 6 am on the 30st to 3 pm on the 1st.....and we only had about 6 hours of sleep in a bed in those 3 days.
It's nice to be home, but its really really quiet now without everyone and I'm exhausted, as I've only slept for about 8 hours in the last 3 days, as it is really hard for me to sleep on planes!
I think before we were told how much of an amazing, life changing experiance this was but none of us really understood what Mrs. Nash and all the other teachers meant until we've come back home to Bermuda, and have had time to reflect on the trip and words can't describe how amazing this journey was for me personally. We arrive back in Bermuda and although we're home and I thought I would be glad to be home, I miss the people with us, and the amazing things we saw and learned along the way, and I even miss the digging. I think about how much work we did by moving 75 TONNES of soil, how much we perservered and the amount we accomplished and how digging the site, although it didn't involve us to spend any money on the digging as it was all volunteer, manual labour, and it just proves how money is not everything, as we didn't need a huge amount of money in our perspective to make someone's life better. This was a surreal experiance, and although the flights were long, it was hot and we all were exhausted by the end, I would go back in a heartbeat. The way we saw Thailand gave me a completely different outlook on life and makes me appreciate what I have and encouraged me to live in the moment, as you only live once and not only should you live for yourself but how you can help other people, which in turn, helps you to grow as a person.
This trip was a life changing experiance, and the things we did and the people we met are unforgettable.
Ash
P.S - To everyone at Regent's....WE MISS YOU BADDDDLLLLYYYYY......if any of you get this would you please post your e-mails and facebook names (you all promised to get FB!) on as comments or if you group them all together as a post or something for the people (like me!) who forgot ( :( ) to get them before we left so we can all keep in contact?????
Friday, March 28, 2008
Back Home
Today we all came back to place we call 'home'. Maybe only people from Regent's, since BHS people are in Bangkok. I'm going to write what i saw so BHS people Please write so i know what happened after we went...
In the morning we had breakfast at 7:30 as usual and after breakfast I walked up to school and small beach on the side of the resort to take pictures. And at 9:30, we all took our bags to the front of hotel and took pictures of all people in front of 'Phi Phi natural resort'. After that we went on the the longtail boat to get to the ship(?) or the large boat to go back to Krabi.
When we were about half way to Krabi, the ship broke down for 5~10 minutes with smoke coming out from the engine so we were all worried. we started going to Krabi again and we got there about 12 or 1. We got on the mini van and we went to the airport.
It was about 1:30 so we checked in and had some things to eat. And then we got into the Domestic hall(?) or lounge and waited. We got on the plane at about 3 and we had about 1 hour and 40minutes of flight to Suvarnami airport.
Most people started to cry when we were waiting for the bags we sent. We took pictures and everyone were having hugs as last present. The time we got all the bags and went out was at 5:13. We had about 20 minutes saying good byes, Giving last hugs and Waiting for some parents who were late for picking up their children.
After that I have no idea what BHS people did cos i was going back to Pattaya...
Our group got to our school at 7:30 and we all went home.
I hope someone will write from BHS so I'm just going to wait for it.
P.S. Everyone I'm so sorry about bad grammar...
SeeYa again BHS girls!!! and teachers
In the morning we had breakfast at 7:30 as usual and after breakfast I walked up to school and small beach on the side of the resort to take pictures. And at 9:30, we all took our bags to the front of hotel and took pictures of all people in front of 'Phi Phi natural resort'. After that we went on the the longtail boat to get to the ship(?) or the large boat to go back to Krabi.
When we were about half way to Krabi, the ship broke down for 5~10 minutes with smoke coming out from the engine so we were all worried. we started going to Krabi again and we got there about 12 or 1. We got on the mini van and we went to the airport.
It was about 1:30 so we checked in and had some things to eat. And then we got into the Domestic hall(?) or lounge and waited. We got on the plane at about 3 and we had about 1 hour and 40minutes of flight to Suvarnami airport.
Most people started to cry when we were waiting for the bags we sent. We took pictures and everyone were having hugs as last present. The time we got all the bags and went out was at 5:13. We had about 20 minutes saying good byes, Giving last hugs and Waiting for some parents who were late for picking up their children.
After that I have no idea what BHS people did cos i was going back to Pattaya...
Our group got to our school at 7:30 and we all went home.
I hope someone will write from BHS so I'm just going to wait for it.
P.S. Everyone I'm so sorry about bad grammar...
SeeYa again BHS girls!!! and teachers
Thursday, March 27, 2008
LAST DAY ON THE ISLAND!
Unfortunately today is our last day on the beautiful island of Koh Phi Phi, as we leave bright and early tomorrow morning to go back to Bangkok! We are excited though to have some warm fresh showers and wash some clothes, which are all either wet from swimming or covered in mud! I am going to miss the island very much and working with the Regent students, as I have met some very cool people! Since I have not been on in a few days, let me give you a brief description of what we have done:
Monday: We went out on the longtails to go SNORKLING in the clear beautiful ocean and we had the opportunity to visit many islands, like Koh Phi Phi Lay (from the movie 'The Beach', which was a really good movie that we got to watch the night before). The ocean was ALMOST as beautiful as Bermuda, but my main concern when we went out there was to make sure that I did not see any sharks and I am happy to say that I did not run into any :)
Tuesday: DIGGING, which is always fun!
Wednesday: This was actually the best day of the week for me, as we go to go to the other side of the island, which was more tourist like and so we got to do LOTS OF SHOPPING! We also had a great experience of climbing up to a view point, which was quite a struggle, as it seemed like we were climbing 1,000 steps! Once we got up there, although out of breathe, it was definently worth it, as the view was incredible! I even decided to push myself and climb further to the other viewpoint! We were able to visit the Tsunami Memorial Garden, which was very emotional for most of us, and although it is a peacful place, a bar had been built right by the garden and so there was very loud music, which was quite disturbing and disappointing! I also was able to have the absolutely amazingly delicious pancakes that Mrs. Nash has been talking about since we got to the island and I am really hoping that they have them in Bangkok because they were the best I have ever tasted!!!
Finally today instead of digging as normal, we have started to dig holes, which has been exciting so far and then tonight we are having a barbeque to say our goodbyes to the regent students, which will be very sad!
This has been an amazing experience that I will never forget and I cannot wait to come back in 2.5 years to see the final result from the service project.
well now i have to go back to digging :)
SEE YOU ALL SOON!
Monday: We went out on the longtails to go SNORKLING in the clear beautiful ocean and we had the opportunity to visit many islands, like Koh Phi Phi Lay (from the movie 'The Beach', which was a really good movie that we got to watch the night before). The ocean was ALMOST as beautiful as Bermuda, but my main concern when we went out there was to make sure that I did not see any sharks and I am happy to say that I did not run into any :)
Tuesday: DIGGING, which is always fun!
Wednesday: This was actually the best day of the week for me, as we go to go to the other side of the island, which was more tourist like and so we got to do LOTS OF SHOPPING! We also had a great experience of climbing up to a view point, which was quite a struggle, as it seemed like we were climbing 1,000 steps! Once we got up there, although out of breathe, it was definently worth it, as the view was incredible! I even decided to push myself and climb further to the other viewpoint! We were able to visit the Tsunami Memorial Garden, which was very emotional for most of us, and although it is a peacful place, a bar had been built right by the garden and so there was very loud music, which was quite disturbing and disappointing! I also was able to have the absolutely amazingly delicious pancakes that Mrs. Nash has been talking about since we got to the island and I am really hoping that they have them in Bangkok because they were the best I have ever tasted!!!
Finally today instead of digging as normal, we have started to dig holes, which has been exciting so far and then tonight we are having a barbeque to say our goodbyes to the regent students, which will be very sad!
This has been an amazing experience that I will never forget and I cannot wait to come back in 2.5 years to see the final result from the service project.
well now i have to go back to digging :)
SEE YOU ALL SOON!
Hello again from Khun Sheila.
We are on our last day of digging and judging by the amount of soil that we have dug up, it looks as if we have moved a mountain! The students from both BHS and Regents schools continue to work with amazing motivation and commitment. Although the project is a two year one, it is very satisfying knowing that we have already made an enormous contribution to it.
As Ashley has already written on her blog, we have had the opportunity to revisit the Baan Koh Phi Phi school and the hospital that we helped out with in 2006. We also recognised some of the students at Baan Koh P.P school. It was good to see that the trench we had dug for the electricity cables is now completed and has street lights and cables for the hospital in full operation.
As a reward for our final dinner here on Phi Phi, we will be having a bar-b-que on the beach which everyone is looking forward to. We will do another 3-4 hours of digging before that so must sign off to prepare for that.
Hope Bermuda is fairing under the rain storms.
Sheila
We are on our last day of digging and judging by the amount of soil that we have dug up, it looks as if we have moved a mountain! The students from both BHS and Regents schools continue to work with amazing motivation and commitment. Although the project is a two year one, it is very satisfying knowing that we have already made an enormous contribution to it.
As Ashley has already written on her blog, we have had the opportunity to revisit the Baan Koh Phi Phi school and the hospital that we helped out with in 2006. We also recognised some of the students at Baan Koh P.P school. It was good to see that the trench we had dug for the electricity cables is now completed and has street lights and cables for the hospital in full operation.
As a reward for our final dinner here on Phi Phi, we will be having a bar-b-que on the beach which everyone is looking forward to. We will do another 3-4 hours of digging before that so must sign off to prepare for that.
Hope Bermuda is fairing under the rain storms.
Sheila
Last Day!
Sorry it's taken so long to get on here but I couldn't get back on my account! Anyway we've been in Thailand for 13 days now and in Koh Phi Phi for 9 days....today is our last full day and no one is looking forward to leaving tomorrow morning....I'm even going to miss digging! We've all finally adjusted to the time change now, but it still feels really weird to think that it's 8:15 Thursday morning here now but it's like 10 pm on Wednesday in Bermuda!
Yesterday we went to the other side of Koh Phi Phi Don and went sightseeing and it was amazing. We first went to the hospital that was worked on by the group 2 years ago and Mrs. Nash was explaining to all of us how they had dug the holes for the solar powered lights along the tsunami evacuation route. We then went to the Ban Laem Tong school and saw the murals painted 2 years ago. We then hiked up to the View Point which was 346 steps just to View Point 1...AND THERE WERE 3! Mrs Cook and Mr Walter are standing here now and they say that its about 108m up....and it was STRAIGHT up, the steps were so steep that some people were using there hands to pull themselves up and my foot didn't even fit halfway on one step! We then stopped at a little cafe at View Point 1 and most of the 45 of us stayed there but me and others came up to View Point 2 with us, which was 1 kilometer up from the cafe. Unfortunatly we were told it was too dangerous to go up to View Point 3. The View Points are the tsunami evacuation routes, and many of the people that live on Koh Phi Phi Don were running up and doing push ups and stuff at the top while many of us were struggling to put one foot in front of the other. Almost all of the students from both the Regent's School and BHS raced down to the cafe from View Point 2, and we all felt really bad when we reached the bottom and realised it took 25 minutes to get there and 5 minutes to get down! We then went to the tsunami memorial garden which was really sad and most of us were crying as people read poems and speeches and John played the guitar while Valerie sang with him. Mrs Nash was really dissapointed as a bar had been built right infront of the garden and we could here loud music and shouts and laughing throughout the service. We then had free time to split up and wander around and the group I was with managed to get lost and we kept asking "the hospital? where is the hospital?" and we got directions to the hospital at every shop we stopped at. Everything on the island is really really cheap and I got 2 pairs of fisherman pants (they are the most comfortable pants I have ever worn!) for 250 baht...which is about $8! and 2 tank tops, each for $230 baht. Pansy and I then went and got banana and chocolate Thai pancakes....which are like crepes but 10 times better....I wish we had gotten another one, even though we weren't hungry. Jessica and I got strawberry banana smoothies which were amazing too, and even these 2 things cost about 100 baht combined!
To end the day we took longtail boats back to the other side which was really nice and we saw a water plane land right next to us before we got off the boat and walked along the beach back to the hotel.
Anyway so far we've been working, going island hopping and snorkling and getting sunburnt along the way, but the waters here and the beaches although they are GORGEOUS aren't as beautiful as Bermuda's, but they do come pretty close.
Even though the work is hard and we're exhausted and sweaty by the end of it it is completely worth it as we look at the amount of work we have done and the amount of dirt we have moved and we know that in 2 and a half years (WHEN we come back) we'll be able to see what all this work has accomplished.
Anyway we're starting to dig now so I have to go...
BYE!
Yesterday we went to the other side of Koh Phi Phi Don and went sightseeing and it was amazing. We first went to the hospital that was worked on by the group 2 years ago and Mrs. Nash was explaining to all of us how they had dug the holes for the solar powered lights along the tsunami evacuation route. We then went to the Ban Laem Tong school and saw the murals painted 2 years ago. We then hiked up to the View Point which was 346 steps just to View Point 1...AND THERE WERE 3! Mrs Cook and Mr Walter are standing here now and they say that its about 108m up....and it was STRAIGHT up, the steps were so steep that some people were using there hands to pull themselves up and my foot didn't even fit halfway on one step! We then stopped at a little cafe at View Point 1 and most of the 45 of us stayed there but me and others came up to View Point 2 with us, which was 1 kilometer up from the cafe. Unfortunatly we were told it was too dangerous to go up to View Point 3. The View Points are the tsunami evacuation routes, and many of the people that live on Koh Phi Phi Don were running up and doing push ups and stuff at the top while many of us were struggling to put one foot in front of the other. Almost all of the students from both the Regent's School and BHS raced down to the cafe from View Point 2, and we all felt really bad when we reached the bottom and realised it took 25 minutes to get there and 5 minutes to get down! We then went to the tsunami memorial garden which was really sad and most of us were crying as people read poems and speeches and John played the guitar while Valerie sang with him. Mrs Nash was really dissapointed as a bar had been built right infront of the garden and we could here loud music and shouts and laughing throughout the service. We then had free time to split up and wander around and the group I was with managed to get lost and we kept asking "the hospital? where is the hospital?" and we got directions to the hospital at every shop we stopped at. Everything on the island is really really cheap and I got 2 pairs of fisherman pants (they are the most comfortable pants I have ever worn!) for 250 baht...which is about $8! and 2 tank tops, each for $230 baht. Pansy and I then went and got banana and chocolate Thai pancakes....which are like crepes but 10 times better....I wish we had gotten another one, even though we weren't hungry. Jessica and I got strawberry banana smoothies which were amazing too, and even these 2 things cost about 100 baht combined!
To end the day we took longtail boats back to the other side which was really nice and we saw a water plane land right next to us before we got off the boat and walked along the beach back to the hotel.
Anyway so far we've been working, going island hopping and snorkling and getting sunburnt along the way, but the waters here and the beaches although they are GORGEOUS aren't as beautiful as Bermuda's, but they do come pretty close.
Even though the work is hard and we're exhausted and sweaty by the end of it it is completely worth it as we look at the amount of work we have done and the amount of dirt we have moved and we know that in 2 and a half years (WHEN we come back) we'll be able to see what all this work has accomplished.
Anyway we're starting to dig now so I have to go...
BYE!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
A Day Of Snorkelling
Yesterday we went snorkelling and it was fun but we ALL got burnt. The reefs are beautiful but not as beautiful as Bermuda's. Ceola, unfortunately, sprained her ankle walking down the stairs of her cabin!! But, through her efforts of not giving up she was able to go snorkelling and is still digging for this project. She is stillrecovering though. We only 1 day more of digging and we are off to bangkok. We worked really hard and you can see that we have made very good progress. We miss everyone and our home, but we are glad to be here helping out!!
Catherine, Ceola & Yanni
Catherine, Ceola & Yanni
Hello from Khun Sheila,
The students have been doing an awesome job digging the foundations for the school's community and education centre. Their enrgy, enthusiasim and dedication to the project continues unwaningly. Education is definately more than just academic work!
Will blog again soon. Hope all is fine in Bermuda.
Sheila
The students have been doing an awesome job digging the foundations for the school's community and education centre. Their enrgy, enthusiasim and dedication to the project continues unwaningly. Education is definately more than just academic work!
Will blog again soon. Hope all is fine in Bermuda.
Sheila
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
HEY BERMUDA!
Wow I cannot believe we have been in Thailand for a week now and on the island for 3 days!!!
The island is absolutely BEAUTIFUL, but not nearly as amazing as Bermuda of course, which we all miss so much! We have a break right now for 20 minutes until we have to DIG MORE, which we have been doing for about 7 hours a day. We have been working with the Regents School and they are great and hard workers as well! Although it is really really HOT we still have energy and are not giving up. We are almost finished for today and then I am going in the pool to cool off, which has been really nice and refreshing! I miss Bermuda so much and I hope that everything is good and the weather gets better for you :) It did rain once here, which was last night when we were in the pool and it was really cool because we saw lightening in the sky and it was really pretty looking out at the other islands!
Well sorry I couldnt speak longer but its time to get back to digging!
MISS EVERYONE
-brittany
The island is absolutely BEAUTIFUL, but not nearly as amazing as Bermuda of course, which we all miss so much! We have a break right now for 20 minutes until we have to DIG MORE, which we have been doing for about 7 hours a day. We have been working with the Regents School and they are great and hard workers as well! Although it is really really HOT we still have energy and are not giving up. We are almost finished for today and then I am going in the pool to cool off, which has been really nice and refreshing! I miss Bermuda so much and I hope that everything is good and the weather gets better for you :) It did rain once here, which was last night when we were in the pool and it was really cool because we saw lightening in the sky and it was really pretty looking out at the other islands!
Well sorry I couldnt speak longer but its time to get back to digging!
MISS EVERYONE
-brittany
WHATSUP BERMUDA
HEY we're at Koh Phi Phi Don and its REALLY REALLY HOT. We're sweating like pigs and we're super dirty. It took 500 hours to get here and it's been really fun. The Regent's Students are cool ! We are a little home-sick though, but we are really enjoying thailand. Its a lot different than Bemuda--like food and THE WEATHER !!! Talk to yopu all later.
*peace out*
-haley
*peace out*
-haley
Hello From Thailand!
Hello Evveryone.
We have had a long dury since we first stepped on the plane. We went to the Regent's school and spent 3 days there. Then we took an hour flight to catch a ferry boat that was 2 hours. Our entertainment for that was trying to learn how to speak Thai and we watched Robbie Williams Concert. When we came close top the island we were all amazed at the sight of it, it was so BEAUTIFUL!!! We took a small little boat off of the ferry to get to the island but were not brought straight up to it. It stopped about half and then we had to walk!! (in the ocean) So then we arrived and were quite excited that we had arrived on this amazing island and got to our bongalos. So now all of us are digging and digging and digging. With about 500pounds of sweat on our body, not the mopst attractive but WERE HELPING!
Well talk to you later
Cat
We have had a long dury since we first stepped on the plane. We went to the Regent's school and spent 3 days there. Then we took an hour flight to catch a ferry boat that was 2 hours. Our entertainment for that was trying to learn how to speak Thai and we watched Robbie Williams Concert. When we came close top the island we were all amazed at the sight of it, it was so BEAUTIFUL!!! We took a small little boat off of the ferry to get to the island but were not brought straight up to it. It stopped about half and then we had to walk!! (in the ocean) So then we arrived and were quite excited that we had arrived on this amazing island and got to our bongalos. So now all of us are digging and digging and digging. With about 500pounds of sweat on our body, not the mopst attractive but WERE HELPING!
Well talk to you later
Cat
Today was our third day of digging and it's been pretty exausting but we've made good progress. We've been able to split the digging up into 2 groups and have had 20 minute intervals to allow ourselves to rest for a bit. The island is really pretty, it almost seems as if someone has put a backdrop against the beach as the view doesn't even look real. The beaches, however, don't compare to Bermudas'.
Sorry this post is short but I need to get ready for lunch. I'll update everyone later.
- Khun Catherine
Sorry this post is short but I need to get ready for lunch. I'll update everyone later.
- Khun Catherine
Alot of Digging, Some Fun
Hey Everyone!!!!
I hope everyone in Bermuda is well. We have been working very hard out here and I hope that our hard work is showing. We are sweating buckets of sweat. We started digging three days ago, and you can see a HUGE change!! At the end of every single day, I feel as if we have all accomplished something and we all feel so satisfied! Just imagine the feeling we would have once we have completely finished the job.
I feel so weak and tired but I just have to get over it and do the job. The hotel is very nice and every second of the day when we are not working, we are swimming in the pool and its soooooo REFRESHING!! I LOVE IT!
The food is different, but it taste cool. It feels like I've been here forever!!! But it has only been a week. Well lunch time is coming around and I love to eat, so I'll post something later!!
Khun Yanni
I hope everyone in Bermuda is well. We have been working very hard out here and I hope that our hard work is showing. We are sweating buckets of sweat. We started digging three days ago, and you can see a HUGE change!! At the end of every single day, I feel as if we have all accomplished something and we all feel so satisfied! Just imagine the feeling we would have once we have completely finished the job.
I feel so weak and tired but I just have to get over it and do the job. The hotel is very nice and every second of the day when we are not working, we are swimming in the pool and its soooooo REFRESHING!! I LOVE IT!
The food is different, but it taste cool. It feels like I've been here forever!!! But it has only been a week. Well lunch time is coming around and I love to eat, so I'll post something later!!
Khun Yanni
Dirt Dirt and more Dirt!!!
We have been on the island for 4 days and the hotels alot better than the school because we arent sharing one room with 12 girls. Its nice being on the island away from the school enviroment to because we are slowly but surely getting to know the regent students. We have been digging for 7 hours a day and its harder and more intense than i ever thought it would be. We thought we would be able to level out and dig 36 holes; we are on the third day and still havent leveled everything. We changed our goal to leveling out the area for the next group coming in to dig the holes. Anyways my hand muscles hurt alot so im giving the computer to catty and yanni. Hope the rain in bermuda is good i need my tank to get filled back home!!!!
HELLO BERMUDA
hi everyone,
im really sorry about not posting. I just never got to a computer on time.
It's been amazing here, the sights are beautiful and the people a really nice. Im on the island right now and we are digging and leveling out the ground so that the next group thaty comes can start to build. It is sooo hot but i feel that i am getting used to the heat. I have been really dirty but right its nice to get dirty and the take and take a nice long shower. Pops Im not sure how much ive spent but im really sure its not alot. I still need to get a whole load of presents so ill get those when we get back to Bangkok. I have no problem with the food and ive been really carefull with the water. We all have had our moments when we have gotton grumpy but we have gotton used to it.
well i have to stop there because i am in the middle of my digging sesson.
love you all and im alright
Pansy
xoxo
im really sorry about not posting. I just never got to a computer on time.
It's been amazing here, the sights are beautiful and the people a really nice. Im on the island right now and we are digging and leveling out the ground so that the next group thaty comes can start to build. It is sooo hot but i feel that i am getting used to the heat. I have been really dirty but right its nice to get dirty and the take and take a nice long shower. Pops Im not sure how much ive spent but im really sure its not alot. I still need to get a whole load of presents so ill get those when we get back to Bangkok. I have no problem with the food and ive been really carefull with the water. We all have had our moments when we have gotton grumpy but we have gotton used to it.
well i have to stop there because i am in the middle of my digging sesson.
love you all and im alright
Pansy
xoxo
Third Day of Work!
So after two days of working, we've just started yet another day of smacking the ground with sharp and pointy objects. Working in the morning is the very worst part of it, because the sun is glaring down onto us as we work. Afternoon work is alright, as we tend to have a bit of shade over the area that we're working in. So far we've found those boulder-like rock Mrs. Nash has mentioned, a lot of bugs (Rebekah's favorite) and even a little snake. After working, we hop in the pool or the ocean to cool off before lunch and dinner, and some of us go down the beach to the gypsy village to help support the community there. After swimming and working and eatting, we generally have too little energy to do anything but lie in our rooms and talk (with the exception of some singing and breakdancing along the way!).
SawadeeKah
Freya & Rebekah :)
SawadeeKah
Freya & Rebekah :)
Friday, March 21, 2008
Finally - we are at work on Koh Phi Phi!!
SawadeeKa, Everyone.
I apologise for the long delay in posting but the computers in the hotel don't allow Blogspot, so we are using the computers that B.H.S. donated to Bann Laem Tong School the last time we were here...what goes around comes around, I guess!
We are on our second day of working on the Education/Community Centre at Bann Laem Tong School and the sun is blazing and the humidity like nothing I have ever expereinced before - not even during our last Round Square Service Project on Koh Phi Phi. We are working on clearing and levelling the site for the Centre and it is hard, packed dirt with boulders all of the way through. As Mr. Crouch told us, "these rocks haven't moved since the tectonic plates shifted!!". They are really tough to remove. We have to work in 20 minute intervals with 20 minute breaks or we will just overheat and pass out! We even have to take a 2 hour lunch with a dip in the Andaman Sea, just to cool down. Thankfully, our Hotel Rooms are airconditioned - even fridgid , at times!
Well, I won't bore you with too much chatter and post some pictures for you to see how we are doing.
...I am trying to post some pics but they don't seems to be uploading. I have to go and get digging again and will try later on this afternoon...sorry :(
I apologise for the long delay in posting but the computers in the hotel don't allow Blogspot, so we are using the computers that B.H.S. donated to Bann Laem Tong School the last time we were here...what goes around comes around, I guess!
We are on our second day of working on the Education/Community Centre at Bann Laem Tong School and the sun is blazing and the humidity like nothing I have ever expereinced before - not even during our last Round Square Service Project on Koh Phi Phi. We are working on clearing and levelling the site for the Centre and it is hard, packed dirt with boulders all of the way through. As Mr. Crouch told us, "these rocks haven't moved since the tectonic plates shifted!!". They are really tough to remove. We have to work in 20 minute intervals with 20 minute breaks or we will just overheat and pass out! We even have to take a 2 hour lunch with a dip in the Andaman Sea, just to cool down. Thankfully, our Hotel Rooms are airconditioned - even fridgid , at times!
Well, I won't bore you with too much chatter and post some pictures for you to see how we are doing.
...I am trying to post some pics but they don't seems to be uploading. I have to go and get digging again and will try later on this afternoon...sorry :(
Monday, March 17, 2008
A Day at Regents
Thailand has been an experience and we havent even been here for that long only a few days its all so different from bermuda and what we are used to... A day at regents school has been a learning experience we know exactly how it feels for the exchange students at our school and how it feels to go to a different school its hard!! it has been good though we all paired up and went to classes it was nice i enjoyed seeing what it would be like to be at a different school out of our comforts of BHS. Anyways spent to much time on the computer leave another post later
Sawasdeeca!
Thailand has been pretty amazing so far, yesterday we took a boat along the river and went through some of the markets which was really interesting. We are at the Regent School now and I'm excited to get to know some of the students when we work together on the Koh Pi Pi island. I'll upload some pictures later when I have my camera.
-cat
Thailand has been pretty amazing so far, yesterday we took a boat along the river and went through some of the markets which was really interesting. We are at the Regent School now and I'm excited to get to know some of the students when we work together on the Koh Pi Pi island. I'll upload some pictures later when I have my camera.
-cat
SawadeeKa!Well, I apologise for not getting any pictures up sooner - it has been a very busy couple of days! We arrived safely in Bangkok and enjoyed getting some much needed sleep in our fabulous Hotel Room. Then, it was off to Pattaya by bus for 2 hours to join our friends at The Regent's School.
Although we are a full 10 hours later than Bermuda, we haven't fallen asleep walking yet! Today, the students are joining their year group classes after presenting to the Years 7, 8 and 9 at their Assembly. The B.H.S. teachers are enjoying their day of touring Pattaya, while I have arranged to meet with several people at The Regent's School to discuss ideas for B.H.S.'s continued growth as a Round Square school.
They are doing some incredible things here as the Round Square I.D.E.A.L.S. run as a philosophy straight throughout their school - from Primary One to I.B.2! They get plenty of teacher support, too, as developing the Round Square I.D.E.A.L.S. is a large part of each teacher's Performance Appraisal...incredible!
Well, I have to go now as lunch is in a few minutes in their Cafeteria.
Friday, March 14, 2008
7 Hours and 30 minutes!
If anyone is just as excited as I am, they are unable to go sleep and is just anticipating to get the airport! As you can tell from my title, at 11:00 pm, March 13, 2008 there will only be 7 hours and 30 minutes until we all see each other and our adventure will start from there! I hope everyone is just as excited as I am, not only to get off this island for a while but to help people who need it the most!
Well I better stop writing now, because I haven't even finished packing yet! Well Good Luck to everyone and I shall see you guys bright and early tomorrow morning!!!
Khun Yanni
Well I better stop writing now, because I haven't even finished packing yet! Well Good Luck to everyone and I shall see you guys bright and early tomorrow morning!!!
Khun Yanni
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Hey, Koh Phi Phi Don...Here We Come!
Sawasdee Ka, Planet Earth!
Well, there are really no words to describe how absolutely excited I am at returning to my second most favourite island in the world, Koh Phi Phi Don (my own island-home of Bermuda being my first, of course!), to continue our Round Square Service Project that began in June of 2006. With the students and teachers from fellow Round Square School, The Regent's School in Pattaya as our incredible partners, I am filled with anticipation and joy at achieving the goals we have set for our second Service Project together to support the wonderful people of Laem Tong Bay.
Of course, with us leaving in only 60 hours, I still haven't packed one single thing - plenty of time, right?!?
Well, if you would like to see what amazing things we accomplished during our first Round Square Service Project in June 2006, please feel free to snoop around our first Blog site at http://sawadeebermuda.blogspot.com/.
So now, I look forward to watching this Blog site develop after having invited my most amazing students and teachers to join up...wait until you meet them - they are incredible!
Our B.H.S. Team is:
Jessica Burns
Rebekah Can-Rowland
Yanni DelValle
Catherine Finsness
Ashley Heslop
Freya Lawrence - 2nd time!!!
Haley Nikodem
Pansy Olander
Brittany Ray
Rachel Sherwin
Ceola Wade
Caitlin Westhaver
...and teachers...
Sheila Chase - 2nd time!!!
Frances Cook
Howard Walter - 2nd time!!!
and me! - 2nd time!!!
Well, I really have to go and pack now...I mean really!
ttfn
Well, there are really no words to describe how absolutely excited I am at returning to my second most favourite island in the world, Koh Phi Phi Don (my own island-home of Bermuda being my first, of course!), to continue our Round Square Service Project that began in June of 2006. With the students and teachers from fellow Round Square School, The Regent's School in Pattaya as our incredible partners, I am filled with anticipation and joy at achieving the goals we have set for our second Service Project together to support the wonderful people of Laem Tong Bay.
Of course, with us leaving in only 60 hours, I still haven't packed one single thing - plenty of time, right?!?
Well, if you would like to see what amazing things we accomplished during our first Round Square Service Project in June 2006, please feel free to snoop around our first Blog site at http://sawadeebermuda.blogspot.com/.
So now, I look forward to watching this Blog site develop after having invited my most amazing students and teachers to join up...wait until you meet them - they are incredible!
Our B.H.S. Team is:
Jessica Burns
Rebekah Can-Rowland
Yanni DelValle
Catherine Finsness
Ashley Heslop
Freya Lawrence - 2nd time!!!
Haley Nikodem
Pansy Olander
Brittany Ray
Rachel Sherwin
Ceola Wade
Caitlin Westhaver
...and teachers...
Sheila Chase - 2nd time!!!
Frances Cook
Howard Walter - 2nd time!!!
and me! - 2nd time!!!
Well, I really have to go and pack now...I mean really!
ttfn
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