I sit in the relative silence of this new bedroom to reflect on my first few weeks at site. Chickens clucking, my three-year old host brother laughing at cartoons, and something that vaguely sounds like construction all add to this new soundtrack of life in Ngim - playing just outside my window.
I was trying to write something to capture the entirety of this experience: the ups and downs, the unexpected joys and the difficult moments. The transition from PST to site, from 57 other volunteers to being the only volunteer around for hours. I wrote a sentence to start, and then I deleted it. I wrote another sentence, and it too was deleted. As I stared at a blank Word document, a light bulb went off.
What if I reflected on this past month using pictures? I still want to (read: need to) reflect on my experiences using my words, but there's so much that's missed when I only reflect verbally. Moments that the camera captured that I could never do justice with even an incredibly descriptive narrative.
So, still look out for a blog post - hopefully the words will come. For now, it was hard to narrow it down, but here are my top 5 photo reflections of March.
1. Wat Pho, Bangkok
A much needed break from training, Bangkok weekend was a time for group 131 volunteers to visit the PC Headquarters, see the city, and practice traveling in Thailand. Shenanigans were had, friendships were strengthened. And if you know me, you know that I had this trip planned to the hour, got us around without problem, and loved every minute of the organizing. It was great to be a tourist for a few days in the country that is my home for two years.
2. Goodbyes: Part 1
As I hope you've had a chance to read in my last post, I love these people so stinking much. This blurry mid-laugh picture captures a moment I could never capture in words - just looking at it, I can still hear their laughter. It was the hardest goodbye.
2. Goodbyes: Part 2
Okay, so I cheated - I'm going to have 6 pictures in this post. But I couldn't leave out this slightly askew picture of these two incredible humans - Emily and Nick (Mom, here's a picture of the people I've been talking about. You're welcome). Full of joy, down to earth, and kind beyond measure, these are my peeps. This was at swearing in, and it will be awhile until I see them again. This goodbye wasn't as hard - we're sharing this experience, we share a language, and I will see them sooner than I know.
3. New Home, Ngim!
I took this picture the day that my new family took me to the local waterfall, and it's too cute not to share. This is At, and I think he's related to my family... somehow. He lives next door and speaks really rapid Thai to me, and it's so stinking CUTE. I am content just to sit and listen. This day was filled with splashing, swimming, and giggles - all things you can do without a shared language. My heart was so full.
4. What is your name?
You can't tell from this photo, but I asked each one of these kids their names (in Thai, obvi) and got only giggles in response. The start is hard, I know. The phase of "what is your name" and then remembering their name is going to be a time where I need to be incredibly intentional and probably fail as often as I succeed. But I want to know them, and I think they can tell. I hope they can tell.
5. Squad, Tessaban Ngim
Part of my job at the beginning of this experience is to intentionally build relationships. I am so fortunate to have a Tessaban filled with kind, powerful women. They help me figure out what the heck I'll eat for lunch when what they're eating is too spicy for me (update: they get me food from the school cafeteria because the "kids also don't eat spicy food"), make me orange juice for when I come back from teaching swimming, and they take beautiful girl-power pics. I am super excited to be part of this community!
Obviously, even this doesn't capture the entirety of what I experienced in March. But I think these pictures show just how many different things we experienced in the span of a month.
Maybe I'll do this again next month. Same time, same place? Works for me. I'm not going anywhere.
Naam Wan
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