Thailand — March 22

Snorkling in Khaolak

Today we all jumped on a boat to go snorkelling and visit clear water white sand beaches. After a long hour and 15 minute boat ride, we finally arrived at our first island. Yes, the water was clear and the sand was the whitest sand I have ever seen! Soft and gentle, the sand was smooth and almost felt like sugar between your toes.

Some of the group members traveled a short journey up the island to some huge rocks to have a sight of an incredible view that could see far out to other islands and all the anchored boats around.

Next stop, snorkelling! I must say everyone looked quite fashionable in the snorkelling goggles. Floating around in the water everyone had a blast discovering cool and unique types of fish. Except somehow Pill managed to drop his goggles to the corals and decided to swim a couple meters down to earn himself a bloody nose and a good pat down by the boat host for swimming too far down.

Over all, the water was quite a refresher from the long, bumpy (for some, sickening) boat ride.

After the fun in the water we picnicked at another admirable beach which there everyone truly hang-loose. Not to mention, a majority of the group concord an accomplishment to build quite a pleasant sun burn; however, Spencer claims “it was just a really great sun kiss.” In conclusion, a majority of EDGE Thailand is now soaking in aloe gel.

— Venessa C.

Thailand — March 21

A trip to the 2004 tsunami memorial in Ban Nam Khem:

Imaging what this place looked like 12 years ago changed my whole perspective on what the EDGE program really means.

As I reflected on the beach today, I was able to envision families as they shared laughs on the beach moments before the tsunami in 2004.

Having a strong connection with the beginning of the EDGE program brings a lot of feelings. I’m thankful for getting the opportunity to be here and to develop a close relationship with the Thais. It’s such an awesome feeling to understand how and why the EDGE program began.

Today, I stood in the exact spot where tourists sat during the tsunami. Knowing that EDGE began because of the tsunami brought strong feelings, as I was able to be present in the location that got destroyed.

One of the things that made me happy today was seeing the first project that was completed in 2005. We met the owner of the house, Amnat. I was pleased to see how much of an impact EDGE creates towards those in need. It is important to acknowledge the history of EDGE and to recognize the connection we EDGE members have to the beginning of the program.

— Jaki D.

Thailand — March 20

“Oh! Puan rak
Ro Mai phop khan
Sawadee Sawadee
Sabaidee Rue, Sabaidee
rao yindee tidai phop kam
la la la la…. ”

We had started off our time in Ban Natoe by learning this traditional Thai greeting song.

I realized how different our lifestyle are between Thai people and Canadian when I first arrive Ban Natoe: eating with forks and spoons, having rice for every meal in breakfast, lunch and dinner, washing cold water shower with a bucket were unusual for all of us.

However, we still enjoy spending time with each other no matter how enormous the cultural differences are between us.

During one of the culture exchange nights, we taught our Thai buddies how to play rugby. We separated into two teams — boys and girls — with their buddies. After a series of complicated rules explanations and solving the problem of playing in the dark, we started our game by a low kick. It’s funny how talented they were even though that was their first time touching a rugby ball. No one was afraid of trying, no one left the game, no one complained about the complex rules. Seeing everybody’s smile and laughter, we knew this was the right decision to bring rugby ball all the way from Canada.

Being kind, polite and patient are what Thai people have taught me during this trip. Whenever we need something, they always travel whatever distance to try to satisfy our needs. They never complained about anything but always accompanied us all the way patiently.

Remembering every little moments I have had in Ban Natoe as we crossing the bridge leaving, I know these are the precious memories which I will never forget for my whole life. Using the definition on the word shirt — “remember” — I want to say that I am very thankful for knowing everyone in Ban Natoe and They will always in my memories.

Once more, I want to thank the people of Ban Natoe for accommodating each of us and treating us like family. Kob khun ka, Ban Natoe.

— Ashley H.

Thailand — March 16

Victoria’s Buddy Blog

Coming to Thailand, I thought I understood the EDGE buddy system. You meet a Thai student who shows you the ropes of Ban Natoe. Needless to say, it has been much more than I ever expected.

In an intense sorting ceremony, we each picked a phone number on cardboard and called it using a Thai phone. Awkwardly standing in a room, waiting for a telephone to ring, tension was high. In the end, we each got a buddy that we truly connect with.

My buddy, “P,” comes from a nearby village. Like the majority of the Thai students, his English is rough at best. He has a few words down pat: good morning, good night, sorry, thank you, how are you and see you later.

He can read, as often uses his limited English skills to explain the morning farm work in front of our group. Even then, “slices” sounds a little more like “sleesays,” and sometimes I’m not exactly sure when each sentence starts or ends.

Nevertheless, I’ve managed to make a friend from the other side of the world. We’ve each become fluent in hand signals and awkward facial expressions. With this, I’ve realized how kind and appreciative Thai people are, P being one of them.

When trying a new task, though my manual labour skills may not be the sharpest, he will demonstrate, explain or help me until I succeed. For example, during one night’s cultural exchange they taught us how to make origami fish out of long, grass-like leaves. I’m a crafty Canadian, but weaving a piece of grass into a fish is not as easy as one would anticipate. As always, P showed me over and over until I could weave a grass fish of my own.

Even if I’m feeling down or homesick, he never fails to show up and ask if I’m okay. Rocking the Thai style, his pants are usually tighter than mine, and if he had his current, shaved side and long on top haircut at Shawnigan, he would probably be forced to cut it. He may be only slightly taller than me, but he has the strength to dig clay out of a hole for hours.

Most inspiring of all, though he lives with much less than I ever have, he is one of the happiest and kindest people I have ever met. He works without a single complaint or question and will often offer take on the difficult task in order to let me have the easy one. He sits across from me at every meal and though we may not say a single word, he exudes positivity. However difficult it may be, he persists through language barriers to learn as much about myself and about Canada as he can.

Though we may be in Thailand to help Ban Natoe physically build a washroom facility, our sub-par construction skills are anything but the most cherished by our Thai counterparts.

For many of them, this will be the only chance they have to meet people from the other side of the world. We do spend hours building, but the most important thing we’re building stretches far beyond cinderblocks and mud walls. P has been not only buddy, but also friend who I hope to stay in contact with long after our passports are stamped on the way out.

Being in Thailand, we’re fortunate to be able to meet incredible people and teach them about how we live — the fact is, I think they’ve taught us a lot more than we could ever teach them.

Thailand — March 15

Gemma’s Buddy Blog

The first time I saw my Thai buddy it was when I noticed his knock-off “The Compleat Beatles” hoodie.

Following an anxious, but positive buddy ceremony, I was excited to be paired with him (even though I then found out he didn’t even know who the Beatles were).

Awkward smiles and laughing at each other filled the next few days, but as I brought him cups of water while he dug a six-foot deep trench, we really started to connect. Although many people bash Google Translate, and I must say 50 percent of what we translate makes no sense at all, it has saved us numerous times and allowed us to learn more about each others’ lives.

When I asked him where he lived he simply pointed in a direction and smiled. This describes most of our relationship, but the countless laughs I’ve had with him and other pairs of buddies is the most I’ve ever had, even with the limited communication. Now that we have each other on every social media outlet, it reassures me that although we may never see one another again, I can keep in contact and just simply see how he is doing.

It is impossible to capture the relationship we and the other sets of buddies have through a simple blog, but if there is one image I’d want to share, it is us sitting across from each other, eating delicious Thai food and laughing at simply nothing.

Saying goodbye is going to be difficult, but I can honestly say he is one of my best friends, and I look forward to continuing our relationship even after I leave.

Thailand — March 14

Maria M.’s Buddy Blog

My buddies name is Tiw and he is the sweetest, most adorable person I have ever met.

In Thailand, the way people are taught to treat other is with utmost respect and patience. He always gets me involved in cultural exchanges, makes sure I am enthusiastic about what we are doing and ensures that we are always together.

Though we can’t communicate in many ways, other than good morning, goodnight and hello, we have become very close, and I will be heartbroken when the time comes to say goodbye. Though initially our lack of understanding had Gemma and I laughing at our buddies and similarly, them laughing at us, in the end we all laughed together (usually at JMO).

In being here and with the help of Google Translate, I have seen how different our lives are. Tiw has taught me that we can step out of our comfort zones, have mud fights, dance and sing even though we both have no idea what is going on.

Although our experience here is coming to an end, I am excited to see how our time together plays out and will cherish each moment until the bus rolls away and we see our final glimpse of Ban Natoe.

Thailand — March 13

The river that flows in Ban Natoe is the place where we all bonded as a team.

It started when we came out of cementing frames of the bathroom we are building. Everyone was covered in cement and exhausted from the relentless battering from the heat and sun.

We all strolled down to the river and as each member of the team plopped down in the running water, out came a collective sigh of relief and comfort. The stains of cement were quickly washed off of our bodies and clothes. The river immediately became our meeting point after our construction work everyday.

Shampoos and body washes were shared among the group and people washed each other’s hair.

Occasionally there is a car or moped trying to cross the river. It is a sight to see all of the team working together to get all of our laundry, shoes and snacks out of the way for the vehicles to pass.

Although a communal river in the outskirts of Chiang Rai may not sound attractive to others, it is one of the places where we made some of our team’s most precious memories.

— Byron

Thailand — March 13

Today we finally got a bit of a break from chopping rice husks and Donald Trumping — I mean wall building.

We took a day trip to a tea plantation and the town of Doi Maesalong. Our mode of transportation was the back of a massive army truck with no seat belts, good thing we have tight grips.

At the tea plantation we enjoyed some samples and iced bubble tea, all of which was excellent.

Later in Doi Maesalong, we had a nice lunch of wonton and ramen, which, in the words of Gemma B., was “liquid fire and noodles.”

After our lunch, we drove down to a market and partook in shopping of local produce and artisan crafted goods.  With our day trip over, we returned to Ban Natoe and showed the students some of the arts and crafts of a Canadian kindergarten class. Today was a great change of routine from construction work.

— Jack H.

Thailand — March 12

Since day one here at Ban Natoe, the days have been full of surprises.

Our fourth working day was no exception. The day started with harvesting corn, which was later steamed and eaten as a snack. After breakfast, we headed a while down the river to collect clay from the side of the mountain — and after about 3 hours of hauling carts of clay to the building site, the Thai students started pulling the carts via moped.

For the latter half of the workday, we moved over to scooping sand off the riverbed and forming a line tossing the buckets to shore. By the end of the day everyone was pretty tired, but when the Natoe students cultural exchange came up, everyone was awakened by the sheer fun and amazement in both the Thai duck-duck-goose game and the making of fish mobiles from banana plants.

Another wild and interesting day at Ban Natoe!

— Spencer C.

Thailand — March 11

In the name of all those who believe in this form of idealism, we built a wall. Well, more like five walls.

We still have a ways to go, but not as much as we previously thought. During this time, a few members of our party were out chopping rice husks with large machetes, for what was the third day in a row of what may be the most boring job in the world. In the words of Jack Halse, “there are just always more husks, you know. It never ends….”

Thankfully we have made good progress (about half way done) in that department. The cultural exchange that we experienced was perhaps the best one yet. Consisting of a game that appears to be a mixture of both highland sword dancing and hopscotch, but simply done entirely with bamboo. Everyone enjoyed it. Even Mr. Lupton and Ms. Kingstone took part in a friendly match between one another — Ms. Kingstone won.

All in all, it was another wonderful experience in Ban Natoe.

— Philip O.