"I am the luckiest person in the world. I have a family that loves me and cares so much about me, the most incredible friends in the world and have been fortunate enough to have had the most unbelievable experiences in my 26 years.
Tonight I went back to Mercy 2. The "wild boys" keep me grounded and show me strength and they have no idea. All they want is love, affection and attention and I feel truly honored to just be there with them. Whether they're going through "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" for the 3rd time, break dancing, "braiding" (read: knotting) my hair, or trying to pronounce Pokimon names, their attention is focused and their laugher fills the room. I can not think of a better way to end year 25 and start year 26. Life hasn't been easy for them and they rise to the occassion.
While the night was winding down, they all got out their paper journals/books. You know the kind you had in elementary school to practice writing letters out? Since I can't read Thai, I asked Ben to explain what they were doing. Turns out they are give a few baht a day to buy lunch and every night they have to record what they bought and how much they spent. At age five they are already better at accounting than I am! While I am no help with numbers or Thai script, I was able to lend my efforts to helping one of the boys write English in cursive. His resistance turned to persistance and he did it! A lesson we can all learn from.
Watching Ben interact with the kids is so special. He's patient, and kind and he cares so much. All of the kids, Ben, the girls on "the travel team" (due to their high marks they have gotten scholarships to travel abroad to go to school) and the Mercy staff are the type of people you want and must surround yourself with. They encourage me to try harder and learn more. I feel smarter just being around them."
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A year ago I would have never guessed that this is where I would be for my next birthday. Although, if you told me, it probably wouldn't have surprised me, or most others for that matter.
When I saw the kids this morning they looked tired and grumpy- the sun was beating down ((HOT)) and they had already been up doing chores. I knew they were resisting Engish, so I told them I would take it easy on them. Sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get full sentences out of them, but equipt with ice tea and snacks from 7-11, they were ready. Without even trying two hours flew by and I had barely spoken. I learned all about Thai ghosts and the stories behind them. I was learning, they were speaking English- it was a total win/win.
After class I was given permission to take my all-star students to the movies tomorrow. We're going to see Green Lantern and I can tell they're excited. They'll have to use their listening skills to understand all of the English and it will be a nice treat for all of us.
I feel at ease here and this is the best gift I could have ever asked for.
A thousand thank yous to all of you for your happy birthday wishes. I just wish you could be here to see it all- this place and these people really do change you, in the best way possible.
"All knowledge comes from experience." -Aristotle
((Now if only I could remember to use bug spray- I look like I have the chicken pox on my legs!))
ABA
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