Like every Tuesday, without exception, it was another planning day. We planned the rest of the workshops for the week, wrote all the blog posts for the past two weeks and made examples for the kids. It was a very productive morning! The afternoon was the same, productive with a break for ice cream. So instead of boring you with planning I'll introduce some volunteers to you:
Carina: Carina is 24 and from Brazil. She is hilarious and sometimes teaches me words in Portuguese. She has done a lot of traveling (Vietnam, China, Thailand, Argentina, etc) and has a tattoo of the world on her forearm which I think is super cool! She came to ARI because she is still trying to figure out what she wants to do. Carina has been here the entire time I have, so I have gotten really close with her. And she was also brave enough to do the hike up to the temple, which she probably thinks I was crazy for arranging. Fun facts about Carina, she has a lot of brothers and sisters, and the last time she was home was only for 10 days (I can't even imagine!) |
Maggy: Maggy is 23 and from the United States of America. She is very outgoing, hilarious, and almost knows Thailand like the back of her hand. She's been here for about 4 or 5 months working for CCT at Urban Light. She is the one that got me so interested in what they do there and I have fallen in love with the centre. She too, has traveled a lot, especially around Thailand and surrounding area. She is very good at speaking Thai, which I envy, and she used to do CrossFit (how cool is that!) Another fun fact: she's a twin!
Sarah: Sarah is 18 and from Ireland, and yes she does have an accent. If I come home saying lovely or that's brilliant it's because of Sarah. Sarah is on her gap year (between high school and college/university), she worked for the first part of the year and decided that volunteering would be the best way to travel. She wants to study English and Drama, after seeing her with the kids I think she'll end up teaching! Sarah and I have done a lot together, she has been a trooper and gone on almost all of my crazy adventures will me. |
Maggie: Maggie is 21 and from the United States as well. She is currently taking Art Education at College and is entering her senior year. Maggie also has an accent, she says y'all a lot. Maggie and I arrived the same day and bonded over that because we had no idea what to expect. She has bonded (and plans to take home) one of the street cats that usually hangs out in our house, its name is Razzy (the cat is very vocal and needy) but seems to love Maggie.
Neang: Neang doesn't live at the volunteer house because she's an independent volunteer. She is from Cambodia and is a little chatter box with lots of energy. She is always smiling, laughing and cracking jokes. Neang, is here for the same amount of time as Maggie and I. She really does make everyone laugh on a daily basis. She is amazing at knitting, crochet and anything that has to do with making something, she actually taught me how to crochet! |
New Volunteers - on Saturday and Sunday a whole bunch of new volunteers arrived. Annie: First of all she has the same name as my best friend so automatically she's super cool. She is 19 and from the United States, Annie is on a scholarship at her university which allows her to have different summer experiences that will help her decide what she wants to do as well as make her a well rounded person. The first summer is a hike (leadership and intrinsic motivation), the second is doing community work, the third is working for a private company and the forth is research. Annie is studying English and Art History at school and is entering into her third year. She is super laid back and is very smart. |
Ashling: Ashling (Irish name) is 19 as well and is currently studying Anthropology and Art History. I asked her about the majors and the reason for anthropology is because it allows her to pursue different interests. She is also on the same scholarship as Annie. Ashling is very laid back and down to earth and it was great hearing about what she wants to do and how she wants to use art to promote social conflict and see how it is useful. |
Claire: Claire is also 19 and from the United States, she too, is on the same scholarship. She is studying Business and Political Sciences. She isn't working with ARI, she is working with Hope Home, which is a home for children with disabilities. She has done a lot of work with adults with disabilities so she thought this would be a perfect fit. Claire is also very artistic, funny and outgoing.
Phillippa: Phillippa, is 19, studying in the United States, on the same scholarship but she is from England, UK. She too has an accent but I haven't really gotten to know her so I won't be coming back with cool words. Unfortunately, I don't know what Phillippa is studying, it's the one person I haven't had a chance to really talk to. I'll have to work on that. |
Donna: Donna is from Australia and I don't know her age but she does have two sons and two daughters and is currently attending school to become an Art Therapist (trust me I bombarded her with questions). Donna is super cool and very personable. She wants to study art therapy because she wants to work with groups to help facilitate spaces that they feel comfortable in. I feel like had I stayed longer she would have become the motherly figure naturally. |
Bonnie: Last but not least is Bonnie, who is also from Australia. She is also studying Art Therapy (she's in the same classes as Donna). Bonnie is hilarious and outgoing. She has traveled Thailand before and been to a few other places. She too wants to use art to facilitate a safe environment, specifically for teenagers. She explained it was because she wish she had had an outlet like that when she was younger.
Everyone that I have met on this trip has been absolutely amazing. They all bring something different to the organization which allows everyone to collaborate in different ways. It's been a lot of fun getting to know everyone and hearing some of their background. It sucks that I won't be here for longer to get to know the new ones more. It's crazy how, when you are put into a position where you don't know anyone and you're in a foreign place that instant connections are made. No one is shy, everyone is outgoing and wants to have a good time. It almost forces us to be friends but in a good way. I'm so glad I've got to meet everyone!! They are all phenomenal people!