My Trip to Petchabun, The Switzerland of Thailand

On Thursday August 7, I went with my third host mom Poolsuk, and her niece, Boom, and Boom’s grandmother, to plant a tree in a marsh to prevent global warming. In addition, there was a big group of students from Japan. I got to eat real pad thai. It’s only a little different from the pad thai in America. After that, I met my second host mom and dad. Not Pensinee, my family changed because Pensinee is too far from Yannawate (My School). They have 2 sons, 16 and 17 and a daughter, 12. I think Jessica (an exchange student in my school) might live very near my second host family. I took a 5 hour trip with my club president, counselor, my second host family, and a few others. We went to northern Thailand in a city called Petchabun. On August 8, I assisted my 2nd host father, who is a doctor/surgeon, in a surgery on people’s hands who have trigger finger. He created his own method of curing it without having to make an incision. Doctors come from all around the world to meet him and learn his method. After we finished about 40 people, 10 minutes each, we went to our hotel. It was beautiful. On Saturday, we went to 5 poor schools in Petchabun, and presented them with the “Clean water project.” We presented a big machine that makes water drinkable for the schools. Most of the schools in this area have dirt floors and even some had to sit on the floors! That night we had a really big rotary meeting. Rotary members from all over Thailand were invited. I am not sure what the meeting was about because I couldn’t really understand much of it. At the meeting, I was able to see young Thai children do a traditional Thai dance. It was really pretty and Nallah! (Cute) After the dance, I met up with 4 exchange students. Two inbounds, one from America, the other from Germany. A Thai outbound to Mexico and a Rotex from Germany. We had a lot of fun and were able to personally meet the dancers! They were between the ages of 5 and 10. We even got to wear their hats! On Sunday, the last day, we traveled even higher into the mountains to a Wat. It was in the process of being made, but it was still very beautiful. All the walls and floors were mosaics. After the wat, we stopped to eat and had a 5 hour ride home. I will start school on Wednesday. Originally, I was going to start today, Monday, but tomorrow is Mothers day and also the queen’s birthday, so no stores or schools will be open. Mother’s day in Thailand is the same as America, just on a different day. Well that’s all for now! Make sure you read my first week journal entry on the rotary website! Feel free to e-mail me with any questions! I am very happy to get mail! Hope all is well in America!
GO AMERICA IN THE OLYMPICS!!!!