When Juan Meets the Thai
"Asians are Asians, though we're of different race still, we're ASIANS”
On the 23rd day of January, I started my day, together with other SEA Teacher assigned in CRRU, with a festive banquet rendered by the restaurant inside the hotel as part of our accommodation. As we ate the blessings in front of us, we also discussed about the possible activities that may transpire for the whole day. We aren’t aware of how fast the time pass because I can say that we are really enjoying the company of each other, until our coordinator from the university arrived to pick us and brought into the school for the program and activities that we’re talking about.
When we got into the university within a couple of minutes, we immediately proceeded to the Office of the President to start the inauguration of the SEA Teacher Exchange Program. The President bequeathed an inspirational message. He mentioned that this program is not only a mere program for students to learn other cultures but more of making bonds and ties to form a big family, that helps and supports each other towards success. He also emphasized that we must make the best out of this opportunity since we are about to stay with less than a month. After the speech, we were requested to introduce ourselves the way they want to, and we done it the way they want to. Afterwards, we proceeded into other activities such as dissemination of id with Thai translation and etc.
Afterwards, we went into the International Affairs Office in which we, together with the Program Coordinator, have discussed the schedule of activities that will occur all throughout the event. They also discussed about the assigned school that we are about to deploy. Furthermore, we also discussed the things that we, SEA Teachers, to accomplish and present at the University at the end of the program.
At around 1:00 in the afternoon, we met the student buddies given by the University. They gave a short introduction of themselves and afterwards, we picked their names. One by one, we revealed the names of the lucky person that we’ve got. I got Kikee Pantaree as my buddy. Subsequently, together with our buddies, we got to know each other, they’ve asked us about different topics, which I found to be enjoying since my buddy is quite a unique girl. Next to that, the University toured us around the school; their different faculties, their different outside facilities and places that you weren’t believe they have.
After the whole tiring day, we went back to the hotel. I took my dinner early in the noodle shop that I’ve been into last night. I went back to the hotel to spend the rest of the night.
The next day, 24th day of January, we went back to the University to meet the representative of the school that we are assigned. Same with what happened the last time, the President rendered a short speech and then we are requested to introduce ourselves once again but in accordance to a particular order. After that, we witnessed the awarding of certificates for the partner schools and gave us time to better know each other after the photo-off.
After a few moments, with all of our stuffs, we moved into our assigned schools. It almost took about 10 minutes of travel to reach Chiang Rai Municipality School 6. We first, met the Director of school, before moving into my room in the dormitory. We took a short trip around the school while discussing the reason why I am here in their Junior High School campus and went back to my room in which I spent the rest of the day inside it.
