To say goodbye, is to die a little

This post is coming incredibly late. During my last week of school, we had a flurry of events and happenings that distracted from updating this blog including our school (along with all schools in my town) celebrating Asahna Bucha Day (It's known as Monk Holiday according to my host brother's laconic statements). I couldn't really teach that day because we had to start the ceremony earlier in the day. Before the temple walking ceremony, my students, administrators, and co-teachers had a "goodbye treatment" for my leaving Phichit. As soon as they began, my tears instantly began to somersault down my cheeks. My students from each grade began to individually hand me "Thank You" cards. I'm so grateful for their presence in my life. They've continued to encourage me and push me for a deeper understanding on issues of educational equality, comprehension and closing the opportunity gap when it comes to these issues.


My parting has been such sorrow. It feels like I began to leave just when everyone began to be get comfortable. For me, my desire to leave Thailand came around a month into teaching. I wasn't missing home, I wasn't uncomfortable, I just felt like I had gotten "enough" out of this experience. But 2 weeks later, the longing to leave had dissipated and I was ready to fully immerse and engage into teaching. Now a full two months later, I have a feeling of such bittersweet sorrow. I'm leaving with so many questions about impact, goals, achievements and purpose, while here. I hope I have time to evaluate these questions as I transition back home. There are moments when I wonder if my leaving was more potent in their minds than my time actually spent in the classroom.

These were completely unexpected.
I honestly didn't know how I was going to pack all of these into my already tiny suitcase.

These past few months has been the best time of my life. And I hope that if anything, my students will remember the joy they felt during our engaging English conversations. I hope that they will feel even more inspired to learn this language and maximize on their individual potential as they grow into future leaders, workers, and inspirations.

Khob Kun ka,
Kruu Sade

You've become a part of me.

As I Embark on my last week as Resident teacher at Thab Khlo Municipality school, it only seems fit to post my reflections and thoughts. Last week, I finished my last full week of teaching. So blessed. and tired. yep definitely tired. I have one more day of teaching. It's a bit weird. It feelslike this is the point when everyone has just gotten comfortable. Like the teachers, parents, even my neighbors with me here. And yeah I leave in under a week. It's weird how the human mind works. We'll see certain people on a regular cycle but it takes a number of interactions before we become attached to those moments. I'll never forget my first week at Thab Khlo. It was a lot to handle. I was fatigued from teaching and becoming accustomed to a full work day, but also keeping up with demands at home. Over time, it all became quite normal. Here we are.

With two of my fellow teachers at my school! They all got together and we had a nice food party. ~___~ Afterwards, we went sight-seeing at the next town over.

Look at the beautiful rice fields (and me)! Often on family trips, we drive past so many of these but I've never gotten the chance to stop and see one up close. 

Me @ inside the temple!

Statue of monk

My fellow teachers and I went to a temple created by a monk over a span of 11 years. The name slips me at this moment. This was the overview of the museum dedicated to him.

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The next day we visited our grandparents and aunts/uncles one last time!

Me and my host mom in my grandmother's backyard. She and our grandfather have a pig farm!

After visiting grandparents, we headed to a restaurant and had a final goodbye. I love my host family so much. As I playback these past weeks/month, I've been so overjoyed at how perfect they really were for me. We at first had a rocky start but it all fell into place as expected. Their extended family has opened their arms and taken me in as their own. Before Thailand, I wasn't concerned about danger and safety but acceptance did come across my mind. I knew that I didn't look like a "typical" volunteer as it's not as common to see people of the African diaspora traveling (we're changing that). But it has been just the complete opposite. With an absolute joy and happiness to see my face every time we've interacted. This family has left a dent in my heart that will always long for them. I'm hoping to visit Thailand to become a program director for this English program (we'll see what God has in sight).

My beautiful aunt and uncle (paa and loong). Their kindness and beauty towards me has been so welcoming and overwhelming.

Featuring my beautiful host mom! (Meé Op)

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Thai cuisine is a God send and no one can tell me other wise.

My host brother took this candid!

On the drive back home, I thought this was a cool shot!

"To educate a girl and is to educate an entire community"

My co-teacher Ann, took this picture of my fifth graders.

I feel like it captures my mission and values while I'm here. I keep finding myself tied back to education in some realm or position. Being an African immigrant to the US, I learned to value education at a young age. Very quickly, it became very real to me the sacrifices that I made and were made on my behalf in order to get to this place. For a while, I imagined myself working in international education policy world and working to decrease the opportunity gap in education. During my first year at university, I interned at an international education NGO and found myself at the fore front of these issues. Two years later, with considerable experience, I still find myself tied to this content area. I'm interested in how education can be used as a tool of poverty alleviation and an increase of access. I look forward to the remainder of this experience.