Thanks everyone! I'll be at Isara in less than a week and I'm pretty excited.
A little background on me (if you're interested) - I'm from a farm in central Illinois and I go to college in Providence, RI. I'm majoring in Development Studies (development of countries, that is, not children :-). ) and I'm really interested in global health and human rights. I'll try to keep you guys posted on stuff I'll be doing for the summer, because I'll be in Nong Khai for about two months!
May 28, 2009 11:08 PM PDT
Great stuff Jordan! i'm sure you will find what you do in NK helpful for your studies. Do keep us posted!
Jordan, Thank you for coming to help out. I think Shumei and you are about the same age. We are excited to meet you too.
Looking forward to showing you around town.
See you soon!
Arriving Friday morning is a great time. :D Jordan you'll be very busy and young enough not to need much rest. ;D
On June 2nd Isara's latest volunteer, Jordan, will be making the long journey from the US to Nong Khai.
It should be an interesting time for her to arrive. She'll be here when we're putting the finishing touches on the ILC renovations, making some helmet donations, and also, since Jordan is very interested in Human Rights, we know she'll be a big help with the Hmong Refugees.
Thank you for wanting to help make a difference.
k
Got a message from Jordan saying she has arrived in Bangkok and will be in Nong Khai Friday morning. Just in time for the weekend. lol ;D
That will be good for her, it will give her a chance to recover from traveling and THEN come up with a lesson plan for Monday night. ;D Maybe even TWO lesson plans. :D
Welcome to Nongkhai and ILC! Jordan is here!
Take it easy and get some rest. :)
Haha, thanks everyone! I just got in a few hours ago and everything has been great so far. I'm going to a watch a talk at a school later on today and then I'll be watching a class tonight, to pick up some pointers for when I'll start teaching.
Welcome Jordan! Make sure Ming and PK take you to the "cashew chicken place". ;D
Have fun!
;D Hope you're settling in and enjoyed seeing a few classes. Thai students love learning and meeting foreigners. :D Hope you have a good night's rest and a fun weekend. :D
Welcome to the ILC Jordan! We share some interests in Development studies (I am starting an MPA - International Affairs in a couple of months). I was only able to spend a month at the ILC, but I can tell you that Ming and Kirk are amazing people who will remind you that it's good to care ;).
The Isara community is here for you whenever you need us.
Cheers,
--Ian
Hey Everyone!
As Kirk mentioned, I've been helping out with the new addition (which looks great!), throwing rotten coconuts around the swamp and I've been starting to get my toes wet by helping out in the classroom. The kids are adorable and I love it when the ILC is filled with them. One even shared half of his popsicle with me today! After the first day of classes in the new addition, tomorrow will be our designated Nap Day at Isara.
Yes. Thank you very much Jordan. We went to tour around NK on Saturday. Sunday is a long cleaning and painting day and Monday morning was another clean and paint day and was great teaching in the new class.
Jordan's first class teaching. It went well and she did great. Thanks Jordan!
June 11, 2009 9:48 AM PDT
Everyone looks great. :D With your dress casual, it makes the police commander look extra special. (Just thinking like I'm Thai!) :D It was a special honor for Isara to be invited to his birthday celebration.
June 11, 2009 11:40 PM PDT
Thanks so much everyone! I'm about to put some pictures I've taken up here on the forum, but my uploading was interrupted by a pretty ferocious thunderstorm last night. :-)
And Ginafish, yep- this is my first time in Thailand! I love it so far. It's hot, but I can't say that I wasn't warned!
Yesterday was quite a day, from the birthday party of the commander (where one officer tried to ask me to go and eat ant eggs with him some time and a dog starting licking my toes under the table while the commander came over to talk to us), to aerobic dance and bicycling around the park, to the storm that gave me a second shower, while inside (right after I had just taken one). Very exciting!
June 11, 2009 11:42 PM PDT
And in the picture, that was a little plastic elephant-shaped bank. By far the cutest trash we found floating in the swamp.
Then we went to the Sunday market, to hand-out fliers about helmet safety, and grabbed something to eat.
Thanks for all your help today, Jordan. ;D 
The students really like Jordan a lot.
Today we were invited to have lunch with one of the Deputy Chiefs at the local Police Department. We thought it was just going to be the four of us (Jordan, Ming, me, and the police man). Wrong!
Turns out it was a birthday celebration for the Police Commander and we were sitting at his table. Notice how casually we dressed for the occasion. D'oh!
Have a safe flight, Jordan! Hope you enjoy your time at the ILC. ;D 
Welcome Jordan! Thank you for volunteering with Isara. Enjoy your visit and safe travels. :D 
