Forums » Volunteer at Isara
Isara Volunteer - Jeff
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Last week Jeff arrived in Nong Khai and began volunteering at the ILC in Nong Khai. Jeff got his teaching certificate in Vietnam and now he's in Thailand to teach at a government school. Since he has a few weeks free, until the new school term starts, he's decided to help out Isara and also get in some more classroom time.
Thanks a lot for your help and welcome to the Isara family. -
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Thank you everyone -- I've been here nearly two weeks now and love it. The kids are great and I really enjoy teaching them, and as previous volunteers know, there is always something that needs doing around the ILC, whether it is just cleaning up or helping out with new projects like the recycling center. Wish I could stay here full time :)
I'll try and post some pictures next week.
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One hour a week? I spent 1 hour A DAY. ;D
Jeff, please share your perspective on this wonderful experience. I recommend getting a lot of yourself surrounded by smiling kids. Photo ops abound. I look back and think I didn't take advantage of enough of them when I was there. :D -
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Okay, the connection to the Intertubes has been a wee bit sketchy here lately, and I've had my hands full whipping the computer lab boxes into some semblance of shape, as Ming mentioned. There was also a visit to Sarnelli House last weekend. But without further ado, here's a few photos:
That one above is from the recent English camp with the Bromely Sisters coordinating the Isara Olympics!
Below is Mali, who was passing through on her way to Laos, who went along with us to Sarnelli House:
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And here's a few shots around the ILC, in high-dynamic range (HDR) glory, featuring the deck out back and the new plants taking root all around the place:
You can see a few more over at my Flickr page (link below) with more photos from Sarnelli House, as well. I've got more photos of some residents of the Isara pond to come, and of course Song Kran is this week -- I'll try and get some photos of the watery fun (without getting my DSLR wet, of course).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffchappell/
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In addition to the shots posted in the Songkran thread, here's a few more photos of Isara's denizens. First, one of the many lil' barking geckos:
For those of you who haven't made it over here yet, these cute little dudes are everywhere. And they bark! Then, there are their big brothers, who make even stranger noises: The Tokey (or to-geh, as the Thais call them):
This one tends to hand out behind the large classroom at the rear of the ILC, enjoying the bug smorgasbord that occurs when the lights are on at night. In fact, as I was posting this, I saw him (or her?) scurry across the window glass in pursuit of dinner.
And finally, there is a big momma fish in the Isara pond -- she's about two feet long -- and she can be seen cruising among the shallows, keeping an eye on her brood that must number several hundred or so wee-tiny little fish, as one can see here:
Oh, almost forgot: Isara's deck over the pond is also home to the oddest looking spider:
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More great shots, Jeff! Yes, those little buggers "bark" and so loud you would not believe such a little thing made that noise! If you get one in your room, you are doomed. haha!
The spider...well, I dont like spiders, but they are just fine if they stay in their spots high in the corners. That one looks like he'd leave you alone, but check your shoes of you leave them on the porch!
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Aw, I miss Ming, Kirk, the ILC and the students, my fellow volunteers, Nong Khai ... and even the tokay that hangs out underneath the roof above the windows of the large classroom. I also miss "fried cashew nut with chiken" at Thai Thai's.
I don't miss spending hours in front of ancient computers though. Ironically, I still feel a certainly motherly fondness for them, even now, after spending so much time cleaning them up and locking them down. Kirk better take care of my creaky, old, electronic babies while I'm gone.
Seriously, I really enjoyed my time at Isara -- it was a good warm-up for my forthcoming teaching job, and I like to feel I did a little bit of good as well. It's like I told Kirk, I realized early in my career that I would never change the world, but I could change my little corner of it -- wherever that happens to be. Which is exactly what Kirk and Ming are doing, too, and I was glad I could be a small part of it -- and I will at some point in the future, in one capacity or another.
On the plus side, as part of my new job, I have to attend a week-long seminar here:
http://www.pavilionhotels.com/rimkwai/index.php
Not quite as fancy as the photos make it, but a nice place nonetheless. I found out that this placement agency also works with a secondary school in Nong Khai -- I'm headed to Suphan Buri myself next week -- so perhaps next semester or next year I'll be back teaching day and night. ;)
-- Jeff
P.S. Next chance I get, I will upload some photos of the Great Isara Gravel Spreading of '10. -
Khobkunka for the update Jeff. Glad everything is going great. What is the name of a secondary school in Nongkhai that your placement agency works with?
We are definitely miss you too and so do your students. waiting for the pics.
The place look fancy! 2 swimming pools :D
Good luck with the job. Please let us know more about it later.
Take care. -