Isara Volunteer - Sean

[Betty]

Sean, the pictures are so great!  I know the kids are going to miss you......we miss you in the U.S.  I know that this has just been the best experience for you, and thank you for sharing it with all of us!!  I'm sure you will still be very involved with this wonderful Isara program!  Many thanks to PK, Ming, Nok, Sam and everyone involved in Sean's great experience!

[ZeroG]

Sorry to see you go Sean. I have really enjoyed your photos and and all your help with everything isara.

You have really showed how enriching volunteering can be. Not only that, but I think you have lost some weight. At least you look very fulfilled with your stay.

I don't know what you are doing next, but I'm sure you will watch LOST from a perspective different than most of us in the US. Good luck in whatever you do next. You have been an excellent volunteer!

[Sean]

Here's two more pics from today. In this one Sean is either teaching the kids how to play Dodge Ball or how to Dance. Not sure.



And later on, Sean got frustrated when we lost the ball and started throwing kids instead.

LOL, the first one is definetly a dance party.  For the second picture what can I say, haha, I needed a blocking device.


Thank you all for the wonderful comments, it has been a pleasure sharing my Isara experience with everyone.

Also, smugmug was acting goofy the other day, but I just checked and the rest of the pictures from the last week are finally up.

[b.russ]

Hello all!

It's Sean's friend Beth who works at Moosejaw.  Sean- I can not wait to hear all of your amazing stories!!!  Your pictures are so beautiful, and I know that those children have learned so much from you.  You can see in their smiles how much love they have for you. 

Safe travels home, and I really hope you know what an inspiration you have been for us all.

See you soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~ Beth

[RoS]

The pics are beautiful. It must have been an amazing experience !

[Sean]

Thank You all again for the wonderful comments, it has been a pleasure sharing my experience with you.

Beth- See you Soon!

Here are a few more from today.  Last day at Starbucks (they pitched in and got me a mug).  My motorbike.  Lastly the moving cart lol.  Kirk has been dying to get this thing in action and it performed perfectly.

   

[Ginafish]

aw man! No picture of a helmetless family riding on the couch through town, hooked up to the back of the moped?? We could have called it "HillyBilly Thai Minivan"

When you get to the states, do you think you'll look into getting a Vespa or something zippy now that you've riding a bike so long? You'd save on gas!

And that's a lot of staff at Starbucks for a place that is supposedly never busy. I'm glad you got a picture, and a mug!

[Betty]

Sean, We're so excited to see you!  We're all very proud and know that it's got to be hard to finish your last day there!  You've made some great new friends, and had amazing experiences that will be with you for the rest of your life!  Safe travels!    Love from all of your family

[mryan]

I am torn a little. There is no doubt that we want you to come home. But in a strange way I am sad that it is ending. I can feel a difference in you and sense you have made a difference in other peoples lives.

To all those people who have made Sean's experience as beautiful as it was I want to say thanks.

[PK]

All the ILC students made Goodbye cards for Sean today. They worked really hard on them. They're all going to miss Sean a lot.

     

Then we had a not-so-surprise party for Sean. All the students brought food and drinks. They even sang a little too.

     

Sean is leaving behind, not only a lot of new friends, but also many things he has acquired during his 6 months here. Today he generously donated a lot of those things to Isara. Including a sofa, desk, fan, coffee table (not Starbucks), a computer, and a lot of candles. Thank you, Sean. You made the most of your time here and I really appreciate everything you did for Isara and the people of Nong Khai. We will miss you a lot!

[KitKat]

It's sad to see you leave the ILC and Nongkhai.   Safe travels home and wherever life leads you.  Thank you for the many gifts for the ILC!
We'll miss you a lot!!   Hugs from Texas!

[Sean]

Thank You.


I wish I had more to say but I am too broken up at the moment to write anything.  I love Nong Khai, and I love the people here.  I am going to miss everyone very much.

[Sean]

Here are a few more from last night before I head off on my 2 day journey back to the states.
     

And as you can see there is still some work to be done.
 

[Ming]

Sean, for you it had been so much fun and all the great times we had together at the ILC and Nongkhai. I know you don't want to leave. same as we don't want you to leave. but the time has come. can't believe it was six months already. The good times go by really quick as we know. You put more smile on people's faces and brought colors in to our life. You've been touched by us and we've  been touched  by you. (that's a lot of touching ) You're a handsome and smart boy, we sure you'll be success in everything you do.   Although we won't see you around like before, you will always be in our hearts and our forum, Right?  lol
We'll miss you a lot, Good luck Sean.

P.S. Your Thai is really impressive.  Chok dee na! 

[M3R1IN]

Thanks for doing such great work over there Sean, you have been such a beacon for Isara and have improved the kids class size which is impressive to me.   Remember to keep supporting Isara with all your influence with your previous employer and friends back home..
Its a shame i never got to meet you the afternoon i left isara but it has been a treat to see all you've accomplished in your time there.
are you going straight back to the U.S.? or are you going to see some sights before you take off?  I wish you safe travels and if its any consolation.... the flight back to the U.S. is about 3 hours shorter if you catch a good tailwind. 
P.S.   if you are ever in Alberta, give me a shout and i will roll out the red carpet for you.

[thartley]

Sean, you'er remeber our please.

 

Safe travels and was knowing you here.  Will miss you.

[Ginafish]

I like all the crying faces on the boards, that's sweet. You never see people doing that in yearbooks, so those kids must have been heartbroken. But don't worry, I'm sure the next day Ming bribed them all with skittles so they'd start paying attention to her.

I look forward to you starting a new thread "The Wonderful Adventures of Sean the Pooh" complete with pictures.

[Sean]

Hey everybody, just wanted to let you know that I made it home safe and sound.  I'm pretty exhausted after the 30 hour trip, so I think I'll try and get to sleep.  Although its really only 9:30am in Nong Khai lol.

[thartley]

Good for you Sean!  Glad to hear you are home safe and sound, if exhausted. 

Thanks again for the toaster.   

[PK]

Welcome back home, Sean!

The students (and the employees at 7-11) were asking about you today.

[thartley]

I wanted to post this pic special just for Sean because I know if he were here, it would have made it onto the forum somewhere.  And since he always likd to read the daily paper when he had his coffee, I hope he is having a cuppa when he sees it.   

[Sean]

LOL!  I am having cup of coffee and reading the newspaper right now.  I always saw the errors but never on the front page!  I think I should call them up with my qualifications (I can spell) and see if they have a job for me haha.

[PK]

Actually, and I can't believe I'm going to say this, but "sceptical" is just a variant of "skeptical". Both are correct. I think they use the other spelling in a lot of foreign countries. Maybe the same places where they spell color, colour.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sceptical

[thartley]

That is not right.  Its wrong.     And I would have marks against me on any paper I turned in with that spelling on it.

[Ginafish]

That's just wrong. The English language is so screwy. I think we should just ditch English as a world language altogether and go back to Latin.