Ricefileds Base Orientation and Monk Ceremonies

So, I have been here in Udon at our Ricefields Base for a few days now. This place is incredible. It is a huge resort like place in the middle of this Thai village. This is the main base where students come and they do service projects in the surrounding community. I think this is the only time I will be here this summer though. We are using it for staff orientation right now. This consists of lots of all day meetings telling us everything about the company and about our trips. We have to go through every little legal issue for liability purposes. It is amazing how huge and encompassing this comany is and how few people run the show. I have a few more days of training here and then I will head up to Laos for a few days with a friend to get another Thai visa. Then back here and then on to Chiang Mai to pick up kids and take them to the orphanage in Mae Sariang. I will then be out there for about 3 weeks before I lead my first Come With Nothing trip. We have been going over all the trip details as well this week and I am so excited to get out there and start

Yesterday we were able to have a unique experience as one of the Thai staff members became a Monk for one week. This is very common of Thai people around 20 years old. They do it to clense thier own life and to gain merit for thier parents (especially thier mother who doesn't have the chance to become a monk). There is a very old ceremony to ordinate the monk. We had a big party, then saved his head and eyebrows, carried him through the streets to the temple, and then the head monk swore him in throuh chants, prayer and reciting the monk vows. This was a cool ceremony to be a part of. I actually got to help carry him to the temple which was so much fun.

music in the streets for the monkhood

carrying Ting to the Temple

Ting before coming a monk

Tink becoming a monk

Ting taking the final vows

The weather here has been amazing as well. The land here is really flat so it is nice to watch the storms roll through. Reminds me of Texas. It is the rainy season now as well, so it rains everyday. We had a great mud soccer game in the rain today. Definitely one of the highlights of the time here at the base so far.

written by

jasonreevesmiller on June 7, 2008 from Udon Thani, Thailand

from the travel blog: Thailand Summer 2008

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a monk looking. good but you know dum he'like eveone becrod noe 4 yaer he'sgot thai woman why he do thai i not happy i her for her say fa-lung stubit look same David now she want dum to back-may every ting dum got for he name she say can do everyting noe he bay tuck or pickup for her long time she wait for do everything now that her time she name noi now she ting abot she's boss there she say David fucking STUBIT

written by PEERANUN NANAD on August 20, 2008

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