Thailand 2009

Our last day at Moo Baan Dek! Just when we were really starting to feel like we belonged there, it was time to start saying our goodbyes.
First, however, some of us set to work repainting some old ping pong tables while the others decorated a classroom. I don’t know quite what was in that paint but we all soon started to feel a bit…trippy, until somebody noticed and fetched us some masks. You know, the swine flu kind. Not sure how effective they are against paint fumes, but wearing fabric masks in the heat of monsoon season is…not something I’d want to try again.

Ping pong painting

Now, for the big finale…a big leaving show and traditional thank you ceremony for us volunteers by the kids and teachers. It was an emotional night, but also really interesting and a lot of fun.
We began with games, including the kids’ favourite relay race…I seem to remember I let my team down by tripping over my own feet half way through.
Next up, a speech by Meh Aew (the principal) and the thank you ceremony: we volunteers all had to line up while each kid moved along the line tying thin white string bands onto each of our wrists and supposedly making wishes (although I guess some of the younger kids were probably just wishing they could tie a proper knot!) Apparently, we had to let the bands fall off by themselves over time, so that each wish would be granted. With so many kids, our wrists were soon completely covered in bands.

Next up: the talent show. The girls showed off their dancing skills in colourful outfits and quite a large amount of make-up, followed by some of the boys doing a hilarious rap and break-dance. Then…it was our turn. We took to the stage and performed our ‘Jai-Ho’ dance, to much laughter from the kids, and then jumped down from the stage to dance in the crowd. It was two minutes of mayhem but the kids loved it and so did we.
Now for the emotional part: a goodbye song from the kids, a hug from everyone, and plenty of tears. Our stay at Moo Baan Dek was officially over, but I know quite a few of us were already thinking, “I’ll be back soon.”