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BBA 4th Camp @ Moobaan Na-Mai, Lampang
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By Tirapong Wajiraprechapong (BBA 15)
On the 25th December, 2007, after we had finished loading all of the luggage and 50 volunteers on the coach, we left Thammasat at about 9:30 pm, heading to our destination, “Mooban Na-Mai,” a village in a rural area of Lumpang.
Around 8 o’clock in the morning of the next day, we arrived at the local government office and travelled further into the hills, where the village is situated, and where our precious memory took place.
For the very first moment our pick-up trucks drove us pass by the villagers who lived alongside, we greeted them with adorable, albeit timid, smiles and said “sawasdee khrub/jao.” After making it through the villagers, we were at the school, our command center. The work schedule was assigned to everyone. We were divided into groups with different responsibilities each day. And, personally, the most exciting part of the day was the moment we met our host families who would be provided us food, shelters, and most importantly, love, for the next 10 days.
During the first few days, working progress seemed to be very slow. Truthfully, the construction works and BBA students did not match very suitably during the first pace of the construction of new multi-purpose building, the building that would serve the villagers as the ‘town hall’ for meeting and the canteen for the students of the school . Dams building were struggling as well.
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Every night, we assembled at the school sitting around the campfire, pointing out the confronted problems, suggesting solutions, and sharing working techniques and impression with one another. Since the volunteers comprised of BBA 15 and 16, some graduates, and a special guest from Bangkok University; therefore, the activist volunteers conducted ice-breaking activities in order to bond the volunteers together. Eventually, we were united as one.
As days went by, working processes became faster as we started to become specialized. We also had more opportunity to actually teach the students in the classrooms. It was amazing how they understood the concepts very quickly. These students were smart; many were talented. However, sadly, all of them lacked opportunity to receive a more advanced education.
On the last day, we, along with our host families, gathered at the school and sang farewell song together. Despite only spending with the villagers for a short period of time, our relationship with them was unutterably profound. Many shed tears, both the volunteers and the host families.
On the way out of the village, we waved goodbye and said “sawasdee khrub/jao.” No timid feeling this time. We said to them so naturally as if we were members of the village. With all cherishable experiences we had, Mubaan Na-Mai, eventually, was not merely a village in the map of Thailand, but also in the map of our hearts.
Posted date: January 28, 2008 - 09:55 hrs. |
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