A Student's Perspective

(This is written by Northwestern student Caity)

Before coming to Asia for this internship, I had barely any idea what to expect in any of the countries we were going to. The two weeks in China were a little hard for me for a few reasons, one being that I got sick the second week, and another being that I’m not a city person, and China is rather crowded with people and tall buildings. So heading into Thailand, I was worried that I would hate it and be miserable for all of November because Bangkok is “another large city filed with millions of people everywhere.” It would be crowded, noisy, hot, and humid. I was excited for a new culture, but I was afraid I wouldn’t like it. However, Thailand was not at all what I expected. So much has happened in the past month, I don’t really know where to begin. So, I’ll highlight a few of my favorite memories from the trip.

My first favorite memory is when Maly and I got to have communion with our cell group the first Sunday in Thailand. There was something beautiful about being able to worship God on the other side of the world with Thai believers. When Kwan, my cell leader, was praying, even though it was in Thai, I could feel and share her thankfulness and joy that came from knowing Christ and His sacrifice for us.

My second memory is from one weekend when we went to the crocodile farm and zoo. I got to feed and sit on an elephant, but more importantly, I got to feed and pet a baby tiger! I can check that one off my bucket list. I also can now say from experience that I am allergic tigers. J

Another weekend, my cell group took a mini road trip to the beach in a different province. We spent a Saturday and Sunday relaxing and enjoying one another and the beautiful creation around us. It felt like a family vacation, and in a way, it was. When I woke up Sunday morning, I heard all sorts of tropical bird sounds outside- it was pretty cool. And then I got up, went outside, and saw house sparrows and pigeons. Go figure. J

My fourth favorite memory from this trip is when I got to have Thanksgiving Dinner with John and Laurie Hill. I have known the Hills my whole life, but I hadn’t gotten to see them since they moved to Northern Minnesota several years ago. Laurie (or Mrs. Hill as I call her- old habits die hard) was one of my first teachers when I was little kid at church. She taught me about music and Jesus, two of the most important things in my life. Who knew that they would show up to teach English at the same school in Thailand I was teaching at? It was a blessing to be able to share a meal and a good conversation with them after so long, and I hope they enjoy Thailand as much as I have.

Finally, I have many wonderful memories of spending time with students. I went to see two movies with my students (something I hadn’t expected but greatly enjoyed), shared lunch with them every day, played games with after class, and generally just hung and made friends with them. One of my students insisted on buying me a little something at most of our meals, whether it was a smoothie, coconut ice cream, jack fruit, or some other form of fruit or treat. I tried to tell him that he didn’t have to do that, but he insisted saying that Thai people love to take care of their guests and friends, and besides, he liked to watch me eat Thai food because I wouldn’t be able to do that in America. J I love my students, and I’m going to miss them.

There were countless other adventures that our team went on with our Thai family from Santisuk, and there were so many fun nights spent laughing with my teammates at nothing while grading essays for our classes. Our team grew closer this month, despite our crazy schedules that usually didn’t line up with one another very well. But I feel blessed to have had this experience in Thailand, and I definitely want to come back to Santisuk in the future, if I can. God surprised me by making me fall in love with this country and the people here instead of being miserable all month and wanting to go home. The staff at Santisuk and my students made Thailand home for me this month, and it’s going to be very hard to leave. However, I am excited to see what God has planned for us in SE Asia, and I can’t wait to go home and eat some potatoes and cheese. J

Strangers and Aliens

(by Garry)

In both China and Thailand we are frequently and openly referred to as “foreigners.”  Even official signs sometimes designate different lines for foreigners and citizens.  This sounds rather strange to our ears, but it is not meant rudely or negatively. It is just the way we are categorized in these cultures. It is also a good reminder that, as Christians, we are “foreigners and aliens” in this world (I Peter 2:11). American culture constantly tries to press us into its mold, but Jesus calls us to live a different kind of life – a life that feels not totally comfortable in this world. Spending time in another culture, where we so obviously are different, is a good object lesson of this biblical truth.

English Camp

A few pictures from "English Camp", which was a day-long event at a high school in a Bangkok suburb.  Our Northwestern group taught/sang/played sports and did fun English-language activities with over 200 high schoolers. 

Celebrating Mandi's 23rd Birthday

Hokey Pokey

 

 

You…put…your…right…hand…in…you…put…your…right…hand…out…you…do…the …hokey…pokey…

 

It was an amusing scene.  Speaking in exaggerated slow motion, one of our Northwestern students began to teach a “new” song in a small auditorium full of attentive Thai adults from some combined classes.  After a few moments, the whole group was up to speed and having a great time acting out the song complete with motions.  This was part of an event called “English for Fun” built into yesterday’s classes which included games as well. Self-consciousness gave way to laughter.  Most class sessions fall into more traditional formats, but this was an event that helped build rapport and make a relaxed atmosphere.

The downstairs lobby at Santisuk English School is usually a gathering point for students  (remember, these students can range anywhere from high school student s to business professionals who come daily for their two-hour English classes, which happen from 7 a.m. through 9 p.m.)  Before or after class, many will stay to “hang out” with our Northwestern “teachers” to do more informal English practice or to plan the outings they want to do together.  Yesterday, a young woman, a lawyer by profession, told me she has started taking classes to improve her English for her job.  Because she likes the way the courses are taught and the friendly atmosphere, she is looking forward to joining a social outing this weekend with a mix of Thai and Americans.

Tomorrow our Northwestern team will head out to an outlying community to do a full day “English camp” at a Thai high school.  All the students in the school will rotate through several stations manned by our team to do sports and games and other activities, all aimed at improving English. 

Outings

 

We are now halfway through our month in Bangkok.  Teaching is one part of the “job” our Northwestern students have.   Friendship building is the other big part of the “job” here, and that is going well.  With over 200 Thai people enrolled in November’s English courses at Santisuk English School (a record for the month of November), there are many new friends being made.  On weekends, when classes are finished for the week, outings to various parts of the area have been organized  by groups of Thai and their “foreigner” friends.  Last night a large group went out to experience the annual Lantern Festival, where  flame-fueled  paper lanterns were released (like small hot air balloons) into the air, creating a sky filled with beautiful orange floating “stars” rising high into the night sky.  Other people released small floating floral “boats” lit with candles on to lakes and canals.  Many never to be forgotten experiences like these are filling our days. These picture capture some recent day-time outings: 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

Dollar Menu

Eating out in Bangkok is a favorite pastime of our Northwestern team!  Every Friday they are given a weekly allowance for food, transport, and incidentals.  Their Thai students love to go out to eat before or after class, and they really like going with their American friends because it gives them a chance to practice English more, and also because they are very friendly and sociable.  They fan out to various small restaurants, food stalls, and even mall food courts for delicious and inexpensive meals. Most dishes consist of either noodles or rice with seemingly endless possible combinations of meats, vegetables, broth, and seasonings.  Delicious iced coffees and fresh fruit smoothies cost between 50 cents and a dollar.   Here's a sampling of what the equivalent of one U.S. dollar can buy here:

Barefoot Teachers

 A large shoe shelf at the back entrance of Santisuk English School invites you to remove your shoes before entering.  It is customary in Thailand to not wear outdoor shoes inside.  We had been coached to dress professionally while teaching, but I didn't realize that it meant teaching barefoot!  But, yes, we are adapting to the culture in this way, as in many other ways.  Here's a little photo gallery of some of our barefoot teachers in action.

Caity

Brooke

Caroline

Jenifer and Chee

Maly

Teaching Tremors

(written by Dr. M)

Monday, November 4: Everyone experiences their first day of teaching at Santisuk English School (SES). Most of the Northwestern students have never been on the other side of the lectern before and there are some jitters and a lot of prayer. But this is what we came for. Everyone will teach two two-hour classes, Monday through Thursday, for four weeks.

We arrived Friday evening and jumped into a whirlwind weekend of church service, teacher training, cultural orientation, Bible study and cell groups (in pairs we are assigned to 7 of the cell groups that make up Peace Fellowship Church). We are staying at a small guest house run by Thai Christians. It’s pleasant, though a bit of a squeeze for the ladies, ten of whom have to share one bath. Because land in Bangkok is so expensive, the building is one room wide, two rooms deep and five stories high. It is only a ten-minute walk to SES.

The Thai people love to eat (a common Thai greeting is “Have you eaten?”), and there are small restaurants, food stalls, and mobile carts everywhere. There are more than 25 within 100 yards of SES. Most are small enough that we can see what they are cooking and just point to order, but Santisuk has helpfully provided us with key rings containing 20+ cards with pictures of the most common food items, the names written in both Thai and English. There is also a supermarket nearby, so no one has gone hungry.

Monday ends, and most of the Northwestern team has found that the teaching went better than expected. Many of them have found they even enjoy it.

China Wrap-Up

(Note: most blog entries have been written by co-leader Connie Morgan; this one is written by her husband Garry, aka “Dr. Morgan.”)

Farewell to conversations with Chinese university students, crowded subways and Costa Coffee. Saying “goodbye” is hard, and learning to leave well is an important skill the internship tries to develop. We were surprised at how hard it can be even after just two weeks.

We spent our last full day in China on a bus outing to the cities of Yangzhou and Zhenjiang. The first is where Hudson Taylor and his team settled in 1862. The house they lived in is still standing, although it is in very poor condition. Did Taylor and his colleagues have any idea of the legacy they would leave behind? Probably not, at the time. But because they persevered through tremendous difficulties a tree was planted that continues to bear fruit. With historical hindsight it was moving to reflect on what took place in that building. We stand on broad shoulders.

Zhenjiang was the childhood home of Pearl Buck, born to missionary parents and the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature (in 1938). The house is well-maintained as a museum and contains most of the original furniture. Zhenjiang is also where Hudson Taylor is buried. As we stood in front of his tombstone, the ELIC (English Language Institute – China) country director told us that there are over 100 Chinese universities on a waiting list for ELIC teachers (three in Nanjing alone), but they don’t have enough personnel to meet the demand. He reminded us that Jesus did not command his followers to pray for finances or opportunities, but rather to pray for laborers. Truly, the harvest is plentiful and the need for workers is great.

Friday morning we flew from Nanjing to Guangzhou (historically, Canton). Then after a four-hour flight delay, on to Bangkok. More on Thailand to come soon.

Hudson Taylor's Home in Yangchou, China

Three Self Church (Government Approved)

Solemnly Commemorating Confucius

Team at Hudson Taylor's Home

Bangkok!

We arrived in Thailand Friday evening local time after a full day of travel from China.  All is well. We will report more soon. We launched immediately into teacher training at Santisuk Language School and orientation, with teaching to begin on Monday! It's 95 degrees outside - we know we're not in Minnesota!

New Santisuk Teachers

Teacher Training