NEWSLETTER NO. 46
THE MUANG MAI
ORPHANAGE
Tuesday, May 1
through Monday, May 21
[photo]
School has started for the
kids and we are starting to grow into our day-to-day rhythm, finding routines
that suit both the kids and us. We’ve also had the honor of having Mia, Pia, Lisa, Johan, and Fred from Deep in our Hearts visit us.
As
you know from before, two of our older boys weren’t allowed back and one of our
younger boys did not want to come back—but we are maintaining continuous
contact with them.
One
of the older boys works as a farmer and the other one is now in training as a
monk. Training as a monk at a young age is considered to be very good for
troubled boys. Our little monk has called Wow on a number of occasions to say that
the time he spent with us got him thinking—he has promised her that regardless
of whether or not he returns, he will get himself through school and will even
go to the university. It all just feels so very good—perhaps we succeeded in
giving him something after all.
Prai has been able to move home to her parents in Pang Nga—since
they are finally back on their feet after the Tsunami. Unfortunately she hasn’t
done that well in school, but she will now be attending a special ed. school
and will help her mom in their tailor’s shop that is now up and running again. Prai is one of the kids who have been with us since the
very start and we will miss her deeply. We’re fortunate that Pang Nga isn’t that far away, so we’ll always be able to go and
visit her and her family.
In
other words, four of our children disappeared after the school break, but
instead we’ve been joined by two new children and two “new but familiar”
children.
Beer
(that’s actually how he spells his nickname) is our new boy from Khon Khen and Oum
is the name of our new girl from Khon Khen.
Our
“new but familiar” children are big brother Dong and little brother Don. Little
Don has matured quite a bit during his year away from us and he now talks. He
is still the same little strong and stubborn charmer, but now with words, and
when he laughs, his bubbles of laughter come all the way from his belly. As
usual there is another side to everything—it’s a shame that Dong and Don had to
return to us, but it is wonderful that they are here with us.
The
kids who attend Thalang Pranangsang
started school on May 8 and the others started school on May 15. Before school
started, we had a flurry of activities attending meetings at the schools,
shopping for school uniforms, books, bags, giving hair cuts, and coming up with
new schedules for doing homework and providing tutoring. So no one has been
idle.
Even
some of our youngest children have started school (roughly corresponding to the
six-year-olds choosing to start first grade in
Big
Brother Dong was unfortunately not allowed to start at the Pranangsang
school due to failing grades on the exams he took
before leaving us, and because of having missed last semester, when he had to
help his mother at home.
But
he now attends a special ed. school in Pranangsang on
Sundays and we have scheduled school for him at the orphanage in the subjects
of Thai, mathematics, English, natural sciences, and social sciences. Eek is
his private tutor in all subjects except English, which the volunteers, Tae,
and we are responsible for. Dong really wants to learn and is incredibly
curious. Eek is also a fantastic teacher—so this is probably the very best
solution for Dong. To quietly be able to catch up on his own.
In
any event, we enjoyed spending two weeks together with the kids before getting
back to business. We’ve squeezed in trips to the beach, waterfalls, and some
other things.
And
we’ve also had Mia, Pia, Lisa, Johan, and Fred from
Deep in our Hearts come to visit us on a number of
occasions during this period. How wonderful to have them with us once again.
Lots and lots of catching up and unfortunately very few pictures—with all that
joy, we forgot our camera. They have really not let go off their personal
involvement in the kids and the orphanage even if they’ve closed Deep in our
Hearts—and we think they liked what they saw. We are happy and fortunate that
there are people like them around.
On
the Sunday prior to everyone’s first day back at school, we had arranged a pentathlon for the
kids. Our eminent volunteers, Ulla, Jenny, Lena, and
Emma had put together a row of fun relays—the sweatiest one was the clothing
relay and the most fun was when little Don didn’t know in which direction to
run, switched directions and imitated the opposing teams. Sweet
little boy—but boy, how hard he tried.
Ulla was given the most lovely nickname by the
kids—she now goes by the name of Ohlala. And yes,
absolutely—Sussi’s team won!
And
otherwise we’ve spent the past week trying to get used to our day-to-day
routines. The kids already have a lot of homework and have to get into routines
for doing homework, washing clothes, keeping their room neat, and getting to
bed on time.
We’ve
introduced Tuesday meetings with all staff members to improve our day-to-day
flow with the kids. General issues such as order and neatness, bedtime,
cleaning, doing homework, and everything else we need to discuss are addressed
during the first half of the meeting.
The
second half is spent talking about the kids—and only those working directly
with the kids are present. Dtee, Eek, Mai, and Ann
speak of the kids they’re responsible for—how they’re doing, how they’re faring
in school, how they’re interacting with other kids, etc. If a kid has any
problems, we try to figure out together how best to help him/her.
We’ve
had only one meeting so far—but it already seems to have helped in terms of the
orphanage running more smoothly. To take one example, Boo has taken a firmer
approach to the routines for cleaning the rooms, and it’s actually already
noticeable.
All
serious matters, all routines, all day-to-day issues are enveloped in great
joy, a spirit of cooperation, a sense of security and togetherness. It feels as
if the kids now truly have found their place with us, and are beginning to feel
genuinely at home. So in the evening they’ll now spontaneously get a disco and
karaoke going. They’re joking around and having fun. The atmosphere at this
place is truly fantastic right now!
Rain-warm regards,
Sussi and Hans
[photo] [photo]
Hair
cuts for back-to-school are …and
under way. Ann gives the girls the boys
the ever so well-known cut
ever-popular pageboy hairstyle… known
as the 3-mm haircut.
[photo] [photo]
The art club. The Swedish game of Kubb is
currently
very popular with the kids. And they’re quite good at it.
[photo] [photo]
They also get really into
the game when Forming
teams for the pentathlon.
they play.
[photo] [photo]
Ann and Hom
ended up on the green team. Let
the games begin! Saman gives
it
his all.
[photo] [photo]
The game is in full swing
and the level of They
are not taking part in the
excitement is high. pentathlon,
but the fighting spirit is aglow when Gung, Emma, and Lena are juggling as a
group.
[photo] [photo]
Curious Dong and his eminent
teacher Eek. A favorite
returns—Pan in head-dress. This time with the road on his
mind,
usually he takes his mind on
the
road.