Term in Asia! We hope that all of you are staying warm and safe during the holidays. With each passing holiday, know that all of you are with us in our thoughts and our prayers. We all wish we could have been there to share these family memories with all of you, but since we cannot, please know that the group have become like a family with John and Meg as our loving parents, and we as their nine ambitious daughters. In addition, these last two weeks in Thailand, full of papers, finals, holidays, and goodbyes, have definitely been full of difficult challenges for us. However, we pulled through together with encouragements, phone calls home to our loved ones, fun events for the holidays, songs, and hugs full of thankfulness and happy tears to our Thai families and friends.
Our finals consisted of three papers, two exams, and two small skit presentations spoken all in Thai. The skits were the most enjoyable. One group did a skit within a skit with actresses such as the fortuneteller, Emma, the Thai mother, Marcia, the skit director, Kathryn, and the Thai students/ daughters, Meg and Adrienne. Another group did a remake of the Wizard of Oz, with characters such as Princess Wiolet/Violet, the scared-of-everything-chicken, Kari, the always-hungry elephant, Kris, the sticky rice obsessed-mouse, Pa Ku, and the non-speaking Thai fortuneteller, John. In addition, the students have incorporated two Thai ajarns (Thai professors) into the skits. Aj. Akorm played as the boyfriend of Meg, and Aj. Sakorn was King Sakorn in “Travels of Princess Wiolet.” At the end of the plays, we were all really excited to realize how much of the Thai language we have learned. With finals out of the way, it was time to celebrate Christmas.
Celebrating Christmas was one of the most profound experiences that we shared as a group. It brought all of us closer together as a family. In addition, John and Meg’s youngest son, Reed, flew over from the states to share the holidays with us. On Christmas Eve, the group went bowling and had dinner at an Italian restaurant before sleeping over at John and Meg’s house. The next morning, for Christmas, the group had a warm breakfast and opened their secret Santa presents. Following the present openings was a trip to ride elephants and to see the orchid and butterfly camps. With the trust and comfort that we have built throughout our time on this trip, we have made the best of our holidays together in Thailand.
Our stay in Thailand went by so quickly, and already it was time to say goodbye to our new families and friends. It was a heartbreaking experience, but the day finally came and we said our goodbyes, thankful to have met such wonderful people. Two appreciation banquets were held to honor the Thai families and their dedication, and to honor and give thanks to the Thai buddies and professors. You can imagine how difficult it was for all of us to say goodbye to them. We have grown to love this new country and many of us have considered it as a second home.
As we leave Thailand and move onward to Vietnam, we will forever remember the love and care that these people have provided us with. Even though we were sad to leave them, we are happy to be one more step closer to home, where many loved ones have been waiting forever for our return. Again, happy holidays from all of us, and please stay safe and warm.
Best wishes,
Pa Ku, Kari, Adrienne, Meg, John, Marcia, Kris, Amy, Violet, Kathryn, and Emma