"Create your own" Human rights report!

It's kinda like "create your own adventure" where the reader decides what to make out of the story. "If your right to food has been violated, turn to page 17...congrats! now you get to pretend you're starving." Eh...so these are some of the jokes coming out of this week of writing, editing, rewriting (and repeat x ten) the Human Rights Report on the Nong Jahn forest community...(this joke came because originally it was hard for us to see the problem b/c the community was kickass and so happy and loved their lives. Later we realized that the fact that all that they had, all they had fought to keep, could be taken away any day by the law, that was the scariest part).

Brief synopsis of report: Nong Jahn village has existed as a forest community since the 60s. It wasn't until the 80s and 90s when the zone they had lived in for decades was declared a preservation zone and National Park, unwelcoming thei presence and ignoring their stewardship of the land. They were evicted twice to areas where there was inadequate larnd and job opportunities (debt, family separation, detachment from forest and local knowledge to that area, etc). You can imagine that they've turned these experiences into empowerment. The women of the village have held up armed forest officers by encircling them with torches just so that they could finish building their first community temple (which happened to use wood from the forest). They let the rangers know what's up. All of them say they "will not move" and that they WILL "die on this land." Still, all of what they have fought for could be taken away by the law's whims - they have no land rights. They are deemed "illegal" and unwanted.

This morning we presented the HR report to some villagers on a large screen and gave them copies (they will get Thai versions, too). Most of our assignments have been us going into communities and exchanging and living with the villagers - then we come back and write things they likely will never see. To be able to present them honestly with this work, which we truly hope represents them, was powerful. To be able to hold that work in our hands, see the photos of people we've laughed and eaten with alongside their stories, the legal writing, the violations....I have to say, it's one of the more meaningful assignments I've helped create in my life.

We heard that recently the prime minister personally acknowledged the need to give the (is it 1.5 million?) forest-dependent communities legal status...their bad rapport starting 20 years ago has finally become urgent. Maybe. These claims have been made before. We only hope this report is a wave in the sea of change we hope we're starting to see.

It's been a good process. Our team (the other half went to a Gold Mining community where there was cyanide poisoning in their drinking water) was very willing to work and to work together. To have true team effort is such a blessing! Also staying up late and still laughing at the 100th poop joke of the day is priceless.

When it's up online, I'll give you all the link.

Unit 3- dun dun duuuuh

Ben yang ngai? Hope things are going well with you all - make sure to update me on your life too :)

So we're about to start Unit 3 which is when us CIEE students write a HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT, dun dun duuuuuh. haha I'm actually very excited, but I hear it will be intense. The half I'm in will be going to an illegal forest community and constructing a report based on some of their main stories/issues, using feature stories, summaries, the Economic Social and Cultural Rights Report, and also having photos and personal accounts to go along with it all. So that'll be the next few weeks....

But before that, this past week staying with slum and landfill communities was a strong mixture of emotion, but universally I loved the homestays and I had a great time. It's so easy to just "have fun" as a student staying with them. You listen and play, eat good food, chill on the main street where all the houses are open and exposed to visitors - and then you get to leave. You don't have to stay with the trash smell, or live every day with the fear you could get evicted. Instead you hear a little about their issues and are incredibly touched by their patience and open hearts. Especially at the choom chon eh ad (community of packed housing - it's a better term than "slum") - we went swimming in an irrigation canal, got delicious coconut/corn ice cream, played with the kids on an open field, ate STIR FRIED SQUIRREL that was recently shot by a bibi gun...it was all so fun. And my family personally went out fishing at 3:30am every morning - I got to see Paw walk around entire lakes/large ponds with a net to catch shrimp and small fish in. I got to see the sun rise, hear the quiet cricket and bird noises, see a silent storm, sleep on mats on a road (literally, IN the road), and two less pleasant things were getting a snake out of the net and painfully experiencing being right on top of a red ant hill. My mom cried when I left and I had only been there for two days. I will never forget (and hope to visit soon!) that village and how awesome of a time it was.

I think I might go to the "aerobic step" class at the gym soon (Thai's love aerobics) so I must be off!

mild delirium but still chuggin

Mild delirium because I came out of a 5-hr long meeting just now and have been feeling sick. Also because one week here can feel like a month and a day at the same time. It's a whirlwind b/c so much happens, and in the end it goes by fast, but adding up everything seems like it could have been much longer.

So I was a "Unit Facilitator" these past 10 days or so, meaning that us four led the "Rural Unit" (focused on agriculture) and it's exchanges with community organizers, villagers, the governor and major Thai leaders. This type of learning style emphasizes group process, so all the students will eventually facilitate a unit or are "process facilitators" throughout the semester, studying the flow and vibes of our group and whether our process is effective. It requires a lot of work, but I've found myself incredibly wrapped up in it and the topics -- I feel like these skills are essential to develop, and I feel like these experiences are essential to have. Some experiences that stood out to me:

-talking with now organic farmers who used to spray chemicals and had gone to the hospital with intense health effects
-forming a wonderful relationship with my host mom in Yasothorn Province. Her husband died in an accident last year and she has one young son. She grows organic vegetables that she sells in the village and Green Market. It was hard to leave her intense compassion and delicious, healthy cooking. I really hope I can go back!
-talking to Ubon and Bamrung who are community organizers, have traveled to the US to promote sustainable agriculture and learn about our organic movement, have seen a lot of injustice and who both heavily promote self-sufficiency as a way of combating corruption
-the sunset on the farm and the sunrise at the market

I'm sure there are many more that just flew over my head, but it gives you an idea.

Generally, if I look past the mild delirium and confusion aspects of this program, I am incredibly grateful. I suddenly feel like I care about things, like I'm gradually building up an intense passion for people, their rights, the connections they make. I sometimes feel overwhelmed and shocked at how unfair the world is and want it to just fix itself and go away already. To leave people in peace. To spread love. Then there are moments where I feel very empowered and excited, like there is something to work towards and that I'm very hopeful about the power of bringing ideas and people together. Basically I am all over the place and I'm dying to see where this program takes me, and then where I take this program.

Also, get ready for the hot season! I feel it coming already...

I know these blogs aren't the most specific in terms of what I'm doing, so if you want to know a little more, feel free to email me and I hope to respond to you within the next couple of weeks.

Thinking of you!

too much to blog

sawatdii khaa, arroy mai?, chan pood paasaa thai nit nawy, kha (hello, delicious?, i can speak a little thai ) three of the most commonly used/heard phrases for a farang (foreigner, or guava) here! i am now in khon kaen (university and appartment with thai roomie stations) after having spent orientation in the northern mtns, an exchange with illegal forest dwellers, and a homestay with a verrry loving family in khon kaen. My mom nick-named me something that encompasses: very lucky, very beautiful, very wise. I think the English equivalent must be "female Jesus." People are way too nice sometimes :)

Just a quick forward: I am slowly realizing that it might be very hard to blog. I have so much I could say, but I don't know how I feel about displaying all of that on such a public page. In just a few weeks I have experienced a lot of emotion and non-emotion. I can only imagine what this semester's going to do to me. Please email if you want to know more, and I'll see what I can do!

First, GENERALLY: I love the people in my group. A lot of different personalities, but a common theme is "cool" and "funny." At first I was intimidated by being with 29 others, but we luckily break things up and do a lot of circle discussions. I've found myself tending to take on a quieter role (at least in discussions), sometimes because I'm really tired and other times because I prefer to listen.

I also am amazed by how welcoming (and hilarious) Thais can be. At this last home stay, I have been touched by more old ladies than I think I have in most of my life, being called "suaii!!" (beautiful) or "naa raak!!" (cute). I've also been "kissed" (face on my cheek) by a baby a few times.

Also, it's pretty addictive speaking English the way Thais do. Maybe soon I will be kicked in the butt by that being inappropriate, but so far it's really funny, and hey, if they get to laugh at us all the time b/c we're clueless, I think it's fair to laugh about Thais sometimes, too :) For those of you who understand some Thai or Thai culture, I have a few jokes I've created in my back pocket :)

More SPECIFICALLY:

Nothing too bad health-wise yet, but we have to be "on" so much of the day that I tend to feel off and exhausted easier. Yesterday, for example, I woke up at 6, we had to be at the school by 8, and from then until 9pm we were doing background info, an exchange with HIV/AIDS organization and PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS), and driving back and forth from all these places. We usually get one "personal day" a week, meaning one day where we technically have no obligations to CIEE. It's also hard b/c I want to be social and go out, so, JUST LIKE IN COLLEGE, I'm struggling to balance sleep, work, and play. Good to know it goes on :)

I think waking up early is good for me. I woke up a few times at 5:30 to give alms to the monks with my host mom. Seeing her family/the neighborhood wake up early together to give food and be blessed in Burmese (is that the language?), which they do every day, started me off on a good note. Usually I wake up an hour later or so.

The food is "arroy", and I'm slowly burning my taste buds and getting used to spice. The kao neow (sticky rice) is balled up and used to grab food in Isaan (the region I'm in). I usually find myself hungry for every meal, and I'm pretty sure I will turn into a ball of sticky rice by the time I come back. Don't eat me, even though I will look plump and delicious!

I will be by KKU for the next week (the longest time in one place so far!) so I will have some computer access.

Love you all, and trust me, if you're reading this, I've thought of YOU specifically and have been very happy because of it :)

Sawatdii kha from Thailand!

Right now I'm sitting in a musty internet cafe in Bangkok, next to one of the most gringolandia streets! Filled with market vendors, great and not-so-great smells, hustlers for tailor suits and tattoos, and singing wooden frogs played by ladies in funny hats. I first met with my CIEE group tonight at dinner (good vibes), but for the past week, I've actually been at an island....

Ko Chang! That's the name of the island. Thailand's biggest and in places perhaps most touristy, though we made sure to mo-ped it around and hit up the quieter bays. Even though we were just there for a week, Marc (my brother) and I felt nearly at home, and definitely comfortable. Some things to note:
-some hilarious and crazy personalities. One restaurant owner went to the edge of the place to yell at some guy running on the bay "Hey running man! running man you come eat here, stop running first hehehehehe!"
-I got invited by a restaurant owner (Tiger) to play soccer on the beach against his Thai friends, and be goalie on the farang (foreigner) team. I did my fair share of blocking, if I might say so myself :)
-delicious fruit! i didn't realize what a banana could be until I came here
-ERIC CLAPTON, being played everywhere on the radio or by live solo guitarists at bars and restaurants
-even when you order something, having no real idea what they'll actually serve you
-really, just chilling! it was great to have the whole day up for you to decide and laze around, or splash around, or snorkel a bit. I felt very lucky!

It'll be hard to leave such a caring, wonderful brother and host to dive into pits of the unknown. Marc's been a great, funny and fun buddy to travel with for a week (thanks!), but I know I must continue into my journey and put on my L-cape. Two more days here in Bangkok, then some seculded mountain place, then homestays, then seminars begin early Febuary.

Whoever's reading this, I probably miss you already. Thanks for reading this and keep in touch :)