If money had no value...

I've already submitted the adoption papers for this girl!!

At this moment, I think happiness is realizing that you are doing exactly what you want to be doing. There are many things you can get out of a study abroad experience but for me, a few weeks ago I realized that every opportunity and activity I am doing here is exactly where I want to be and what I want to be doing. I can't imaginea better environment for myself at this moment where I can learn in a new and creative way, make deep connections with people (both locals and fellow students), learn about issues I care about and finally, gain a better understanding of the world and my role in it.

Last week, my group had an exchange with Pawh Somkiat, a village leader protesting the Pak Mun Dam. He talked about how government development projects are problematic, often trying to change theculture and way of life of local villagers. Locals are very sustainable. They have a lot of natural resources around their community and they don't need money. Nature is their supermarket. Until a few years ago theyhad no electricity but easily survived. And the bottom line of it all was that these locals are happy!

Posing with Pawh Somkiat--whata baller! right?

What's Justice got to do with it?

The view outside my window in the village I stayed one night. This is the Mekong River and across is Laos!!!

This village is fighting against a potential dam being built down stream that would affect their cultural way of life.

Throughout our unit trips we visit village communities who have been struggling to retain their culture and their rights. We have repeatedly heard stories where injustices are committed against the people. In the land unit I learned about the government arresting villagers for trespassing or global warming when villagers thought they were simply farming on land they have farmed for generations. In this past water unit, we learned how the government built large-scale dams for development. These dams took away the livelihoods and culture of the people who survived by the river resources. The government never provided adequate compensation.

We have exchanged with some government offices to understand their perspective. Frequently their explanation shows the stark disconnect between the government and the villagers. Policies either don’t make sense or they are not carried out to actually protect or help the people. They are often motivated by money gains.

Learning about these cases has helped me come to a better definition of what is injustice. I think injustices are cases that cannot be rationalized nor logically explained. Here, I have learned about many injustices; situations where the government acts against the people causing harmful effects that make little sense. When I cannot rationally understand why a government is acting the way it is, it makes me empathize more with the people or cause. By understanding what is unjust, I can recognize what issues I believe are important.

Some pictures from my last trip

Stage 1 -Planting Rice calf deep in mud water! yum

Stage 2- learning how to harvest rice

Dressed in traditional Issan (northeast) platooms (sarong like skirts) holding the cutest child I wish I could adopt

Our Deepest Fear

I really like this quote as something that inspires me and thought I'd share it with others. It's really applicable to everything in my life right now.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God... It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others" - Nelson Mandela

Scavenging

I went scavenging with people from Nong Wang slum located just 10 minutes from my apartment here in Kohn Kaen. Ironic thing is that we took a motorcycle to go scavenging back on Kohn Kaen University campus near where I live. I did a photo essay assignment on scavenging. Here are just a few of those pictures.

In Nong Wang Slum community located in Khon Kaen, Thailand, P’Dom, age 35, prepare for his daily routine of scavenging. P’Dom has a special needs and cannot talk but nonetheless he is able to go about his daily routines successfully. P’Dom sets out on his motorcycle prepared with the necessary tools for his morning of scavenging. He connects his cart to his motorcycle to carry his findings and takes with him a shovel, a dust pan and a broom.

P’Dom travels just 10 minutes from his home in the slum to Khon Kaen University campus where he scavenges. The dumpster is located in a parking lot on Khon Kaen campus. He is familiar with the area and is at ease as he instantly jumps in to the dumpster.