This post were supposed to tell about our time at Barnhem after the Re-opening party, and it will, but it will not be quite as I had planned.
Thursday, October 13 His Majesty the King of Thailand, all Thais beloved father
Bhumibol Adulyadej and there is National mourning. In the shadow of this, it feels strange to write anything other than that I grieve with the Thai people, our colleagues, our children and all our friends in this amazing country.
Sussi
What a fantastic day October 1 was and what a fun and busy period we have had till the day with big D.
There have been frantic preparations to get everything ready in time, combined with our everyday life functioning normally despite everything else.
The main job is to get everything readyhas been on John Grendon and Barrie Buck, Barnhem's heroes who started the whole refurbishment project for over two years ago and who from time to time must have wondered what they gotthemselves into.
The part of completion that we at Barnhem have been most involved in addition to moving around again is to get our garden ready. First, a lot of sand was delivered that must be fairly flat before we could lay the grass, and just then, the weather may not have been completely on our side but after that, we really have been lucky. It is the rainy season now and to some extent it has been good but there have been occasions when you absolutely do not want rain.
As we approached the big day friends from Sweden started to arrive.
September 23 Susanne Karlfeldt came, it is her second visit since she was a volunteer with us for less than a year ago. So she has undoubtedly gone from a volunteer to a family member.
She arrived just in time to be able to attend when Barnhem was blessed by Wat Muang Mai monks on 25 September. An incredibly beautiful and dignified ceremony. Perhaps it was this ceremony that gave us luck with the weather.
Immediately after the blessing it was time to lay out the first part of the grass and to our aidlots of friends to Barrie, John and Barnhem arrived. While we were laying out the grass we did not hav a drop of rain, but just when we started watering the grass, it started to rain and the newly laid grass needs water.
After a hard days work laying out the grass it was time to pick up the next long-distance friend - Tommy Gustafsson from The Happy Child Foundation. When he arrived the flooring for the sports area that he and Poker Wallenberg donated money to still wasn’t ready and we actually thought that it would not be finished by the 1st - but oh huw wrong we were.
Just a few days later they started with the floor about the same time as our brand new fantastic washing machines, donated by Electrolux arrived. Many thanks to Poker Wallenberg and Craig and Nook Electrolux Thailand.
The same day as Tommy arrived in Phuket Calle, Eva Lovisa - The Happy World Tour - arrived in Thailand but it would take another few days before we got to enjoy their company.
Thai Airways, who has sponsored their travel to and from Thailand, created them with a great welcoming ceremony. They were welcomed as the heroes they are, and spent a whole day together with Thai Airways cycling team in Bangkok.
Finally it was our turn - late Tuesday evening, September 27 we went to pick them up at the airport and it was a very happy and tired bunch who met us.
The day after, there were many happy children who wanted to hug and cling on Calle when he, Loviisa and Eva came to Barnhem, and slowly but surely they began to approach Loviisa and Eve as well, and eventually even clung to them.
Thursday arrived and it was time to lay out the rest of the grass, that was about twice as much as what we had dona already and again we got a lot of help from friends - this time in the form of Barrie Buck and his team from SGS. So even though there was plenty of grass to lay out, we were ready in just over two hours. During the whole time we were working we hade sunshine but just a few minutes after the SGS had left us the rain started - that for sure is being lucky!
Thursday evening Neng came to Barnhem - our beloved son who makes his final year at university. We have not seen him in over two years so we were so very happy that he could escape from his studies to celebrate with us.
And so it was Friday and only one day left until the big day - a day full of activity and lots to prepare. In the afternoon, Martin from Pura Organic came to deliver lots of organic vegetables that they donated for the celebration.
In the evening me and Hans had dinner with the Grand Re-Openings guests of honor - Peder Langenskiöld from Alba Care Foundation and his wife Angela. We are extremely happy that they were able to come to for the celebration as there had not been anything to celebrate if Alba Care Foundation had not decided to be a big part of the Refurbishment project.
After a very nice dinner, it was time to go home and to bed to get a few hours sleep before the D-day.
And then there it was- the day with a big D when we would show off our fabulous home as well as wave goodbye to our heroes in The Happy World Tour.
For us it began early, at 07:00, preparations in full swing, and although I have lived with Barnhem for over 11 years now I will probably never stop being impressed and fascinated by the obvious collaboration that triggers when something will happen.
No, there are no lists of what to do or when, no, there are no lists of who should do what or how, but everything is done organically. Everyone, literally everyone, help where they see the need, both staff and children.
At 9 o'clock our heroes from The Happy World Tour arrived and one in the gang had his birthday the day before so this one - Calle - was surprised withcake and song from the children and staff.
Pretty soon after they had arrived their cycling buddies from Thai Airways came, what a lovely bunch!
The party began at 10.00 am and slowly but surely Barnhem started to be filled with friends, many who have been directly involved in the project.
It was a great day filled with warmth, love and sunshine - yes, even the sun came and celebrated with us.
Everyone was treated with the delicious food that Miaoo and Porn prepared with the help of our children and our staff. Everyone was enjoying themselves and our children danced for the guests as well. I, Barrie and John made a valiant attempt to thank all who have been a part of the project well aware that there are not enough words.
And so the time had come - the time to see off Calle, Eva Lovisa - The Happy World Tour.
And I could not help myself as the tears came - and I was not alone.
One project was celebrated as it had reached its goal, and another project just started!
Today is October 4 and The Happy World Tour has already managed to Trang in southern Thailand, and they are not alone, today there has been about 100 Thai cyclists following them and they've got lots of attention both in the Thai press and Thai TV!
Do not miss the opportunity to follow them on their adventures around the world to the benefit of our children. You can follow them on thehappyworldtour.com, and The Happy World Tour on Facebook and Instagram.
It's almost time for takeoff! On Sunday Thai Airways is flying The Happy World Tour gang - Calle, Loviisa and Eve - to Phuket. They will spend a few days in preparation at the orphanage before the Goodbye Party on October 1, when they will depart on their round-the-world cycling tour, not to return until over a year later when they cross the finish line at the orphanage.
Today Calle Wållgård from The Happy World Tour and Kjell Bergqvist were featured on the morning show, Gomorron Sverige, to talk about what it’s like to travel by bicycle around the globe. Imagine: Calle, Lovisa and Eva are undertaking this incredible journey in order to raise money for our children at the orphanage. It's truly wonderful and so powerful. We are very proud of them. And we will of course be following them throughout the trip.
Click the link below on SVT Play. Skip ahead 2.5 hours into the broadcast to watch the exerpt.
http://www.svtplay.se/video/10010976/gomorron-sverige/gomorron-sverige-19-sep-06-25
Will you support the project?
Donate the amount of your choice for every Swedish mile (10 kilometers) the team rides. If they make it all the way, which of course is the goal, your total donation will be your chosen amount x 3,000 Swedish miles. For example, 20 öre per Swedish mile will total 600 SEK, while 50 öre per Swedish mile will total 1,500 SEK, etc. You won’t be asked for your donation until the team reaches the finish line in about 1 year and 4 months, ie., the end of 2017.
Here’s what to do:
See below and read more at: www.thehappyworldtour.com
Send an email to: insamlingen@thehappyworldtour.com in which you state your name (individual/family/company/organization name, etc.) and how much you want to donate for every Swedish mile (10 kilometers).
Once we have received your registration your name will be published under "Donations" on www.thehappyworldtour.com
Sit back now and enjoy the ride (you can best keep tabs on us via the blog on our website and via our Instagram account (@thehappyworldtour), which will follow us as we make one full revolution around the earth, starting and finishing at the orphanage in Muang Mai, Thailand.
When we finally reach our destination you will receive an email letting you know that the adventure is over and that it’s time to donate the amount you promised. Your donation will be placed into the Happy Child Account – bankgiro number 738-3110 - or into the Foundation’s Swish account: 12 30 59 15 78.
It is now about a week since I came back to Barnhem after a fantastic little over a month in Sweden. Hans has been back in about a month already.
The trip home to Sweden means of course to socialize as much as we can with our families and to get to meet so many friends that we have time for - so thank goodness it's a packed schedule we go home to. The fact that many of our friends in a way or another are involved in our children and in Barnhem will obviously not make things worse.
Icing on the cake this summer was that Wow could finally come to Sweden and meet all the great people that make it possible for us to run Barnhem. And all these enthusiasts had the opportunity to meet Wow, who is a prerequisite for us to be able to run Barnhem.
It was great that finally Wow, with her own eyes, got to see and experience everything that happens in Sweden.
And we used our time well.
Hans and I had a meeting with Barnhem’s board, me and Hans attended Shades when they cut the hair of Swedish children to thebenefit of our children, I had a meeting with Happy Child's board and me and Wow had a meeting with Granite together with Annika from Happy Child. I also had meeting with Alba Care who have decided that they want to be involved in the sponsorship of future university students and now have decided that they will start to account for 50% of Nons education.
Besides that Wow and I went up to Lasse and Helena Tenerz in Uppsala so Wow would see were Neng will open next year as he will do his practical work in Sweden.
Many gatherings with several of our volunteers was booked as there were many volunteers who wanted to take the opportunity to meet Wow when she was in Sweden.
And this amazing evening - An Evening for Happy Child - which this year filled the conference room at the Grand Hotel, as they let us borrow. It was an evening filled with warmth and love and friendly souls!
Wow, and I talked about Barnhem. Calle, Eva Lovisa informed about The Happy World Tour. Emil and Kjelle told about Kjelles Tavelresa. Natali Felicia stood for the music. And Thailand's Ambassador accounted for tonight's surprise and gave a wonderful speech to all of us.
Our time in Sweden ended literally with a visit to Tyresö temple the same day we would go home. We have for several years had a Thai enthusiast - Gung, working to spread information about Happy Child and Barnhem among her Thai friends in Sweden.
And as she and Wow have had a lot of contact over the years, it was natural that we, now that Wow was in Sweden, were invited to the temple to talk about Barnhem and Happy Child.
And now we're back with our lovely kids, but not to the tranquility that one might think.
Now it's full focus on the grand opening of our newly renovated Barnhem and also to wave god bye to The Happy World Tour - all this on Saturday, 1 October.
Non today
My name is Nonthakan Borsin or you can call me Non. I’m 18 years old. I’m studying a Science-Math major and this is my last year for studying high school.
For the fourth year of high school, I had to choose the major and I chose to study Science-Math. At that time, I had to adjust many things and it was really different from my last three year. Because studying this major have to take many lessons and many subjects. I did many things that I never did it. My world was wider and also my thought was change. But now, I’m really happy to be a student at this major.
At school, I did a lot of activities. For example, competed in Mathematics skill and I got an award as the first runner-up, A-MATH game match which similar to crossword but have to make mathematics equation and another one is contesting Science project in Science project exhibition. I’m very proud all of these things.
Last year, I had a lot of works and projects to do. Some period of time’ I had to stay at friend’s home to finish the projects. I sometimes stay at school all night. And I nearly didn’t come home after school finish immediately because of having the works to collaborate with friends. I have lots of school activities such as Thai’s day activities, sport’s day, Science’s week, Respect teacher’s day and children’s day so on. Actually, I have others activities but it too much to write it down.
However, when the work was over or when I have time, after school I often play sport.
On Sunday, I sometimes go to walking around at a park or interested place for exercise with Hans and other children. When the wok accomplished or after an exam, I and friends often have a small party or go to a buffet restaurant. On vacation, we sometimes go to the cinema, go to the beach as well as go to a place that we have never visited before.
As have been said, I have only 1 year left for studying high school. So everything is going to be serious. I have to decide what I want to be. I have to study harder. I believe, the more I study hard the more I have chances to get in a great university.
About my goal, at first I really confident that I want to be an architect, but when the time has gone, many things come through my life, then my thought have been changing. I start to interested in being a doctor when I was 16. It’s because I like biology and this career will make me happy from helping patient.
I want to be an architect because I like drawing, thinking and designing. I also like English, Chinese and Chemistry but I don’t like Physics.
Now I’m not really sure what I want to be between an architect and a doctor so I’ll apply for both. One of my dreams is travelling around the world and spend time to live and work overseas. I don’t expect to live overseas so long time. Only short time, I’ll satisfy. I just want to learn the new things.
Personally, I think high school life is so colorful. When we grow up we likely don’t face the life same as this moment. Although I have a lot of activities, it’s an experience that we should grab it before finish high school. I know many people, I can handle and work with friends as a team and I acquire a good friendship. All these things are from do activities.
Not so long I’ll leave school. And the important thing is I’ll leave Barnhem hopefully to have a university life.
I would like to thank you for Barnhem to give me an opportunity to have a beautiful life. Thank you for all Barnhem sponsors to help us. Without you, many children may lack bright life.
Finally, if I get the chance I’ll do my best. Believe me, I never leave my opportunity.
Some pictures from Non's life with us from 2005 to 2016.
Tomorrow it's time for me to leave for Sweden to visit family and friends.
It's always with mixed feelings, it will of course be wonderful to spend time with family and friends, there will even be a little nice to crave for everyone here at Barnhem - and yet it always feels a little tough days prior leave.
There is no way that I do not think they will manage without me at Barnhem, I know for a fact that they will, without any problems. It's not that I do not manage without them for a month, I do, but still ... ..I suspect it is called separation anxiety.
I leave a tranquil harmonious home, with lovely, safe and reasonably well-behaved kids, fantastic staff and strong volunteers. I leave a home that is nearly completed renovated and which I believe is completely finished when I come back. I leave a home where daily life will plod on in its usual genial pace.
I will, for the first time, have company on my trip home. Hannah and I have booked the same flight to Sweden, it turned out - so the trip will be much more fun than usual. Fun for me but not for Barnhem. Hannah is here for the second time and if had I been able to choose I had chosen for her to stay for Barnhem's sake, so we'll keep our fingers crossed that she "makes an Emil".
I'm really looking forward to what I travel to - to have time with as many as possible of all the dear friends in Sweden. The opportunity to meet as many as possible of all of you who make it possible for us to run Barnhem. And just being in what once was my home, and largely still is, even if my first home now is with my children in Phuket in Thailand.
This year, the trip to Sweden in addition will be a little bit different and that is what I look most forward to - this year I will get the chance to show Wow my Sweden for the first time.
Wow, who I've been sitting next to and worked side by side with for over 10 years. Fantastic Wow, who takes care of everything around Barnhem and who gives all her energy and love to our children. Wow, who also has managed to work with two Westerners who may not always understand everything so well. Wow, who along with the rest of the staff, and our children have taught me and Hans so much about our new country, on how to do things differently than in Sweden and that it actually can work just as well and many times better.
With hindsight, I have, and Hans have been very lucky - we've grown up in an amazing country surrounded by wonderful people to continue our adult lives in another equally amazing, though completely different country with at least as wonderful people.
So it is with pride that I will show Wow my Sweden and it is with as much pride that I look forward to presenting Wow for everyone in Sweden.
Wow is coming to Sweden to participate at An Evening for Happy Child on Thursday 24/8, so hopefully we'll see you there.
Sussi
We at Happy Child want to say a big thank you to Johanna Larsson for organizing this charity golf for the benefit of Happy Child and our children at Barnhem Muang Mai.
Johanna wants to honor the memory of those lost in the tsunami disaster in 2004 by organizing this charity golf tournament for the benefit of Happy Chid and our children at Barnhem in Thailand.
The day starts with lunch in the clubhouse at 1 pm.
The game starts at 2 pm - shot-gun and the game form is Scramble, 3-ball (organizers raffle balls),
The game is expected to be finished around 6 pm and all participants are invited for some mingel and information about Happy Child Foundation and how to support us.
Competition fee for private individual
Participation fee - not a member 595 SEK
Participation fee - members at Äpplegårdens GK 395 SEK
Competition fee for business
Happy Child Gold 5000 SEK
Happy Child Silver 3000 SEK
Happy Child Bronze SEK 2 000
You state which package you want to contribute with as you submit your company.
If you want to join please call Malin at Äppelgården 0431- 22330 or apply directly on the website www.appelgarden.se
See you there!
Ok now my 5th round as volunteer here at Barnhem is done, and as usual, these four weeks passed surprisingly quickly. Scary fast this time!
When you arrive and after greeting everyone it doesn’t take more than 5 minutes before you have settled down and are into the Barnhem’s pace. Coming here is like coming home !!
It's fantastic to see what an incredibly impact the renovation has done to the Barnhem! I have seen pictures of it but it's another thing to be here and see for yourself. No more cracks in walls and ceilings, proper toilets and showers, fans in ceilings and so on. Everything feels much fresher and nicer, this will be great for the children!
My everyday life here is pretty simple. It is filled with playing with the children here at the Barnhem, teaching English in schools, walks, tours on Phuket's coastline, sun, laughter, swimming and much more.
The days have more or less the same routine. So much that I sometimes find it difficult to discern whether it's Tuesday or Friday. That it is why it is so important to notice the small details of everyday life (I guess itprobably is the same in Sweden as well), it sounds a bit cliché but I think it could be pretty important when you are here. Small details like in how a child takes on the talk powder in a funny way after his/her shower, or how one of the kids on the way to school in the bus starts humming a song, which our driver picks up and starts to play, and you'll see how the face of the child shines of happiness. To see when our grandmother throws out her arms to try to get hold and hug the kids running past her at her bench. Watch the youngest kids as they collaborate and help each other to be able to carry the large water container to the kitchen.
Or to see someone finally understand why 11-6 cannot be 1 but has to be 5.
Small seemingly simple, sometimes basic details, which distinguish on day from another.
Harmony. That's the impression I take home with me. Barnhem feels more harmonious now than any other time I have been here. It might sound strange at first, as is so much going on right now, with the renovation and all. Buildings are demolished and new are getting built, parts of Barnhem is a construction site full of building materials, the fuss and noise arises from early morning to late afternoon .... But harmony is what I feel when I'm here. It feels like all kids as well as the staff, fulfills a specific role. And the role is to make everyone feel needed and loved. And that is what you feel when you get here. It is what I feel when I'm here and that's certainly what the newly arrived children feel when they come here - love.
It does not matter how things look on the surface when the core and the heart is intact.
Next year I graduated, and it's time to grow up and get a job. I hope this was not my last time .... It cannot be my last ....
No, It will be one more time. 5 times is a record too easy to beat;)
I want to finish this by thanking EVERYONE who work for Barnhem, whether it is on place or in Sweden. Without all of you, who put so much time and energy to help, this gorgeous place would not exist. So THANK YOU!
I hope all of you can come to An Evening for Happy Child, see you there!
Yesterday we celebrated midsummer at Barnhem, I know that we celebrate a day later than Sweden, but it is a bit difficult to explain to the schools why our children should have a day off on one, for Thailand, ordinary Friday.
Anyway - we may celebrate late but we celebrate long and hard! Exactly how much fun we had is hard to show with still images so instead it will be many small videos in today's blog.
Our midsummer began in the morning when the Maypole was dressed.
This year, one of volleyball posts serve as the backbone, I've said it before but have to say it again - we have probably on of Sweden's finest Maypoles!
At two o'clock it was time to dance around the Maypole and this year we could dance in the shade under the roof in our sportarea, much nicer than to dance under the blazing sun.
As tradition offers, we danced "Little frogs," "The priest's Little Crow," "We are musicians," and "The Bear sleeping". We sing in Swedish which makes thechildren understand just a little bit which makes it so extraordinary fun.
The dance around the Maypole ended with "Last Couple Out" which is a favorite along with "The bear sleeping".
We had a short break, and after that it was time for the games - that our volunteers had put together in cooperation with Boy, Eak and Nid. They had been appointed our older kids to be coaches, which was a smart move as it made them very engaged instead of the opposite.
The children were treated to new wacky games and everyone had a lot of fun!
As tradition additionally offer Emil was here - and on top of that lovey Hanna, another “old” volunteer had chosen to come back!
Hanna has managed the feat to come very close to our teenagers, which is not alway that easy.
So to see Fons happiness when Hanna stepped inside the gates 6 days before midsummer was a delight. You could see how it bubbled in her, and although she tried to hold back a little, she could not hold back her beautiful smile with a mouth that stretched from ear to ear.
After the games, it was time to prepare dinner buffet - and it is as much a party as everything else here with us. It was full of activity and very many involved in this year's buffet that was truly international with meatballs, Thai food, sushi, tacos and pasta with tuna sauce.
The dinner ended with a birthday celebration for all the kids that had had their birthday since we celebrated birthdays last time.
So yes, we had a wonderful, wonderful day and evening!
Happy Child would like to say a big thank you to the children at Vittraskolan in Frösunda and their teacher Jimmy Andersen for letting Barnhem be a part of their movie Vittra the Movie.
In the movie, which is about Vittraskolan theypresents to the school's activities, children's talents and their dreams. The film also addresses the important things such as bullying and the importance of being thankful and helpful where Barnhem got to be a part - which we are very grateful for.
They even arranged a viewing at the school when the children sold the tickets, juice and popcorn for the benefit of Barnhem Muang Mai.
Many thanks to all involved from us in the Happy Child!
He is back again Barnhem’s very own Emil. He arrived this Monday and will stay for a month.
It's hard to describe how thankful all of us at Barnhem are to this lovely guy for choosing to come back to us year after year.
The first time he was here was in 2012, when he spend four months with us as all the volunteers are required to do the first time. Since then, he has chosen to spend a month of his summer holidays from university together with us every year.
He is an incredible asset to Barnhem with his amazing energy, his positive attitude to life, his genuine commitment to each individual child and his ability to seamlessly and easily work with and become friends with all our staff.
Emil, we are very spoiled and very grateful!
This year's An Evening for Happy Child, will be even more special than the previous years as Wow will join for the first time!
For those of you who do not know Wow, she is the mother of all of our children and has managed Barnhem together with Sussi and Hans since 2006.
There are not enough words to describe how important she is for the children and for Barnhem, which makes us particularly proud that she finally can join.
We will alos have Happy World Tour attending to talk about their upcoming adventure for the benefit of Happy Child and our children.
And on top of thatwill be treated to beautiful song by Natali Felica.
The evening’s konferencier, and moderator is Kjell Bergqvist.
More information will come!
A warm welcome from us at the Happy Child.
Together again!
Now the children have done their first week at school, and we are all back to our usual daily routines.
It seems that everyone had longed to go back to school and to see their friends as it was far from difficult to wake them up in the morning - or rather, no one had to wake them up as everyone was awake and ready for school already at six.
And the week has remained in peaceful beautiful harmony with school and homework, and sports and play after homework.
Today Sunday we were visited by Rebecca from Anthem Wakepark, and two friends of her, it's Sunday so they had loaded up with candy and a lot of energy to play which was appreciated by all of us.
Finally the school holidays coming to an end and our children start to come back home to us.
Children who have been with away visiting relatives close by as well as our novice monks came back this week and Wow has gone to Isan to pick up our children with relatives in there, they will be back on Tuesday and then we are all together again and everything will be back to normal.
In addition to all of our old children, we have also got four new family members - two girls and two boys, so now off we are a family with 31 children.
The week that has passed has mostly consisted of enjoying being together again and on Thursday our novice monks got to go to Anthem Wake Park for some wakeboarding. Anthem Wake Park is next door to the temple where the boys have been monks so we can understand their desire to do something a little wilder after a month of peace and harmony.
They had great fun and came home proud and happy- Dee rushed up and told me that he had passed two laps on the big track.
And now it is just a few days left until we all are together again - on Tuesday Wow will come backhome with the rest of the gang.
Hi everyone! My name's Fuse or you can call me Neng :)
It has been 3 years now after I leave Barnhem the best home ever. First of all, I really want to thank you for Bernhem for helping me a lot and I can have this day is all because of them.
I start university life on 2013 and everything was very new for me because I sometimes afraid of change. But I start a fresher life here with a very big group of friends who's study about the information technology here. We start a new life with a very funny time like we are going to be kids again. Before the university starts the semester they have a lot of activities for first-year students to lets us know each other and have friends. I have 3 roommates here and they are the really great roommate. We share our life story and help each other with homework. 2 of them study Aviation Business Management and 1 of them studies Software Engineering.
For second-year here it's was really hard for me because I have to find the new apartment and everything going to be serious. We have to study hard and we have to take care first-year students. But anyway it still fun because we have a really good family here. We have a good senior, good teacher and also good friends.
Now I'm a Third-year Multimedia Technology and Animation student at Mae Fah Luang University in Thailand. It was harder than second-year. I have to separate with our friends to choose the subject that we really want to learn. Some subject I have to study with another student from other major. But for this year I have a very funny time to learn what I really want to learn. I can take time with website developer and have a free time with taking a photo. I already choose what I really want to be and I love to working for it. I have to go to intern at the company for 4 months because I have to take co-operation education before I can graduate and I'm looking for the company about create the website to going to be a trainee.
Anyway, I really thank you for reading my story. I will do my best here and I really hope one day I will be the one who can help other children to have a better life like I have today I promise.
Best Regards
Irawin Pengpitak (Fuse)
Yesterday we, Sussi and Hans, came back to Barnhem after twelve days of vacation.
It felt great to be back and we managed to get to Barnhem just while our novice monks were visiting.
Today we have celebrated birthdays - specifically Wow’s and Dee’s as well as Hans’ as he had his birthday when we were away.
Today it was also time for the boys' room to move as they soon will begin the renovation of the kill-wing.
Otherwise, we who are at Barnhem begin to long for school to start so all our beloved children come home again.
Today we celebrate Songkran, Thai New Year.
Thais are smart and love to have fun so in Thailand they celebrate Western New Year, Chinese New Year and their own New Year - how about that!
We started from Barnhem at nine o'clock in the morning, well aware that this would be a wet day, in the truest sense. In fact, some were already soaking wet when we left - Wow and Bat - who had started a little before us.We set out to Wat Manik with the car loaded with food to start the day with a more traditional celebration together with our seven novice monks.
When we got there, we left the food to the temple and then there was some information before our young monks came with their 114 monk buddies. At first it was a little prayers and chanting, and then it was time to give the monks food. All of us stood in line as they came with their bowls that everyone visiting the temple filled with food.
After that was lunch, of course - there is not the feast in Thailand that does not include a lot of food, food is important!
Then there was a break after lunch and then we started our water war, initiated by Wow who was wildest of all of us, in other words, we were all soaking wet when it was time to pour water on the monks' hands.
Everything started very dignified - the monks sat in a row and all visitors had to go on line to pour water over their hands. In fact, the continued equally dignified but mischievous as everyone started to poor water at each other.
On the way home from the temple the water war continued and Hans was good at really slowing down at all the places along the road where people celebrated, especially if they had ice cold water. So if you think that you can not freeze in Thailand, you are wrong.
Now I am at Barnhem writing this while the rest of the gang have continued out for more water wars. I am pretty happy and the same goes for those who continue partying.
Happy Songkran!
Last Sunday was the ceremony in Want Manik, when seven of our boys along with over a hundred other boys went into the temple as novice monks.
It was a very interesting, very dignified, very long and very warm ceremony and day.
The boys had went to the temple already Thursday to prepare so they were already in place when the rest of us left the orphanage at 06.30 in the morning.
The day began with speeches from various public figures, after that it was time for lunch and after lunch it was time for the boys to be shaved.
Before the boys got shaved everyone who wanted could help cut their hair as it gives luck to have cut a the hair of a person who will be monk.
Then it was time for the temple's monks to take over and shave off all the hair including eyebrows - it's amazing what a change in appearance when you remove hair and eyebrows.
When all the boys were shaved they gotnew white clothes, and then the next ceremony began during which the boys will honor their mothers and say goodbye to their families - public crying is not very common in Thailand but at these times almost everyone cries, moms, boys and other relatives.
Then it was time to go three laps around the temple. It's very hot in Thailand right now and even though they had prepared by spraying water on the ground it was almost to hot for the boys to go barefoot - the rest of us even got to keep the shoes on.
After the walk around the temple the boys took off again - now they would switch from the white clothes to real monk robes.
The day ended with a final ceremony inside the temple and then it was time for taking photos before it was time to say goodbye - then it was 4 pm already.
The boys will be in the temple for over a month so it felt a bit tough to leave them, but they have chosen to spend their holidays in the temple by themselves and we know that it is good for them to be there - they will learn to live ascetic, learn more about their religion and learn to meditate.
Moreover, it is always fascinating to experience the serenity around all these boys although they will leave their families for over a month to live as monks.
The day before yesterday all of us at Barnhem set off on tour to Krabi - an excursion we had received as a "wedding gift".
Nathalie's (a former volunteer with us) parents gave their friends an excursion for our children as wedding gift to their friends - and no one can be more grateful for that present than us!
Early Tuesday morning we left, tired but excited!
And everyone's expectations came true.We had a fantastic day out on the islands around Krabi.
A day filled with lots of swimming, play, boat rides and good food.
Today Pete Barrett came back to visit.
Last time he was here he brought stilts made of wood that he had made himself. At first the children were a bit shy but then they started and after it has been a lot walking on stilts.
Today he brought crayons and then he made us all play hopscotch. Oops huh fun we had!
Not only does he come here with fun new games in the pocket he intends to additionally help us build furniture for the new rooms.
Again - how lucky we are!
