Days Five and Six and Seven

The day for the closing ceremonies was now here, we all couldn't believe how fast the time flew by.  We arrived at the school around 8am as some of us still had last minute activities to complete prior to the ceremony related to our workshops.  My team printed out pictures at the mall the night before of each Thai delegate and we taped it to a window in the room for all delegates to pick up.  The purpose was so they could put their pictures on the cover of the book that they made during our workshops.

 

The American delegates then quickly devised and practiced a five motions skit, which we performed at the beginning of the closing ceremony.  I think it was well-received once the students understood the point of five motions.  Then Alim got up and made a few remarks, the team leaders followed suit, then each Thai delegate was invited to get up and explain what they learned during the workshops.  I think it was gratifying for all of us to see that wow, they did all learn something, especially when they named specific activities that we did in our workshops.

 

It was a little disappointing to leave because we were all just beginning to bond and then it was time to leave.  I know the Thai delegates were very sad to see us leave, it was emotional for us to leave as well.  One thing they kept saying was that even though we are leaving now in 2008, that is ok because we will be back in 2009.  The ceremony wrapped up with everyone exchanging gifts as is custom.  Alim gave the director and principal a framed picture of the American delegates.  Each Thai delegate received a t-shirt with the GRO logo on it, and they gave each American delegates a cool lantern with different designs.

 

After the ceremony, we headed straight for the Bangkok airport where we caught a flight to Phuket. Once we arrived there, the teams split up to have dinner on their own as well as provide feedback for one another.  My team ate at a place called Rock Star which was an interesting atmosphere with a stage set up for bands.  Even though we walked there, we elected to catch a taxi back due to the pouring rain.  All, except Peter, who decided to run back in the rain.  (he beat us to the hotel too!). We had a GRO moment at 9PM where we all met for drinks except Greg who was sick.  One by one,  the American delegates are getting sick :(  Not sure why, maybe traveller's sickness?

 

The next day, most of us woke up around 7:30 and Alim somehow got 11 motobikes and drivers to take us around Phuket on a tour. It was nothing short of awesome.  I think I had a smile plastered on my face the whole time.  We went over mountains, we saw the water, the drivers took us up to several vista points where we could see the trees below, as well as the water, and the city.  We even went to a lighthouse where we were able to climb to the top to see more amazing views. It was well worth the 500 bahts that we each paid!

 

After that, we took a very SLOW van ride to the ferry, a moment of panic came when we arrived to find that half the team was missing.  Their van left before ours, so we thought for sure they would be there already. Luckily, they arrived around 10 minutes later. Because the van ride was very hot and all of us were crammed in there and the driver was anal about the AC, I elcted to sit down below on the ferry with the AC.  I only intended to stay down there long enough to cool off, but then the next thing I knew, I fell asleep and we had arrived at Phi Phi island already!

 

Phi Phi island is beautiful!!  It has no motorized vehicles, so people from our hotel met us and toted all of our luggage on carts back to the hotel.  The locals get around by foot or on bicycles!  The hotel itself is a series of bungalows that are detached and free-standing.  Very quaint and cute.  I will definitely come back here again in the future!  Once we all got to our hotel, we very quickly changed and jumped into the pool.  It was sooo refreshing!  Then some of us began researching boat trips and excursions for the next day.  We all met up for dinner and a GRO moment at a tree top restaurant called Carpe Diem.  You climb up to the top of a tree where there is a platform and it overlooks the water and the beach.  Very pretty.  You also take off your shoes at the entrance and sit on pillows on the floor, so we all had a lot of fun there.  Unfortunately, some GRO members continue to not feel well, so we all felt bad about that and wished them all a speedy recovery!

 

After dinner, we all split up.  Some went back to sleep, some shopped a bit, and some elected to see the fire show at Carpe Diem.  I caught a bit of the fire show until I became so tired that I decided to call it a night.

 

I slept in for quite awhile today, I know some of you may be thinking "how can you sleep in paradise?!" but everyone here is just tired.  Those who didn't sleep in either took a nap later on or passed out while at the beach.  The week is catching up with us all, I believe.  We split up again today with some of us going on a boat ride, some of us staying at the beach for most of the day, and some of us shopping.  As for me, it was nice to lay out on the beach, read, and relax.  I also got an odd start to my tan with only my arms becoming red and not the rest of my body.  Ah well, I have two more days to even it out.  The weather here on the island has been a bit rainy, as I speak it is raining right now. It was really rainy this morning too.  I think we are all on our own for dinner tonight, I might join some people on a boating excursion tomorrow.  See see.

 

So, it is Friday March 7th at 6:12PM as I write this.  I cannot believe the week has gone by so fast!  We leave Phi Phi island Sunday morning to go back to Phuket, from where we will go straight to the airport to catch a flight back to Bangkok, where some of us will fly back to America on Monday morning.  9 of us are scheduled to stay another week here in Southeast Asia, however, plans aren't final as far as what we will do with that second week.  I think we are all playing it by ear.

 

I close for now.  I apologize for lagging on my updates, and for cramming three days in this update as well! Hope everyone is doing well!

 

KT