work cont.

Me and Ploy. She didn't seem to understand to look at the camera and not me:)!

Ploy

He used to be terrified of this dolly, now absolutely loves it, thinks it is hilarious. The pose he is pulling is the traditional Thai photo pose.

Trying to smile!

This wee boy has a thing for watches. Every day he grabs my wrist and takes my watch off and puts it on his arm, I think before I leave I wil get one for him.

Ploy, she absolutely loves to laugh, and it's so lovely to hear her laugh, even if it is at me!

This is Ploy engrosed in her singing nursery rhyme book.

I still haven't managed to catch this boys name. He is so nice. He helps us shower and feed the kids sometimes, even though he can't walk himself. He has also been trying to teach me some Thai sentences, and I'm teaching him the numbers up to 10 so far in English

This is me with Om. He is a lovely boy, again very active, loves running around and climbing all over me. He seems to know me now and greets me in the morning with a clap with our hands.
As you can probably see some of the kids names are easier to learn than others, I have managed to learn about 5 names so far.

This is me in the sensory room with one of the boys from Ratchapon ward.

We wear different coloured shirts for each day of the week

This little girl is so cute. One of the physiotherapists has showed me what they do with her so I have had the chance to practice a little bit of physio on the kids all ready which has been great.

In his standing frame. It is talc all over his face.

The ball pool

This is Botech ( I hope that's how you spell it, well that's how it sounds!) in the sensory room, I can assure you he is never normally this still, he is constantly the go. At meal times he is tied to his chair to attempt to stop him running away! Don't worry it's not cruel. He is a lovely boy.

These are a few pictures of Victory Monument last week when the 'peaceful shirts' were demonstrating all round it. We were going there because we have language lessons in Bangkok. However, we have stopped going now because the situation is not safe enough for us to go.

First days at work

Here are the first few photos of work. I started work properly on Monday, and am absolutely loving it. Each day seems to be different, I never really know what is going to happen because that seems to be part of the Thai culture that they don't explain things, also I suppose the fact I can't really speak Thai would also contribute to that:) Though saying that we are getting 2 weeks worth of language lessons in the afternoons after work so hopefully that will help. Work is fantastic! In the mornings we pick the children up from the wards then take them back for some music for an hour. They then get a snack and then we shower and change them which is always quite difficult trying to keep them from running away! Then we get to play with them for an hour or so before lunch. The picture above and below is of the wee sensory area that they have in the day care centre. It is really good stimulation for the kids. The little girl lying down in the picture above loved it when I played round and round the garden on her hand! I still haven't grasped all their names yet because they are Thai names and so sound very different from anything that I am used to though I gues with being here for four and a half months I should manage to learn most of them. The teachers are also really nice and helpful though don't speak much English so it is mostly a gesturing communication we have going on at the moment. Will post more photos once I have them. Thank you to everyone who supported me in coming out here, I can tell you it is going to be well worth it working with the children.
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Koh Samet

This is the sign to Fung Fah where I work

This is the road that Fung Fah is on.

Julia

Putting up the tent!!!

Here are some photos of Koh Samet, a little island about 3hours from Bangkok. We have had this week off because of Thai new year, we didn't realise this was going to be the case until we got here so we took a couple of days to see Koh Samet. I will be at work as of Monday, for near enough the rest of my time in Thailand, so don't worry I am going to be working!!!

We've got church tomorrow which is called Changwattana community church and it is a western church generally run by Americans and it seems to be quite good after being there last week.

I have a few pictures of the outside of work to put up but not inside because I didn't take my camera in because it would have got damaged during the water festival, so more will follow once i am settled into work.

Here are some of Koh Samet