1. In February 2010 I went to Chiang Rai with a group of students for Global
Citizenship Week to experience “Life in MeaKong.” I went on this trip because I
wanted to have a chance to experience life outside of Bangkok and live the way the
majority of Thai people live their daily lives. Within Thai society, there is a large
divide between the rural and the city populations. They have completely different life
style and different values. So I wanted a chance to live with the people in Chiang Rai
to see what life was like on the outside and have the experience that I would not have
in the city.
When we arrived for the first time in MeaKong, the first thing I noticed was
the kids. They would laugh and run and play and just wanted to sit with us and ask us
questions about everything. They were also curious about our outfits and the way we
dress since they have their own traditional dresses. I remember one girl who brought
me a flower and would follow me around as we went through our daily activities.
During this trip we had the opportunity to help the village kids set up a
“Recycle Day”, and taught them the difference between wet and dry trashes so they
would understand the significant of recycling. I also went to a local school where the
school allowed us to have one whole period to teach the kids some basic words in
English. The kids are very active, very interactive and also well-behaved. Through all
of this, the kids seemed so happy living in conditions that most people felt were
terrible. Even though they had very little, but they were tremendously rich at heart.
During this trip, all Ways of Knowing were used. First, it was a combination
of both Perception and Reason. I could SEE they had very little, were wearing torn
clothing and had no shoes. I could SMELL the trash-heap behind the village that
makes their community not such an ideal place to live. At the same time I could
HEAR the laugher of the kids when they see ISB students and when they participate
in the activities that we plan for them. I also FEEL the small and simple gifts they
would bring me. It is definitely not something big or expensive, but a handcraft basket
shows that they really spend a lot of time doing it. I feel sometimes in our society, we
think material possessions will somehow make you happier. These people in this
village had nothing, and were happier.
REASON makes me understand the differences between my life in Bangkok
city and Mea Kong people who lives up on the mountain. I finally understand that
even though money may allow people to live in higher living standard but it is not
that factor that determines happiness in the end. These people that I met, did not have
good clothes to wear or good food to eat but they are some of the happiest people I
have known. It was not possessions or material goods or comfort that made them
happy, which means it is not what makes us happy either. There is another undefined
characteristic that makes people happy. As I sat with them, I felt their happiness was
contagious. Emotion helps me feel their joyfulness and happiness, which confirms the
real reasons that make people happy.