My STEP signature project was under the education abroad category through the organization GVI. The location of the project was Phang Nga, Thailand with a healthcare focus. The healthcare group mainly performed health checks in various locations in the community. We also went to a center for disabled children/ young adults in the community and performed various therapeutic activities with them.
My viewpoints and assumptions made about the world changed before the project officially began. While traveling to Thailand, I encountered flight issues and delays, but the kindest and most helpful individuals worked in the Hong Kong International Airport. Though there was a language barrier, they worked to provide the best service and treated me better than anyone from American Airlines in the United States. Once in Phuket, Thailand, I quickly realized why it has the nickname “The Land of Smiles.” From our taxi driver to local business owners, everyone offered a smile and hello. From past experiences in the United States, I was expecting Asian people to be more reserved and stand-offish. I was pleasantly surprised that my assumptions were wrong.
Throughout my time in Thailand, I realized the difference between wants and needs. For example, the program made it known that we would not have air conditioning at base. I was expecting this, but I was not expecting the lack of an actual shower or warm water. The longer I was there and saw the way native people lived, the less I cared about these frivolous wants. The people in Ban Nam Khem that were hit so hard with the tsunami in 2004 that they lived in humble homes often without doors. They were often surrounded by trash and chickens, and they used motorbikes to travel which became difficult during the rainy season. Despite everything, they were still happier and kinder than most people I encounter in the United States. This really made me reflect on my own desires for materialistic things that truly mean nothing.
The first interaction I had with the airport workers in Hong Kong made me realize my assumptions about their attitude was wrong. Once arriving to base in Thailand, I remember feeling like a celebrity walking around the community because every child we passed waved and said hello in English. It’s amazing how important learning the English language is to these people because it offers them better opportunities for jobs. The community of Ban Nam Khem was primarily a fishing hub. After the tsunami, almost half of the population lost their lives and most people lost their jobs.
Gay was one of the staff members in charge of the healthcare group, and she lived in the community where we volunteered. She is someone I will never forget. She was kind, compassionate, easy to talk to, helpful, and just an amazing person. It was evident that everyone around her loved her, especially people in the community. She taught us the difference between Chinese Thai’s and Buddhist Thai’s viewpoints on disabilities. Chinese Thai view disabilities as a blessing while Buddhist Thai view disabilities as punishments from a former life. She gave us a tour of Ban Nam Khem, taught us cultural beliefs, how to count in Thai, and simple sayings to get us through the community.
After learning this, I saw how these religious views transcended to the behaviors of the children at the center. One girl with Down Syndrome was Chinese Thai, and did little for herself and relied heavily on the workers because her parents treated her the same way. Two of the other children with Down Syndrome were Buddhist Thai, and they were extremely self-sufficient because they have had to care for themselves from a young age. It amazed me how much their religious viewpoints could differ and affect their lives. Gay also informed us that Buddhist Thai individuals that have children with disabilities often hide them or keep them away from other people as much as possible. This caused the Thai government to offer compensation for claiming such children. The goal is to raise awareness about centers like the one we were at, so these children have the opportunity to receive therapy and socialization.
Interacting with the children and young adults at the center was absolutely my favorite part of the entire trip that lead to my transformation. Yet again, these kids had little to nothing, but they were still so incredibly happy. From day one, they all welcomed us warmly and wanted to interact with us. It was amazing how close we got to them in just two short weeks. The center’s main caretaker, Soy, was another amazing Thai woman. I will admit that if I had to run after the kids there every day, I would be exhausted. She somehow always looked so at ease and genuinely in love with what she did. You could tell how much she loved all of them, and that left a mark on all of us volunteers.
I could have never anticipated the transformation that took place while I was there. For the first time ever, I decided to journal everyday about my experiences. Oddly enough, this became a religious experience for me. Each day, I was able to see God’s light through the interactions with Thai people and in the beauty of the land. I did a lot of reflection about what was most important to me because at the end of the day, these materialistic things that I prioritize mean nothing. I have always known that I am blessed with a strong family unit, financial stability, and every opportunity in the world. This trip, however, took this realization to the next level, and it made me want to appreciate what I have every single day and never take it for granted.
In terms of my academic and professional goals, the healthcare aspect of this trip absolutely solidified my choice in a career path. I absolutely loved having the opportunity to take people’s blood pressures and explain to them what healthy vs. unhealthy ranges were. I was able to apply my knowledge from the classroom to this community by completely organizing a basic head to toe health check. This excited me because I took a course last fall that was literally titled “Health Assessment” where we learned the proper way to assess anyone that first enters a clinic. My team and I did encounter some cultural sensitivities when asking certain questions, and the resources were limited. Despite our limitations, we put together the first health check GVI has ever given in the community. Hopefully our idea will continue to grow with future healthcare volunteers.