Third Week of Class: Monday, September 10, 2012 to Friday, September 14, 2012

Monday Schedule

9-12pm: PHM Lecture 7: Quality Concepts and Services in Thailand

12-1pm: Lunch

1-4pm: Thai Language

6-7:30pm: Peer Tutors

Structure of Thai Classes: We learn Thai by looking at pictures and only hearing the word in Thai. Sometimes it gets complicated because it is hard to interpret what the picture is trying to portray, so we must associate the word with the picture and only after the lecture can we relate the Thai word to the English word. For instance, how would you draw "free time" without writing any words?

 As part of the system, we also cannot write down what we hear, so we must quickly  memorize the words and rely on our phonemic skills. This is to avoid simply focusing on writing the word down instead of truly listening for the pronunciation and tones. For someone who cannot hear well (I still have not yet decided whether this is a real thing), I struggle to hear each syllable and pronounce the words correctly.

During our lecture, we will also always get "kanomb", which is the Thai word for "snacks." These snacks can be doughnuts, a variety of cakes and other sweets. Food can never fail!

Then, during most of our lectures, we also play games and compete with each other in challenges (with special prizes at the end!). For instance, we play bingo to learn numbers, write sentences on the board with key Thai words/phrases, write sentences in English and then translate it to Thai, listen to a Thai story and then translate it to English, etc.

After having a Thai lecture on directions, Ajaan Jeab created an acting game to help practice asking and giving directions. The person who asked for directions, had to act out different emotions such as being shy, silly, impatient, angry, etc. Then the person who gave out directions did different activities such as blowing bubbles, doing jumping jacks, rowing, running, etc.

Of course, there are also Thai Fun Activities where we go into the "real world" and use our Thai. For example, we went to the market and bought things from our shopping list.

Lastly, peer tutors are simply our time to learn Thai during a one-on-one session with a Thai student. It is very open on how we want to use our time: whether we want to review vocabulary, learn new vocabulary or have a conversation in Thai.

Tuesday Schedule

8:20am: Leave from office

8:30-12am: Education Discussion at the Forest Wat

1-4: PHM Lecture 8: HIV/AIDS in Thailand

5-6pm: ENGAGE 101

7pm: Gathering at the Program Facilitator's House

Education Discussion: Very engaging and thought-provoking discussion in small groups where we had the opportunity to share our previous educational experiences, describe our ideal educational environment, and exchange our ideas on the role of education in a person's development. 

It brought up some interesting facts:

1. Some students sat at a desk for a very first time during the ACT examination. Otherwise, students sat in bean bag chairs and couches.
2. Some students did not have to turn in any assignment or go to class in high school and still got A's
3. The different advantages and disadvantages of private and public schools
4. People go to college because it is the "next step" without truly thinking about whether it is necessary

We also got eaten alive by these little red ants that were crawling all over the mats in the Forest Wat.

Lecture with Dr. Pattara on HIV/AIDS at the Faculty of Public Health

Wednesday Schedule
9-12pm: PHM Lecture 9: Student Choice Lecture: Maternal and Child Health in Thailand
1-4pm: Thai Language

Lecture with Dr. Suttiluck on Maternal and Child Health in Thailand

Pad Thai Gai with a chicken shishkabob with tomatoes and pineapples for dinner

Thursday Schedule
8:30am: Arrive at the Faculty of Public Health
8:30-4pm: PHM Site Visit 2: Nam Pong District Hospital

The dentist with whom we had a chance to speak to and learn about the career of a dentist in Thailand. She specializes in working with children and she showed us some photos of her patients and their teeth!

Before entering the dentist work area, we all had to change our shoes. I'm the blue!

During a dentist visit, a doctor will also measure your heart rate and blood pressure.

The Dentist's Office: There are four dentist beds in a single room and there are no curtains to separate the patients. Of course, there is not much need of privacy during a dental visit, but this is one of the differences in the dentist visits in Thailand and in America.

The community hospital also has an emergency service system.

Nam Pong Hospital also has an alternative medicine treatment facility. The exterior and interior seem like you are walking into a resort. It is secluded from the rest of the hospital in a forest-like area and the facility smells like mint with soft music playing in the background.

 

The alternative medicine facility specializes in making different herbs and supplements for treatment.

There is also massage therapy and herbal therapy given to patient.

After touring the hospital, we all had lunch which was phenomenal! I love days when food is amazing!

Before leaving the hospital, we were given a lotus flower from which we ate the seeds.

Friday Schedule

9-12pm: Writing Workshop

12-1pm: Lunch at REC

1-3:30pm: Co-Facilitated Discussion Session (Team 2)

3:30-6pm: Program Review 2

7-9pm: Student Group Time

Student Group Time: We all anonymously wrote positive and constructive feedback (Peer Health Exchange would be so proud!) for each other. One of the pieces of positive feedback which I got was about my personality and positivism. One of the main points of my constructive feedback that I received was to express more of my thoughts instead of asking questions and to be more flexible in new situations. Personal growth and development!

Week Three: Another great week in Thailand! Going on these site-visits really puts the information that we are leaning in class into perspective and it helps me see myself in an environment in which I will be working one day (in a hospital, not necessarily in Thailand). They also add a lot to the alternative education method instead of just sitting in a classroom and learning in that single format. Again, with the first paper turned in, there is a second interest paper due date just around the corner! Things are getting busy, but it is a good busy since we still get to see so many things and experience so many things and not simply sit in a lecture and then write our papers in front of a computer screen. Things are going well, our group is doing amazing and I can't wait for next things to come!