Chronicles of an Exchange Student’s Odyssey in Thailand — 2#Charity&Cooking
I’ll tell you about the charity event and how Buddhism and my school are connected in Thailand. Plus, the adventures of the French girl
Hello, my friend! It’s been a pretty eventful week, and I’m excited to share some of the cool stuff that’s been happening at our school. And speaking of cool things, let’s kick things off with a heartwarming story about the charity scene right here in our school. In addition to this, I shall go on with the adventures of the French girl.
Buckle up, my friend! It’s gonna be fascinating and a bit humorous. Let’s go!
Charity
Now, here’s the scoop: I live in what’s known as the most Buddhist country in the world — Thailand. And let me tell you, the spirit of giving is ingrained in us from the get-go. Our school totally gets in on the action, too, making special donations to monks a few times a year. What makes it even more remarkable is that our school’s land was actually gifted by a Buddhist monk. Yep, you read that right! Our school’s name, ‘Chumsaeng Chanutid’, has a cool story behind it.
The first part is the name of our town, and the second part is the last name of the monk who generously donated a huge chunk of land. And get this: he didn’t just give the land away; he wanted it to be a school for kids. Talk about an awesome legacy, right?
The crazy part is, his wish came true while he was still around to see it. Fast forward a bunch of years, and our school has blossomed into something incredible. Seriously, you wouldn’t even recognize it from what it looked like half a century ago. The transformation is mind-blowing.
So, those monks from the temple nearby? They’re like VIPs around here. We treat them with a whole lot of respect and make sure they know they’re appreciated. And let me tell you, all this positivity and good vibes are rubbing off on us and the students. These days, it’s like our school is wrapped up in a warm and fuzzy blanket of goodness.
What’s the deal with charity from the students?
Great question! In my school, we’ve got a bunch of awesome kids, and some of them come from families that aren’t rolling in dough. Here’s the cool part: the focus isn’t so much on how big the donation is, but on the fact that everyone wants to pitch in and help out. It’s all about that willingness to make a difference.
You’d be surprised by the variety of stuff students contribute. It could be something as simple as a carton of milk, a pack of instant noodles, some tasty juices, or even just a cup of rice. And let me tell you, rice is practically the superstar of Thailand — it’s everywhere and loved by everyone.
I’ve got this little fun fact I like to share with my buddies: in Thailand, you won’t go hungry for two main reasons — you can always count on having a bowl of rice at the temple, and there are bananas and pineapples growing like crazy in the rainforest, all year long. And on top of that, you’ve got these incredibly friendly and helpful folks who are always ready to lend a hand.
My school totally respects everyone’s religious beliefs, so they made sure not to put any pressure on the French student about participating in charity. Instead, right off the bat, our awesome teachers started giving these awesome Thai cooking lessons for Wanida. And trust me, that’s where things start to get really interesting!
Cooking
So there’s our French exchange student, Wanida, who’s all pumped to dive into the vibrant world of Thai cuisine. She’s heard about this famous dish called Som Tam — it’s like a flavor explosion of shredded green papaya, fiery chilies, zesty lime, and a bunch of other goodies. It’s basically a party in your mouth, and everyone in Thailand knows about it.
Wanida decides she’s up for the challenge and marches into the kitchen with the confidence of a culinary warrior. Armed with a mortar and pestle, she’s ready to conquer Som Tam like a boss, or like a princess — okay, like a princess boss.
First, she starts pounding away, channeling her inner Thai chef. But here’s the thing — those chilies pack a punch, and before she knows it, Wanida’s eyes are watering like she is watching Titanic for the first time. It’s like she’s entered a pepper spray battle with the chilies, and the chilies are totally winning. No, even more! She is like listening to ‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion, right after Titanic.
She soldiers on, determined to create her masterpiece. She adds the shredded papaya and the other ingredients, all while wiping away her tears. And then, with a flourish, she takes her first bite. Cue the suspenseful drumroll… and then, a moment of truth.
Wanida’s face goes through a series of expressions that would put a roller coaster to shame. First, confusion — because, well, this ain’t exactly how she expected it to taste. Then there’s a flicker of realization — maybe she went a tad overboard with the chilies. And finally, a burst of friendly laughter because, let’s face it, this is quite the adventure she’s embarked upon.
Turns out Som Tam is renowned for its bold flavors, but it’s also known for being a bit of a challenge, especially for newcomers. But hey, Wanida’s French spirit isn’t one to back down easily. She goes back to the drawing board, adjusts her chili-to-papaya ratio, and after a few attempts, she manages to create a Som Tam that’s not only edible but actually delicious.
That’s it! The brave French schoolgirl faced off against the legendary Som Tam and emerged victorious, almost like her real French name — Victoire. Let’s just say, her Som Tam-making skills became the stuff of legend among her fellow exchange students.
Keep doing a great job, Victoire!
That’s everything for now, guys! In the next post, I will describe my weekend training, which was made feasible by AI. And, of course, I’ll tell you about the latest adventures of a friendly French girl.
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