Lionel Amarakoon, our volunteer from Sri Lanka, served in Thailand. He says "Of course being an international volunteer is very challenging. Unless you adapt to the culture and daily life of the community you are supposed to work with, it is very challenging"
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Tel.: +91 11-26217459 Email : [email protected]Mae sot – overview of an International Volunteer By Lionel R. Amarakoon, VSO Volunteer My Days in Mae Sot My first day in VSO Office – Bangkok I left Sri Lanka on 23 of February 2011 for a two year assignment in the Kingdom of Thailand. I am happy to call myself belonging to the first batch of International Volunteers to leave the island underVSO (British INGO). My base is in Mae Sot which is much closer to the Moei River which is in the Thailand Burma Boarder. New Volunteers leaving Atlanta Hotel to Chiang Mai Before coming to the placement I was at Chiang Mai, where I had a one month language training under Aajan Waraya Hillman who used give a Paa Saa Thai Language course to all new Aasaa- Samak ( I mean the new VSO Volunteers). I arrived in Mai Sot on 1 st April from Chiang Mai after 7 hours Bus ride. I was iVolunteer Overseas D-134, First Floor, East of Kailash New Delhi-110065
I left Sri Lanka on 23 of February 2011 for a two year assignment in the Kingdom of Thailand. I am happy to call myself belonging to the first batch of International Volunteers to leave the island underVSO (British INGO). My base is in Mae Sot which is much closer to the Moei River which is in the Thailand Burma Boarder.
New Volunteers leaving Atlanta Hotel to Chiang Mai
Before coming to the placement I was at Chiang Mai, where I had a one month language training under Aajan Waraya Hillman who used give a Paa Saa Thai Language course to all new Aasaa- Samak ( I mean the new VSO Volunteers).
I arrived in Mai Sot on 1st April from Chiang Mai after 7 hours Bus ride. I was fortunate enough to have my employer at the Mai Sot Bus Station to welcome me to Mai Sot.
He took me to “The Phannu House” where most of the new volunteers stay until they find a suitable apartment.
iVolunteer OverseasD-134, First Floor, East of KailashNew Delhi-110065
In Chiang Mai I met all the volunteers working in Thailand including those friendly volunteers based in Mai Sot. Since I have gradually settled down in Mae Sot, I thought of writing this small wright up for my volunteer colleagues who are expecting placements very soon.
Before coming to Mai Sot we were fortunate enough to meet our prospective employers (Partner Organization of VSO) in workshop
organized by VSO in Chiang Mai on 29th of March.
PaaSaa Tai Class at Life in Town in Chiang Mai
Farewell to PaaSaa Thai Teachers AajanWaraya and Moi
Moreover I had the opportunity of spend time with a Thai family approximately 100 km away from Northern Capital of Thailand, the Chiang Mai city. Head of my host family used to run a Ranahan (small restaurant) in that particular village). That created me an opportunity to practice my “PaaSaa Thai”with the family members. Prior to that I had prepared a power point presentation on Sri Lanka, My family members and showed it to the family when all of them together having dinner on that night. This presentation paved the way to open up communication between me and the family members.
During my first few weeks in Chiang Mai I had the opportunity of associating with other new volunteers, such as Judy Clerk, Ilse Hannas, Wim Epskamp, Freddy Gaghauna, Dora Seregely and Stephanie Brown who form countries such as New Zealand, Belgium, The Netherlands, Indonesia, UK and Canada respectively. We were together at ‘Life in Town Apartments’ in Chiang Mai. So
we help each other and gradually we get used to the environment, new culture in the Kingdom of Thailand. Once we leftChiang Mai on 1st of April 2011 each one of us had to start live on our own and there I felt very lonely and started missing home very badly. But I had the opportunity of using my laptop though which I call my family back home practically each and every night.
iVolunteer OverseasD-134, First Floor, East of KailashNew Delhi-110065
But, I’m not lonely at Mai Sot; there more than 15 of us working for the benefit of Burmese community that has taken refuge in Thailand.
O rientation to Mae Sot town by Simon – Over Volunteer Buddy.
The VSO volunteers based in Mai Sot gave me greater insights into the environment and the practices. I need to mentioned few names, such as Christopher who found me a good apartment to stay, Sian Dodderrridge who supported me every possible way and was my coach in what I call defensive riding a motorbike, Simon Dickinson who took my extra baggers to Mai Sot when we met the volunteer community in Suan Bhua Resourt for the annual volunteer conference and also once I was in Mai Sot he Simon and Sian acted as my volunteer buddies. I also must mention the names of Penny Thame, Alice Harwood and Elaine Logan for their encouraging words and assistance in my early hours of need. It gave me strength to struggle until I get used to the situation. Now I have little time to miss home as there is so much to think and do. I started working with my organization on 1st of April and on 2nd of April my employer organized a workshop for me to give the holistic view of the campaign they are engaged in. I must thank again my Director Mr. Twanzaw who used to encourage me all the time.
Adopting to the Environment
Lionel at WatDoiSuthep
The Burmese nationals (community) with whom, I work here in Mai Sot are similar to Sri Lankan in many ways. I mean the culture, their beliefs, and the life style. On Sunday the 2nd of April I had the opportunity of witnessing a funeral of Burmese Girl has died at the age of 15 years. They all are Buddhist, and it reminded me a funeral house in a remote village in Sri Lanka.
They used to cook in the office premises and I have the opportunity of enjoying the Arakanese Food everyday in my office. Arakanese meals are very similar to Sri Lankan food I used to eat in Sri Lanka.
iVolunteer OverseasD-134, First Floor, East of KailashNew Delhi-110065
I got a brand new Honda motorbike from VSO, which will useful for me to travel to my office which is approximately 5 km away from Mae Sot town. I need to put fuel into it, but maintenance cost will be born by VSO. I need to thank my Country Director, Tracy
Martin, my Program Manager Dr. Thomas Achilles and all the VSO Office staff members, Fhon, Und, Bank, Jaeng, Lek and Orr for their help, advice and guidance.
Day to Remember
Today, while doing my motorcycle training Sian took me to the Thai-Myanmar Boarder. I fond that Burmese nationals are travelling in small ‘Dingy’ boats freely although the Thai-Burma Boarder has been closed for the last several months.
I met a person from Myanmar who had just crossed over the Moei River to meet a friend from Thailand. I talk to him about the current political situation in Myanmar. He is a Volunteer working in a Buddhist monastery as an English Teacher.
How it is being a Volunteer
Of course being an international volunteer is very challenging. Unless you adapt to the culture and daily life of the community you are supposed to work with, it is very challenging.
Volunteers need to have their work plans agreed upon with the employer in first two weeks of his/her placement. Try to draw up a “Plan of Action” together with the employer and the co-workers of the organization you are going to work. I’m in the process of preparing a Plan of Action for me for the coming months.
If there are barrier between volunteer and the people working in the organization, you need to adopt some cooping mechanisms to over come those barriers. Convince them that you are also one of them trying to achieve the aims and objectives of the organization as enumerated in the country strategy objectives under which you are trying to achieve expected results.
There may be instances that, they do not know how a volunteer could help in their work. May be sometimes they can be suspicious too. So this ice between both parties has to be broken. Volunteers have to be extremely patient and innovative to come out of this gloomy situation.
iVolunteer OverseasD-134, First Floor, East of KailashNew Delhi-110065
