A School Like Mine

While hiking through the jungle, I came across a little village tucked up away from the fast flowing River Kwai.  This village is home to several Mon families who live between the border of Burma and Thailand.  The Mon people have their own language, their own cuisine, their own culture and of course, their own tiny village in the jungle.



What is that village building hiding behind the bushes?

One of the buildings in their community is the village school.  It was neat to explore how this school is the same as our schools, and how it is different.

The classroom where boys and girls from the Mon Village come to learn.

The open air design, with no walls, means that the weather can really affect daily classroom routines.  Wind and rain can interfere with learning, and during rainy season sometimes classes are cancelled (also because the teacher, who uses the river to get to work everyday, can't make the journey).  Even though the building might not look like our school, the desks, the chalkboard, and the posters hanging are all clues that this is a classroom.

The play structures are all made of metal, but look very similar to the playgrounds we see around our neighbourhoods.  If you were a student at this school what play structure would you want to use at recess?

I bet this see-saw is a favourite with the children of the village.

These monkey bars and slide are some of the play structures the children use.

The biggest difference are the bathrooms.  There aren't separate indoor boys and girls bathrooms, instead there is one little outhouse that all the students use when they have to go to the bathroom.  There is no running water at the school, so a bucket of water is brought in everyday so hands can be washed, and the toilet can be flushed.

In need of some repair, this is the school's outhouse.

After looking at these pictures can you make a list of all the similarities and differences between your school and this village school.

What's Wat?

When you visit Bangkok you will see wats all over the place.  Now a good question to ask is "what is a wat?" 

The beautiful (and famous) Wat Arun Ratcha Wararam.

Like so many structures that I have visited on my journey around the world, a wat is a special religious building.  Wats are Buddhist temples and they are very important in Thai culture.  Not only do Buddhists come and worship in wats, but these temples are used as schools, monasteries and even as community centers.  On special days you can see entire communities gathered in the garden of the temple sharing a meal together.

Doors and windows decorated with gold at Wat Chana Songkram.

Just take a look at a map of Bangkok and you will see wats scattered all over the city.  There is Wat Noi Nang Hong, Wat Mongkrut Krasat Thiyaram and Wat Sam Praya just to name three...but there are over 50 wats that you can visit while you are in Bangkok. 

Can you think of some of the other religious buildings that I have visited already on my journey?  How are they different and the same from the wats in Bangkok?

Offerings of flowers, incense and food are made to Buddha in temples across Bangkok.

Dressing Up For School

Dear Boys and Girls,

Recess time outside of a school in Panjim.  Can you tell who the students are?

Please don't be angry with me, but I am going to say something that might upset you.  I think you should wear uniforms to school just like the boys and girls do in India.  Now as a teacher having you in uniforms is great because to me you are all equal, and when you are wearing the same clothing, right down to the same shoes you are encouraged to treat each other as equals too.  Also, just think, you would never have to be late because you don't know what to wear!  Think of all the time you will save.

Girls from Nirmala Rani English Primary School on a field trip.

The most important reason for having you all wear uniforms is that losing you on a class trip would be impossible!  I would be able to spot you no matter how far you got from me.  Now if that isn't a good enough reason for having you all wear uniforms, than I don't know what is.

Look, from miles away you can still spot the students.  Uniforms are great!

I hope you all agree with me,
Mr. P

Rules, Rules, Rules

A dog hanging out on the beach in India via IndiaMike

Dear Boys and Girls,

Travelling is a lot like being in school.  There is so much to learn, so much to see, and so many rules to follow!  Now, rules aren't bad.  They are there to make sure we stay safe while we are at school, or while we are travelling. This summer to get ready for my trip I went to the travel clinic and talked to a doctor there about my adventure and he gave me a list of rules to follow in certain countries.  First rule, don't swim in any fresh water rivers or lakes because you might get sick.  Second rule, don't drive in rural areas at night, because you might get into a car accident.  His last and most important rule was, don't pet any dogs you see on the street!  Being a dog lover, you all know how much I love my dog Spot, this is a very hard rule for me to follow.  I understand that if I don't follow the rules I might get hurt or very sick, so just like you follow all your school rules, I will follow all my travel rules.  Can you think of any other rules I should follow while I am away?

Four more days until my first flight!

Mr. Pimentel

I Am Here - Toronto, Canada

So here is my first map.  As you can see I am still at home in Toronto with 6 days until I depart.  My list of things to do is overwhelming, but I am sure I will be able to get everything done before I go, and if not, I can always get a haircut in Iceland (or buy a really nice hat there)!  Be sure to play around with the maps, you can zoom in and out and check out what our city looks like.  Can you see any cool buildings?  Can you find our school? 

Hope you are getting excited about school starting!
Mr. Pimentel


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