Stepping Up

The villagers line up behind tables laden with food for the monks.

At the Teacher's Day celebration, Chris and Tim are given the chance to address the crowd.

The all-star Sompoi women's soccer team. It is as hot as Hades and, after running my hardest, I am mentally reviewing the warning signs of heat stroke.

The silver container is called an alms bowl and is used by the monks to collect food.

John celebrates with his soccer team...officially the other school won but we know the real winners are the ones who have the most fun!!

This country uses alot of baby powder, probably for two reasons. It lightens the skin and it keeps you cool. Someone foolishly gave Emily a bottle and she is in the process of crop dusting the crowd.

Kat, one of Jennifer and Emily's favorite students at Sompoi. She loved to play chase and hug and, best of all, was willing to play Polly Pockets over and over and over again!

The culminating celebration on Teacher's Day, a lavish dinner under the stars. John has fun with his new-found friend, the director of a primary school in the area. The hat says, "I love Thailand" on the brim.

Piggy, another Sompoi English teacher, and Susan judge the English comprehension portion of the district school competitions.

Wah Wah, our beloved Wah Wah, presents information on Sompoi School at school competition day (you can't tell in the picture but his hands and feet sport the best manicure and pedicure I've ever seen!)

A Thai classroom. The gourds are used to get drinking water from the cisterns and funnels are used to fill the bottles with fresh water each day.

A typical Thai classroom. The floors are teak, the windows open to the air, the ever-present photo of the king is on the wall.