christao408

The adventures of an expat American who moved to Bangkok for his husband.

If you could take a year off from school/work, what would you do?

Posted on 5 November 2008 by christao408

There is one thing I would do: move to Samut Songkhram province, where I spent a year and a half working as a volunteer once-a-week English teacher at Bangkhonthiinai School, and give my full-time effort to that 50-student school. That way, I could change the lives of those students, whose homes are shacks amidst banana and coconut plantations and whose families live in near-poverty.

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18 thoughts on “If you could take a year off from school/work, what would you do?”

ElusiveWords on 5 November 2008 at 09:12 said:

That’s really noble.

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jandsschultz on 5 November 2008 at 09:34 said:

Doable…requires a sacrifice.

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zacksamurai on 5 November 2008 at 12:09 said:

You had done it. That’s very very nice. Do you plan to go back to the School anytime soon?

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Dezinerdreams on 5 November 2008 at 13:02 said:

That’s great.

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alextebow on 5 November 2008 at 13:20 said:

If I could take a year off, I just might join you. If you’d have me.

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Sapphire_Rain on 5 November 2008 at 13:31 said:

You are awesome.

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jojobaDESIGNS on 5 November 2008 at 15:36 said:

What a wonderful idea! You rock, my friend. 🙂

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christao408 on 5 November 2008 at 18:42 said:

@zacksamurai – There seems to be a lot of political uncertainty at the school. No new director has been named in the year since the previous director retired. She has advised that we do not go back since we are not official teachers, we could not be protected if any misunderstanding or incidents happened. I still exchange post cards with some of the students, sending them from different places I travel to hopefully spark their interest in the world and education.

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christao408 on 5 November 2008 at 18:42 said:

@alextebow – That would be fun, come one over.

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christao408 on 5 November 2008 at 18:44 said:

@ElusiveWords – @Sapphire_Rain – @jojobaDESIGNS – @Dezinerdreams – Thanks. I don’t know how “great” or “awesome” it is. I just felt like during the time there, I was able to have a more dramatic positive impact on others’ lives than in any other work or volunteering I’ve done.

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murisopsis on 5 November 2008 at 21:34 said:

A good photo with so many smiles and such personality! I wish I could have such a positive impact on young lives. I applaud your cause and hope you can continue to be a spark (and kindle their fire for knowledge).

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ZSA_MD on 5 November 2008 at 22:35 said:

You are always way above the average Chris. Wish there were more like you. May be we should clone you.

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icapillas on 5 November 2008 at 23:35 said:

Gee, that’s really, really very nice of you…!!! Everyone would thought of going elsewhere for a vacation or so.

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CareyGLY on 6 November 2008 at 00:10 said:

Ditto everyone. Noble indeed.

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agmhkg on 6 November 2008 at 05:53 said:

Kudos……tat’s just great!!

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christao408 on 6 November 2008 at 18:44 said:

@icapillas – Thanks. Vacation I can do anytime (well, if I save up enough money), but these are special children and they’ll be grown up and their course in life will be set soon. So if I had the means, I’d want to do more to help them, sooner rather than later.

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christao408 on 6 November 2008 at 18:46 said:

@ZSA_MD – Gee, thanks. I’m not sure the world could handle more than one of me. Tawn certainly wouldn’t have the patience to!

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ZSA_MD on 6 November 2008 at 23:45 said:

ha ha ha that’s funny.

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18 thoughts on “If you could take a year off from school/work, what would you do?”

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