![]() I said I would share more about the work I am doing and now a week has gone by. I guess I can <partly> blame some of my blog free days on the work. Maybe some on the heat, too. A little on the beach? I thought I would start with what a typical day is like. So, a day in the life of a volunteer at Juniper Tree Dolphin Bay: I get up around 8, although I have been waking up a bit earlier than that lately. I have only been getting 5 or 6 hours of sleep. Breakfast is served (yes, all meals are communal, buffet style), between 8 and 9. Fresh fruit -- papaya, banana, watermelon, pineapple -- which I cut up into smaller pieces and make into a fruit salad. Delicious. Toast and jam. After breakfast I usually talk to my absolutely beautiful, sweet, cheerful, amazing, great sense of humor translator, Air, to confirm when I will need her help during the day. Did I mention she is also very flexible? She is a part of the office staff so she is juggling her own work to help me. Did I say gracious? I could not do half of what I do without her. From 9:30 to 12:30 I work on one of my projects, sometimes on my own (observing, planning, writing to do lists and recommendations) and sometimes with Air (asking questions, listening to staff concerns, and discussing possible solutions). The past week has been more about implementing some ideas; most of the time I can do that on my own, but sometimes I need Air's help if I think the staff may not understand what I am doing. ![]() Lunch is at 12:30. The midday meal is Thai food. It is delicious if occasionally a little too spicy for me. I love the Thai curries and just try to avoid the red peppers as much as possible. There are lots of vegetables and salads and more fresh fruit for dessert. Such great food that 1) I don't have to cook; and 2) I don't have to track down at a restaurant is absolutely a dream come true for me. (But the mini clams were a hard no.) In the afternoon there is the rest time that is typical through much of Asia and other warm climates. It's a good time for me to catch up on email, news, etc. before heading back to work around 2. the afternoon goes much like the morning until dinner at 5:30 (western meal this time with amazing desserts -- I am not sure my clothes will fit if I am here much longer). ![]() After dinner is my relaxation time with trips to the pool or the beach and sometimes both. With the sea (actually the Bay of Thailand -- I have brushed up on some geography this trip and was surprised to realize just how close I am to both Myanmar and Cambodia!), just across the road, the cooler temperatures and reliable breezes make it a wonderful place to watch dusk turn into twilight turn into night. True to form, around 9pm I am back to work, reviewing my lists, researching ideas for improving processes, documenting what I learned that day, and making more lists of next steps. As much as I try to get to bed by midnight, it's usually a little later, and there's often a quick pop out of bed to write something down. Some things never change. And then I do it all over again...7 days a week with slight detours for church and a couple of shopping trips. What would I change? Not. a. thing.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
About This BlogPart documentary, part family chronicle and part personal reflection as I try to sort through the ups and downs, the joys, heartaches and surprises of our life and work as we follow the path that God has set for us here in China! Prayer RequestsKristen to continue to adjust to college life and find good friends.
Donna for safety and provision while traveling and serving in Thailand. Archives
April 2024
|