17/11/2008 - AFS-THA Volunteers National Meeting (Part II)
After the meeting at Rama Gardens Hotel Bangkok on November 9, 2008, 180 volunteers got ready on the buses heading North to visit 2 AFS Thailand chapters, Kamphangphet and Tak.
After 5-hour drive from Bangkok, the group arrived at Chakangrao Hotel, Kamphengphet. Later that evening, all volunteers proceeded to the Thai House Museum to join the welcome ceremony organized by the chapter presidents, chapter coordinators and volunteers from AFS Kamphangphet Chapter. The event started with AFS Kamphengphet presentation and Thai traditional dances from the students. The night ended with volunteers joining Thai folk dance.
On the next day, AFS-THA together with AFS Kamphengphet chapter organized a tour to the Chakangrao historical site and visited the chapter office before departing for the next destination, “Tak” province.
At Tak, AFS volunteers received a warm welcome from AFS Tak chapter president, chapter coordinator and volunteers. Later in the afternoon, AFS Thailand arranged the unity sports competition among volunteers. These activities were filled with laughs, bringing joyfulness and strengthening the relationship among the volunteers.
In the evening, Tak Chapter took all volunteers to observe “Loy Krathong” festival, the ceremony to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkhas. This festival is performed annually on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar, this event usually falls in November.
The cerebration in Tak province is unique. The coconut shell filled with wax and candle are floated as many as 1,000 krathongs, one after another, into the Ping river. The krathongs form a magnificant procession providing a spectacular view in the river at night.
On the last day of AFS Thailand Volunteer National Meeting 2008, the volunteers went to visit AFS Tak Chapter. They arrived at Padungpunya School (AFS Chapter) and met with AFS returnees, hosted students, and an AFS teacher assistant from China. The welcoming session was very impressive, bringing big smiles to the visitors throughout the visit.
AFS Thailand Volunteer National Meeting ended with happiness and wonderful memories. Till we meet again in November 2009.
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