CPR/First Aid Training as well as visiting the Dandelion School for migrant children

Where do I even begin?!

The day before we started our journey early in the morning to the main subway station Liang ma qiao to take different subways to the outskirts of Beijing to take a bus to an even further location to walk to the school--Dandelion School.

The dandelion school is not a very interesting concept but the social implementation of the school itself. This is a middle school for migrant children. This is the ONLY school (as of right now) recognized by the Beijing government as an official migrant school. It's also a NGO school whose mission is to give a chance to these children and give them a nurturing environment to be who they want to be.

The migrant issue in China has been a big issue especially since it's such an influx population as each year passes on. The government also has discriminatory laws against migrants which makes the gap between the 'natives' and 'immigrants' bigger in the eyes of the government. 

Being at the school and having the opportunity to see and interact with these children makes me believe in so much more can happen if we just believe. If we just believe in an ultimate goal or idea, things can happen. The school had such a vibrant aura around the community and it just brings a warm feeling to your heart. They had a great open space as a school, a community and family. It was a great honor to be able to be part of something like that...We will be back at the school again when our scholars (our group of kids) arrive and spend a weekend at the school interacting with these children.

 

The mural at the school the kids painted! 

We tend to forget how good we have it because we never really escape the thing we call our life. We are too busy with our heads in our ass ( for lack of a better word) to even realize that are those who are less fortunate than ourselves, who can't even complain or even have an opportunity to complain because they are too busy trying to better themselves and live whatever life they can.



Check out the school's website if you want to learn more:

http://www.dandelionschool.org/a/ENGLISH/list_85_1.html


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On a different note....Today I had CPR and First Aid Training all day at Beijing United Hospital around my living quarters. It was such a long day, but I can finally say I can sorta, kinda, give CPR if needed! Sounds so convincing right? lol

 

I know how to tie an arm sling! 

  

certified until 2015!  

Back to Beijing once again!

I am thoroughly exhausted right now... I just came back from a staff retreat camping weekend at Huang hua cheng section of the Great Wall (also known as 水长城 Shui chang cheng).


It was a great experience and bonding session since we just started working together and will be together for the summer. We left Saturday morning early to take the shuttle up to the Great Wall. Once we made our way to the entrance, we hiked up to the camping site with our backpacks filled with food, supplies and tents.
This was my first time actually camping--like woods, bugs and pitching tent status! It was very exciting to learn about that and do all the outdoorsy things that came along with that...

We decided to wake up early to catch the sunrise today, but sadly due to the mountains we weren't able to watch the actual sunrise. It just kept getting brighter and brighter. While people went back to sleep, I decided to take that time to walk around the area and take photos. I climbed onto sections of the wall that said 'no climbing' but there was no one around so I did it. It was worth it because it was gorgeous!
Having that serenity around you just allows you to be so content with where you are in life. It also makes you wonder about the structure that was built so long ago and yet it still stands somewhat intact. All the effort, blood and sweat to build each and every brick.

I didn't climb all the way to the top where the towers were because 1. I'm scared of heights and also 2. I still respect part of the sign lol Even though I didn't go all the way, I definitely pushed my comfort zone and attempted the climb half way. The satisfaction of getting the view all to myself was worth it enough.


After the morning climb/stroll, went back to sleep for another hour before waking up to make pancakes with the rest of the team while it decided to rain. We had a tarp thankfully set-up last night so we weren't soaked when it poured around us.

After breakfast, we had to get ready to head back down to return to our retrospective homes. It feels so good to shower again! No lie, I am so sore right now from the hike, climbing, walking, and backpacking portion of the trip... I sound like a wimp lol

I have tomorrow off, so I hope to take that chance to sleep in and explore the city again. Wish me luck! I really hope I don't get lost because that would suck.

Leaving..again to Asia!

Been a while since I've update this blog...about 7 months or so from my South East Asia tour (Thailand/Singapore/Malaysia).

After working a day job (receptionist gig) for half a year, it is time to leave the city again and head East towards China this time around. It has been about 3 or so years since I've been back to Beijing! Last time I was there, I was still in college!!

I'm really excited and nervous to join the J! team in Beijing as a Summer Program Facilitator and meet the great group of kids joining us this summer!

Hopefully I can by-pass the great firewall of China and update this blog when I have free time!

--off to get my visa and pack my summer life away!

Bangkok Adventures--Temple Hopping

After a good night rest, I was ready to actually walk instead of hobble walking due to the itchiness of the bites. The diagnosis of the doc--they are insect bites. What insect? ...Insects... Thanks doc for that clarification... -____- Well, at least after the medication it didn't itch as much thankfully.

We had another long day ahead of us. We walked down to the ferry to take us up the river to Wat Pho as well as the Grand Palace and the Amulet Market in the city. Getting to the ferry took us about an hour due to the fact that we were lost for a while and had to walk like 3 intersection back (equivalent to 6 avenue blocks!!!). We finally reached the ferry and we were informed that there were only two more ferries for the day. Luckily, we got on the 2nd to last ferry out of the pier.

 

Ferry Stop

 

Giant Stone Statue

 

Meeeow! Cat punch!

 

Candle and Buddhas

 

Welcome to Wat Po

 

The tourist didn't know how to take our photo...le sigh~

We took it up to Wat Pho and proceeded to tour around the temple. Wat Pho has the reclining Buddha as well as giant stone statues at most of the doorways. I think the reclining Buddha in Wat Pho is the 3rd biggest one in Thailand?...

 

Lines of Buddha everywhere

 

Siamese cats of the temple

 

Do not touch the butt hehehe

108 Bronze bowls to represent auspicious characteristics of the Buddha 

After Wat Pho, we were starving so we headed to eat and then even though we were stuffed, we bought some mango from the mango lady. As we walked to the Grand Palace, it looked like it was about to pour so we headed in, but found out it was about 400 baht to enter. We decided to not do the Grand Palace and find the Amulet Market instead. I recently got a protecting amulet from my cousin so I wanted to find a necklace for it that didn't irritate my neck. As we were walking and stopped to look at necklaces, it started to pour. Luckily, the necklace place did have the kind of beads I was looking for and we sat there while the guy placed the amulet on the necklace.

After the rain let up, we attempted to find another temple. While trying to find the temple, we head monks meditating so we followed the meditation and sat in while they were doing it. My legs were so numb at the end, but,  it was nice to hear meditation and be part of something that tourists rarely get to take part in.

 

Sunset

We missed the time to climb the temple which apparently offered a great view of the city, but I think hearing meditation trumps that. We couldn't find a cab to bring us back during rush hour so we had to settle for a tuk tuk.  Once we made it back to the hostel, we went for dinner and had more drinks afterward with friends we made at the hostel.

Back to Bangkok again --Silom Road

Taking the mini bus back, we got back to Bangkok also around mid-afternoon before catching a cab from Victory Monument to our Hostel--WE Bangkok.

As soon as we checked-in, it started to POUR! We tend to be lucky in the sense that we never got caught in the rain with our stuff. After we put our stuff down, we asked where the closest clinic was so I could get my legs checked out. Luckily, it wasn't very far from the hostel so I hobbled there like a penguin to get it checked out. Even the people at the hostel was like, WHOA, what happened?

They seemed to have swollen up more overnight and I was tempted to pop them. It looked like they would pop by themselves too. Went into the clinic and the doc was like 'how can I help you?' I showed him my feet and he was like have a seat lol.  I sat down, he examined my feet and then called for a needle, cleaned it and started to work on my legs. He popped them, squeezed them with a cotton swab and then put ointment on them. He basically repeated this for about 20 mins.

After they have all been popped, he gave me some colorful pills to eat until they get better. I haven't seen pink,green or even blue pills in a long time.

We took it easy the first night back into the city so  met some new friends at the hostel and went to see LOOPER the movie with Bruce Willis. After the movie, we headed back to the hostel for drinks and called it a night. 

Phetchaburi Day 2--Noah got mugged by gang of monkeys

As I woke up, I found my legs full of red dots. I have been bitten and violated by mosquitoes! I counted and it was 44 bites and counting...

With that to start the day, I was already mer. We had to a long day planned with going to the Grand Palace and trying to see all the other temples around the area. We started the day with the surrounding temples and ruins around us. Walked all over trying to find ruins and since they are ruins we couldn't really access them anymore due to the lack of supporting foundations. Basically walked around, got lost and found our way again sorta process.

 

The ruins we couldn't enter

 

Another ruin that has a roof built around it to preserve what's left of it

 

The mysterious temple we couldn't find a way to get into

 

Gold colored paper Buddhas

 

Lunch

As it was about to rain again, we stopped at a lunch spot and ordered noodles to eat before starting off again. Luckily, the girl spoke some English and gave us a bit of each meat. After being recharged, we tried to enter another temple that we can't get into....Hate that, we were so close and yet so far in gaining access to it. We also didn't want to accidentally go into the monks living quarters...That would have been bad...and awkward.

We headed to the Grand Palace, but before we did that we stopped at a 7/11 for water and snacks. As we headed closer to the palace, the more monkeys popped up. Noah reminded me to be careful of the monkeys and to not get near any of the babies or step on any tails. As we started our trek up, Noah behind me..A gang of monkeys surrounded her as soon as they saw her plastic bag. One monkey took command and grabbed the bag. She yelled out 'SIM!' I was like 'drop the bag!' As she did, the one monkey ran for it, threw the plastic bag and went for the potato chips inside.  I was like that monkey will probably take a long time trying to figure out how to open it...In less than 2 mins, the monkey ripped open the bag with its teeth and pulled out the lobster flavored potato chips.... -_____ - wtf I kinda wish I had my camera out during this process, but I value my life as well as my camera lol It would have been a great slow motion video haha

After that scary encounter, we reached the ticket booth and there was a sign that said don't bring any plastic bags....NOW YOU TELL US! Luckily, the monkeys didn't come after my camera bag--I would have fought them! I'll go monkey king on their asses!

As we headed up the palace, I purposely walked really loudly to inform the monkeys that we were coming and so they wouldn't be alarmed when we just show up. I don't know if it worked, but no monkeys bothered me lol

 

They look so cute from afar

  

Monkey chewing on branch

 

Flowers fallen down into the staircase

 

My travel buddy with the best expression!

 

My travel buddy has a buddy

The view was nice, but it was such a hot day. It was nice when we felt a strong breeze even if it only lasted like 5 mins. My bites got worse as the day went on and gotten more itchy. We headed back after a while and let the owner examine the bites. She said it was ant bites. I say mosquito. They had swollen up during the course of the day and it looked bad!

 

My battle with insects

 

Oh nos...it's closing in... lol

 

Really now?

 

Monkeys grazing on the green

 

So why did the monkeys cross the road?

I needed to go to a clinic when I headed back to Bangkok.Luckily, we were going back tomorrow so I could wait one more night and hope for the best.

Even though my bites got worse, we headed to the bar because it was our last night. The same live band came out but we were treated like the locals and gotten the bar chips they gave out. I was so happy lol Also we got the nerve to order the local drink which looked like incredible hulk green in a slushy form and poured in shot glasses. Don't know if it had any alcohol in it, but we wanted a try and it was a local thing. It came with jelly lol

Phetchaburi--land of theiving monkies, insects and temple/shrines

Arrived at Phetchaburi (locals pronounce it petburi) around early afternoon. Was dropped off around the Night Market area and then started to walk around trying to find where we were suppose to stay. Asked a nice police security guard and he told us how to get to the guesthouse--two intersection a right and a left later we arrived at a small river with a cross bridge and beside it was the guesthouse.

Once we checked-in , we headed straight to a cave shrine in a tuk tuk. Not much taxis around this area so tuk tuk it was. It was not as glorious as the guidebook made it. It was suppose to be sunlight on buddha statues but really it was dark, kinda dingy and not that great. Thinking back, guidebooks are suppose to make things sound awesome I guess. A little boy was acting as our guide but it was difficult because he only spoke thai (probably assuming I knew thai....) One part of the cave the sun did shine down on a statue, but wasn't exactly angled correctly and the lightbulb kinda killed the effect.

 

Little monkey feasting on corn

 

Tuk Tuk ride over

 

cave shrine

After the mini tour, we headed out and there was a group of tourist feeding the monkeys. Giant groups of monkeys swarmed around them waiting for their piece of corn and then running away once they have gotten a piece.

After that, we headed for another cave shrine, which was the biggest in the area. Monkeys greeted us there as well. Had a tour guide who spoke decent English and he took us around the cave and explained things to us. He also had a pet monkey as well lol

 

Monkeys chilling around Khao Luang

 

Cave Shrine

 

Greedy Monkey

 

Swarm of monkeys

After this cave, we finally headed back to rest and eat dinner at the local night market. After we recharged our batteries, we headed to a bar near the guesthouse and there they had a live band who sang really good. Also a PHD student worked up his nerve to talk to us in English. He wanted to practice. He was a scientist at the local university doing research and we somehow had a heated conversation about religion and science.

As it was getting late, we headed out and a transgender woman said bye very affectionately to me...Noah was like...that was definitely not for me lmao


This was the first night in Phetchaburi.