Across Thailand by Saxophone

Monday 21^st March

We got up and packed and had a final breakfast before Pi Jean arrived with his minibus to take us over the mountains to May Sot on the Burmese border.

Pi Jean is a jolly chap. He isn’t a Christian but he does a lot of work for Partners and enjoys worship music. An impromptu planning meeting took place in the back of the van, which continued the next day at the Partners office. Thankfully the minibus had air-conditioning so it felt more like a fridge than an oven.

We arrived at Mae Sot around 17.30 just in time to check in to the Poon Na Gunn hotel before Deborah picked us up to take us to dinner at Casa Mia, a restaurant popular with foreigners.  Back at the hotel Sarah renewed an old friendship with her dog Lucy. Lucy had lived with Sarah a few years back when she lived in Mae Sot. When Sarah returned to England Lucy became a street dog, which is not as bad as it sounds, as Thai people feed and look after stray animals. Lucy looked happy and healthy, but was very pleased to see Sarah, and introduced us to her boyfriend before disappearing into the night.

Deborah gave us our orientation talk, which was about the differences between our culture and the Karen. Interestingly, it is very rude to pick your teeth in Karen culture but quite alright to pick your nose.

Tuesday 22^nd March

We spent most of the day at the Partners office continuing the planning meeting that had begun in the back of the bus. We planned a full day of activities with the children, including silly games like “find the hat” and serious ones like “listen to the music and draw a picture of how it makes you feel”.

Jay wasn’t feeling well by this time so retired to the hotel for an early night. The rest of the gang went to Matt and Liz’s house for home made pizza.