The Mirror Foundation

I did not know a lot about the project that I signed up for but am so glad that I did. I’m learning so much about the history of Thailand and feel that this is admirable cause. The  Mirror Foundation was originally created to support hill-tribe people in northern Thailand. The hill-tribe people have migrated from surrounding countries over the past few centuries. Although by this time most to all hill-tribe people have been born in Thailand, they do not have Thai citizenship. With out citizenship they are not eligible for any rights or benefits such as education, healthcare, land or the right to vote. In turn, many of them end up in human trafficking for sex or drugs. As I can’t even imagine that being the result of the misfortune of where I was born, I hope to benefit the people here as much as possible with what now seems like so little time here. 

After having a few weeks to adjust to life at Mirror I am feeling quite settled. I stay very busy during my work week, teaching at the schools and temples, working with the E-bonnok store (hill tribe made goods), and learning Thai. We have Sunday and Monday off to leave the village and enjoy a larger variety of foods, sleep on actual beds, take showers, and tour surrounding areas. 

As  you may get the gist, life is very simple in our village. There are very few luxuries here. We sleep in a dorm style room, with boards on bunks for beds, the boys sleep on a cement block. The bathrooms have toilets but no pluming so we take water from a bucket to poor down the toilet and have a hose with a nozzle for a shower (which should only be taken mid day, when it is hot outside). The food mainly consists of white rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner, sometimes adding a broth soup or a veggie on a really good day. We also have what we call the mystery meats... in which don’t get eaten by many for obvious reasons, but I think we have all braved it at least once. ;)

It is amazing how quickly one adapts to the surroundings and accommodations. I may know the differences between the two wolds and life-styles, but I rarely miss or long for amenities I once had.