BUPA 60th Thailand Challenge

2nd Dec 2007

I met the children today what was funny about it was; they thought I am a Thai and spoken to me in thai or even asked if I am and expected me to reply in thai. I can’t blame them we came from the same ancestral origin ( Indochinese-now mixed blood with multi-ethnic groups). Since we came, we were surrounded with charming and adorable boys and girls with a big warm smile on their faces. We distributed our presents to each one of them as more and more came running to get their share. As they gathered around me and introduced themselves, I opened and laid the presents on the table I brought for them ( pens, books, pencils, markers, papers, balloons, etc.) Each one of them picked their favorite colors and started to draw, write, colored pictures and some blew up the balloons and wrote a message on it. I was touched by the thoughtfulness of this 12 year old girl WOW who wrote on the balloon I LOVE YOU JOY and wanted me to keep it. WOW kept following me wherever I go and sat beside me all throughout the day we were there. They loved reading or scanning the pages of the story books, eventhough they got a hard time reading the words. THANKS GUYS- Amberley Court staff, residents, relatives, visitors, friends, etc. for your generosity. They do LOVE your presents.

Then a WELCOME PROGRAMME began, a showcase of talents of young boys and girls. A girl named PEN after her dance performance and pizza break spotted me in the crowd and started to hold my hand, grabbing my shirt and calling out my name to catch my attention. As they follow me wherever I go, I took photos of them in the park. Whilst the men played basketball with the boys; i was with the girls in the playground as they show-off their skills e.g. hang in the bars, slides, swings, seesaw,etc.

Before WOW departed she told me it will be her birthday on the 6th Dec and wanted to see me again on that day. ( She lives in Girls Home, Vieng Khuk). She came back to me from the van which will take her home; cause she forgotten to kiss and hug me. PEN wanted me to carry her and take her to the treatment room to take her medicines. As we were about to say goodbye, PEN hug me and said she wanted to go with me in England (what a sweet little girl) and kissed me and waved goodbye.

This is the closest contact and encounter I have experienced with AIDS/HIV children. I LOVE the experience which I want to remember over and over again or treasure in my memory forever. After a tiresome enjoyable day; this is an experience I want to have another go.

joy guetes