BUPA 60th Thailand Challenge

Hi all,

Well as the title suggests its my birthday today and it certainly wasn’t going to disappoint. The day started by all the team singing happy birthday at 12.05 am which was great. Then staying up till 5 in the morning watching the football (if u can call it that) The last day at Sarnelli House will stick with me forever. We finished the boys room and touches were added to the weeks work making sure it was all perfect. Once everything was packed up we had lunch, oh what a lunch the tears were nearly there then!! The thai chefs at Sarnelli had been tipped off that my birthday was today and that my favorite food was spag bol so they had prepared and cooked that for the team with me in mind. Mindblowing to say the least. That was only the half of it. De (the chef) then bought out, whilst the team sang happy birthday, a jelly type pudding wih candles in for me. Thank you all for that I was stunned. To top it I was given a card from the group and 2 musical instruments for the two Thai girls on the team this week. It wasn’t only my birthday today mind you Manu had his too. He was full of beans as usual today.

We then all headed off to the garden centre to buy a plant for the BUPA garden. Again De had other plans for me and bought a massive tree type thing for me to plant as a gift - again tears were close.

The leaving ceremony was next. . . . . I wont spoil it for the next groups but to say its a wonderful wonderful afternoon wouldn’t be an understatement. We then handed out all the gifts we bought the kids, sweets for all, hair clips for the girls and the football shirts I had collected for the boys which for those who donated they loved so thank you so much. I handed out my individual gifts, remote control cars for Ban and Sawn which was very well received many hugs and hi fives.

Then came the hard bit. . . saying goodbye. After the waterfight we were left to hang around the kids and say our goodbyes, Pat, one of the younger girls was hanging onto me for at least 2 hours and I wouldn’t have missed that for the world and I will really miss her teaching me the very basic thai phases. Up until this point I had held it together and was walking to the minibus with Pat when Jay appeared with a note which read ” Mark I love you” That was me in tears until he and the other male kids came up taking the Mickey haha. Once we left it was onto Tonys (english food restaurant) the team know me already and so we all tucked into british food for the last supper so to speak. Sorry for the long post but a short one wouldn’t have done one of the best days of my life any justice.

Off to bed now

Mark

Hi all

What a fantastic day it’s been. We finished all our jobs, planted a flower in the BUPA garden and then had our leaving ceremony.

Wow - what a ceremony. We were given t-shirts, a wall drape, photo and a certificate. A few words were said by both Sarnelli rep and Siobhan. Then the children came and tied white string to our wrists - to symbolise our attachment to Sarnelli forever. I’ve got I don’t know how many but it’s lots and lots.

We had a quick bite to eat then came the mayhem. We started by giving out sweets and we had hundreds of them. The children went mad, then came the gifts we brought. I don’t know how to describe it except to say watch the DVD recording but the nearest I could get is a mix between mayhem, madness, a bun fight and rugby scrum. It was just brilliant. I gave out my dedicated presents to A, Oh A, Wow, Cebow, Auhn and Lynn. We’d planned to lighten the mood as we’d heard how emotional it would get, with a giant water bomb fight - it worked a treat!!! Lots of wet children, staff and our group got well soaked.

Then we sat around playing with the children for ages. Cebow gave me a lovely letter telling me she loved me and a photo of herself. I wrote a letter for her and when she asked the staff to translate it she got really upset which then started me off.

When we eventually left there was more tears and we tried to lighten the mood again by playing the OKEY COKEY which again got them laughing only to have tears again once we got in the vans. It was an awesome day never to be forgotten.

We celebrated Mar’s birthday tonight by going to Tony’s - an English restuarant! I had the most bizarre cod and chips ever. Then we watched even stranger karoke songs before getting a tuk tuk back to our comfort zone of the hotel bar.

If anyone ever comes to Thailand I would highly recommend coming to Nong Khai and doing a few days volunteering at Sarnelli house for an experience of a lifetime.

This is my last blog in Thailand so will close with a final one in the UK when I get back Saturday night unless I’m too tired after lack of sleep in economy for 13 hours.

Love Jules XXXX

Well, we left Sarnelli House for the last time this evening. We arrived this morning at the usual time and got cracking straight away, we finished the painting in the boys room and then checked all areas where we had done during the week and did final touches. Noticing that between leaving for lunch and coming back to soap holders (at the back of the boys bedroom) had been painted and a mark on the wall.

THis afternoon we went off to the local garden centre to get our plants to put in the BUPA garden then planted them and before we knew it the children were back and the fun started again. We had our leaving ceremony where we received our thank you pack.

Later on we handed our gifts to the children, who were very greatful for them.

To finish the night and week off with the children we had a water fight it was like ‘every person for themselves’ until it seemed like ‘Children V’s Alistair’ (least it cooled me down). Then it was time to say bye bye. It was a very emotional time for all and we were able to come away with something to remember all those at Sarnelli House.

P.s We have taken plenty of photos but due to techinal problems we have not yet been able to upload them.

 Ali

Hi everyone and firstly apologies for this being my first blog of my final week here at Sarnelli House but what a week it’s been!

Last weekend, after two twelve hour train journeys to drop off week 3 volunteers in Bangkok and collect the new team to bring them to Nong Khai we all enjoyed the welcome ceremony at the orphanage hosted by the children and staff. Even the younger boys gave in to numerous requests and enjoyed showing off their dance routines to all the volunteers..it was hilarious!

The enthusiasm of the team has again been fantastic and we’ve managed to complete the middle section of the home and the boys bedroom which is huge. The team has bonded fantastically but most importantly everyone has worked so hard to improve the environment for the children. Those of you coming out in weeks 5 and 6 really have something to live up to but I’ve no doubt you’ll do a fantastic job!

I’m conscious that my blogs over the past couple of weeks have to focused on the work we’ve done and how wonderful the volunteers have been. I don’t want to take anything away from them as they have contributed so much to this experience but I thought it was about time I spoke about how my time here has affected me.

This is the most incredible place, such a happy place. The children, well I adore every single one of them but there are four or five children that run to me when they arrive back from school and I spend time with them all cuddling, playing, running around and laughing till it hurts. We’ve taken to having bike rides and water fights this week and I feel like a child again. Although I’m pleased to say I’ve learnt a few more Thai words this week, I certainly can’t claim to be any good at the language but who needs words to communicate with these children! As so many people have said before, all they need is love, laughter and attention.

Week 3 – FYI you’ll be pleased to hear I’m no longer walking around saying the name of a river instead of hello

I’m so grateful to have had 2 weeks here as it’s meant that not only can I see the changes we’re making to their surroundings (and believe me they are huge!) but I have been able to build stronger bonds with the children. I just love the way they run to me when they get off the school bus. Tonight after finishing work I rode a bike with one little boy on the back. I had my hair plaited by another little girl and I ran around the building with one mischievous little boy named Auhn putting ice down everyones’ backs with everyone in fits of laughter.

Tomorrow is my last day at Sarnelli House and I can’t wait to give the children all the gifts we’ve bought from the supermarket tonight, however I’m dreading saying my final farewells. Week 3 - do you remember how the tears rolled down my face when I was filming your leaving ceremony last week??! I dread to imagine how many tears will be shed tomorrow. However we intend to leave on a high and are planning a big water fight in the evening before we leave. I’m determined to leave with the memory of this place being the happy one that it is and with the sound of the children’s laughter.

Once again thank you to all of those in my life that have made this opportunity possible. Thank you for your sponsorship and messages of support. Rest assured that your contributions have really made a difference and I only wish you could have been here to witness it for yourselves!

I’ll write on my return to the U.K.

Lots of love
Siobhan xxx

Hi all - hope you saw my last blog - entitled “here at last”.

Wow - another great 2 days. We have painted for England, so much work done it’s been great.

We spend a lot of time with the children when they get home from school. We had a superb water bomb fight with them today - oh dear what a precendence we seem to have set. Ice cubes down each others backs was another good one. I spent about 30 mins cycling round Sarnelli and the surrounding area with Auhn on the back - he loved it. Played animal dominoes with Lynn and Joy. Gail did a wonderful french plait for me before going off to guides.

We all spent lots of money tonight in Tesco’s buying loads of toys and games for the children ready for the last day with them tomorrow which we are looking forward to but also knowing we will be in tears. I read many of their case histories today and it is so very very sad, equally upsetting is knowing that the Sarnelli children will not see their 20’s due to the progressive nature of HIV.

Major news for those that know me well - I’ve not had any mosquito bites - hurrah to Vit B1 and Marmite!!!

Gaz you’ll be pleased at my painting skills - I glosssed a nearly a whole door today in many colours and cut in extremely carefully so that it will not need another coat hopefully.

Just enjoying a few well earned Barcardi’s now before retiring for the night.

I’ve managed to get in a wonderful facial (1.5 hours long) and a back and shoulder masasge (1 hour) that between thm only came to the equilavent of about 23 pounds and they have been far superior quality than those you get in England for 4 times the price.

Got to get back to my Barcardi now and wish Mark a Happy Birthday which we are formally celebrating tomorrow night.

I hope to get to write another blog but the pc’s here are very very tempermental and were ccompletely unavailable last night.

Off to buy lots of Prada/Gucci bags tomorrow at the market - yes Jessica I haven’t forgotten your dress either - hoping to find what you need in a local tailors.

Well bye for now and hope the weather isn’t depressing you too much.

Jules XXXXX

Hi All,

I will apolgise now for only just doing my second blog, for some reason we are having technical problems with the internet connections both in our rooms and in reception.

The last two days have been very hard work but we finally got there, so i relaxed last night to a 2 hour ‘Thai Massage’ . Today we have painted the first coat in the boys bedroom walls which is big room (sleeps about 30 children). This will be completed tomorrow which will be our last day at the orphanage. Today we were able to get tidied up rather quick so we got ready for the children to come home from school. (Filled the water ballons up ready for fun time!!!)

As I said before tomorrow will be our last day so we went to Tesco’s earlier to buy presents and treats for the children as we are a having our leaving ceremony when the children get home from school. Up until 1pm tomorrow we will be finising things off then heading to the garden centre to get a plant each to plant in the BUPA garden which will be getting a plaque put in before the challenge is over. Tomorrow will be very hard for us all to say out final ‘lagon’ (bye bye) and upsetting too.

Today we did our video diary so watch out for the release!!!

Any got to go, keep looking out for more.

Ali

Really an amazing day for these two days, except the stupid computer still not working.  So, you may found every blog entries that starting like sorry for writing blog late or apologize something like this.  Same as me!

This two working day is smooth and enjoyable.  Still lot of painting but seems that we work smarter than before, at least I feel the tidy up work is easier than the before days.

After working  hard for the day, we play even more harder with the children when they come back from school.  If you think the works here will make you tired, than playing with the children will be much more tired except that you won’t notice on it until you are back to the hotel.

Not  sure if you remember the BUPA news about the Thailand challenge, a picture of a little girl is walking with an accessory equipment.  Today, I got sometimes to have a walk around with this little girl.  Although I don’t speak any Thai, her smile telling me that she really enjoy the moment.  Later than, we have some origami work with the children as the teamate is bringing some paper together.  Same as before, we left the orphange and close for the day.

Then the third day of working, as usual, working hard and play even harder.  But today, the naughty Andy teach the children for water bomb, we then go into the Worldwar three and finally get wets.  Fortunately, the weapons finally running out and the orphange back into peace.

After leaving the orphange, we went to the big supermarket nearby for a great shopping instead of going back to hotel. This time, the shopping is doing for the children but not ourselves.  Actually, this is not an arranged events for this challenge, but I believe all the volunteer will doing the same after they spent the time together with the children.  Although the gifts may not means too much to us, I sure the children will love to it!

Quite a bit long this time as the two days is group together to one entries!  Hope you enjoy the reading.

Lonie

Please accept my apologies for not getting a blog on here yet I am not sure whats happening re my posts but I will try again now and try my best to include as much as I can. The last few days have flown by, from first meeting the children (all of which are amazing) to meeting the new friends that have helped make Sarnelli house look as amazing as the kids it helps. We have been busy decorating the main building just on from where week 3 left off. I was painting underneath the balconies on Tuesday and Wednesday(today) I helped completely re decorate the boys room (its huge !!) We have finished painting it white and will be finishing off tomorrow morning by painting the bottom in green like everything else. It was always going to be hard work but I have enjoyed every last minute and will definitely be coming back to see the kids, especially Bam, Pat and Manu. Tomorrow afternoon we are going to be visiting a garden centre to pick a flower to plant in the bupa garden then onto the leaving ceremony which I am really looking forward to because we have all brought so much with us to give the children they will be over the moon.

Thanks for reading, will see you all soon with more photos than boots !!

Mark