Orientation at CRRU

     According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” And it definitely defines today; the start of something new. Our Day Two.

    By 9 am all SEA-Teachers from Philippines and Indonesia were leaving the hotel that CRRU provided.  They (Ms.Nok and Mr. Driver) picked us up in their school bus and dropped us at the office of the School President and the Division of International Affairs warmly welcomed us.

     The VP of International Affairs Division gave his welcoming address. He mentioned a lot of things that opened our hearts to get to know more of  the culture of Thailand especially Chiang Rai.  One that is deeply engraved in my heart is when he said, “You are all brave; and by being brave in my sense means you are brave to stay out of your culture, to expand your world view, to learn and to understand everything inside and out.” That touched me because as a young student teacher, alone in facing differences in an alien country and living out of our comfort zone, telling us we are brave really provides the strength to win this challenge with our heads up high.

     Later after his talk, they gathered us outside the board room and they gave us each a Name Tag and a University Pin; as a sign of welcoming us to their school. 

Official exchange-student of CRRU. 

Giving of name tag and university pin.

    Then a very delicious food set on the table were provided for us for our lunch. And it is so yummy. BUSOG! (filipino term for "full")

     After a very tasty meal they didn't leave us wondering what Rajabhat University looks like. Of course, they tour us around with our buddies. They gave us buddies before we left the room to ask questions about the school and to help us out in knowing the City. 

Guyz Pitak-my buddy

A popsicle somewhere in the nigh market. so yum!

     It was such a wonderful day. So productive and so memorable. But it didn't end like that. All of us, the 17 of us with our buddies went to a nearby night market and had our first Chiang Rai hangout. This is #FriendsInChiangRai