My team, the Kwaab Fan Crew was Antia, Anne and Anthony. Our workshop was about reaching your dreams and goals. We want to the students to be able to achieve their dreams of what they want in the future and not to feel like their deafness is keeping them to do what they want to do.
We started off introducing ourselves again and went on to our workshop. I described what dreams are and that there are 3 different kinds of dreams. Anthony describe the third dream which is the dream they want to achieve in the future. At first we did an ice breaker outside. A game called the Balloon game. Each student had a balloon, string and a message. In each balloon, there is a message and the only way to get that message is to pop the balloon. The students blew the balloon up and tied it onto one end of the string and tied the on end onto their ankles. The purpose is to pop the opponents balloon and protect yours from being popped. At first the students hesitated, but when one of the student popped a balloon, they all became comfortable and started playing. They were all laughing and seems to enjoy playing that game. After we played the game, we gathered inside and explained what their message means. The messages we wrote was "Don't give up", "You will succeed", "Follow your dreams", and "Good things will come to you if you are patient. "
After the balloon game, Anne went ahead with her activity which was the Dream Catcher. The students were ask to draw their goal or dream on a blue piece of paper since they were skilled at drawing. Then they had to draw 4 different steps of how to get their dreams. At first the students had a hard time understanding the activity. They got the idea after several examples and explanations. Some of those students drew beautifully. It was amazing.
After Anne's activity, it was snack time. I went outside to talk with the students. I got to know them more and was surprised that some of them are the same age or older than me. I realized no matter what age I am, I can still be a role model to students not only the younger ones, as well as those who are the same age or older.
In between activities, I noticed some of the students, those who were not involved in the workshop was looking through the window. It seems like they really want to join us.
We realized that time was running out so we went ahead to Antia's activity and skip the skit. Antia's activity was the Wish quilt. Each student received a foam paper. They put their hand print on the foam and decorated whatever they want. On the back they wrote 5 different dreams or wishes. The purpose was to write down what their dreams, wishes or desires are.
We ate lunch and interact with some of the students. I met more students, those who were not involve with the workshop. I started to really bond with those students. They seem to really look up to me.
Later, we had our 2nd workshop with the 2nd group of students. I started to become more confident since I learned from the first group. Some of the students in the first group taught me some Thai sign language so I was confident enough to use them with the 2nd group. That workshop went a little more smoothly since I already know what to expect.
The day of our first and second workshop ended. I was very exhausted. Some of us was too. But our day wasn't finished. We all rushed back to the hotel, got dressed up for dinner and a performance. We went to Siam Nirarat. It was a beautiful place. We went upstairs and there was a buffet. Some of us got to see a magic show. The magician was funny. He even surprised Adrienne with a huge diamond ring that could fit her whole hands. After dinner we watch a Thai performance. The performance was beautiful. I was in awe when I saw it. I was very tired, some of us slept during the performance. But I had to watch the whole thing. The costumes, the stage settings was amazing. After the show, some of the actors came outside for pictures, even elephants. I was a little scare of elephants since I had a bad experience by being chased by one when I was a little girl. I was a little afraid to be near them, but Anthony paid the guy to have the elephant pick me up by its trunk. It was scaring, but fun at the same time.
Before I entered the school, I was very nervous since I'm not skilled with sign language. I was also nervous to interact with those kids because I was afraid that I would not be able to understand them. Once I started the workshop, I was surprised at myself for using gestures instead of full ASL. I was told that the best way to communicate with the Thai students was by using gestures. My concern before arriving Thailand was knowing how to gesture because I was scared that they will not be able to understand me or the workshop. But I underestimate them. They were smart. They understood what we were trying to say about dreams and goals. The frustrated part was that some of them did not understand the workshop. It was really hard to try to get them to understand what we were trying to say. Also Thai sign language is very different from ASL so sometimes I had communication problems. I did not give up. I kept thinking to different ways to sign and gesture. It was very frustrating and I did finally got through them and help them to understand me. I learned how to be very patient and not to give up easily. Some of the students would try to communicate with me. Sometimes I would not understand them and sometimes they would give up and say never mind. But I told them no keep telling me what you are trying to say and I would finally understand after multiple repeats.
Erin
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