Baan Dada 2

Second visit to Baan Dada, and more in love with the Baan Dada family than ever!  Most of the children remembered me, and some were expecting me, thanks to Kim who informed them of my arrival - the "banana song" girl's arrival. 

To catch up, visit my first blog post on Baan Dada by clicking here.

On arrival, I was greeted by Dada, Bee and Kim.  Bee first came here from Canada a few years ago with the intention of only staying a few months, and ended up staying a year.  She has since moved to Thailand, and began her studies at a nearby Bangkok university in social studies.  However, she is now taking a year off to spend another full year a Baan Dada.  She is basically staff, and sleeps in the office on mats, just as the Dadas do. 

Kim is from Belgium, and is a student of a social work program through which she came to Baan Dada.  I first met Kim during both her and my first week at Baan Dada, back in early October.  She has been here since that first week, and so it turned out, her last day at Baan Dada was also mine.  We both left on Sunday.

A couple days later, Nathan arrived.  After working years in the hotel industry in Australia, he made the big leap decision to come and teach English in Thailand.  He has only recently graduated the TEOFL program in Bangkok, and before beginning his first teaching gig, he wanted to do some volunteer work.  And so he came to Baan Dada for a few days.

A few days into my stay Baan Dada, Anthony, a former US Navyman and yoga instructor, returned.  He first came here a couple years ago, and has since been dedicated to the children of Baan Dada.  He has now been here for about a month this time around, with no intentions of leaving.  He is working with the Dadas on some great new tourist/ yoga/ vounteer work package deal program. 

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Can you believe that when I first arrived in Huay Malai, it was so cold at night and in the early morning that I could see my breath!!??  Dead serious.  I did not plan for this, especially as Thailand enters its very, very hot season.  But after the first couple of nights, the weather began to make more sense, as I found mysel roasting at dusk.

And now... a must!  Click here to watch this heart-warming video of "We are Family", written by and starring the children of Baan Dada (with the help of a professional music producer vounteer).  It will make you want to come to Huay Malai, Sangklaburi and get to know each and everyone of the children.  Or, at the very least, donate here.  A recent project - the Technical School - is also in dire need of funding.  Baan Dada is asking for at least $1 from you... read all about it here.

---  And now... for some pictures.  (Don't skip the video!!  Seriously.  Please, watch it!)

Baan Dada album 1 - October 2009
Baan Dada album 2 - March 2010