Prior to going to Thailand I really didn't understand the necessity of other cultures, other countries learning the English language. I had this idea that is was elitist in believing that it was important for other countries to learn the English language. Once I got over to Thailand I started talking with students and teachers, it really gave me a different perspective. Because English is now basically an international language. So instead of it being looked upon as an elitist language, it's a more of a way of bringing the world together That was probably the greatest lesson I learned. Which really reinforces the importance of what Robbie's doing. He's going over and he's bringing students to teach English to them, to the youth. And myself as a teacher and Robbie and the other adult chaperones, we worked with the teachers with English so that they would be able to carry it forward with their students. They already have an English program, but as we all know you learn by speaking it and speaking it with native speakers. And because Thai is so different than English, the pronunciation is the piece they don't really get to work with.
Education in Thailand is only free up until 8th grade. So Robbie with the program also helps raise funds that are scholarship money for students who academically earn it, and also their role in the community. They earn these funds to be able to go on past 8th grade. They don't have a high school in Phapang. You can imagine for a lot of . The majority of families can't afford to send their kids on past 8th grade. One of the things that I saw, one of the scholarship students, if she hadn't been able to earn the scholarship to be able to go on to school, the alternative for her was actually going on and living in Bangkok with an aunt and most likely the way to make money most times is through prostitution, that's kind of the way it is, and that to me is just horrifying—for most people. You think of a girl in 8th grade, 13 or 14, and that's her future.
And then on the flip side, you meet people like Momo and you can see what is possible when you get an education. She was working for Hewlett Packard. She was able to take care of her mom and dad and have a much more positive future.
When they go over there and realize they have something to offer—knowing English—learn that they are able to teach. They come up with lesson plans and they're working with. It's an amazing experience for them to realize that even at such a young age they can contribute to helping others and helping in a major way.
I've seen now the kids that went with me on my trip, three of those students have gone and been accepted at United World Colleges. It's created these worldly individuals that are really necessary for our future.
I think it's an invaluable experience for students to travel internationally, and Robbie just has his program down. All the kids that go are really invested. They fund raise, they team build throughout the year. And by the time they get there they know each other really well, they know why they're going, and they also know about the culture.
There was a girl who went last year whose mom is a friend of mine, and she was kind of on the fence about whether she should go or not, she didn't know if she could raise the money. And I said, you know what, you do it as a group. It's an experience you'll never forget and it's a very valuable experience for yourself and for the community. I totally support anybody who's looking at going. The individual obviously has to be interested, you just have to be invested in what you're doing and open to the experience. You have to be prepared emotionally.
It felt like the bases were covered if anything were to happen.
Kids don't typically get to have team building experiences unless they're doing athletics, and then that's totally different. That's not necessarily about community building, that's about playing a sport. Robbie's just great with being a leader and facilitating team building and having students come out of that with a great sense of self. Feeling like they can really do things. They've already seen that they're capable of doing things, and they know they have a support system in the group.
I believe now that all kids should have the opportunity to see what's outside of their world. Even the Urban Plunge that Robbie does. Seeing it and talking to people. The kids come back and it's a great experience for them Even though for a short time and its just touching the surface, they can begin to empathize. A lot of times they're seeing kids and youth and teenagers out there. Trying to wrap your head around that when you have a nice cozy bed.