Well it sure has been a good and busy semester at school. I still have been teaching English 3 days a week and a little cooking/beverage/ice cream course 1 day per week. The kids did really well this semester and we all had good fun. My Monday class was one of my favorites, these kids really worked hard. They range from ages 18-21 and really want to learn how to speak English. Don’t get me wrong the cooking and ice cream class was fun but it was a lot of note taking and talking. There was not to much in the school budget so we did not get to actually cook as much as I would have liked. I am hoping if they have this course again that there is some way to raise funds to get down and really cook.

I did have an opportunity to do some work with a fun and amazing organization, www.atmaseva.org. Last time I told you about how we went to a remote village with several other volunteers to do a weekend English camp for the Lawa tribe. We broke up into 6 groups doing different activities all centered around English speaking, writing and fun. We had such a great time and all of the kids won prizes. I look forward to working with this group and in the village again. One of the other activities I had the honor of doing was a cooking class for the Novice (young) Monks from the Wat Doi Saket. We did Italian food, yum! We started with Bruschetta on toast then made Pork Bolognese with Spaghetti and finished with delicious Orange Granita. I think the boys really enjoyed trying something different for a meal. I picked these dishes because there are similar things to this in Thailand and figured it would not be so hard to get them to try it. We all got dirty and cooked our hearts out that day. The volunteers from Atma Seva were all so hands on. Thanks to Dave, Michael, Alexis, Jamie and Katherine, you guys are some good Sous Chefs.

Since school has now come to a close I took the kids that you all help to support out for Moo Ga Tah, Thai BBQ. It was Tanagone and his Mom, Surisit, Tamasak and myself, so much food, we were stuffed. These are the 3 boys in University, the ones I raise the funds for. We are hoping to get a girl, Mix in Uni this next semester and then 5-6 more kids for next year. One Shan boy, Thong really needs the help. His whole family was killed by Burmese solders, so sad but he found his way to Thailand and the Wat Don Chan. He is the school President and involved with many of the activities at the school and the Wat. I plan to help him but first we have to raise the money to get him a legal Thai ID. Without that he cannot move on to University. At the Wat they will take any kid that needs help but for further education he must be legal. I am in the process of finding out what it takes to do this but I know it will be pricey. If you would like to help with this just click on the paypal button and send what you can, all is so appricated.

There was a great graduation ceremony at the Chiang Mai Hill Hotel for the kids finishing at the Vocational school at the WDC. Usually they have it at the Wat but due to new construction of their new meeting room and it not being ready they did it off the premises, which was awesome. It was great for the kids to get out of the Wat and see something different. They got to have snack breaks and a delicious lunch in a big hotel, they loved it. It was fun and a bit sad to see them go but really hoping for good things for them in the future.

One of the things I try to stress with the kids that get help from Stu and the Kids is to help and give back. So this year Tanagone went to the graduation as one of the speakers to help prepare the kids for what they may in-counter now that they will be leaving the Wat. It was so great to see him speak and the kids really learned from him, he is a really good student and a nice guy. Tanagone with be getting a job for the summer and then will begin his second year in University in May. Surisit is doing an intership with the cable company and Tamasak will be doing internship with a phone repair company for the summer and in May it is back to school for them too. Good luck to all of the kids I have had the pleasure of teaching and working with this year…..Now time to prepare for next semester. But since I am doing a month long English camp, let’s get that done then prepare.

As always thank you for the love, support and the contributions. Peace, -Stu