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Hello! (I would say this in Thai, but I don't know it still…)I have arrived in Thailand (Wednesday). The flight was long, and I watched lots of films and forgot to sleep. The food was salad sandwiches. I am living in what looks like student accommodation with some of the other volunteers. Others live over at the Orphanage itself. It reminds me of a hotel, but not a posh one at all. There is a linen service and our meals are provided- not really vegetarian friendly. If there is no vegetarian dish available I make do with rice, sweet chili sauce and fried garlic (sounds gross, but its lush). Often I can have this for lunch and dinner, so I can see it getting boring relatively quickly… There is also lots of fresh exotic fruit available - often I have never heard or seen this fruit before, so I eat the skin or the stone or something and it tastes vile! (Nice otherwise though!)The toilet doesn't flush and there is no air con, so the room is baking!! I have a tv with bad reception. Other than Thai channels are things like Fox and all American channels with things like Jerry Springer.Pattaya itself is quite dirty and polluted. There are millions of people on motorbikes and scooters and no pavement so you take your life in your hands when you walk the streets. The city is full of prostitutes and old white men.Last night we went for a Thai massage. I really liked it - although, I was bent in ways I never knew I could be and walked all over. I was lucky - my lady was small and light. Some of the other girls had obese people and they woke up in some discomfort today. It was three pounds for 1 hour, including a foot massage!Yesterday after being shown around I spent the afternoon in the 'baby room' This room holds about twenty children under the age of 2, they can all walk and run riot screaming, laughing, fighting, falling over etc. Despite this I love it. As soon as you enter the room, they strive for attention, they love being cuddled and playing with the toys. They all have their own personalities. Some cry all the time, others are very shy and play alone. They are soooooo cute!! I have my favorites already….Today I met up with the other physiotherapist here to start 'physiotherapy' First we spent the morning with Autistic children - something I have no experience with. Thai people are often ashamed if they have a child with disabilities and keep them in the house. This afternoon we had a group session with two downsyndrome children. They play music into the class, and one boy leaps around dancing (quite funny). Later though, a woman brought in a 2 year old baby that couldn't move. It was sad knowing that this child will never move, but his young mother is willing us to get him better. Our translator refused to tell her that he will never walk I don't blame him, I blame the doctors giving her false hope.Tonight we (the volunteers) are going to a BBQ. I fear I will go hungry as the only vegetarian, so I may have to bring my own rice/chili sauce mix….Love to you all, I will try to upload photos later!Roisin x x x x x
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