Chiang Mai magic

My brief Cambodian escapade is over and I am back working in Northern Thailand. Last week and over the weekend, I was once again up at the school where last month I taught the conflict transformation workshop to the group of Burmese student activists. This time around, I was working with the students individually. I interviewed them on their backgrounds and their perspectives on the overall training program. The purpose of these interviews was to compare what the students are taking from the program against what the stated goals of the program are, and ultimately incorporating these views into a report to help improve and develop the existing program and curriculum.
My previous experience at the school was so special; it was great to be there again. When the interviews were over, I got the chance to connect with the students on a more personal level, just hanging out, listening to music, and playing badminton and ping-pong… I also met with the school administrators and other staff from the organization, who provided extremely helpful information on the situation in Burma and the role of these young activists.This week, I have several other meetings scheduled with other Burmese organizations and individual activists, who I hope can further enrich my perspective and insight into these issues. In between meetings, I am also getting a chance to explore Chiang Mai, which I didn’t get much of a chance to do during my first trip up here since I was at the school for nearly 10 hours a day. Chiang Mai is an interesting city, laid-back and quaint but also bustling with cultural activities. There always seems to be something to see and do. Since my work is so focused on Burmese issues, it’s nice to get a taste of some Thai culture… For instance, last night I went to a Shan festival at a temple in town. There was food, music and dancing in the compound around the temple. There were even game stands where you could win giant stuffed animal prizes, just like at an American carnival. The comparison with America ended there though, as the vendors around the market area were selling Thai food, tapes of Shan music, protective amulets, and traditional Shan clothing. As my friends and I walked around, we intersected with groups of singers and costumed dancers who were parading around the compound, hoisting blessed children around on their shoulders.