Audio conferences, a new road, photographs, and the Sri Nakhon Khuankun Park

A couple left over thoughts from yesterdays visit to Nakhon Nayok. One of the bullets in the PowerPoint presentation about the regional center mentioned cultural preservation. Naturally I was very curious. I asked a few questions and I believe that they are talking about being involved with and documenting local practices including agriculture. There was some mention of being involved with local celebrations also. It was interesting and a surprise. Sometimes the similarities between Thailand and Alaska reverberate.

Another thought on the use of audio conferences for teaching, until cell phones the telephone service was not widely dispersed. Correspondence can be used anywhere and the Thai postal service covers the country. What I am not sure about is why they can not use the provincial and regional centers for course delivery. This would provide another path for course delivery and would open up more technology options. I think they use the regional centers for Graduate School and the Provincial centers for others kinds of academic support. I am just curious and exploring similarities and differences.

Jit said the community is working and preparing a desert for Thai new year. There was a mention of Sathai. The wet season will be ending soon, and the cool season will begin. Today I had an odd and fun interaction. One of our friends came over and said I need your help, through some words and pantomime, she wanted me to come and photograph something. When I got there she said "Action". A few woman were roasting peanuts in a large pan over a fire. They were using a large whisk broom to keep the peanuts moving. The objects shapes were beautiful. I was glad to be asked. The photographs do not capture the images as well as I would like. Sometimes my experiences in Jit's community echo my VISTA volunteer experience in Shaktoolik. I feel that people are more open and curious about me now after living here for awhile. Jit keeps talking about community development. I am not sure what she means, but she is sure asking a lot of questions. Sometimes I think my questions instigate her questions!

Jit and I went walking to see where they will be building a new road for the community. I think it is to provide an alternative to driving through the park. The road will enter the community near Jit's parents old house. Right now the equipment is sunk in the mud. I just realized how interconnected all the concrete paths are. We saw a different community in our walk. There are a whole maze of concrete paths all going to different homes and communities. There are public works signs on the paths, sort of like our highway construction signs. This project was authorized, completed, cost, etc., at least that was what I was told. On the way back we approached Juke's house from a different direction. He has put up a sign which says the wife of this house is always right, if you do not agree with this, see rule one. I have seen the same sign in English. Pretty funny actually.

Later we walked to the ruined back area of the Sri Nakhon Khuankun park. Since we were there last, they have done a lot of brush cutting. Jit, again thinks it is because we have been asking questions. She wants me to post pictures of the ruined neglected part of the park to a web site to publicize the neglect. I am a little skeptical of all this, but we will see. I do know they have been doing a whole lot of brush cutting. Way at the back of the park there in an old entry area that has fallen apart. There are paths that look like they could have been beautiful. There is what looks like raised walkways that could have been used to see birds and vegetation from above. Jit says that the park neglect is from budget and administrative neglect. I do not see any vandalism. Even in its present state the Sri Nakhon Khuankun park is a wonderful asset to the community. We also talked with the bike tourists for a little while. Jit invited the head of the tour over sometime, but I could tell he was not that interested.

It is only 11:30 in the morning. When I lived in Shaktoolik I wondered how we would fill our time, later I wondered where I would get time to do everything that I wanted. Jit's community is sort of like that. I am procrastinating on starting another Thai lesson.