Received good news today: the school and refugees are all alright! Lucky for the refugees, the flood came gradually in the afternoon, giving the refugees time to move their belongings! Made a boat trip across the flood to see the condition of the school. The school, although slightly flooded, but alls good! Everything is still intact and the construction is stable.

My godmum asked around, and we finally got the reason behind the flood - the Thai government. The government always wanted to chase all these Burmese refugees out of the country, as they are like illegal immigrants there. They are not allowed to leave their houses after 6pm, for fear that they will be mugged by gangsters, or get caught and jailed/fined by the police. In short, they are being bullied and no justice is done to these people. So the government "cleverly" thought out a plan: to release the accumulated water from the mountains down to the rivers, as the refugees all stay alongside the river banks. In the end, the plan backfired, and caused deaths and missing THAI locals, while on the other hand, the Burmese refugees are all safe and sound. The thais basically suffered heavy losses.

This is just inhumane. I mean, when the Thai locals realised their loved ones are missing or dead, they are devastated. But have they thought about the refugees? So just because they're refugees, their lives are worthless, so much so the government would release water to flood their village? This is just ridiculous. I wont say im gloating over the outcome of the foolish act of the Thai government, but in my mind im just: Good begets good, evil begets evil. Furthermore, the rundown houses refugees are staying in, they still have to pay a monthly 700baht rent. The condition is really unimaginable, and the government still dare to collect so much from the refugees, while they are slogging so hardly just to meet ends needs. If the Thai government really want so much money, I hope they choke on the hard earn money of the refugees. Basically, money in money out. Collect so much from refugees, now the destruction from the flood. You darlings decipher what I mean! Wont go into so much detail!

So today, we went to a house, where most refugees are gathered. Bought bags of garlic and onions, 6 full chickens and medicines. Despite what had happened to their houses/village, they are all still cheerful and in high spirits. Its like, nothing can bring down their morale/spirits. They still joke with us, take very good care of us, and make sure our needs are taken care of! They are really a sweet bunch of locals!

Before we left today, me and my godmum went to hug them, kinda like a goodbye hug. They were really happy to meet us, and thankful that we would help them to this extend: rebuild school, buy musical instruments, buy medicines and stationeries, buy food, give them money to tide them through the flood period where they are not able to work and earn money to support themselves. Leaving for Chiang Mai tmr, taking the 1.20pm plane, and will go down to godmum's hometown! How I wish we are able to extend our stay here! :/

4 more days in Thailand before I fly back to Singapore. I really feel im more independent and responsible as a person now. I wash my own clothes, pack my own things, make sure I look after the belongings, be in charge of big bundles of cash and etc. Will be learning to cook a couple of local Thai dishes from godmum, especially bai ka pou! :DDDDDD

Going off to meet Mr. Win Cho later at restaurant!

xoxo darlings! <3 <3 <3

p/s: been using my hands to eat my meals! It really makes the meals so much tastier, especially when you are sharing with someone else because you both have to "compete" to get the last mouthful! :D

Labels: Mae Sod, reflection, Thailand