Our First Homestay was a Success!

The past few days have been filled with excitement and new experiences for the students. On Saturday the students were able to experience the city by riding in song-teows (outdoor public transportation in Thailand). They took a tour of the Khon Kaen University campus and were able to climb to the top of the tallest temple in Khon Kaen for a fantastic view of the city. The students later went shopping at the local night market, bringing back a plethora of gifts to take home.

On Monday, the students experienced their first homestay in Na Nong Bong village. They were greeted with village grandmas who are all members of the Radical Grandma Collective; a group fighting mining through weaving and selling apparel. They exchanged information with villagers about the local effects of gold mining and got to know the culture by actively engaging in the village way of life. Though the bathrooms were very different from those of western culture, the students survived and are excited to return!