GCF Thailand site visit missive 1-20-09

The following missive continues Campus to Campus Connections activities between the campuses in Vermont USA and the Campuses in Chiang Mai Thailand. We hope that the reader enjoys these short updates and information to enhance their further understanding of the educational work on behalf of GCF. As we conduct this current site visit the successes and challenges experienced by all involved continue to demonstrate the value and importance of this work. Thank you for your interest and participation. JRT


Sawadee from “The Land of Smiles”,

Why the Land of Smiles?

Thailand is sometimes referred to as the land of smiles. We think it is because the Thai citizens are smiling all the time. Life is to be enjoyed it seems. We also think that because the climate is so nice and there is so much beauty as you look around it just makes you smile a lot. Today is January 20th and right now as we write we can look out the windows at beautiful green trees with many different blossoms. There are also large plants with flowers of many colors and they all produce a wonderful sweet smell in the air. As you hear this description I know how different it is from what you see and feel in the beautiful Vermont winter. The temperature range for today will be a low of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. So we are sending you all warm thoughts from this warm place.


Global Campus Chiang Mai

This past week we had the privilege of opening an all day seminar conducted by Global Campus Chiang Mai. The group of participants represented the five recognized areas of disability issues visual, hearing, learning, physical and mental challenges. The curriculum topic was to gather their voices about how to improve the technology of communications such as phone service, computer access, and other forms of communication that are used by persons who have challenges that are sometimes a disability. After our opening presentation the participants asked us many questions about the Global Campuses in the USA and what services are available to support persons who experience disability. We enjoyed sharing about your campus activities, and all the participants requested that we hold another seminar for further conversations. So Campus to Campus Connections is growing here in Thailand.


Exciting experience for us!

Last night at about 8 pm there were five helicopters that flew right over our apartment. We are living on the 8th floor at the end of a soi( side street). They landed at the airport about two miles from where we live. Across the street from us is a new fancy hotel that just opened. We noticed that there were many police and military solders all over the place. Soon we understood why they were there. The Princess was arriving and we think staying at this new hotel. We watched from our balcony and soon she did arrive with her entourage. An entourage is the many friends and officials that travel with the Princess wherever she goes. There were about 25 police cars and another 25 fancy cars. We watched and soon her car was the first to pull up to the hotel. By now there was a crowd of onlookers and as she got out of the car we could see her. It was quite exciting for us to see a member of the royal family right across the street from were we are living. The Princess is here in Chiang Mai to hand out diplomas at Chiang Mai University on Thursday. So Last night we saw the Princess of Thailand and tonight we will watch the inauguration of Barack Obama. We are very proud to be American citizens and there is much excitement all over the world. Thank you for listening to our update to you all. Please feel free to ask us questions and know that we often think of you and your great campuses.


Sawadee from,
Jim & Sherry

GCF Thailand site visit missive 1-13-09

The following missive continues Campus to Campus Connections activities between the campuses in Vermont USA and the Campuses in Chiang Mai Thailand.  We hope that the reader enjoys these short updates and information to enhance their further understanding of the educational work on behalf of GCF.  As we conduct this current site visit the successes and challenges experienced by all involved continue to demonstrate the value and importance of this work. Thank you for your interest and participation. JRT


Sawadee Vermont Global Campus participants,

Greetings from halfway around the world. We are in Thailand-hurray! We hope all of you enjoyed the holiday season. Happy New Year 2009!


Congratulations on your travels:

We are happy to be sending you this travel update as we know all of you are beginning your Winter Interim Travel adventures. It is great to think that all of us are learning more about the world we live in. How exciting to know that all of the Vermont Global Campuses are traveling in many different countries at the same time. Please enjoy your adventures and have fun learning about the people and places where you travel.

Living in Chiang Mai:

As many of you know we love to travel here in Thailand. We are living at the base of the mountains of Doi Suthep. The weather is quite warm and everything is green here right now. As we look out our windows we see much activity on the roads with many motorbikes and cars whisking about. We use a small motorbike to get around but also enjoy walking the small side streets ( called sois). As we walk around we see families working in their yards and preparing their meals, many in outdoor kitchens. Children are off to school riding their bikes or riding in small taxi/trucks.

As we walk around many people greet us with a smile and they say Sawadee. Some ask us where we are from and when we say America they smile and are excited about our new President. Many want to practice English, so we stop and chat a bit. Even though this is a very modern city the old ways still continue so you get to see what it was like 50 years ago and you also get to see the modern changes like shopping malls, coffee shops, and American fast food restaurants. We like Thai food so we eat at the traditional places and enjoy the tastes very much.

News From Global Campus Chiang Mai:

Ka and Non send their greetings and best wishes to all of you. They are very well. Soon, Non will be attending his graduation ceremony in the big city of Bangkok. He completed his Bachelor’s degree and will receive his diploma directly from the Prince, who someday will become King. This is a great honor for Thai students. Non began his formal studies many years ago when his grandmother gave him some money to enroll in Open University. Over the years while at Global Campuses, he has studied hard and spent his money on his books and tuition. He is the first Global Campus participant to receive a Bachelor’s degree. We know you are all very happy for him and proud. We are very excited for him too. We will share more about the Global Campuses here in Thailand in future writings to you.

For now we will say goodbye. Please know that we are thinking of you and enjoy sharing with many people here about your campuses and what you are doing. Please also know if you have any questions about Thailand, about the campuses here or about our adventures and work, let us know and we will be happy to respond. We are looking forward to talking with you in the near future using the computer and Skype (we get to see you and you can see us).

Peace and love from Thailand,
Khun Sherry and Khun Jim