Sunshine Village Camp Week 1

Day 1: Meet the Munchkins

Well folks thanks to you we are off and running on this 10 day craft crusade. It’s been 5 whole days since these little munchkins have got to pull my hair and invade my personal space and they wasted no time making up for it. 38 minutes, 100 hugs, and 4 interesting hairdos later we were ready to start the lesson. We used the glitter pencils to do a color sorting relay race, Benzs team won as usual (show off) so they got to pick their color of pencil first but there was enough that everyone got the color they wanted in the end.

Next was learning how to spell their names….not an easy task for them or me honestly (Hwahwa, ArMuay, JukJang, PakBung). This one took us awhile.

Be glad you've never had to participate in a Thai spelling bee....holy moly. — Be glad you’ve never had to participate in a Thai spelling bee….holy moly.

There are between 40 and 50 kids total who are going to do the camp. Here are a handful who (when bribed with stickers) sat down long enough for a picture.

Names and grades L to R: Fluke 4th, Fai(flipping us off) 1st, PakBung 5th, Pair and Gop 4th, Ming 3rd, Gift 3rd, Nam and Nok (twins) 4th, Hwa Hwa 4th, JJ 4th.

Once we were finished, competition for possession of the iPad and camera resulted in to many temper tantrums for teacha to deal with but luckily we were saved by the dinner bell and really lucked out with ice cream comes for dessert.

This is Pe. He's a crybaby, we have to send him to take frequent naps with the Kindergarden kids.....which actually now that I think about it doesn't sound like a bad deal. — This is Pe. He’s a crybaby, we have to send him to take frequent naps with the Kindergarden kids…..which actually now that I think about it doesn’t sound like a bad deal.

They love feeding me, thankfully this snack is edible and contains no visible traces of seafood or pork blood

Day 2: Pretty Blue Butterflies

Thailand colors! (I know they really mean America colors:-)

Name spelling yesterday gave teacha big headache, so we learned some actual English words today; pretty, blue, and butterfly.

I want to say they all mastered it, but I’d only put my money on Benz or PakBung.

Fluke called every single letter of the alphabet x....which makes spelling easy for him, butterfly: xxxxxxxxx. Ummm close?? — Fluke called every single letter of the alphabet x….which makes spelling easy for him, butterfly: xxxxxxxxx. Ummm close??

This is my boyfriend Nex. He likes to remind me everyday how handsome he is and also writes it down on love notes in case I forget. His butterfly of course says love and he made sure he was the first one done so he could give it to me. In true boy form though, he is way too cool to give me hugs at his soccer games. (Ahhhhhh dramatic sobbing and ripping up of said love notes and butterflies)

We were gossiping at school one day about who has a crush on who in 4th grade and when I said, who does Nex love, they all screamed “TEACHA!!!” and laughed their heads off.

PakBung is at the top there. If you need something done ask her.....Benz will do it for you too but not without negotiating what's in it for her first.....smart manipulative little cookie she is. — PakBung is at the top there. If you need something done ask her…..Benz will do it for you too but not without negotiating what’s in it for her first…..smart manipulative little cookie she is.

The boys' table doesn't do pictures.....some things are the same in every country. — The boys’ table doesn’t do pictures…..some things are the same in every country.

They can't cross their eyes or snap, so they demand I do both frequently. — They can’t cross their eyes or snap, so they demand I do both frequently

Day 3: Attack of the Angry Birds

It has been raining here in Phuket for almost 2 full weeks, and when I say raining , I mean all day, all night, violent winds, no sun. Yesterday the wind was so strong it ripped my poncho off my body Incredible Hulk style as I was driving. I was feeling pretty miserable for a few seconds until I got to a stoplight and spotted this bunch.

There are three adult women and a baby int hat sidecar and guaranteed a couple bags of raw fish....snuggle up! — There are three adult women and a baby in that sidecar and guaranteed a couple bags of raw fish….snuggle up!

Needless to say the weather is making everyone around here “wary cranky”, especially the munchkins. Its time to get out some aggression. I made this last night and wasn’t sure how they’d like it until I ran up and hit Ben over the head with it while he was cooking. It both terrified and enraged him, so I knew they were gonna love it.

Voice from that crocodile arcade game: NOW IM ANGRY!!!

I sat them down in a circle and ran around hitting them all with my angry bird so they could learn from my shining example that today would be all about violence. After I got some good hits in I let them make their own. We were going to color them….but they were way to anxious to exact revenge on me to waste time with that.

Gift has been the angriest bird of all this week but we finally got a smile out of her today...turns out angry birds actually make people very happy. — Gift has been the angriest bird of all this week but we finally got a smile out of her today…turns out angry birds actually make people very happy.

What sound does an angry bird make......just about the worst sound ever. I still have a headache from hours of angry bird sounds. — What sound does an angry bird make……just about the worst sound ever. I still have a headache from hours of angry bird sounds.

Show me your angry bird face....Gop (bottom left) cheated but it was clever so I'll give it to him. — Show me your angry bird face….Gop (bottom left) cheated but it was clever so I’ll give it to him.

After a couple of (somewhat organized) relay races and contests, it was time for all out war, every angry bird and chick for themselves.

Time for everyone to get Angry! Look out.

Two hours later, we had the best day yet...but it almost cost me my life, those angry birds are dangerous!!! — Two hours later, we had the best day yet…but it almost cost me my life, those angry birds are dangerous!!!

But the best thing about today was…..IT FINALLY STOPPED RAINING!

Thank you guys again for supporting us is week. Love, Teacha Katie and the Munchkins (pictured Fluke 4th grade) — Thank you guys again for supporting us this week. Love, Teacha Katie and the Munchkins (pictured Fluke 4th grade)

Day 4: Candy Crush

The munchkins were feeling pretty optimistic yesterday after the monsoon ceased and they took the opportunity to let me know they really wouldn’t mind if I brought them some candy today……”Teacha lollipops, two?”

I tried to teach them the song “lollipop” but when I opened my mouth and “Let it Go” didn’t come out, there was a huge wave of disappointment followed by mass riot. So once again song time consisted of 7 consecutive (and astonishingly loud) Let it Go choruses. There is no room for another song in their life.

“lollipop lollipop OOOOOOOHHHH LA LA LOLLI LOLLI LOLLIPOP”………..no? Elsa doesn’t sing that?

Next we made lollipops out of straws and plates, which I had about 100 pictures of until Fluke decided to delete my entire memory card so he could make a 21 minute video of the side of my face. Thanks buddy.

The only picture that remains of our la la lollipops

Once I managed to convince my aspiring filmmaker that there are things slightly more interesting than my double chin, I gave him a second chance. He got some good ones of our next game. It was a frugal play on piñata in which I dangled chupa chubs from the swing set and let them go at em with a light saber.

He wants to cheat so bad, I feel ya Pe, I you ain't cheatin you ain't tryin! — He wants to cheat so bad, I feel ya Pe, I you ain’t cheatin you ain’t tryin!

Normally once they get their snack, they have no more use for me but today they didn’t want me to go, so it was time to “Play Elsa”. Which means more singing and lots of painful hair braiding.

The sword wielding munchkin, Lek (means small in Thai) is my bodyguard, no one gets in the group hug without his say so....except now that I think about it I am the only one he hit with the sword so we may need to reevaluate personnel. — The sword wielding munchkin, Lek (means small in Thai) is my bodyguard, no one gets to Elsa without his say so….except now that I think about it I am the only one he hit with the sword so we may need to reevaluate personnel.

Benz, Kwang, and Pair, my fourth grade dream team of personal stylists. They want to know why I don't have bangs......ummmm where to start with that one. I gotta work overtime to make sure they don't get their paws on some scissors or I'm looking at about 2 years minimum of bad hair days. — Benz, Kwang, and Pair, my fourth grade dream team of personal stylists. They want to know why I don’t have bangs……ummmm where to start with that one. I gotta work overtime to make sure they don’t get their paws on some scissors or I’m looking at about 2 years minimum of bad hair days.

Beauty is pain....and chunks of missing hair...and usually not that beautiful (sorry Pair...you're doin great) — Beauty is pain….and chunks of missing hair…and usually not that beautiful (sorry Pair…you’re doin great)

Day 5: Friday For All

It’s the weekend and the kids have gone Ting Tong!!! (Crazy in Thai). They have been waiting all week for Friday just like most of us bc on Fridays “Teacha have gum”. Its a big day for them.

I got a few minutes of singing and chit chat out of them before we got out every toy they have and the chaos did not die down for 4 hours, we did it all.

Crybaby had a good day today, snacks and snuggling no sniffles.

My sparing partner Gop can really throw some bows. We both are preparing to go back to the war zone that is the fourth grade hallway.

He's ready! Ming (the little guy in the red behind him) not so much...but he thinks he is, love the confidence. — He’s ready! Ming (the little guy in the red behind him) not so much…but he thinks he is, love the confidence.

Also they are no longer impressed with just the one Teacha. Today they said, “Teacha have friend?” So if anyone feels inclined to hop on a plane and join us, you’ll be very popular.

Thank you again to everyone who donated to get us going on this. Back at it next week then Teacha is headed to Ah Mer E Kahhh!!! See you all soon.

Donate and Make a Munchkins Day!
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