Day 2 at 21st King's Foundation School

       After arriving in Bangkok a few days ago, I've traveled to Northern Thailand with other members of the Smiles on Wings team to begin our work. Yesterday we got familiar with the facilities, staff and students at the 21st King's Foundation School just outside of Mae Sariang. Today we continued working hard in the clinic and treating as many patients as possible. Our dental team did some amazing work and saw a majority of the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. The students were very well behaved and cooperated well with the dentists. We had a few criers, but often a Beanie Baby and some reassurance from Pan and the other Thai volunteers was enough to lessen their fears. I enjoyed interacting with the students and did my best to communicate--thankfully smiles and laughs go a long way. Among the scores of patients who have come into the clinic in the last two days, I've noticed some interesting personalities. The younger kids were delighted to play with coloring books and puzzles and had no problem taking my hand to lead them to see the dentist. They were also very excited to pick out a toothbrush at the end of their visit. The fourth and fifth graders were curious about the farang ("foreigners") visiting the school. Some of the students would stare at Raina and I while we worked and would look away when I caught their gaze. Other students practiced their English skills amidst giggles, never wanting to say too much.
        My favorite part of the day was seeing the students take interest in the books I brought from home to share with them. Usa mentioned that the kids always asked about where we are from, so my mom and I went to a local used book store and found several great picture books about Washington D.C.

I showed the books to the younger kids yesterday but all they understood was "Ah-mer-i-kaa." I was delighted to see some older kids pick up the books on their own today and learn about where we come from. I was also glad that some of the kids really seemed to enjoy the jump ropes and understood from Pan's explanation that this is a common activity among American schoolchildren. In fact, we couldn't have gotten through much of the day without our wonderful volunteer and translator, Pan.

Here is Pan's take on the day:


วันนี้เป็นวันที่สองของการปฏิบัติภารกิจของ Smiles on Wings

หลังจากที่เมื่อวานใช้ส่วนใหญ่ในช่วงเช้าไปกับการจัดเตรียมอุปกรณ์และสถานที่

วันนี้ทุกอย่างดูจะเข้าที่เข้าทางดีมาก เรียกได้ว่าทำงานกันอย่างไม่สะดุดเลยก็ว่าได้

นักเรียนชั้นป.3และป.4 เป็นคนไข้ของเราวันนี้

เป็นภาพที่น่ารักไปอีกแบบที่ได้เห็นนักเรียนแต่งตัวเป็นลูกเสือและเนตรนารี

ส่วนใหญ่มีฟันแท้กันแล้ว มีสองคนต้องเสียน้ำตาเพราะว่าฟันผุเป็นหลุมลึกและต้องอุด

แม้ในตอนแรกเด็กๆจะไม่คุ้นเคยกับชาวต่างชาติและตกใจที่เห็นคุ

ณหมอใส่แว่นตาไฟฉาย แต่คุณหมอฟันทุกคนใจดีและใจเย็นมาก

ในที่สุดแล้วสร้างรอยยิ้มให้กับเด็กๆทุกคนกันถ้วนหน้า กิจกรรมที่มีในวันนี้

นอกจากจากให้ระบายสี ต่อจิ๊กซอว์ ดูวีดีโอความรู้เรื่องสุขภาพฟัน

และการ์ตูนทอมแอนด์เจอรรี่แล้ว

ก็ยังมีการออกกำลังกระโดดเชือกเพื่อเรียกเหงื่อกันอีกด้วย

ดูเหมือนเด็กๆจะสนุกกันมาก

แพน จาก กรุงเทพ

Today was the second day of our Smiles on Wings mission. We spent most of yesterday’s morning setting up and organizing the patient flow, so today we worked very smoothly without wasting any time. Students from grade 3 and 4 were our patients for today. Some of them were in scout uniforms and they looked so adorable. Most of them have adult teeth. While waiting for the treatment, the students enjoyed painting, solving jigsaw puzzles, watching dental documentaries and animation, and jumping ropes. At first, they were not accustomed to meet foreigners and afraid of the loupes (magnifying glasses) with head lamp. The dentists and hygienists were treating them so kindly. At the end, the students received excellent treatment and left with big smiles.

Pan posing with students after they jumped rope

Written by: Sam Jacobs from Bethesda, Maryland and Pan Tima from Bangkok, Thailand