Baan Doi Chang is a school at a village on one of Thai mountain tops at the elevation of 1600 meter in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand. Students are 700 hundreds children from the village with the same name. From K-12, the students are from diverse backgrounds. Most are from Akha Tribe, the rest are from various tribes including those without rightful Thai nationality, from either Burma or Laos. Thai language is obviously not their mother-tongue, though it is the official language used in this school. Family's economic and social position is often in jeopardy.
Regardless of multiple differences each holds, all share one cherish beauty. JOY! Despise of being in a remote mountain village, living with far less life necessities, and receiving who-know-what too little than other fellow citizens, JOY in the dear hearts of these students stays alive and bright shinning. Smiles and laughters ripple out contagiously jubilant delight, like a gentle touch of warm sunshine along with sweet gentle breeze. So refreshing to all souls!
Joy may not easily emerge in the city, but so naturally out here. Children seem to take pleasure anywhere and also in everything they do, especially during lunch hour. Officially lunch is compulsory. The government provides for younger students only, but the headmaster knows better. He is well aware that most of his students come without breakfast, let alone the noon meal. With a loving care from all teachers, the headmaster came up with a policy that all are to bring cooked rice from home, in order to enjoy a humble dish that would be made from a stretched out lunch budget together. It is a simple meal for all/
Lunch hour is gleefully welcome. Everyone runs to queue up in their classes and await for delicious lunch to come.
Two by two, assigned partners from each class turn up with a pot full of hot lunch. With them arrive the mouthwatering smell that soon fills the hallway! Lunch is here, cheers rise from the crowd.
Dish of the day is the NOODLE soup with scarce little pieces of meat. Yet, the inviting smell suggests YUMMY lunch that must be worth waiting for. Everyone with a bowl in the line is now moving up toward the teacher. Each receives generous amount that would satisfy both taste and hunger.
With a bowl of hot lunch in hand, everyone dashes back to their desks. And, patiently they wait for their classmates who are still in line with empty bowls.
Yummy hot NOODLE soup looks so good. It is hard to tell if it is a good idea to be the first in line to receive their share, then sit there waiting! Yet, something is always worth waiting. And, sharing the blessing with friends must be another JOY each day.
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