Wow, this is like the worst post-call feeling EVER! I'm safely in Tokyo waiting an hour for my flight to Bangkok. The flight from Tokyo was awesome. I was upgraded to Business class so had one of those fancy "pods" all to myself on the top floor of the plane! I watched a bunch of movies, read some of my books and started my journal. Unfortunately I was so excited by my surroundings especially the movie selection, I forgot that I should have just gone right to sleep to adjust to the time difference. Its 4:30pm here but my body feels like its 4AM on only four hours sleep. Luckily I have a 6 hour flight to Bangkok, arrive at 11pm and the ARC driver will take me to my hotel where I'll rest tomorrow till leaving for Mae Sot on Friday.
I'm making my way through "The Lady and The Peacock: The life of Aung San Suu Kyi" and hope to update you with some history lessons along the way. Myanmar (previously Burma) is located to the west of Thailand, Laos and China and just east of India. It was ruled from India by the British since the 1800s. The Revolution of 1300 (year 1300 in the Burmese calendar was equivalent to 1938) allowed Burma to separate from India and to elect a governing council under the supervision of the British governor. Though a step forward, Burma was aching for full independence and used WWII as their chance to get it through the leadership of General Aun San. Aun San established the Burma Independence Army and moved through Burma with the Japanese army leading the British army to flee. Once Britain was gone, Aung San quickly realized Japan would not allow full independence either and he began preparing for another war working with the Allies against the Japanese. He again was successful in ridding Burma of now the British and the Japanese. Burma finally had her independence. Three months after he was elected as the new leader of Burma, Aun San was assassinated on July 19, 1947. He left behind a wife and three children, the youngest Aung San Suu Kyi.
So this name may sound familiar. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest on and off since the 1980s as a leader of the democratic movement. She has recently been released as the communist regime has fallen. More details to follow. . .
So why am I writing about all this? I'll be in Thailand in the northwest border in Umphang working in the Umpiem refugee camp which is where refugees from Myanmar and the Karan province live and work. I'm curious to hear their stories, what brought them to the camps, how long they've been there and to see how long it will take for them to move back home.
Well, that's all for now. . . I'm going hiking this weekend in the mountains, rainforests near Mae Sot so will post some pictures!!
Love
Tara
I'm making my way through "The Lady and The Peacock: The life of Aung San Suu Kyi" and hope to update you with some history lessons along the way. Myanmar (previously Burma) is located to the west of Thailand, Laos and China and just east of India. It was ruled from India by the British since the 1800s. The Revolution of 1300 (year 1300 in the Burmese calendar was equivalent to 1938) allowed Burma to separate from India and to elect a governing council under the supervision of the British governor. Though a step forward, Burma was aching for full independence and used WWII as their chance to get it through the leadership of General Aun San. Aun San established the Burma Independence Army and moved through Burma with the Japanese army leading the British army to flee. Once Britain was gone, Aung San quickly realized Japan would not allow full independence either and he began preparing for another war working with the Allies against the Japanese. He again was successful in ridding Burma of now the British and the Japanese. Burma finally had her independence. Three months after he was elected as the new leader of Burma, Aun San was assassinated on July 19, 1947. He left behind a wife and three children, the youngest Aung San Suu Kyi.
So this name may sound familiar. Suu Kyi has been under house arrest on and off since the 1980s as a leader of the democratic movement. She has recently been released as the communist regime has fallen. More details to follow. . .
So why am I writing about all this? I'll be in Thailand in the northwest border in Umphang working in the Umpiem refugee camp which is where refugees from Myanmar and the Karan province live and work. I'm curious to hear their stories, what brought them to the camps, how long they've been there and to see how long it will take for them to move back home.
Well, that's all for now. . . I'm going hiking this weekend in the mountains, rainforests near Mae Sot so will post some pictures!!
Love
Tara
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAfter all the kids I've taken care of from this region, it will be great to learn more about their stories from your experience. Thanks for the update, and the history lesson!
ReplyDelete