Charlotte's Web: Mae Chaem Day 3

Today we spent most of the day learning to cook with Thai women in the village. We helped to make a variety of dishes by shredding coconuts, assembling a complicated dessert and grinding spices with a mortar pestle. We used the coconut for two different desserts, one that was sweetened coconut wrapped in a dough which was then folded in a banana leaf before being steamed. The other was an odd mixture of coconut, lots of sugar and nuts which made this weird consistency to eat but was delicious. There was lots of laughter as we attempted new cooking techniques. After feasting on our large lunch a few of us went to the temple to do some community service by sweeping some buildings at the temple.

After regrouping the girls put on traditional Thai skirts to participate in a processional down to the temple to present our group's donation. Alongside community members we hit drums and danced down the main street all the way to the temple where a monk led a ceremony where they wished us good health and luck in the future. We had dinner at the temple with dishes made by several woman in the village before returning to our host homes. I stayed up to do some journaling and watched Thai soap operas with my host grandmother. Although I couldn't understand anything I had fun laughing at the events and bonding with her. Our time in the village was a great experience to see how Thai people live and learn more about their culture. The village had everything they needed and nothing more. Nothing went to waste and everyone seemed to have a role in the community. Their openness was addicting and I found myself greeting everyone I passed. The next day we woke early to say thank you and goodbye to our host families.