Volunteering as an Ashram Volunteer in Thailand

Arrival/Arrival

When I first felt Thai soil under my feet after an XNUMX-hour flight, I could hardly believe I had made it this far. I had to overcome a few hurdles due to Corona and the fact that this flight was my first didn't make it any easier. But after numerous forms had been filled out and applications submitted, my first trip alone into the world went smoothly.

I took the train to Frankfurt airport and then flew straight to Bangkok. Arriving there and completing a corona questionnaire, I was picked up from my quarantine hotel and had to spend my first week in Thailand in a hotel room. The helpful and friendly staff at the airport and in the hotel, the summer temperatures and the views of Bangkok that I could catch through the car window made me very excited about the coming time.

After a week of quarantine and two negative PCR tests, I was finally able to fully enjoy my freedom in Thailand and took the night train from Bangkok to Nong Khai. The staff at the train station was also very friendly and I was able to find my platform without any problems. I booked first class so had a small room to myself which was very comfortable. Except for a disruption on the train, which was repaired after two hours (that seems to happen quite often), I got through the night quite well and was picked up by Tom in Nong Khai in the morning. After half an hour's drive through small villages and many rice fields, I finally arrived at the ashram! I was greeted by two excited dogs and a freshly made bed in the shared dorm.

Orientation program

Unfortunately, the orientation program was canceled due to Corona, but RGV made up for this with lively email contact.

Tasks

My day started with a voluntary morning meditation at 05:30 am. My favorite place to do this was the pool house, a small bamboo hut on the canal. After that I did an hour of yoga with Pan (my yoga teacher). Breakfast was then at 7:30 a.m., followed by a joint check-in, during which the day and any problems were discussed. Our work phases were from 09:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 14:30 p.m. to 17:00 p.m. During this time I had very different tasks.

In my early days I was able to try out many different activities. I pulled weeds in the garden, distributed compost and planted new plants, laid an irrigation system in the food forest (landscaped area with mainly fruit trees and shrubs), built raised beds in the mandala garden, which included making the framework, mortar and paint, made Ecobricks on Monday afternoons, painted the Ashram Cafe, activated compost, made essential oils and natural products, and planted small seedlings in the Tree Nursery.

After I was there for a few weeks, I got a main project that I helped plan and implement. In the evening we did a dance meditation together and ate together. Since it sometimes got very hot in Thailand, we sometimes deviated from the actual schedule and, for example, started work earlier and took a longer lunch break. I really enjoyed the activities outside and it was very nice to create things together.

Lodging

I slept in the shared dorm above the hall. It is divided into the boys' and girls' room and each has four bunk beds and shelves for storing clothes. I found it very nice to sleep together with other volunteers, because in the evening I was able to talk about the past day and we got up together in the morning. Also, the dormitory has a balcony for reading and spending time. If you do want to be alone, it is no problem at all to find a quiet corner in the ashram.

Essen

All volunteers cooked together in the ashram. In order to distribute the tasks, we were divided into three teams, which took on a different task every day. One group cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner, another did the dishes and the last team was responsible for uncovering and uncovering. Because not only local cooking was done, but also other cultures, depending on who was responsible for the food, there were many different dishes in the ashram itself. Overall, the food tasted very good and there was a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. The self-harvested food, such as bananas, papaya, lettuce and tomatoes, was particularly great. In the ashram I also discovered my love for papaya, which is a thousand times better than the papaya available in Germany.

If you go to a restaurant in Thailand, the main thing to remember is to order the food as "not spicy", which is still spicy enough. If you do some traveling around Thailand after your stay and come to the northern region, you definitely have to try Khao Soi, a coconut curry noodle soup. The popcorn is also highly recommended.

leisure

During the weekdays I mainly relaxed in the pool house during the lunch break and went swimming. In the evenings we sometimes sat together in the fire circle with stick bread or watched a documentary about permaculture. Wednesday afternoons were always free. I mostly used this afternoon to do my laundry in the next village, to visit the market or to go to the cafe. Actions were often planned on Saturdays. Once a monk came to visit and we were able to see his monastery afterwards.

Also, Ohm and Tom took us to Phen and Nong Khai, where we strolled through the night market (with scenic views of the Mekong), browsed food stalls and finally enjoyed live music by the river. But the highlight for me was an excursion to the national park, which lasted a whole weekend. There we looked at cool rock formations in the "Forestpark" and then went on a guided hike through the national park. The national park was not touristy at all and you could enjoy the breathtaking nature in complete silence. Sundays were completely free and I mostly spent them in the pool house or in one of the neighboring villages.

Special moments

I loved my time at the ashram. A special memory are the evening laps through the rice fields that I did with my girlfriend. After a day's work, it was totally relaxing to walk through the greenery and watch the sunset. I also loved spending time with the other volunteers. I particularly remember one Sunday afternoon when we discovered a small canoe in the canal and immediately started a discovery tour with suitable songs and our singing skills.

Another great experience was the "Experience Week", where I thought a lot about myself and society. But my favorite memory is the temple festival in the neighboring village. We just wanted to stop by out of curiosity and were immediately invited to the temple by the villagers. There we got iced drinks, prayed with a monk and were invited to eat. Afterwards we danced together with the villagers. It was just fun to experience something that you wouldn't have gotten to know as an ordinary tourist.

Why RGV?

When I was looking for an opportunity for my volunteer work abroad, I came across many sites. What I particularly liked about RGV was the wide range of projects. Then, after looking at many different projects, I fell in love with the Ashram project and knew I just had to do the project. After that I immediately got in touch with RGV and stayed in regular email contact. Preparing for the trip was particularly difficult for me and I was very happy to always have a contact person with whom I could clarify all problems and questions.

Field report by Elena, February to April 2022