Through Their Eyes… is an ongoing series of articles and videos showcasing the unique experience each volunteer has at their site through a visitors’ eyes.
B. Harris, 136 YinD
Volunteer Visited: Elanor “Ellie” D’Andria, 136 YinD
Volunteer’s Site: Khao Wong, Kalasin
Why did you visit?
I had a difficult first three months at site. I was struggling to get accustomed to my new community and dealing with the sudden loneliness I was feeling. I received an invitation from Ellie to come visit her in Kalasin. Other than the fact that it was five hours away from my home in Nakhon Ratchasima, I knew nothing about the province. I got the quickest bus to Kalasin after packing a small backpack.
What did you do in Ellie’s community while visiting?
On the first day, I was able to go to Ellie’s office and meet the nayok. All of the staff members were warm and thrilled that I was there to explore their community. We stayed around the office chatting a bit before we headed to Ellie’s house. Ellie and her counterpart made us dinner as I helped set the mood with music. Nothing can beat fresh som tam, sticky rice, and stir-fried pork with cabbage! The day was overall relaxing, and Ellie and I stayed up to catch up on what had been going on at our sites.
We promised ourselves that we would stay home and relax on the second day, but the complete opposite happened. We paid a visit to a family friend’s father-in-law in the hospital before going to a nearby cafe. At the cafe, it was decided by the same family friend that we would go to a nearby province to visit a well-known temple. We’re always down for a spontaneous road trip, so we quickly agreed. We stopped to eat mouthwatering Vietnamese food before we arrived at Wat Roi Phra Phutthabat Phu Manorom in Mukdahan. I had heard about the great Mekong River, but it was breathtaking to look across and see the country of Laos. We spent the entire day admiring Mukdahan’s beauty. The night ended with Ellie and me making our own custom music beats. They will never be released; they were so bad.
On the third day, our only goal was to watch The Prince of Egypt. You would’ve thought it was our first time watching it by the gasps and commentary. Later that evening, Ellie’s counterpart took us to a nearby temple, and to finally get some food. We ended the night with Black Mirror’s newest season; a tear may have been shed.
We relaxed on the final morning before I left. It was bittersweet to say goodbye, but I knew we were going to see each other for Reconnect soon.
What is Ellie’s community like?
Ellie’s community is located in Khao Wong with an ethereal rural landscape and a loving community. The 7/11, cafes, and restaurants are roughly 4 kilometers away. Ellie’s host family makes blankets and pillows. I can attest to how comfortable they are, as I was provided with both during my stay. There are cows everywhere, which was my favorite part. Ellie and her community have a lot of pride and love for their home.
Where does Ellie live?
Ellie lives with her two host brothers and her host mother. She has a separate space from the main home. I didn’t see too many stray dogs, and all of her neighbors always seemed to be outside all day, which was lovely—a thriving social community. At that time, 136 volunteers had just moved to their permanent site, so Ellie’s place was not decked out in any decorations, but she had pictures of her loved ones. My favorite place in her house would be her bedroom since the air conditioning was working overtime. Even with a bucket shower, her bathroom felt like a spa as it was adorned with beautiful tiling and void of any bugs. Lastly, she has a spacious kitchen that she uses all the time (she’s a good cook).
What were some highlights from your trip?
The spontaneous road trip to Mukdahan was lovely. It was a first for both of us, as Ellie hadn’t been out of her province much either. We both love temples, and it was amazing to see such an infamous statue. The Mekong River was also crazy to see, and I plan on going to visit again.
What surprised you about Ellie’s community?
Ellie’s community speaks a completely different dialect. I live in Nakhon Ratchasima, which is on the edge of Isaan. At my site, we speak the “Korat” dialec,t which is still mainly Central Thai with a few phrases here and there that are different. Her community is deeper in the region, and they speak “Phu Thai”. For those who aren’t familiar, Phu Thai is a minority ethnic group that can be found in Thailand, Laos, and even Vietnam and China. The dialect is a mix of Thai and Lao. There are only about 833,000 people who speak Phu Thai (and unfortunately for Ellie, none of the Peace Corps aajaans speak the dialect). On top of my Thai speaking not being the best, I could not understand much of what was being said when talking to Ellie’s host family or neighbors.
What are some similarities and differences between your site and Ellie’s?
The main difference is the makeup of our sites. Though we’re both located in Isaan, I am more in a peri-urban community, while Ellie is truly in the countryside. I have restaurants, a 7/11, and cafes within a 2-4 kilometer radius. Ellie has to travel further out to reach those amenities. Both of our sites have beautiful temples, and our offices are about the same size. We both deal with tokays and an abundance of ants.
Overall, I had so much fun visiting Ellie’s site, and I am grateful for being able to experience the Peace Corps through her eyes for a moment.
Sticky Rice 