iEARN Youth Summit 2011 Diary VII

July 22, 2011

                This was the last day of iEARN Youth Summit and the last time I met my iEARN friends face to face. I thought 5 days was too short, there were many things I didn’t do the best but there was no time to regret. I promised myself that I would smile to everyone, speak as much as I can, take a lot of photo, and make this last day memorial.

                The last activity in this youth summit was Fun for a Change. It made me impressed in the power of fun. They taught how to add fun in serious thing and make people do that happily. It was really good experience for me. I thought it was the gift of life if I could enjoy doing everything. Fun was the most important part which made me enjoy something. Thanks to everyone who created this wonderful theory.

If you’re interested and really want to know more, enter this site: http://funforachange.org/

                There was a workshop of this activity. We had to work in team and brainstorm how to make people…

                1. recycle garbage in school

                2. learn Languages

                3. reuse reusable bag and bottle

                4. eat vegetable

                5. talk to people in public place  

               

                My team’s mission was how to make people carry reusable bag and bottle. We created “iBring” the new innovations which could make you desire to carry bag and bottle.

                There were 2 products of iBring. First, iBring bag which was designed to suit your style. The shape of this bag liked the vest which fit your movement. You could change it to shoulder bag easily by unzip it. It also made of special material; you could create your pattern by using color pencil. If you want to change the pattern, you could erase it and create new pattern easily. iBring bag would make people jealous you and active to use this it.

                Another pride of us was iBring bottle. This would be the smartest bottle you have ever known. Its shape was similar to another bottle but there were many special functions which another bottle couldn’t have. First, there was a real-time aquarium simulation game. You could feed the fish and see it swim around the bottle (smart screen). Your bottle couldn’t be empty as long as your fish could alive. :-D Moreover funny game, it could be the subway or sky train pass; there were barcode on the bottle. If game and transportation’s pass wasn’t enough, iBring bottle could made people look at you every time you drink the water. When you drink the water from iBring bottle, there was special sound like the loud drinking water’s sound, belching sound, or sighing satisfactory sound. You could choose the sound you like:-D. We created www.ibring.com  to give you more information. Let’s share your own style on our website:-D

                Those were the ideas of my team which was created by our imagination. I was really happy to meet this team, everyone was creative and friendly. I would keep iBring in my memory forever.

                Human can’t stop the time, so the goodbye always comes in the end. The ending ceremony started in the afternoon, It’s begun with Chinese instrument concert. Then they reviewed all activities by video about conference and youth summit. 

                At that time, I felt like there was something sticks in my throat, my eye was teary.

                I was sad!

                 I almost cried!  

               

                Fortunately, they turned off the light, no one could see when I wiped tear from my eyes.

                I was sad because it was over, there no more iEARN youth summit and seeing iEARN friends. I would go back to my world and they would go back their own, too. The thing I would hope for was seeing them again in the future. Before I had that chance, I had to see them from my memory instead. ;-D

                At the departing night everyone dressed in beautiful dress for Gala Party. I dressed in Thai dress, people said it was beautiful. I was happy to hear that. I like to see the traditional dress around the world. It was special dress from each country, it were all beautiful!  We ate, talked, and took photos together.

                When the dancing song was switched on, we danced together. Someone called it  ‘Crazy Night’, I thought it was true. This night was extremely fun. Although my dress didn’t suit dancing, I danced as much as I can. It was Jennifer Lopez’s song ‘On the Floor’, it said “We never quit we never rest on the floor”, so we danced crazily. I thought dancing can be international because everyone can dance and have fun together not matter what country you come from:-D

                The party ended at 9.30 p.m. But everyone didn’t want to go to sleep. We kept talking, sharing the gifts, taking photo, and doing everything to make this night hard to forget.

It was the most memorial dream

before going back to my real world.

Monthita Chuaythong

       

                         

  

iEARN Youth Summit 2011 Diary VI

July 21, 2011

The Sunshine Day!

This was the first sunshine day in Kaohsiung for me. 

Although there is no sunshine, we are going to shine.

Part I: Youth Summit Presentation Day

            We went to NSTM (National Science and Technology Museum) again, not for enjoying wonderful technology there, there were our Youth Summit friends presentation. Everyone came from different countries around the world, iEARN is the same thing we involved. Today in the same i-EARN’s involvement, we have different project. Today my i-EARN’s friends presented their projects which showed the powers and inspirations of youth. They have found the project which can develop themselves and develop their countries in the future. 

                 Moreover, they used their power to help another country, help our friends, help Japan after the huge damage of earthquake. At the open ceremony, there was an agent from Japan went on the stage and gave us the most beautiful bow to thank for helping Japan. This time I realized the power and sincerity of iEARN. I have known I’m just a little, very little human for this big world but now I believe in the words “together, we can”

            I hope someday Phichai Rattanakhan School’s student could make the project like i-EARN friends did. Thanks to the last chance in my life to i-EARN Youth Summit, I saw your action, I trusted your words, I felt your sincerity, and I believe in your power,i-EARN.

Part II: Culture Night

            Tonight my friends around the world showed for iEARN, they went to the stage and show their identity of their country by dancing, singing, speech etc. Every show I watched tonight was really wonderful for me. I could travel to many countries and sit on the seat at the same time. These were the shows from my friends. I’m proud to present as a gift for you.

Someday in the future,

I want to be powerful like you.

Monthita Chuaythong

iEARN Youth Summit 2011 Diary V

July 20, 2011

One Day Tour, One Day Try

              Today, there was special activity called ‘One Day Tour’. It was the day of travelling, there were five choices for you, five different routes, five different experiences and five different prices.

ROUTE I. Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village Tour:
Visit Taiwan’s aboriginal theme park and enjoy a panoramic view of Sun Moon Lake and its surrounding hills.

 Price: NTD.1700 (A minimum of 35 passengers is needed for each bus.)

ROUTE II. Tainan Heritage Tour:
Wander in Taiwan’s ancient capital and have a taste of the most well-known local specialties.

Price: NTD.1300 (A minimum of 35 passengers is needed for each bus.)

ROUTE III. Hakka Culture Tour:
Experience Taiwan’s original Hakka culture hands-on by making traditional paper umbrella paintings and Hakka pounded tea.

Price: NTD. 1300 (A minimum of 35 passengers is needed for each bus.)

ROUTE IV.  Lugang Township Tour:
A diverse tour combining visits to Taiwan’s heritage buildings, traditional culture, natural landscape and creative industry.

Price: NTD.1600 (A minimum of 35 passengers is needed for each bus.)

ROUTE V.  Taipei Chinese Culture Tour:
Take the High Speed Rail to Taipei and experience the prosperous and cultural side of the capital city

Price: NTD.4500 (A minimum of 35 passengers is needed for each bus.)

from:  http://www.iearn2011.org/

            Unfortunately, I didn’t follow any of them because of transferring money problem. No matter I could travel in One Day Tour or not, I was in Taiwan I could travel around this city, Kaohsiung. That would gave another experience to me. I was very lucky because I have met new Taiwanese friend at the museum. We are the Team 11 and she didn’t join in One Day Tour, too.  So, we went out together this day. I felt safer because I travel in Taiwan with Taiwanese. : -) In the morning, we had breakfast together and chose somewhere to go. Then we went out at 9’o clock. The destination was the department store called ‘Hanshin Department Store’.  We took the bus number 301 to the department store. You know, I’m seldom take the bus in Thailand but this time I had the chance to take Taiwan’s bus!!!  That was so cool!!! The fare was 12 NTD (14 Baht).You have to drop the coin in the box near the bus driver and then you can take a seat. 

           We arrived at 9.15 a.m. There was shower rain and strange thing there. The department store was big but it was too quiet for me.

            No crowed people?

            It was not strange anymore when we saw the letters on the department store’s door “open 11:00 a.m- 23:00 p.m.”:-O

            Was I too eager for travelling?

            There was strong rain that time and we had to wait more than one and half hours if we want to enter the department store, so we decided to go back to the hotel and rest. Than we took the bus back to Garden Villa Hotel by the bus number 301(again). This turn we paid 25 NTD (29 Baht) for 2 persons. It was quite bad because of Typhoon which caused the strong rain there. The rain made my shoes and my jeans wet. When I arrived at my room, I dried them with dryer. It took much time and my shoes didn’t dry well. :-(

            Although we weren’t lucky, we didn’t give up. We went out again before lunch. The rain was stop, this time our destination was Confucius Temple. I wanted to go there because I thought it must be beautiful with Chinese Temple’s style. First, we walked to the big footbridge not far from Garden Villa. Then we took it. I was very impressed in Kaohsiung’s footbridge, I was sure that it’s bigger and more beautiful than any footbridge which I have ever seen in my province. 

                     It led us to the park (I didn’t know the name). We walked around to seek the way to the temple. Suddenly, It rained strongly again. That made us stop walking and went for the nearest shelter. We caught in the rain for a long time, maybe thirty minutes. We expected the rain would stop or was lighter but it didn’t so, we had to walk through the strong rain. Fortunately, Peggy and I both had umbrella. 

                  We were wet and tired so, we decided to take the taxi. Then we went to the nearest department store called ‘Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’. It was luxury, very luxury maybe too luxury for me and my money in my pocket. Then we had lunch, I tried the Taiwanese food called ‘Luwei’, I thought it was like noodle but my Taiwanese friend said it was not. It’s really easy to eat. These were the steps to eat it:

1. Choose what do you want to eat, there are many things for choosing like fish ball, vegetable, and Taiwanese food which made from rice and chicken blood. Then put them in the dish.

2. Go to cashier and pay for what you’ve chosen

3. Take your dish to the cook, she will flavor and then pour the hot soup for your Luwei.

Then it’s ready to eat.

          

                  After lunch, I bought something for dinner and then my friend and I took taxi back to the hotel.

           

                 Today I tried many things. I thought I like to walk although it’s rain, I like to try although I was tired. So I could say that I selected the route number 6. My own one day tour called One Day Tour, One Day Try.

In the late afternoon, I saw my first blue sky in Kaohsiung :-D

Monthita Chuaythong

iEARN Youth Summit 2011 Diary IV

July 19, 2011

            At 8.15 a.m., I went to National Science and Technology Museum by i-EARN’s bus.  I was rarely went to the museum. In my province, there is no museum. I have ever been to the museum in Bangkok when I was a child, for about 2-3 times. I was very excited that I would go to the museum in Kaohsiung!

            It was very big museum. The first activity I did called Crazy Scientist.

           

        

            Crazy Scientist!

            Crazy? Am I crazy?

            No, it was just an interesting name. However, it was very fun. It could make me crazy to know How? And Why? 

            First activity, we made the shackle hitch iron hoop. The manual which came with the shackle and iron hoop say “the shackle can hitch iron hoop voluntarily” but it wasn’t easy like it say. Many times the hoop fell, the shackle didn’t hitch it. After long puzzling moment, my teammate taught me how to do this and I could do it easily. Although there was no answer of How? and Why? Question, I was glad to know I could do this.

            Next, we worked with the flat balloon, we outstretched it until we couldn’t outstretch it anymore. Then we touched the thigh balloon on the skin above our lip. I could feel the heat of it, it was hot. After that we tried another way, we outstretched it then loosened it and touched on the skin again. This time it was cold, very cold. That surprised me very much. After we finished proving about amazing science experiments with balloon, then we tore the balloon empty handed.

            Was it impossible?

            At first it was but when the staff taught me the right way, I could tear it easily. (in fact it was quite easy) If you want to tear the balloon with empty hand, follow the steps below.

            1. Carry the flat balloon with 2 hands.

            2. Outstretch it, then loosen it quickly.

            3. Repeat step no.2 by all of your strength as fast as you can, do it again and again until the balloon is torn.

            4. If all of these don’t work, you have to try another way. (I’m so sorry for wasting your time ;-()  

            After our balloon was torn, we tried to cut plastic straw, plastic syringe and plastic tube. We could cut them in two parts by using a string and some trick about heat.

            Then we made the toy which has sound like frog’s sound. The toy made of a small piece of card board, a bead, an elastic band and, a yarn.

            When you pull the yarn, it will make sound like frog’s sound. (for me it was the sick frog’s sound :-D)

              I’m always excited about science experiment although I can’t understand it well. I’m student in Arts-Math program and my brain lacks of science skills. (maybe Math, too) So, I could tell you how interesting and exciting the activities was but I couldn’t explain about the theories which the staffs have taught me. Forgive me for that, please. Science is always hard for me. I regard the scientists who create all theories and all innovations in this world very much. I enjoyed all activities there.

            Next activity called Solar Car Racing. The first time I saw the name of activity, I thought I have to race in solar car by myself. In fact, I had to make a little solar car for racing. They gave solar car motor and other accessories such the wheels, the gears, and the axles to me. The motor was the most important part which made the car run. There was a little solar cell on it. When the sunlight shines on it, the motor works. One thing I had to do was decorating the motor with accessories.  I felt like I’m making a car toy. I had to be sure that the accessory I put wouldn’t stop car’s running. 

            When I finished, I went for test and went to racing. We went outside for sunlight. Although it was cloudy today, the motor could work, my car could run. Although it didn’t run well, I was proud. 

            I thought people in Kaohsiung were active to use solar energy very much. They were the good example about saving environment and doing good thing for our world by using renewable energy. That was wonderful!

            After Solar Car Racing was finished, I had lunch and waited for next activity. There was strict garbage separation’ rule there. When I finished lunch, I had to separate my garbage and take it into the right bin. People were active to save this world very much! How great it is!

            Next activity, I was proud to present Treasure Hunting! I could say it was the most favorite activity for me. My team crossed the road to another building of the museum. There was Climate Chang Exhibition there. We learned the knowledge about climate change from the exhibition then our mentor would give the mission to us. After the mission was completed, our mentor would give the stickers to us. We had to collect the stickers to make complete joker’s picture. I thought a picture would be the key for last mission.

            The first mission was about acting. We set the line. The head of the line would receive the secret word from the mentor(Others in the line wouldn’t know). Then he/she signaled that word by acting to the next person. Lastly, the last of the line had to answer the right word. We played 3 rounds, I played 2 of them. The words we signaled were ‘Typhoon’, ‘Tsunami’, and ‘Bicycle’. I thought some of them were hard to act like Typhoon.  The funniest thing of this game was create acting. I had to act like the person who stood before me although I didn’t know what the answer was. We had to trust others and act like them as much as we can for sending the right signal to the last of the line. 

            The second mission was bingo. We had to choose the question from 9 secret cards on the floor and answer it correctly to make it bingo. All of question was about environment. My friends were very smart so we could pass it easily.

            The next mission was about greenhouse gas. We had to answer the question about greenhouse gas by touching the answer on a big touch screen monitor. For my lack of chemistry skill and Chinese (the question on the screen was Chinese) I couldn’t help my friends much. I watched them and cheered.

           

            There were many high-tech tools in this museum. I enjoyed it very much. One of them was the important part of our mission ‘Row the boat’. There was a boat for 4 people and a big screen. The screen shows the view of rower (animation). We had to use our strength (real strength) row the boat to the red flag and answer 4 True or False questions. If you choose wrong answer, you have to start again. I was excited to row this boat very much, it was very high-tech tool which I have never seen before.

            The last mission of Treasure Hunting was telling the idea for saving environment. Then we went to the space where a big screen has. After collected all stickers, we got a picture of joker. There was the empty space at the backside of the picture. We drew the picture or wrote the word in that. Then we put it in scanner and waited until our picture showed on the screen. The tools there were very wonderful!

            The last activity of this day for my team was Dam Design. Taiwan always faces Typhoon. That disaster causes the flood and mudslide. In this activity we would design the dam to protect the village. It was pair work, I matched with Taiwanese friend. The dam was just a model which made from plastic stick and elastic band. After we finished, we had to go to dam contest. There was a little slider so each team (as the mountain’s slope). We had to put the dam in the middle of slider then they would release the marbles from the top of slider for test our dam quality. If my dam could carry many marbles, I could be the winner. That wasn’t possible, my dam could carry only one marble. Another marbles went to the small village. My dam caused flood marbles. It wasn’t a good dam, it was a dam-age.(a little wordplay:-D ) I had to sorry for the villagers. ;-(   

 My friends were setting thier dam

           

                I was very fun today. All knowledge I got, all activity I did, taught me to saving environment and care for our world like the iEARN Youth Summit 2011’s concept, Green Tech, Green Life, Great Era.  

Save environment, save life.

Monthita Chuaythong