YA LEUM.1 — Kewarin, the shovel and the dream
Three weeks after my departure from Amsterdam I heard about Kewarin, a girl who was building a school on her own.
She was based in Lamphun, her hometown — a region in the North of Thailand, close to Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai and Bangkok are a delight for tourists — vibrant in their own way, decorated with bamboos, paper lamps and loud colors.
But Lamphun was my first real stop in the countryside, with my friend of Madalena. A countryside full of peace, rousing greens, temples and its locals.
When we heard about Kewarin, we connected with her and planned all the details to meet her.
We arrived in the city of Lamphun at midday from Chiang Mai and hopped on in a blue songthaew that recognizes imaginary bus stops along the way.
Kewarin told us they know where to stop. It’s like they know stuff. So, we showed our character writing attempt and hopped off in front of the imaginary bus stop.
She was right. They know stuff.
And she was there, smiling from her soul, waiting for us. That was my first real thai smile.
We jumped on her simple car and drove along the movie scene fields until her cute little town.
Kewarin had returned recently from her travels, either for teaching, meditation or volunteering.
Back home she realized the circle of life around her. Her one-day-old niece, the 90 years old aunty and still aging, the sick grandmother almost passing away…all this set her thinking about how to help people without expecting something in return.
She decided then with her skills and determination to build a school for the kids who won’t have access to further education.
She knew about teaching English, but not about house construction. She learnt by asking people.
Kewarin wasn’t exactly the strongest, richest woman I met. On the contrary, she was petite like me, but with a determination never seen before.
Her days weren’t easy. Everyday, at 6am, after the offerings, she would get ready for the mud.
Blazing sun every day, between bricks and coconuts, slowly, alone and patiently she was building the dream she envisioned one day for her village.
Me, Madalena and Johanna tried to pick it up as best as we could, but the European blood couldn’t beat the fierce Asian sweat.
The three of us had an immediate connection: we shared a temporary sleeping house and organized ourselves between bucket showers and clay bricks.Talked about the adventures and misfortunes of female travelers. And shouted at each other to watch the sun setting off the dusk.
In the mornings, Kewarin used to lit a candle, burn incense and offer a fruit or a flower to an image of the Buddha. Whilst, we quickly got ready to join her by the school to all start working.
She moves softly following all her body structure; and when her mouth opens, it always utters gentle words sharing desires for her people.
She has seen more than them. She has touched and felt how the world can be. Kewarin wished deeply to give that same taste to them.
After traveling around many countries, Kewarin returned home and asked her father how he could help, to which he replied ‘I can give you the land in front of the house, but you have to work on that field by yourself’.
I don’t need to say she didn’t have a lot of resources to make it happen, only a tiny budget for the raw material. Her gentle look would never tell you how strong she is. Alone or accompanied, she would wake up every morning to build the school.
Digging up the soil with a shovel, grinding it into a paste; then mixing the ground clay soil with water and straw;threading the mixture with the feet, putting the mixture onto a ladder to get the brick form; removing the ladder and leaving it to dry under the sun.
Also everyday, Kewarin would get us a coconut directly from the tree to quench our thirst. Then we and our artisan hats would sit in shade of the most wisdom tree of the barnyard.
In that precise moment of time, no shovels, bricks or effortless attire would contrast with four ladies, giggling their youth, tanning their cheeks while sipping from the most desired fruit.
Short after, we left to continue our travels, Johanna, a brave solo traveler traveling the world for 2 years, myself and Madalena continued up North Thailand.
And Kewarin, back to the dream and belief that those kids can be bigger than their context and …She can be their drive.
#YALEUM
#IDONTFORGET
