Swear-In, Moving to Site, and Son Kran

Pictured at swear-in with Thai friends

‘We stood up as trainees and we sat down as volunteers’

Swear-In and Counterpart Conference

Greetings from Isssssan! Since my last entry, I have sworn-in and can now call myself an official Peace Corps Volunteer. Swear-in entails a standardized procedure that takes place once Trainees pass training competencies and prove themselves ready and able to serve as Volunteers. It is an affirmation—more than anything—which all Volunteers in all countries go through. It is comparable to civil servants taking an oath before witnesses to testify their commitment and aptitude to serve (like when Senators take an oath before Congress). Usually, the United States Ambassador to the respective country of Service will perform the swear-in—such was the case for our swear-in.

Also in attendance at our swear-in were our site supervisor-counterparts. Attending the swear-in was a good opportunity for supervisor counterparts to see Volunteers affirm commitment to service. Before the swear-in, all Volunteers met with their supervisor counterparts and attended a counterpart conference. Supervisor Counterparts are those individual who have elected to be site supervisors and are responsible at the sub-district office to—in a way—oversee the Volunteer’s work. Part of being a counterpart can also entail working as colleagues and co-facilitators along side the Volunteers. Actually, volunteers are expected to have many ‘field’ counterparts that fulfill the later as they move to site and develop relationships with people.

Being at the conference made me realize that some counterparts are more willing and enthusiastic than others to work with Volunteers. Luckily, my counterpart is excited to work with me and we have similar viewpoints. It was exciting to get to know each other better and talk about the many projects we were both eager to get started on at site. Together we formulated a 6-month ‘action’ plan consisting of detailed activities and possible projects.

Moving to site during Son Kran

Immediately following swear-in, I said goodbye to all my fellow trainees and training staff and departed to site with my counterpart. 6 hours later I was a world away from training and swear-in and all the things I had come to know at my training site. Moving to site is a time of great change, excitement, trial, and acclimation. I don’t think being away from my training group has fully hit me yet. I feel more like I am on vacation especially because it is currently a time of excitement and celebration—definitely not the norm for daily endeavors. I can honestly say that I have paused my ‘regularly-programmed’ activities in lieu of it being in the midst of Son Kran—the Thai New Year.

It is the hottest time of year coupled with arguably the happiest time of year. I had mentioned in my last entry that on April 13 (Son Kran) the year in the Buddhist calander would change to 2553. Now I stand corrected. Today I learned that some time ago, the official change date was altered to match that of the Western Calendar—on January 1. So, technically the year should be changing to 2552 but instead of having it in April, it already occurred in January. Kao jai mai ka? Translation: Do you understand? I get that a lot!

Well actually the fun part about Son Kran is what you really want to know, right? It is a water splashing, family gatherings, making merit, dance your socks off (but not really because it’s too hot to wear socks), rip-roaring good time! Everyone comes home for Son Kran like when people come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas in the States. In the province where I live, many young adults migrate to Bangkok or Udon to find work or go to school. So since people have come back for Son Kran to be with their families, the population of my district has more than doubled. It is also customary during Son Kran to celebrate by splashing and throwing water, which signifies ‘cleansing’ off the old year and entering anew fresh and clean. This custom is one of the most unique and central activities of Son Kran. People often gather in big groups in the back of pick-ups, at their houses, or alongside roads and splash water on passer-bys while wishing a Happy New Year. Inevitably, I participated and thoroughly enjoyed getting drenched all the while returning the favor in the hot sun. It has been a nice change from the rigid and stressful life of a trainee!

Another important activity of Son Kran is making a special merit/ offering at the temple and receiving a New Year Blessing. Relating to this is making an offering to an elderly person in the family or community and receiving a blessing from them. I encountered this with my host family yesterday while at a large family gathering. I had the opportunity to make an offering to my host grandmother and receive a blessing from her. She did this by pouring flower-scented water on me and brush a flower branch over my forehead while saying a blessing. It was an extraordinary experience.