Fundraising for the candle festival

On Thursday we spontaneously went along with some of the school kids to collect money for the candle festival which takes place next week. We drove to a huge market area where they were selling fruits I’d never seen before, vegetables, flowers, fish etc. Two boys played the drums; the rest of the kids walked around with bowls and asked the people for money. What surprised and impressed me the most was how giving the people were. Almost everyone gave money without hesitation – the old woman peeling onions, the street cleaner, the fruit seller… People even stopped their cars and motorcycles just to give money! And yet it wasn’t like most of these people had lots of money. Compared to Switzerland, where most people – including me – just ignore the people in town asking for donations for something.

For lunch we stopped at a small restaurant. I had papaya salad – the spiciest food I’ve had until now in Thailand. I thought my mouth would never recover! Luckily most of the food we eat at the school isn’t spicy at all.

When we got back to the school we all helped count the money. I don’t know how much they got, but it looked like a lot. They’ve been doing this all of this week and continue until the candle festival next week, so seven days. The money goes to the school, for school supplies, renovations etc.