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4 - THE PORT PERRY STAR, Wednesday, October 10, 2001 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Spending five months overseas Lending a helping hand in Thailand By Chris Hall Port Perry Star In a matter of only two weeks Emma Marshall's plans for next spring were changed in a big way. Instead of finishing off her last year of classes at Port Perry High School, 18-year-old Emma has chosen to spend five months overseas in Thailand through the Global Education program. Tentative plans call for the Blackstock native to board a plane in early February for Asia, where she'll stay until the end of June. There, she'll keep busy working in a variety of communi- ty service programs and travel- ling through the Thai country- side. "I saw the posters in school and I talked to my teachers about it," Emma said of the co-op pro- gram, which is based out of Caledon. "We put a call into Global Education and they came to see us and we talked about the program and the process and how things are done." Working together with her par- ents, representatives quickly interviewed Emma at her home late last June and a week later she was accepted as one of the I5 students from Southern Ontario who will make the trip next year to Asia. While no firm dates are set as of yet, early plans call for Emma to begin her journey on Feb. 2 and return home on june 30. Her flight from Toronto to Bangkok is expected to take up to 35 hours, including 24 hours in the air and the remainder of the time tied up in stopovers and customs. Once in Thailand, the Canadian group will stay in Bangkok for as many as three days, visiting such tourists sites as the country's palace, temples and markets. From there, they'll jump aboard a train which will take them to Chiangma. They'll stay at the university there for a week before trekking into the moun- tains and setting up camp at trib- al villages for another week to help build a school. After that adventure, the group will make their way to northwestern Thailand, where they'll meet their host families, whom they will stay with until the end of the co-op. Each student will also participate in two co-op placements. "We'll meet our host families, but we'll each be staying in dif- ferent towns," said Emma. "We'll each have to learn to speak Thai and work in different co-op placements." Among those to choose from include helping out in an orphan- age, teaching prostitution pre- vention, volunteering in rural hospitals, and helping out with architectural and development projects. As well, each Canadian will be required to teach English in area schools for eight weeks. Emma hopes to either work in an orphanage or lend a hand with local development projects, although each student will not find out where they're staying and working until December. "This way V'll be able to see for myself what the world is like and be able to help out in my own way. I'll be able to feel satisfied with what I've done." and be able to help out in my own way. I'll be able to feel satis- fied with what I've done." As for selecting Thailand as her destination, Emma offered a simple explanation. "That's where (the program) is. They go to Thailand every year. The people there open their hearts and homes to people from the West. We're sheltered from danger here, but lots of horrible things go on over there. It's a beautiful country, and the people there deal with their problems," she said. "It should be a lot of fun, wher- evel | go," she said. "We'll be teaching English in schools in dif- ferent villages for Grades 1 to 12. Depending on the school, we could teach four or five classes and a couple hundred students each day." As for her own future, Emma plans on continuing her educa- tion at the post-secondary level next fall, but is still unsure what field she wants to pursue. Among those under considera- tion are a career in broadcasting, linguistics or international development. She has also shortlisted her school choices to Guelph University, the University of Toronto or the University of Victoria. But, until those final decisions have to made, Emma plans on enjoying her time abroad. "It'll look good on my transcript, but really this is a chance to get away from every- thing. Greed is tak- ing over people here and nobody really understands how poor people live; disease and famine are hin- dering the world," she said. "This way [I'll be able to see for myself what the world is like However, lending a helping hand to the Thai people and learning their language and culture won't come cheap. "I'm definitely looking for support from the community and local businesses," says Emma, who will have to dig up close to $6,500 to take part. "My parents have been very supportive -- they want me to go -- but my friends were shocked and some other people in my family are worried about me going, but I'm really looking forward to this. it should be a really great trip." Anyone who wishes to support Emma Marshall on her endeavour can do so by reaching her at home by calling 905-986-1077. Blackstock's Emma Marshall, 18, will be heading overseas to Thailand next February to take part in the Global Education co-op program. Yd x}