Wednesday was the end of our clinical experience here in Thailand. And, wow, was it powerful. Even though we had been exhausted from our travels in Chiang Mai, we went to Sirindtorn at 8:00 AM. This time, all 12 us, plus Karn, Note and Dr. Register met in a room with the eccentric Susan Dustin we met previously. Together we planned a session for the older adults in day care combining laughter yoga with music therapy. Dr. Register showed us a great example of working with another therapist to achieve the same goals by collaborating. We combined principles of the laughter yoga with rhythm activities, and then stitched in songs here and there that were relevant.
When the time of the session rolled around, we filed into the room and spread ourselves amongst the elderly Thai people. We began with some breathing exercises, and transitioned into the laughter exercises that Susan is so good at leading. Many of the adults were already engaged in the activity. One gentlemen had no use of his left hand, and so he clapped his right hand with my left instead. Everyone was engaged with a client and we moved around as was necessary to facilitate the session we planned. When singing "Rok Fun Pai," the man who had his break through moment last week said "I am very happy!" Another huge accomplishment for someone who has been labeled as non-verbal. The lady who is partially blind, and has little motor skills was able to shake a shaker with amazing variability. Another client who is normally shy as can be opened up when we all spoke in gibberish (another technique in laughter yoga) because there were no expectations for specific words. There was also an amazing moment when we danced to a Thai song and Note busted out dancing like a pro. The fifteen year old who at the beginning of the trip said very little words is secretly a super star.
At the end of the session, Susan did her "secret" activity, which we knew would happen but not what it would be. She had all the students sit on the floor in the center of the room as the older adults sat in their wheel chairs around us. She told us to laugh like babies do, and then the older adults would be our parents and take care of us. By doing this she completely flipped the situation. Instead of being the therapists caring for the adults who had their freedom taken away, we were now the helpless individuals.
"This is how they feel everyday."
Amazing to experience, just for a slight moment, a new perspective. This room of Thais were once individuals who had freedom and independence. A successful business man now has to have assistance in everything he does. As we sat there dwelling on this idea, the caregivers who were present said that they wanted us to sing a song. Karn accompanied them as they sang us a Thai song about encouragement. Susan translated the words for us, and by the end of the song most of us were in tears. All the older adults who could speak said "I love you" to all the U.S. students, and we wai'd them and thanked them for their time as we left the session.
After the session we were able to process together over the most delicious fried rice I have ever had. Karn was kind enough to arrange for us to have lunch at the hospital with Susan. Immediately after we went to Ban Fung Fa to do a session with children with cerebral palsy.
Crowded inside a physical therapy room the U.S. students along with five Thai students were spread between about forty children. Haley led the session and we sang children songs and did sensory activities. This particular group had a less severe case of CP when compared with the first group we saw. The children laughed and played, and the session ran smoothly. The most adorable boy was extremely amazed by the scarf I gave to him, and then playing peek-a-boo with it made him laugh so hard I thought he might fall over. That session ran for an hour and a half... by the end my throat was sore from singing so much!
After going to Ban Fung Fa the second time, and the session we had in the morning, we were all emotionally drained. Back at the university we were able to have some down time. I am almost grateful that we got kicked off the university wifi, because if we hadn't I probably would have been on the internet instead of hanging out with the Thai students. Some of my favorite moments here in Thailand have been hanging out with the Thai students in the music therapy closet.
First we watched music videos of Link, because he's famous! in 2011 he won the Thai version of the Voice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0tnPfy6UAo) and now I can say I'm friends with a celebrity! Granted, he was very embarrassed that we were watching these videos. Then we played jenga, our favorite pass time at the music therapy office!
Afterwards, we had a dance party in the office and jammed out to American pop music. Yoshi also has some crazy dance moves, but really Note takes the cake. Karn had to come tell us to stop dancing so we could go out to dinner. We gathered at Mamma Mia, an Italian restaurant close to the University. The dinner was absolutely delicious, and the company even better!
After a crazy last day of clinicals it was nice to relax and enjoy some food that was close to home. I have loved getting to know all these awesome people!
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