Latex Processing and Orphanage Visit at Songkhla

We started the day visiting one of Beam's brother's latex processing plant. It is highly labor intensive in these early stages. Workers get up at 3:00 a.m. to tap the tree. The latex flows in the coolness of the evening and stops when he morning heats up. After the small containers are full they are emptied into pails, then small barrels, the hauled by small trucks to be weighed and poured into holding tanks. The latex is too concentrated, so it is mixed with water in long tanks and metal plates are inserted to form 1 inch thick sheets which set up in about 8 hours.

The plates are removed, sheets pressed though rollers to squeeze out excess water. The sheets are then hung to dry outside and moved into large storage sheds until completely "cured" and hauled to the exporter.

All of the workers and their families live in large, older homes which are much nicer than most we have seen. It is clear that Beam's brothers provide better living conditions than many of the plantation owners.

Forgive my musing here, but as a kid growing up on a small Wisconsin farm, and attending a small local college I could never imagine the extent of cultures I would have an opportunity to experience: Walking in Red Square and touring the Kremlin in Moscow; Meeting Mateo's family and touring Italy; Seeing the rubber plantations and processing, and best of all making lifetime world wide friendships. This certainly gives both of us a yearning for "more."

Later we went to a "Sam's Club" type warehouse and bought milk and rice for the orphanage in Songkhla. Christ Episcopal Church donated money and we were the "vehicles" for delivery. The orphanage itself is extremely neat, clean and well maintained. There are about 180 children there. We were a bit disappointed that our contact with the children was limited. Pictures of them were not allowed for "safety" reasons. We were allowed to watch the "two and under" as they were waking up from naps. I saw 2 workers in the home of 30, but there could have very well been more out of sight.

The school age children were at the public schools. There were a few 5-7 year olds that were there that we were allowed to talk to. I swung one boy in circles which he dearly loved and he didn't want to let me leave.

There is no doubt that these children have living facilities far safer and nicer than many regular kids. I don't know what would be in store for these children without this facility for them. The

one "unknown" is how much their emotional needs are being met. Holding and "loving" the kids is probably limited. Americans (and hopefully others) have adopted some of them, but I don't know how much that is promoted. It is a good place and the kindness of the Thai culture is evident.

One interesting custom; many people donate or contribute to the needy on their birthday. It is an act of kindness they do to honor those less fortunate. I get the feeling that birthday gifts aren't that common, possibly only between very good friends or family, and even then nothing elaborate.

Tonight we will go to a wedding party in Hat Yai, and beam will tell us nothing. She wants us to be surprised so we are curious. More on that to follow.