Monday, September 8, 2008

Students awestruck by cleanliness in Thailand

Shillong, Sep 8 : Cleanliness is next to godliness. For Danzil Adrian Mark Kahit and Nada D. Wanbah of St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School in Shillong, the true meaning of the phrase, however, has not come from their textbooks but a trip to Thailand.

Sponsored by the Thai government for a familiarisation trip after being nominated by the Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA), the duo were the first students to visit the Southeast Asian hotspot on an “official invitation”. The association is the organiser of the carnival.

“If there is anything we the people of the state and the entire Northeast can learn from the people of Thailand, it is cleanliness. The roads, streets, houses and the parks are sparkling clean. That is amazing given the sheer number of people in Thailand,” Kahit today said.

They have recently returned to Shillong.
As the chosen cultural ambassadors, the two students will impart lessons to the people on cleanliness at the International Shillong Shopping Carnival under way by giving tips on how not to deface public places.

The Industries and Trade Fair Association of Assam, had nominated the two students for the trip after consultation with the local dorbar (traditional institution), a spokesperson for the association said.

He added the “trip was aimed at strengthening the bonds between the Northeast and Thailand and youngsters have a natural ability to pick up ideas”.

Though the visit of the students was part of an educational tour, they also had a familiarisation at an international cooking school known as Suan Dusit International Cooking School.

“The cooks there taught us how to cook Thai food and it was a good experience. There are many things in common in our food habits which include their preference for traditional boiled or steamed dishes,” Wanbah added.

The students were impressed by the ardent belief of the people in their religion, tradition and culture “which needs to be followed by the people of the Northeast. We are becoming too western”, said the two students who spent a week in Thailand.

Mark said the places they visited include Bangkok, Chitralada and Ayutthaya. At Chitralada, the students were amazed by the thriving cottage industries set up at the project site of Doitung. The project was introduced by the Queen of Thailand to provide employment opportunities to the youths and wean them away from opium.

They will share their experience with the 50 artisans of the Northeast who are taking part in the carnival.

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