Auld Lang Syne from Say Ta Nar

Just listen to Say Ta Nar singing Auld Lang Syne! We couldn`t believe it but just loved the sentiment. Our final day at school had arrived and we were all feeling quite emotional. This had been such an intense week full of great learning experiences but had been mainly about building friendships and linking two great schools.

Two artists will be working with the children , one here in Mae Sot and the other in Edinburgh on a joint project involving etchings and printing. These will be made up into a book that will be available for all to share . The Burmese artist came along this morning to work with the children at Say Ta Nar telling them an imaginative story about a chair in Edinburgh made of Burmese wood and then each child chose from a selection of Burmese photographs to etch and write about . Some of their stories are poignant as well as inspiring and the childen concentrated hard on the etching which is not an easy task. Watch out Pirniehall it will be our turn in September! Hle Bee children had been working with the talented artist the day before and Sheila, Fiona and Murray came along with the printing materials and to share in the experience. Their school was closed for the Bhudda holiday but Say Ta Nar is mainly Muslim so the school was open. We got to see some of the celebrations as they passed the school

Hard at work on the etchings

Pho Cho and I sat down at his computer and drew up our mutual agreement on our next steps for joint curricular work which we both signed and each have a copy of. Pho Cho agreed to speaking to Pirniehall staff on video and I look forward to sharing his message with everyone in the new session.

Headteachers sign their agreements

A glimpse of Bhudda Day celebrations

The children handed the cameras back in and I will develop them in Scotland and send them their copy of the finished posters to match ours. Both schools can then display them. We had a lovely afternoon singing, playing games and had a chance to watch Pho Cho`s message to Pirniehall on television. Everyone sat watching mesmerised and bemused.

The children were engrossed playing the dominoes we brought.

Alan had scoured the shops for 110 types of different treats for the children. He had to wait for over an hour in one shop as the staff ran round other stores finding the right amount. But the children really enjoyed the end result.

Goodbye teacher, see you tomorrow

Kindergarten waiting patiently for the bus home...our final view as children head home.

Farewell notes particularly for Lewis and Calum

Final cycle ride...where did they all disappear to?

Come on mum...where are you? We handed our bikes back ages ago

A fond farewell to Say Ta Nar for this year. The children and staff made our visit memorable. I`m glad this has been a shared family experience as we will all be able to look back with great memories and talk together about these special children. Huge thanks to Alan for videoing and being the organiser/events manager/guide around Mae Sot and Lewis and Calum for taking all the photographs/videoing/being in school every day/sharing with and learning from the children. They both have a school full of friends (some wanted to come home with them!)

We now head off to Krabi island and Bangkok to complete our time in Thailand. We will leave Mae Sot at 7.00am and arrive at Krabi for 10.00pm...I`m sure Alan gets special rates with `Marathon Holidays`. We will have travelled by Tuk Tuk, long haul bus, taxi , plane, minibus and longtail boat (only access to Railey from mainland) in one day before we arrive at our hotel.

Nothing will compare to the special time we have just shared with our Burmese friends and we look forward to our ongoing friendship.

Here is a sobering link to You Tube which gives valuable background information about Aung San Suu Kyi , leader of theNational League For Demcracy, who is under permanent house arrest in Burma and helps us keep focused on the terrible loss of human rights that exist for the Burmese people.

Her simple message to us all is `Please use your liberty to promote ours`

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=n4xdlxYs5r0