After arriving at the airport and being picked up by the PREM staff, we took a 45 minute bus ride to the center.  The rooms are clean and very spacious.  After settling in at about 11 pm, the students tucked in right away knowing they had to be down for breakfast before 7 am!

Breakfast was a nice buffet and everyone seemed to find something to eat.  After breakfast, one team went off to the elephant park to care for some rescued elephants while the other group was taken to the PREM farm.

At the farm are acres and acres of organically grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and even pigs and chickens.  We were able to try different herbs and picked most of the ingredients we were going to use in our lunch.

After filling a basket with fresh, organic ingredients, we went to the cooking shelter.  Students were shown how to cook each dish and then went to their stations in pairs to try it themselves.  On the menu was stuffed tofu soup, brown rice with a stir fry and a sweet sticky rice mango dessert.  We cooked, ate and cleaned and the students were delightfully surprised at how well everything turned out and how good things taste when they’re so fresh.

We will be meeting up with the group who visited the elephant park to swap stories and go to the night bazaar together for some local food and shopping.

The weather is very hot, but dry, so the students are adjusting well.  The PREM staff is very careful about providing lots of cool water and making sure the kids are taking hydration breaks.

All is well.

PS
The computer I am using is having technical difficulties, so unfortunately I can’t upload any pictures today.  We will try again tomorrow.