Resolutions and Revelations: December 2012

Recently, our language-learning coordinator told us it was time to put our language skills to the test by traveling outside of our city for a short trip.

From time to time we come across people who can speak a little English, especially among the foreigner population living here in what used to be the capital city. So it’s encouraged for us to travel outside the city to some place where it is absolutely essential to communicate using only the local language as a way of sharpening and increasing our speaking skills.

There’s another husband and wife who are learning language with us where we live. Both of the husbands teach English at the same school and we enjoy their company and spending time together. The other couple also has two daughters, so in the interest of keeping the children at home, we decided to split up our out-of-the-city trips with the wives going on one trip followed by the husbands thereafter. We didn’t want our girls to miss any school during this crucial time right before end of the semester exams, and separate trips also allowed one parent to be able to stay home with them.

When my friend and I started looking at places to visit we decided that we wanted to find somewhere that wasn’t too far away. A shorter bus ride, as opposed to a longer one, is obviously more preferable. We also wanted to visit a place where the weather would be pleasant and there would be outdoor activities for us. I asked a few local friends for their suggestions of where to go and the answer was unanimous: Chaung Tha.

Unbeknownst to me prior to our trip, this country is apparently known for its beautiful beaches and there were several to choose from.

We were told that Chaung Tha is were the locals go to see the Indian Ocean and that the other places were more touristy.

Chaung Tha was also only a six-hour bus ride away. Every other place would be fourteen hours or more.

Chaung Tha it was!

We departed our city on a Monday night arriving in Chaung Tha at 4:00 a.m. the next morning. It was dark outside and we were barely awake when we were dropped off at our hotel where we were thankfully able to go ahead and check in. We went straight to bed for a few hours.

When we awoke a little later, my friend and I were astonished and pleasantly surprised at the view before us.

“I must be dreaming,” I thought as I went off in search for a cup of coffee.

We were staying at a little cabana right on the beach surrounded by palm trees and lush greenery. The water was a beautiful turquoise blue and crystal clear. The sand felt like crushed velvet beneath my feet.

I’ve been to a lot of beaches in my life. Everywhere from Florida to California and other hot spots around the world, but this place topped them all.

Maybe it was because this place was not marred with commercialism or sprawling hotels. Instead, there is a small fishing village of locals living right on the water. When I asked, I found out the population of this place was less than 5,000 – almost unheard of for anyplace in Southeast Asia where dense populations are the norm.

To me, Chaung Tha could only be compared to a valuable jewel hidden away in a secret place. I almost was hesitant to write a blog about it because I want to keep this charming place a secret. Once word gets out about the beauty and ambience of this quiet hide-away, it too will soon be crawling with tourists.

We were able to practice our language all week. We learned some new vocabulary and we made lots of new friends. They couldn’t believe it when two white women were in their midst speaking their language. Crowds of people would inevitably hover around us, anxious to meet the Americans and ask us questions about life in the Western world.

There’s no internet in this place. In fact they only have electricity from 6:00 p.m. at night to 6:00 a.m. the next morning and a couple hours in the afternoon. The people living here are largely isolated from the rest of the world.

We held babies and sang songs with the children while we talked with the moms about their lives. When the men returned from their fishing, they taught us, well they tried to teach us, how to kick around a chin-lone ball.

We also explored and discovered vastly secluded beaches dotted with small bamboo homes and farms along the coast.

It was time of language learning, but it was also a chance to slow down and spend quality time connecting with the people in this area.

We shared Father’s love with all we met, many of whom had never even heard the name of J.C.

It was hard to leave knowing there is no one in this place to continue teaching and leading lost sheep back to their Shepherd.

It’s one of those remote places that is yet to be reached. And while we were there mainly to practice language, it was a great reminder of task that is given to all of us who call ourselves followers. We are called to share – everywhere.

After you see my pictures, I bet you’ll be anxious to go share in this place too!