Prior to coming to Thailand, I contacted some people through helpx.net because I wanted to try volunteer work so I can be useful while I’m traveling. I chose the Canadian and Thai couple Patrick Waters and Yanat “Nong” Wauters. Patrick is starting a french learning center called youtopia. He wants volunteers to help him so he can save money. There was a Chinese young man who was there a day before I arrived and he was there through couchsurfing. I felt bad for him because Patrick was giving him too much drawers and cabinet doors to paint. Patrick knocked on my door at 8AM! He woke me up while he was preparing breakfast and said we have to start early because we were not on vacation! What the hell! I was up until 2AM dealing with some personal problems in the Philippines so it pissed me off when he woke me up! Patrick and I started at 9AM. He was teaching me on what he needs me to do on the computer but before I even start one task he was instructing me to do another thing already. We went on for literally four hours like that and I got nothing done. His head was just all over the place. He made us feel that we gotta work our ass since he was giving us accommodation and breakfast!

Justin and I decided to leave the next day because of Patrick. His wife knows his attitude and she was not involving herself on the business. She understood why we had to leave and supported us. We got along really well with Nong. She took us to the market, we had lunch and cooked dinner before we left.

Nong wanted me to stay with her during the weekend since she’ll be home but as much as I wanted to, I had to leave because it was awkward having Patrick around and he was really showing bad attitude.

Patrick will go with his wife to monastery next month for 10 days. I hope that will help him clear his mind because he seriously needs help. Anyway, that was my first volunteer experience!

I got in touch with a Thai girl I met in Singapore about 3 months ago. She’s currently in Chiang Rai so I went and took a bus from Chiang Mai to her place. 🙂

Uncategorized chiang mai chiang rai helpx.net patrick wauters thailand yanat wauters