At least once a week, all of the teacher trainees must participate in karma yoga, an act of selfless service for the good of others in the community. This week our mission is to collect garbage washed up on the beach. I am paired up with Kim from Vietnam, Judy from Hong Kong, Carmen from San Fransisco, and Marie from England. We take a huge black bag and start combing the shore. Although Koh Sumai’s beaches are beautiful, even pristine looking, it’s not difficult to find garbage considering the amount of it disposed into our oceans.
We uncover all kinds of disturbing debris, mostly constructed out of plastic in the form of snack bags, bottles, and other commonly disposable household items. Despite the disturbing nature of our work, we make it fun and enjoyable. I even have the chance to work on my tan! It is quite a bonding experience, a wonderful icebreaker to make new friends. We laugh, share stories and speak as though we have known each other for years. Within an hour, we have a full bag of garbage, a much cleaner beach, and a feeling of goodness in our hearts. I have also made connections with girls to spend my time with here over the next month and hopefully to continue long after that! :)
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