Bye SOLD Team 1, Hello BKK

Tuesday was goodbye day. We sent off Aaron, Anthony, John, Heather, and Alex. It didn't feel like we had spent 3 weeks together although we definitely feel like we have experienced a lot as a group- sharing highs and lows, working to better understand the aspects of child prostitution, abuse, prevention, and all the layers that go along with this issue. We are excited to see what the next step is for everyone as we head back to the states and after experiencing what we have, can no longer push it aside.

Now we are in Bangkok and will be working with New Beginnings for the next few days. New Beginnings provides a home, health care, and education for women who have been prostitutes. They also teach English during the day to women who work in the red light districts as a form of outreach. We sat down and talked to Bonita, the founder of the organization, and Lena, a Thai staff who helps run the organization and to make sure that the culture is preserved in the work that they do. Today was intense as we listened to Bonita pour out information about the sex trade, specifically in South East Asia and the districts that we will be working in. We learned so much today about the different levels of the trade, and many other layers that we hadn't heard of before. As women, we will be able to go to the pool (snooker) and beer bars and talk to the ladies, however, the guys will be doing work projects in order to protect themselves- it doesn't matter how pure your intentions are, being submersed in this environment is not a wise idea for men. This is not to say that it won't be difficult emotionally for us women as well- we have been warned of the need to care for ourselves emotionally. Our eyes were opened today and our hearts are heavy as we chew on this information that we have been given.