MSppa goes camping on the border/ part 2

Closing ceremony or no training is complete w/out same:

They took hundreds of photos; they took portraits of each other; they wrote an 'artist statement', they edited their work down to 3 images for each student; we printed out 4 x 6 inch work prints; they gave them titles and arranged them as for an exhibition. So now it's time for the 'closing ceremony'. We sit with Sally Wah and plan the menu: fish, french fries, chicken, oranges, soda pop, beer, and several plastic bags of local rice wine. She and Htoo Gay then go shopping; the ceremony/party is planned for Wednesday, January 23, 4 pm. This is so we can leave early early Thursday, get back to Mae Sot, shower and take night bus to Bangkok to pick up famous artist in residence Wayne Boucher. There is much bustling and singing going on while Nat and I pack.

At 4 pm, our students gather, along with the school administrator, a couple of teachers, and a camp honcho. Htoo Gay leads off by thanking the camp for letting us come and apologizing for the noise we made (noise ?), maybe it got lost in translation, then 2 of our students speak on behalf of KYO, then school administrator, then there is a lovely song, and then we are commanded to stand up and speak: 5 minutes each! We manage to spout something and then we are presented with Karen bags and wooly leis, made of short pieces of wool, which are a symbol of respect, gratitude, celebration, congratulations. So endeth the formal portion of the evening. Food, ice, and drink appear and pretty soon we are all feeling very happy. Too soon it's 6 am and Sally Wah is hustling us down the ladder and along the path to the river. As always we are accompanied by many young people who carry all our stuff. It is very foggy this morning and at one point Nat and I realize that we are ALONE, no one in sight, for the first time in 10 days. Not for long, though, as Phaw Phaw has been sent back to make sure we don't get lost. We make it down the river in one very low riding boat, back to the truck and Mae Sot. Sally says the first thing she is going to do is get on her motorbike go to the shop and buy potato chips and Coke. As for me, I head for a hot shower.