Another Day at Ricecamp 2007

Here are some more reactions from the campers:

"I did not get tired in the field practicum; I enjoyed today’s activity more than the former day. I had the chance to drive tractors obtain and some knowledge from each.
Time seemed to pass quickly. I enjoyed every lesson today, from morning to evening. I had lots of fun."

"I am very happy today because I got new experience –driving tractors, accessing the Internet system of IRRI, and entering into a very cold seed storage room. The most exciting part is the interview from BBC because it was my first time. I got a lot of fun and knowledge from the activities today.

I learned about the development in rice production. It started by using animal power, and then changed to mechanization, which helped reduce human and animal labor and made work faster.

I got excited in driving the tractor. At first I thought it was difficult but I found out that it is easy and enjoyable."

"I am very glad to have the chance to plough the rice field with buffalo and to drive a tractor. This was my first experience. At home, I also drive a two-wheeled small tractor.

The Filipino friends talked to me more often. They taught me many things and at the same time, I tell them the things I find interesting.

The resource persons and translators are very kind. I like all of them.

I learned more about rice, how to store seed in the bank, as well as storage temperature and packing."

"The practice in the field is a lot of fun, especially driving the tractor. This is my first experience and I find it very easy.

The Welcome Party was very nice, including the location and environment. I had the chance to chat with the Filipino friends more. It made us more familiar to each other."

"I had a lot of fun today. I drove tractors which I did not expect before. What I liked the most is plowing the field with a buffalo. I also appreciated GRC. It is the place where the rice seeds of the world, which includes Thailand, are being collected.

At present, people pay less attention to small matters. If the small problems are not solved, how can we solve the more significant ones?" (NA-Mahasarakham/Thailand)

"Today is a lot of fun. I liked the field practicum very much because I had the chance to drive tractors and plough rice fields with a buffalo. I also learned how to operate the machines."

"During the 2^nd day of Rice Camp 2007, I had a chance to drive tractors, which are modern technology, and also plough the field with a buffalo. In Thailand at present, plowing land by buffalo is no longer used because modern technologies are being applied. These technologies accomplish more tasks and save time.

I got a lot of fun today out of my new experiences in IRRI. I enjoyed the activities with my Filipino friends. I enjoyed a lot in spite of having difficulty in communication."

"The activities today are so much fun, especially driving tractors. I would like to have such activities everyday."

Rice Camp 2007 - The Pictures

It's amazing how many pictures were shot during Rice Camp 2007. We could almost leave the lights off at night, flashing digital cams were always there. We've put a selection of the massive amount of pictures on the net - check them out!

Rice Camp 2007 Speaks!

From an unnamed RiceCamper:

1. It will be good if the Rice Camp participants will have the chance to learn more about the Internet. Setting up the website in various languages will assist in understanding.

2. I appreciate IRRI for giving us knowledge on modern technology of rice production in order to get high yield, also for letting us realize the importance of farmers who produce rice in order to feed the world. Farming is recognized as an honorable and important career.

Na-Marahasakham from Thailand tell us:

I have attended the Rice Camp on April 23, 2007, which is the first training day. I feel that I have gained a lot of knowledge because the personnel of the Rice Camp, including our teachers, are knowledgeable and have the ability. They advised us about everything and translated English to Thai very well.

The thing that made me very impressed is that I get to study and learn with people who love, take care, and develop rice as much as I do. “The more difficult it is to plant rice, the more difficult to activate and change ideality to grow rice.”

Another unnamed camper says:

1. During first day, it seems like the third day, because I have just arrived and I am not yet familiar with the condition.
2. I am excited with the computer room and interested to learn the computer but I feel disappointed for not having the chance to do so.
3. I enjoyed the activity of changing the culture between two countries.

Here's another reaction:

1. The Filipinos are friendly, talkative, and give good advices.
2. Lecturers, teachers (including translators) give good explanations. All participants can understand well.

From a Thai camper:

1. The Filipinos are friendly. In spite of having difficulty in language understanding, we were able to make friends with them.
2. I appreciated the scholars of IRRI and UPLB for giving us knowledge and for doing the translation to Thai language.
3. I appreciated the Filipinos and teachers for giving me knowledge about rice and cultural exchange.
4. I also appreciated Dr. Kwanchai and Ms. Ngamchuen for translating English to Thai and for taking care of us. I am glad to have this chance of joining the Rice Camp.

And someone else from the Thai group said:

1. The Filipinos are friendly in spite of having difficulty in understanding languages.
2. All the resource persons are knowledgeable and very good. Sometimes I get bored; sometimes I enjoyed.

Another reaction:

1. The participants of the Rice Camp learned and exchanged information about culture of family, foods, tourism, locations, and sports with the Filipinos.
2. We, who join the Rice Camp 2007, learned about IRRI as well as the works of the resource persons.

Here's what someone else told us:

1. I would like to say that the Filipinos were talkative and friendly.
2. IRRI was a good source of learning and providing new knowledge.
3. I think that IRRI encouraged me to study more.
4. IRRI was a new thing for me.
5. I would like to tell everyone that if they have a chance to visit IRRI, please do so.

And this is one more of the reactions that we received:

1. I wasn’t able to maximize my learning because sometimes I could not understand the English language.
2. I had new friends and it was so funny.
3. I learned about different cultures.