Page 33 - หนังสือที่ระลึกงานพระราชทานเพลิงศพหม่อมดุษฎี บริพัตร ณ อยุธยา
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My first meeting with Mom was in 1989. I was sent to Thailand by the Israeli Foreign Ministry to teach a workshop on creativity and education for young children. That was my first meeting with Thailand and with Mom. Our meeting was very experiential and powerful and we both understood immediately that we had a similar way of thinking. The subject of introducing art, music and dance at a young age spoke to Mom’s heart. Mom believed in the power of art to teach the children about their world and allow them to express their feelings. At the end of the workshop, Mom offered me to work in cooperation with her in the future. The cooperation between us brought about a special relationship, based on our mutual professional interest that with the years became a very close and personal relationship.
Since then, I have been coming to Thailand every year to teach and Mom took part in conducting, leading and translating the workshops. She adapted the material from the workshops and taught it in countless kindergartens and schools throughout Thailand.
Mom succeeded to create a productive connection between our ideas, introduce it to the Thai educators and adapt them to the Thai culture that was so important and dear to her. Her life mission seemed to be to provide the children with the joy of learning and the creative experience. She never tiered for a moment and would visit kindergartens in cities and villages all over Thailand, assembling educators, instructing and teaching them. Her whole life was dedicated to this.
We met each year, for 26 years, each time at a different place in Thailand. I found in Mom a teacher for life. In her great wisdom, her vast knowledge and ability to know and understand the subtleness in people, Mom provided me with insights and enriched my life. Her vast knowledge of Thailand’s history and culture brought me closer and closer to the Thai people. I have an enormous love for this country and its dear people.
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