To Bangkok with Stories

When my good friend and colleague, Anna Manuel of Heads and Tales Story Services, moved back to Bangkok, we were both disappointed. We worried that distance would put an end to our collaborations. But we held on to the idea that with careful planning we could find a way to continue our adventures if we applied ourselves to the task.

When the Federation of Asian Story Tellers Conference announced they were open to submissions, we saw this as a chance to work together again and to share with others some of the the work that had been exciting us.

The conference was to be in Bengaluru in India but we began work in her school in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Outdoor School Bangkok (OSB) is small and growing. Nestled away from the noisy streets, in an old house surrounded by garden and shaded by a huge mango tree, the OSB values being outside and away for constant air conditioning. Anna works mostly with the youngest students and spends a proportion of time with the older ones.

It’s always a privilege to be made welcome in a school and invited to participate in the program. But to be included so wholeheartedly in place so far away from home, was especially wonderful.

As well as working with stories with the children during class time, we ran a kamishibai workshop for educators.

I’m never entirely sure who has more fun at these workshops, Anna and I or the participants. Once the introductions are over, it seems people just get on with it and are always so inventive and often hilarious. I’m not sure what it is, but kamisbiai storytelling seems to tap into creative brain space like no other.