May's diary

My diary

I live with my British parents who are adopting me. My favourite hobby is horse riding and I belong to the British Pony Club here in Thailand. I am the only deaf child in Thailand to have passed the British Pony Club “D” Test, so I am very proud of that.

I get up at 5.45 a.m. and we leave the house at 6.10 a.m. and Mum drives me to meet the school car for 6.30 a.m. I travel to a Government school for deaf children with several other deaf children. The journey to school takes about 45 minutes and the distance is about 40 km.

School starts at 07.50 with a ceremony in which we swear alliance to the King of Thailand and the raising of the Thai flag. We then all sign the National Anthem.

I wear school uniform, but I wear a different type each day! On Monday I wear sports kit, Tuesday is regular uniform of white blouse and navy pleated skirt, Wednesday sees me in Scout uniform, Thursday is a navy skirt with a flowery blouse and Friday is regular uniform again.

My favourite subjects are Art and English and my least favourite is Maths.

At lunchtime the school gives us traditional Thai food such as fried rice, noodle soup or spicy papaya salad.

I play volleyball with my friends at school, I tried basketball but I did not enjoy it. I am in a class of 40 children, so I have to concentrate and not allow myself to be distracted.

My school day ends at 3.30 p.m. but I have to wait for the car until 5.00 p.m. whilst waiting I practise extra signing and reading and writing, and sometimes we have sporting activities. I meet Mum at 5.45 and we get home around 6.10. I go and play with my friends in our village sometimes but in the rainy season I cannot. I shower, do my homework and eat my supper.

After that I like to read books or sometimes watch a little television. I go to bed at 7.30 and read until I fall asleep, usually within 5 minutes.