Our Last Day in Monywa: Wrapping up the Workshop and More Buddhas

After covering all the elements of basic trial advocacy, our two-day workshop ended with us working in small groups with the law teachers on the fact scenario for the upcoming National Mock Trial event in February.

2015 was the first ever national Mock Trial event in Myanmar. BABSEA CLE (Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asian Clinical Legal Education Initiative) put on the event last year, and will do so again this coming year. Preparations are already in full swing. Students will come from almost all of the 18 law schools in the country to participate.

BABSEA CLE collaborates with universities, law students, law faculty, lawyers, government, and justice-related organizational partners to develop clinical legal education and legal clinic programs throughout Asia.

Their mission statement to "provide legal aid services and most importantly help build the next generation of social justice, pro-bono minded champions" looks a lot like the East Bay Community Law Center's dual mission statement of providing desperately-needed free legal services and training the next generation of social justice lawyers. It feels like a good and familiar fit, from the controlled chaos in the office and the familial atmosphere to the unwavering dedication everyone has for the work. I feel very lucky to be a part of this program and have already learned so much.

With the law faculty of Monywa University

After the workshop ended, the Professor Head (the head of the Law Department) brought me and some of my colleagues to a very old paya known to answer prayers. Myanmar is a very religious country. In each town, there is a "paya" or pagoda around every corner it seems; the golden stupas poke up around the surrounding greenery or buildings. For 800 kyat, I bought gold foil, knelt and prayed, and then gave it to the paya staff to affix to the Buddha for me.

Although I'm not religious, and sometimes I wonder if I should be taking part in someone else's religious ceremony, I feel like if I have the right thought in my heart, then it should be okay.

There was also a elephant that if you rubbed its eye and rubbed yours, it would heal your eye; or the same with its brow or its hip. I thought I could use all of the help I could get with the dizzy spells, although honestly, I haven't had one since I arrived in Myanmar. 

Rubbing the elephant's brow for healing properties

Selling Thanaka trees in the monastery

Dried thinly sliced eggplant, also a specialty of the area

Selling thanaka

We wandered around the complex, where they sold different local goods-- many of which are not available in Yangon. The Monywa area is very resource rich. One of the things grown near Monywa are thanaka trees. Women all around the country make a paste by grinding the bark and then they smear it on their cheeks and face as a natural sunblock and moisturizer. It's more common in the countryside, but you also see it in the big cities like Yangon.  

The teachers then brought us shopping. This area is a central trading spot for goods from India, so there are fabrics you can't find elsewhere in Myanmar.

And then one last stop before the bus-- the food stalls at the Night Market!

We were sent off on the night bus with roasted corn and sweet crepes made out of rice flour and filled with shredded fresh coconut. Yum!

Girl with tanaka rubbed on her cheeks preparing coconut crepe