Little Buddha

While not what comes to mind when most parents send their kids away during the summer, these families from all over Virginia chose to have their sons learn about their Thai culture and Buddhism. Instead of camping, if for only one week, boys from ages 8 to 15 chose to become novice monks. Although it can bring about a drastic change in appearance - forgoing name-brand jeans for saffron robes - becoming a novice monk in Thai culture is a spiritual awakening.