MicahJohn

I’ve now been to about three Thai birthday dinners. A little cultural twist: the birthday boy/girl pays AND no one gives them any presents (apparently gifts are sometimes given, but not at the dinners I’ve attended).

Another good one from FABIC. listen here

“What’s the big deal about a lion eating you? It’s painful for a little while, but so’s going to the dentist.”

Today I had a depressing experience as a teacher.

Background: here in EP (the English Program where I work) students can’t fail. If a student fails a test, they retest. If they fail the retest, they retest. Etc. I have had students fail. I have sat down with them and had the joy of watching things start to click.

Today during class I noticed a girl wasn’t even trying to do the classwork I had assigned. I tried to encourage her to work at it. Nothing was clicking. No lights were coming on.

I hope lights come on when we talk outside of class.

Last night a neighbor invited me to celebrate his birthday with some family and friends. We went to a buffet that, among other things, served shrimp, crickets, frogs, fruit, and ice cream.

P.S. the cost was about $3.75

If you happen to be an American teacher in Thailand, odds are you’ll be at least a little weirded out by Wai Kruu Day. Today I with the rest of homeroom teachers for M3 (grade 9) were put on a stage. The students sat cross legged on the floor in front of us. They sat by class. Each class formed a straight line running from the front of the room to the back.

The ceremony opened with the lighting of incense and the waiing (greeting/bowing) of an alter-esque thing.

Next students (corresponding in number to the front row of teachers) came forward walking on their knees carrying VERY elaborate flower arrangements. Once each teacher had a student opposite them, the students set down their flowers in unison, they bowed face to the ground in unison, then they presented their flowers in unison. After a little more bowing the students (still on their knees) made their way off stage. Then the teachers changed places so that new teachers were seated in the front row, and the whole thing began again.

The whole thing was wrapped up with some prayers, some chants, and some singing.