Each One With His Krathong

Latest news..

• Jess found a wiggling caterpillar clinging on to a piece of lettuce in her salad from the salad bar at Sizzlers. We were so desperate for greens we just pretended it didn’t happen until after we were done eating. We first hand are learning that standards of “clean” are much different here.  We both didn't feel well the next day, we won't be going back for a while.

• After a bit of frustration over the Thai sizes (some of my friends, and especially my Mom, knows how frustrated I can get when I can’t find what I’m shopping for!!), I found an outfit for Loi Krathong! Hallelujah! It took me trying on a few skirts to find one that finally fit (Thai people have tiny waists and no booty). I settled for a pink traditional style dress for the festival we are having this Saturday (I will post pictures!). The set includes a full length skirt, top, sash, and costume jewelery.  I wasn’t originally too fond of the pink, but then decided that maybe I’ll be able to pull off the “Barbie goes to Thailand” look.    (Here is a link about Loi Krathong) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loi_Krathong

• My usual Pad Thai vendor is GONE! I went to the market on Friday and Tuesday and their cart is nowhere to be found! I’m basically a little heart broken and may starve. Well, starving is exaggerating.. I have already found a replacement Pad Thai vendor but it doesn’t taste nearly as good.. and they don’t know how I like my Pad Thai. And I’m not sure how to tell them how I like it.

• I had a break through with one of my “naughty” boys! On Tuesday, he listened to Teacher Chelsea when I asked him to sit down and not to talk. He even raised his hand to answer questions in class! I am trying more positive reinforcement and he is immediately responding to it. Its possible he was on good behavior because the king of the naughty boys was absent that day.. but I’ll be experimenting the rest of this week and will keep you updated.

• I am officially booked to spend New Years on Ko Phi Phi with my friend Jenna (from UCSB, she’s teaching in Bangkok.. I’ve mentioned her a few times before) and I can’t be more excited!  Jess and her sister who will be visiting will be spending New Years on the same island. On my more challenging days, I remind myself that in just over a month I will be spending 5 days and 4 nights on one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand to celebrate the New Year! Having something to look forward to helps keep me sane.

• The theme for my class this week: Thai Culture and Thai Games. I am teaching kids material I know nothing about. Today, I taught about the “Thai Map” and Thai geography. I had a worksheet for the kids to label “North”, “South”, “North East”, “West”, and “Central”. They asked me on a big map where Khon Kaen is and I couldn’t even tell them, the map is in Thai! Krathong is one of our vocabulary words, it is a raft made from a section of banana tree trunk decorated with flowers and candles to send into a large body of water, like a lake (Thanks Wikipedia!). My kids and I go over our vocabulary for Thai Culture and Games everyday and whenever I get to this word, they can’t control their laughing. Apparently I pronounce it funny.  I ask them to teach me how to say it and they all yell "KRAAAATHONG!!!", I repeat it exactly how I hear it, and even more uproar. I try to avoid saying it at all costs to maintain control of my rowdy kids.  But it's still a little funny.

We sing this song everyday as we prepare for Loi Krathong. We play it in Thai and English. Here is the English version. Be careful, it’s one of those songs I hate that I love, its a bit catchy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSkriTLhM7A