Off to Market

One of the things I most look forward to is my weekly jaunt to my village market on Monday nights. As I am a white female, not to mention unmarried, my school has deemed it "unsafe" for me to go to into the village of Wangkasae alone so I rarely get the opportunity to interact with those that live in my community. Yet every Monday I jump on the back of my Pisao (big sister) Yuu's motorbike and head to town to pick up food for dinner.

The market is small, about the length of half a block. Local women line the street with their wares set up for others to peruse. Vegetables, fruits, grilled chicken and pork, Laab (spicy meat salads), sweet drinks and desserts all line the road. Villagers stroll slowly through the market using their shopping time as a time to catch up with friends and pinch the cheeks of the new babies.

I love the feel of the market and the way I am greeted by the villagers. Old women grab my arms and give me the thumbs up sign, telling me how good I am to be a volunteer teacher. (At least thats what I am imagining they are trying to tell me!) Students bring their younger brothers and sisters to meet me and they practice their English skills to the delight of the adults around them. Villagers all try to come share a smile with me as I walk with Yuu to pick up vegetables and meat for dinner. I cant help but feel at home.

Some of my students at the Market

Checking out the goods

A fellow teacher picking up some veggies

Wai Kru

Today was "Wai Kru", teacher appreciation day, in Thailand. After reciting a few Buddhist prayers and singing traditional "Wai Kru" songs the students presented the teachers with flowers and paid their respect by bowing ("wai", means to bow and "Kru" means teacher) on the ground at their teacher's feet.

At first I felt a little uneasy. Coming from America I would never expect a student to give me flowers and pretty much bow down to my "greatness" just because they were thankful for my lessons. It made me feel a little uncomfortable to have students bowing down to the floor for me, it seemed like too much.

However, I quickly looked around at the other teachers and the faces of the students. Many had tears streaming down their faces. I realized that yet again I was looking at the situation through my American looking glass instead of seeing it in its cultural Thai context. I was not seeing the ceremony for what it really was, which was overwhelming gratitude.

Wai Kru day is a chance for students to thank their teachers for their hard work and dedication and to symbolize their readiness to learn. It is a day specifically set aside so that students can actually recognize what their teachers do for them and to reflect on ways teachers have helped them and touched their lives.

After lunch classes resumed for the day. When my last class of the day was finished and I was walking to my office a group of girls (Ok I'll admit it, some of my favorite students...shh! Thats top secret!) poked their heads out of a doorway yelling "Teacher! Come on!"

I followed them in to the room where they sat me in a chair, gave me flowers and bowed at my feet. When they stood up I found myself with tears in my eyes and in the center of the best group hug in the world. Today was a good day to be a teacher.

Students with their flowers, waiting for the ceremony to begin

Let the gratitude begin...

Students "wai kru"ing

The elaborate floral arrangments students made by hand

My flower bounty

The Bare Necessities

Today after classes were done for the day I spent some time watching clips from Disney movies with my students. The clip they most enjoyed was from the Jungle Book, the song “Bare Necessities.”

While watching the clip I found the message of the song seemed to resound around me and also echo the Thai phrase “Mai pen rai”, which translates to “don’t worry” or “No problem”. As I have mentioned in previous posts “Mai pen rai” is really a motto for the Thai way of life. Thais tend to not focus on the stress of their lives, on the problems they face, sometimes they blatantly avoid all conflicts, but they are happy. Even if they have nothing, they are always happy. This has been the most important lesson I have learned here, to find fun in all aspects of life and to let go of my worries.

Here is a quote from the ending of the song “Bare Necessities”
“And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true

The bare necessities of life will come to you"

This was what most struck home to me as I listened with my students. I have learned to live without many things I deemed essential to daily life, hot water, flushing toilets, sinks and showers to name a few; but I am completely happy. Instead of focusing on the difficulties of my daily life I instead focus on the “bare necessities” I have come to realize I cannot live without: Love, friendship, contentment in my work and gratitude for my every day existence.

So I’ll tell you something true, I hope the bare necessities of life come to you!!

I Spy

I thought today I would take a moment to share with you pictures of the world I am currently living in. I often find myself awestruck by all that is around me and the experiences I am able have, so here's a little peek....

Visakha Bucha Day Celebration

Me and my students at the village temple

Students Planting Trees to "Save World Life"

Just Straight Chillin'

Wang Ga Sae, my beautiful school

Water Buffalo= Traffic Hazard

Rice Fields

The School Garden

Spicy...and delicious

Mmmm, Long Beans

Moo Noi, (Baby pig) I see you!

School Ducks

The newest editions to my gang of dog friends

The School Lawnmower

Don't you stick your tongue out at me!

Hmmm...better get my umbrella