Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I took these pictures three weeks ago in anticipation of today! The first two pictures were taken at Central World in Bangkok, home of a mini Christmas village. No egg nog or Santa Claus, but they did have a man making wooden shoes, people in costume weighing cheese, a windmill, and larger-than-life sized photo ops. My friend Peach is featured alongside me in the ornament picture. Finally, the last snapshot is of my Christmas tree in my apartment with the many presents I get to open this evening after school! This is certainly a different Christmas (and I wish I could spend it with my family), but I feel very remembered across the many miles. :)

My holiday season? Summer.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Actually, it's not. At all. Instead of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, I'm roasting with an open window. However, with the help of Christmas tunes streaming through my iPod (thank you, Michael Martin Murphey and the Carpenters ), holiday decorations and candy (thank you, Sarah and Mom), pictures of snow (thank you, Dad for demonstrating shoveling for my students), a few emails and cards (thank you, friends!) and a family blog (thank you, Sam), it's beginning to FEEL a lot like Christmas!

On Friday I returned to Sarasit (the all-boys Catholic school in Ban pong) for their Christmas festival. I enjoyed the holiday decorations (see the cave manger scene instead of a stable setting), musical performances, and lots of carnival-type games like bingo, the ring toss, and guess-which-hole-the-rat-will-run-into-first. The teachers and students at Sarasit are extremely nice and generous people!

I spent Saturday and Sunday with my friend Peach and her family. We went to Bangkok, watched National Treasure, and even went bowling. Sunday was election day in Thailand, so that was very interesting to see. This week I'll be teaching about New Year's Resolutions. Last week I taught about Christmas using the song "Do You Hear What I Hear?" The picture is taken at English Club after I handed out candy canes (thanks, Sarah- they LOVED them!). I'll post another Christmas message, but in the meantime, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

English Camp

Over the weekend, I attended an English Camp put on by the Sarasit School, a private, all-boys Catholic school about 45 minutes away from where I normally teach. My host teacher at Pattarayan connected the director of the English Camp with me. Prasit picked me up after I finished teaching on Thursday and brought me to his school. The camp was a great opportunity for 90 select students to practice their English in a fun environment of 'music, sports, and performances' (the weekend's motto). The students practiced interviewing tourists in Hua Hin before we arrived at the campground in Ao Manao ('Lemon Bay'). The beach setting was beautiful. We enjoyed playing tug-of-war on the beach, risking our lives on a terrifying speed boat ride, performing skits, singing camp songs, eating spicy foods, and body surfing during free time. We also went to a very cool aquarium that was about 15 kilometers from the Myanmar border (don't worry, Mom, no border hops). I was treated like a guest of honor, which was very nice and flattering.

Beach Bum (in December?)

Because Monday was a holiday (Constitution Day), I took advantage of the three-day weekend by heading to Koh Samet with fellow Fulbrighter Kiyomi, who teaches in Rayong. We took a boat to the small island and had a blast on the beach soaking up the sun, watching a couple fire shows (young boys twirling flaming batons), and getting sand everywhere. I especially enjoyed watching the sunsets and a sunrise over this picturesque piece of paradise.

Long Live the King!

Tomorrow (December 5) will be a holiday in honor of the King's 80th birthday. To say King Rama IX is loved is an understatement for the reverence, respect, and admiration Thai people have for the world's longest-serving head of state (60+ years). This morning the celebrations began at school with a ceremonial offering of food to the monks in the morning. Then everyone gathered in the assembly hall for chanting, praying for the King, performances, and handing out awards.