The event of the week this week was the celebration of the famous poet’s birthday on Friday. I remember this from previous years when there were no classes because students were copying poems and drawing/copying pictures. This is the poet whose memorial we visited near Rayong. Thursday after school I could see that something was happening on Friday because a fancy stage was being set up. So I asked what was happening on Friday and if there would be classes, since no one had remembered to let us foreign teachers know. Friday I learned that Kate and Lovely had been told about the program.
Friday morning the stage was ready. It was decorated with large leaf shapes and a huge heart, both made from coconut tree leaves. There was a display of written work, pictures, and books students had made. The ones on display had been judged. On Wednesday I had seen a group of students in the library most of the day drawing and making books. Now I knew why they were doing that.
The plan was to have classes in the morning and have the program in the afternoon. I had two morning classes. Only half of the students were present in each class, as the others were getting ready for the afternoon. When I saw the program, I wasn’t sure why so many were missing, as not all of them were in the program. I think a lot of it was the typical one student is in the program and three or four are needed to get him/her ready, many of whom really aren’t doing much to help. A good excuse to be out of class. The students who were in class and I had a good time. We did the vocabulary activities/games in one class, which the boys enjoyed. In the other, students wrote sentences and I could help them more than when everyone is there. Some were able to write one or two extra sets, which was fun for them.
The program began with a parade from the back of the school, around the building to the street, and back to the front of the building.
Then there was a short theater presentation in which some students acted the roles and others read the parts. Then there were a couple talks by teachers. By the time the talks were given, only students in the first several rows even pretended to pay attention. The others were talking and playing. There’s always some talking at these events in all of the schools I’ve been at, but this was the loudest and worst. Then there was the typical Isaan music. By this time, no one was listening and it was even louder in the audience. After a bit, students seem to have been told that they could do the other activities. At this time it reminded me of community events with music and a stage show. There wasn’t the typical scantily-clad young women dancing, but early elementary students danced. Vendors were selling food.
Several people had set up an area where students could make a woven plastic basket.
Some students played jacks with snail shells.
There were stilt walking races and races in which students walked on coconut shells. I was a good sport and tried walking on the stilts when I went to watch even though I hadn’t done that since I was the age of the students. The young men didn’t let go of the stilts, which was a good thing.
There was a race in which the boys “rode” horses made from sugar cane stalks.
And a walking on coconut shells race. Other students just sat around and chatted. Some played checkers. All students had a good time. It was a bit long for me, as I usually attend these events for about half an hour, not three hours.
After the program, it started to rain hard. At 4:00, Khun Kwan called to tell me her husband was picking Bitoy up then. Since I couldn’t leave until 5:00 and I know he picks up Bitoy and then goes back to work, I missed my ride. Khun Kwan told me to walk to her house for dinner. So I did. It was raining quite heavily at that time. When I turned onto their street, their car came and picked me up. Khun Oy had gone back to the school to get me, but they forgot to let me know. They didn’t see me leave because I go out the back door when I walk, and they park at the front door. So we all ate dinner and then he returned to work. I hung out at the house until he came home at 8:00 and they drove me home.
Sunday I needed to get more cholesterol meds. Khun Teamjan had said she would take me on Saturday, but I think she forgot. I thought about going to the hospital on my own, but I needed to print the insurance form. And I knew that if I didn’t call Khun Kwan and tell them I needed to go, they would not be happy. So I called Khun Kwan at 10:00, but she didn’t answer. Thinking they were out somewhere, I walked to the Internet shop and printed the forms. Then I took a songtaew to the bus station and another to the hospital. All was going well. Just before I got to the hospital, Khun Kwan called, having slept very late, and told me to wait for her at the hospital. As I was getting ready to tell them what I needed, Khun Dakom called and told me not to go to the hospital because Khun Somlan would take me to see his doctor daughter. So much for my adventure on my own. I was to wait for Khun Kwan and family and then go the village with them. Then he called again to tell me that Khun Somlan’s daughter is in the Czech Republic, and Khun Somlan will take me on Tuesday.
After lunch, Khun Toy took me to see Khun Ying, as Khun Ying has been telling her how much she misses me and I didn’t see her last week. She wasn’t home again, but her sister called her and told her to come to see me. She was very happy to see me, and I her. She told me to move back into the house and be her neighbor. She gave me a bag of fried silk worm larvae. When we walked to Khun Toy’s uncle’s house, a couple young boys rode by and greeted me. I didn’t know them, but they knew me. Khun Toy fried the silk worm larvae some more. I left some with her, and had her put some in a bag for Khun Kwan’s family, as there were many more than I will eat.
In the evening, Khun Toy called to tell me that Adin was bringing some bamboo for me. Then she called again to see if he had.
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