Prehistoric Christmas

Thai people really really like Christmas. Bangkok is more decked out for Christmas than any other city I've ever seen. They really go nuts.  I found this perplexing because the vast majority of Thai people(over 90%) are Buddhist.

I finally got around to asking one of my Thai friends about it and he said that the Thai people love ANY kind of celebration, holiday, or festival. Which makes sense because every single week is a new festival, and half the time I can't tell what the difference is between festivals. For example, there has been a "Thailand Vegetarian festival", an "National Vegetarian Festival", and an "Asian Vegetarian Festival" which all looked exactly the same with different names. Not that I am complaining! I love this aspect of Thai culture. Well, life is rough, lets party every chance we get!!! It reminds me of the Irish humor in the face of great struggle.

I had my kids draw Christmas pictures, and some of them were very creative.  So, without further ado, I wish you Happy Holidays, and leave you with this:

In Prehistoric times, Santa delivered presents via Pterodactyl pulled sleigh.

Also, Michael Jackson wants you to have a Merry Christmas.

Just another Thursday morning

"Take an eel,

make a loop,

use him as a hula hoop,

watch him twirl and twist and spin,

round your ankles past your chin.  

Tighter, tighter, tighter yet,

ain't an eel a lovely pet?" -- Shel Silverstein  (from memory so forgive any mistakes)

You never really know what will happen at my job on any given day.  

Take today for example, when I somehow found myself in the middle of the school courtyard, with the entire student body and faculty watching and cheering, as I hula hooped to Thai clubbing music.

Yes, as it turns out, I am the reigning hula hooping champion of the farang teachers, although Lauren beat me in the style department, she has got some moves.

Barbie would love this.

This just in: Guess what color my boss has informed us we will be wearing every day starting tomorrow. Guess. You'll never guess. Pink. Yes, that's right, starting tomorrow and continuing indefinitely, I will have to wear pink every day in support of the King's health. 

If you know me well, you know I have a strong dislike of this color.

Where on Earth am I going to find a week's supply of pink???  

I'll tell you where I won't find it, I won't find it in my closet.

Interesting Facts

In Thailand, if you write someone’s name in red, its considered bad luck.

Also, if a giant gecko jumps on your neck, you will not be able to get it off.  The only way to remove it is to ask a divorced woman to pull it off.  

Hablo Ingles.

The other day my Thai co-teacher and I sat in the office grading dictation.  She received a phone call.  She talked in Thai for a minute and jotted down a couple words, then hung up.  

She poked me in the shoulder and asked, “how do I pronounce this?”  She held up the paper and pointed to a word that looked like gibberish.

 “I don’t think that’s a word.” 

“Yes it is, its French, I just need to know how to pronounce it!”

 “Oh, I’m sorry,” I explained, trying to be helpful, “I don’t speak French, but Simone does, you should ask her.” 

“I don’t have time to ask Simone, I’m busy, can you just tell me how to say it???”  She asked, seeming angry. 

“Um, I’m really sorry, I don’t speak French and I don’t recognize the word,” I said, getting annoyed, “Would you like me to guess?” 

To this she rolled her eyes, whirled around, and stomped out of the room. 

I sat in stunned silence for a moment, before muttering to myself, “Did she just get mad at me for not being able to speak French???” 

The student teacher sitting next to me, having witnessed the exchange, erupted into giggle.  We both had a good laugh.

Weird.

War of the Roaches

My apartment has been colonized by roaches. Every night when I come home, I spend the first ten minutes kicking all of my furniture until my cohabitants scurry back into the cracks that they came from. 

They usually occupy the surface of every piece of furniture, including my bed.  (Please refrain from making any comments about what they do while I am sleeping, I work very hard to keep that thought from entering my mind.)

Tonight I came home and went through my usual kicking routine.  One particularly stubborn roach, however, did not want to leave my bed, despite my furious shaking of sheets and thumping of wood.  Finally, in exasperation, I shouted “Get off my bed!!!”  The little bugger promptly obliged by running straight for the crack between the headboard and the mattress.  The crack right  next to where I lay my head at night. 

I mumbled a defeated, “That’s not what I meant,” and then burst out laughing.

Erin 0

Roaches 1

You say potato, I say hot dog.

Every day, we all eat breakfast in the office.  I also happen to eat my lunch in there, as the "vegetarian" option in the cafeteria usually includes some sort of meat broth.  Instead, normally I eat some soup.  

The Thai teachers are confounded by our diet.  They especially hate the smell of soup, for some reason, and when they walk into the office during lunch they make faces and open all the windows and doors.  Mind you, their lunch menu often includes fish, scales, eyeballs, and all, the aroma not exactly pleasant.

Yesterday, as I was making my breakfast of toast and coffee, I looked over at Nummon, who was unwrapping her breakfast.  It was a hot dog, slathered with mayonnaise.  I tried to hide my horror and went about getting my breakfast.  

On my way to my desk I grabbed a bag of tangerines I had bought to share.

  

When I offered one to Nummon, still munching on her breakfast hot dog, she wrinkled her nose and said, "for breakfast???"