Batteries Included (sometimes)

When I go into a store in Thailand one of the things that makes me smile is to see what free items are included with different products. Sometimes the free item makes sense, like this week you can buy a pack of pasta and taped onto the bag is a free can of spaghetti sauce. But sometimes the free items are so random. I've see free batteries included with toothbrushes (and not electric ones either). Above you will see free cans of soda with shampoo. And then this week I snapped a picture of a free mug with some snacks. It wouldn't be so funny except for the fact that they are personalized mugs...and only two names....Helen and James. What is a Thai person going to do with a mug that says Helen...I've never met anyone named Helen in Thailand!

Electing A New President

One of my Thai friends, Mot, is a professor of political science at one of the local universities. They recently had a lecture about the American elections. Almost the whole lecture was in Thai, so it was good practice for me even though I didn't understand everything. It was interesting to listen to a perspective outside the U.S...still very biased of course. It makes you realize what an influence America is on the rest of the world, though. Mot said she would love to have a democratic election like America...(things seem to be heating up in Thailand again with rumors of another coup). It will be strange for me to be in America for this year's election...that hasn't happened since 1996!

Teacher Appreciation Day

This week I experienced my first "Wan Wai Khruu" which is a very ceremonial teacher appreciation day. I knew that there was a lot of Buddhist ritual in this ceremony, so I was a little leery of attending. The ceremony began with everyone standing up and folding hands and bowing head toward the Buddha altar while saying a sort of chant. I was able to just stand and observe without participating. After that, a class representative from each grade came up front , where all the teachers were seated, with an elaborate banana leaf and flower decoration on a tray. They bowed down to the Buddhist altar 3 times, then took the flowers and "walked" on their knees in front of the teachers. They then bowed down again multiple times in front of the teachers and presented the flowers to them. The teachers in turn touched the head of the students and gave a blessing of sorts "May you be good students and study well, etc." Blessings are a huge part of ceremony in Thailand. After the class representatives came up, every student then came up front in groups with their individual flower, incense, and candle arrangements beginning with the pre-schoolers through the 9th graders. I thought I was just observing and taking pictures, but then I was asked to come up front for a time to receive flowers and give a blessing to the students. It was a very interesting ceremony and demonstrates just how much respect is given to teachers in Thailand.

More Pics From Teacher Appreciation Day

Eat More Bugs

I just read this article that popped up on my Yahoo page...it seems as though Thailand is ahead of the game in this area :)


Here's something good you can do for your body and your planet: Eat more bugs.
Janet Raloff has the goods in this week's Science News. We're facing worldwide environmental, obesity, and food crises. Bugs are the answer.

Consider the nutritional value of the humble cricket: Each 100 grams of dehydrated tissue has 1,550 milligrams of iron, 340 milligrams of calcium, and 25 milligrams of zinc -- three minerals often lacking in the diets of third-world countries. If you're ever lost in the woods, three crickets a day will meet your iron needs. Compared to beef or pork, bugs deliver more minerals and healthier fats.

That global food crisis you've been reading about? No problem. An Asian expert reports that in Thailand, each family can raise crickets independently on a tiny parcel of land. In a pair of villages, 400 families are cranking out 10 metric tons of crickets during the peak season.
Bug-eating also reduces the need for pesticides. The more bugs you eat, the less you have to spray. That's what happened in Thailand, where locusts have been brought under control through culinary culling.

You've never eaten bugs? You're missing out. People in most countries eat insects. You say bugs are gross? Why? Is it the exoskeleton? The appendages? The weird eyes? Guess what: You already eat animals with these characteristics. They're called crustaceans. Shrimp, crabs, lobsters -- they're arthropods, just like crickets.

First Day of Class

Since my classes are so large (35-70 students in each class) I can't really make photocopies for everyone all the time. So I decided to make mini dry erase boards for everyone. On the first day of class, I had them write their Thai nickname and then took a picture of each of my 300+ students. I'm not sure that I'll be able to memorize all of their names, but I'm going to at least try to study the pictures and recognize their faces! I also am writing their names down on popsicle sticks so that I can choose students to answer various questions or ask them to be involved in an activity. That way, all the students will get to participate and they don't know when I will call on them :)

English Camp

In the first half of the month I helped my neighbor with an "English Camp" at her school. English Camps are quite popular here in Thailand. They may last a day or two, or some are longer. The camps are meant to be a "fun" way to learn English. Usually students will rotate to different stations involving games, songs, activities etc.