Bird Suicides

They really need to stop crashing into the windows on my balcony. 

So, it's not so strange, but Songkran, a holiday where we just throw water on one another constantly, is quite fun. In the mornings, we would go to the temple and tam boon, or make merit. To make merit is to do things to improve your karma. You may offer food to the monks or visit sick people or any other variety of activities that are essentially just nice things to do for people. We went to offer food to the monks. What goes down is this: first, we go to pray in front of the statue of the Buddha and stick some incense in a bowl in front of the statue. Then, the monks come in and say some prayers. We offer them the food and wait for them to finish eating. They say some more prayers and then we take the food that they didn't finish eating back for ourselves. There is always a ton of food because there may be only a few monks but many people coming to pray have brought two or three dishes each. And before you get grossed out by the fact that we're eating other people's leftovers, keep in mind that Thais eat communally so they would just take a spoonful of food and put it over their rice.

On Wednesday, after we finished doing this, we went to my co-teacher's dead husband's father's house, where we helped prepare food to offer again to more monks. We ate. And ate. And ate some more. Then, we asked his parents for blessings by washing their hands. From there, we went to her mother's house to repeat the same hand-washing ritual.

After all the eating and washing, I was pretty tired and just wanted to come home and rest, but my host family was going to a wat, so I decided to go. We watched a bunch of drunks dance around. Two guys came up to me and powdered my face and then we went into the wat to say some more prayers. After, everyone lined up to bless the monks. So, we put a little water onto their hands. Then, we got to play with the water ourselves. We threw it at one another, and I got soaked. When we got home, my two little sisters and my brother, who's my age, had a water fight. Pretty awesome. I don't know if it's just my family or what, though, because their idea of a water fight was each person takes a turn to go over to the other side and splash them with water. Seems a little too orderly to be called a “fight”, but “tomato, tomatoh”, I suppose.

Later that night, my co-teacher's daughter heard about the two guys powdering me at the temple and got pretty upset, saying that I shouldn't let them do that to me. I know people get all up in arms about drunks, but I just find it amusing most of the time. I never really felt like I was threatened. I think that they feel like all of this “harassment” (and I use that term very lightly) is new to me, but honestly, there are just as many, if not more, creeps in the states that like to be, well, creepy.  

Things that are going on:

1. Water fight! This week starts Songkran, which is the Thai New Year. Since April is the hottest month of the year, people use the opportunity to throw water at one another all week. Works for me. Now people won't be able to tell if I'm wet because I'm sweating from pores I was unaware I had or if someone just splashed me. It's a time for cleaning, preparing for a new year. Many people visit the wats, or temples, and give food to the monks to receive merit. In other words, it's good for their karma. It's also a great time to get drunk, apparently. The Thai government has begun educating its citizens on the dangers of drunk-driving through a PSA on TV featuring Thai celebrities. All I know is that it may not be such a bad idea to wear my awesome bike helmet at all times. Last year, there were 3,500 road accidents, according to the Bangkok Post. Also, this is one of the two most popular times of year for girls to lose their virginity. Not surprising since it's like a week long wet T-shirt contest here.

2. Thai-dancing. Ooh la la. Yesterday I had my first lesson in Thai dancing. One of my co-teachers also runs a shop for making Thai dance costumes and wanted to show me some of them. So, I spent a few hours fumbling around her store trying to bend my hands in weird ways. It's very beautiful though. I had a good time and have now considered changing career paths once I return home. Yeah, I'm that good. Kidding. She asked me if I wanted to help make a costume for myself as well. Uh, heck yeah. So, my Saturdays for the next month are booked. On a more terrifying note, everyone told me that if I get good enough, I can perform the dances in front of my school. Alone. Thanks but no thanks. May have to feign a sprained ankle at some point.

3. Running. Not only is it good for your heart, but it can also get you projects in your 'hood. I go running every evening (ok, that's a lie) in front of the police station around the corner from my house. One day, a couple of officers approached and asked me if I could teach English to the officers because my area is frequented by foreign tourists. So, I have spent the last week making lesson plans with my co-teacher, who is way beyond nice in helping me with the various things I have to do. I really lucked out there. Although I will say I was a little surprised when she told the police chief that I wanted to join them when they play soccer in the afternoons. (I don't, and believe me, they wouldn't want me too.)

4. Thai dramas. Really weird. Filled with ghosts and the lamest attempts at special effects that I may have ever seen. Also, what Thai people find to be comedic is so weird to me. You know those old comedies where people would back into one another in a scary house and scream and the audience would howl? Yeah. It's like that. Sigh. I miss "30 Rock."

5. It's hot. Did I already mention that one?

Bored. And hot. Oh so hot. This week is Songkran, though. So, I'm anticipating a lot of interaction with water. I'll let you know how that goes. 

Sleepover

Over this past weekend, I stayed with my paw-aw, or principal, and his wife at their house with their daughter, P'Dtia, who's a doctor somewhere 'round these parts. I went sightseeing around my area with the wife and daughter, and I've definitely been able to add a couple of cool things to the list of places that I can bring people should they decide to visit beyond the somdtam restaurant by my school. We were joined on our little day trip by my paw-aw's niece, P'Neung. I should explain that the P' before people's nicknames is a sign of respect towards people that are older than you. Also, everyone in Thailand has a nickname because first names tend to be so long. I've had two in my three months here, and they've both been flowers, along with a few other people in my training group, because all foreigners are beautiful like flowers?

I really enjoyed spending time with P'Dtia and P'Neung for a couple of reasons. First of all, they both speak excellent English, which was a nice change from the very stunted conversations I've been having recently. Also, they both are kind of, well...not normal. At least in Thailand. They are both in their 30s and not married, and I don't think they have any plans to get married, and I think they're okay with that. P'Neung is an archaeologist who works at a university in Bangkok and majored in art history. She is also very knowledgeable of world events. We talked about history and politics, movies and TV shows.

To me, it's always kind of refreshing to meet women that break out of the mold for what's expected. I suppose because, from a certain standpoint, I can relate to them. In the past year and a half, I've spent only two months at home, and I know that many people back in the U.S. can't really understand my desire to be here and do what I'm doing, so I feel like kindred spirits with people, especially women, who don't always follow the crowd.

I'm learning from this experience, though, that, just as in America, Thais don't always fit the stereotype that we've attributed to them. Women don't walk around in beautiful Thai dress with their make-up done to perfection serving the men around them with a demure smile (at least not in everyday life). Although struggles here vary from the U.S., the need to take care and protect your loved ones and help run a successful household is still present.