Hello
All,This is the last update of our work here in Thailand. We will officially leave from Sangka next week. A few days ago we shipped most of the things that will eventually end up at our home in Alaska to Bangkok - but even after sending those 8 boxes, the house doesn't feel any emptier.
Or last "official" act of work locally was an English Camp for the Sangkha English Teacher's Club. We successfully managed to involve several of the teachers in the planning and implementation of the camp. Sometime after the camp, Lisa was explaining the difference between "empower" and "enable" to a teacher, and the teacher, trying out her new vocabulary said, "I am empowered to be a trainer for the next English camp." HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lisa went off to a final English Camp in another province, and at the same time, a teacher in our area invited Denny to some local celebrations. The first celebration was an annual parade up the only "mountain" in Surin (it is in fact a rather small hill, but here in Surinebraska, they're a bit overly sensitive if you call it that). Each village within 10 miles of the mountain had it's own part in the parade. Mostly it was a lot of people dressed in traditional materials and patterns (maroon and dark green as seen above), and dancing traditional dances.
There
were exceptions of course - our personal favorite was the village where everybody
dressed up as grasshoppers. The day after the parade in Khao Suwai, Denny went to nearby Panom Rung in Buriram Province (we've been there several times before, as you may recall). April 3rd is one of only 2 days every year when the sunrise and sunset will shine directly through all 15 doors of the main temple at Panom Rung. There was a modest crowd gathered for sunrise with lots of news cameras and people clamoring to see the sun for just a moment. There was only about 3 minutes of sunlight through the doors like this. Denny managed to sit in one of the hallways out of the direct line of site and held out his camera for this shot. As more civilized morning hours approached (think 7:30 AM) blessing ceremonies were conducted by people who still show respect for the Hindu roots of local Buddhism.
This next shot doesn't really fit the work or cultural celebrations theme, but is an interesting shot from Thailand. This is a game called
dagraw
that people here play more than anything else. It is kind of like a cross between
volleyball and hackeysack. It is played in teams of 3 with a 5" wicker
ball and net about 1.5 meters high. Rules - volleyball, except you hit the ball
with anything but your hands/arms, and one person can hit it 3 times. It is
a really fast paced game, and points are usually scored by someone who, like
this guy, launches into the air to kick the ball down with a spike, and then
lands on his back.The final celebration we witnessed was Songkran - the Thai New Year. Songkran Day itself is the 13th of April, but there are celebrations for days leading up to and following the official holiday. Traditionally, Songkran is a time for families to come together and to participate in ceremonies that usually involve pouring fragrant water on the hands and bodies of elders and blessing them. Lisa went to such a ceremony
with
our friend (the one whose brother recently died). Songkran is also a time for
"making merit," especially for one's ancestors or deceased family
members, so our friend's family not only participated in the Songkran ceremony
at the local temple, but also gave gifts to the monks and all the people who
attended. Denny opted to participate in the more juvenile part of Songkran:
a huge water fight with mandatory participation by anyone who ventures outside
from the 13th - 15th. Denny went with a friend who owns a pickup and spent the
day cheerfully throwing water and calling out New Year's greetings from the
back of the pickup with his friends. Our parting shot is that of a local dance group at a Songkran celebration on the eve of Songkran.
Peace & Happy New Year!
Denny & Lisa