Thanksgiving Festivities

My Thanksgiving turned out to be even more wonderful that I ever could have imagined. It all began with a nice visit from my friend Heather. Her host mom drove her to my house Thanksgiving morning. Heather was going to observe me teach 2 classes in the morning and then we were going to catch the bus to Peter’s school and observe him in the afternoon. Heather arrived and she got to make the wonderful walk with me to school. We received many good mornings form the students. We got to school a little early and I showed her around all the classrooms. As we were doing so we met 2 teachers and the only 2 teachers at school for the day (my least favorite two). They asked what grades I would be teaching, 3^rd and 4^th back to back, not my typical schedule for a Thursday. Backing up a day, I was informed Wednesday of my change in teaching for Thursday. Some of my students went to a conference on Wednesday and about 4 grades were going on Thursday (aka Thanksgiving). The only 2 teachers at school must not have been informed of this change because they told me this schedule wouldn’t work in their schedule and that some of their students were at the competition again today. I didn’t fight them too hard about really wanting to teach and that my friend Heather came all this way just to observe me. Ok I didn’t fight them at all or try to explain in Tinglish what was planned yesterday with the other teachers. Maybe I would have on any other day but to arrive at school on a special holiday in my own country and have a surprise day of no teaching doesn’t require any other response other than, ok- have a great day!. Heather and I went back to my office, had a celebratory hug for “no teaching Thanksgiving Thursday”, gathered our bags, and left school. We caught the bus to Peter’s school. Watched him teach 2/4 classes he should have taught. Only 2 classes didn’t show up for whatever reason (that’s Thailand for ya). So most of our day was spent with the three of us chit chatting and enjoying our time together. Heather and I got back to Chok Amnuay just in time to have a wonderful dinner prepared for us by my “cooking family”. They even treated us to ice cream knowing it was a special day back home. It was the perfect way to end the day. Heather and I were especially thankful for each other’s company on our day off.  

Friday Heather and I stuck together again (yep a second day off). Only we made our way to NKP where her host mom picked us up and we went to some high school dance show (don’t ask cause I don’t really know what it was) We were only there for maybe 45 minutes before leaving, her host mom knew we didn’t understand what was going on so we just left. The rest of the day was full of little things- like driving around on a wild goose chase (don’t ask cause I don’t really know what it was all about either). I guess it was just the “I don’t know what’s going on day”.

Saturday, although not Thanksgiving in America anymore, was Thanksgiving to all of us Krew Assassamak (Volunteer Teachers). After spending the night at Heather’s we woke up to a leisurely morning of just hanging out. Heather signed up to bring mashed potatoes to our pot luck WorldTeach dinner. So the two of us teamed up and washed, peeled and chopped the potatoes. That took almost an hour. Then we watched the pot to boil for about 30 minutes. It’s true a watched pot never boils especially when it is a gigantic pot on a little fire, more a bucket filled with coals and the pot sat on top (Thai stove). So we left the pot to boil while we went to lunch. One hour latter we came back and who’d a thunk but the potatoes were ready for butter, milk, cream cheese, salt, garlic, and lots of mashing. Heather, Gen (another volunteer who came over right before lunch) and I dove into the pot and all mashed together. DELICIOUS and just like home!!!!

Only about an hour behind schedule we left Heather’s house to go to Peter’s where we would be eating our Thanksgiving dinner and spending the night. It was a great joy to see everyone. There were some last minute preparations being done to some dishes while chatting was going on (as any Thanksgiving afternoon goes). Once all was prepared we began to set out the feast. Only we didn’t have anything to serve the turkey on so our platter was an elegant beer box covered in a plastic bag (Just like the pilgrims, right??) We had everything from the turkey down to pumpkin spice cookies. You name a Thanksgiving dish we had it, minus cranberries but the attempt was made, ok and no pie but the pumpkin spice cookies were better than pumpkin pie!!! As we ate we listened to Christmas music and Jes even gave a nice “Thankful for” toast to the group. What made the night a little more special was having 3 really amazing Thai people, who have helped us out so much, join our celebration.

Although I didn’t spend Thanksgiving with family, my first time ever, I was still able to celebrate with a large group which is typical for me. I also got to skype with both the Gibson and Farrell family to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving which made this Thailand Thanksgiving the best one it could have been.  

1/2 the group (notice the turkey on the box)

The other 1/2 of the group

Back at school today, Monday, I found out I can now have my own classroom and that I will help coach volleyball with Krew Bpoo for sports week. My 6^th graders, one of my favorite classes- favorites are bad but they truly are amazing!!!!, learned about weather today and drew snowflakes all over the board for me knowing it is snowing back home. They loved it!!!! At the end of the day I bounced and threw a tennis ball to some of my students, a game they have fallen in love with and also a game I believe they may kill each other playing but that won’t stop me from playing with them. I “coached” volleyball more watched my students play, it really is a fun time, they get along so well. Then I began hanging some posters on my new classroom’s walls, after all teachers and students had gone home. As I was working two students Tat and Nuah came by and helped me decide where to put them on the wall and then hang them. It was really nice to have them join in and be so excited just to help even a little bit. Today was the kind of day that makes me say, I LOVE TEACHING!!!!!

One final note, THANKS for all the AMAZING emails of encouragement that many of you have been giving me. I couldn’t make it through some days without it!!!!

My AMAZING students and the wonderful snowflakes!!