The WorldTeach Krew
Around here Christmas officially began on the 24th. My friend Heather arrived just before I was to go to school. The two of us walked to school together and unlike the last time Heather came to see me teach this time I did have school. It was wonderful to have Heather around because she helped me decorate the lunchroom area with the Christmas decorations I bought with my PA’s wife. After decorating each grade came to my classroom one at a time to practice singing their song before the Christmas show. It was fun to have heather around to meet my students and have her get a taste of what my teaching life is like. We then had the Christmas party- each grade came up and sang the song we had been practicing all week. Then all the teachers gave canomes (snacks) to all the kids. Then the kids had the chance to get up on the stage and sing karaoke. The students were shy to get up there and sing but the ones that did go up I think only went up because one of the teachers gave students 5 Bhat each time they went up. I was stunned but it’s not like it’s the first time I had seen it happen. Not sure if I mentioned in my sports week blog about my PA (principal) giving 100 Bhat to each boy (3) on the Tak kaw team for winning a game. This is a country full of bribes. Back to Christmas- Heather and I took down the decorations brought them back to my house and in just a few hours my house was transformed into a beautiful Christmas wonderland where the stocking were hung, the presents began to pile up under the tree and the lights filled the room with Christmas sparkle. After our elfing we went to my family’s house and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner, my family joined us around the table – which they rarely do. Christmas day Heather and I anxiously waited all morning for our friends to show up. Jes came with lots of presents for everyone. I got a box from home and many letters from friends and family. Mom and Dad managed to pack Christmas in a box with the most wonderful gifts and decorations that resemble Christmas at home. We also had a secret santa and a yankee swap. So lots of presents came with that leaving our poinsettia Christmas tree looking like any home after Santa’s visit the night before. Once everyone arrived we began by opening packages from home then did our secret santa gifts then the yankee swap. I got a cool ice cream mug- since everyone knows I love ice cream so much. Then for yankee swap I got colored pencils, a gigantic box of them. It will be handy for using with my students. We sat in a big circle with all of us opening one at a time just like home. We then had a huge feast. There was way too much food. Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn salad, veggies, some egg/potato mexican dish, beans, garlic bread, macaroni and marinara sauce, macaroni and cheese, etc... and each dish looked like we didn't even touch it once we were all stuffed. The 15 of us all sat around in a circle on my living room and ate the feast. We each have dinner now for the week too from the leftovers. Some of us went to church got there during the homily- the priest told me the wrong time last week. Oops!!! He didn't seem to be bothered too much. Still nice to go and see the church decorated and be with friends too. We came home to lots of desserts made by Kaitlin. A huge variety!!!! It was amazing to have home baked goodies: brownies, cake, cinnamon rolls spiral cookie of yummyness, fudge and the list goes on. One of the 2 Heathers got a huge box of candles for her yankee gift (kind of a joke present) but after dessert we all got one and lit it and went outside of my house and sang x-mas songs and I bought fireworks as a gift for everyone and so we set them off. We ran out of the ones I got so Peter and I rode my bike to my family's house I called to them through the window and they came down and sold us more fireworks. They were the big kinds too- which was really fun. We then watched the cartoon version of “The Grinch” using a projector and a sheet for the screen. A perfect Christmas and as much like home as it could be. VERY SPECIAL!!!! I also encourage people to check out my friend Peter’s blog at peterinpeterout.blogspot.com as he wrote a wonderful blog about our Christmas using the “melody” of Twas the Night Before Christmas . You can also go to youtube.com and type in “WorldTeach-Thailand Christmas, 2010” and watch 2 videos of our Christmas. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=WorldTeach-Thailand+Christmas%2C+2010&aq=f one video is of our candle “ceremony” another is a tour of my house and us celebrating Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my wonderful family and friends. AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I’ll be talking to you more in 2011. |
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