I can’t believe I forgot to write about a very important event that happened about a week and a half ago. January 7th was children’s day here in Thailand, wan dek as they call it. (Wan=day, dek=children). I found out that week that I wouldn’t be teaching that Friday so that the children could put on performances and be given treats. As the day approached I was also informed that a string tying ceremony would be held for me that same day. String tying ceremony? That sound silly?
Once wan dek (to be explained more in detail later on in the blog) was complete, mats were laid out on the stage and an elaborate center piece made out of banana leaves was put in the center with all its strings attached. Canome(snacks) were put in the base along with hard boiled eggs and money. Once all was in place we (myself, teachers and adults from the village) gathered around the center piece. The school maintenance man Mr. Wit (as I call him) was given a microphone and he began chanting in Thai. I have no idea what he was saying but it was a blessing and well wishes to me for a wonderful year and thanks for coming to Chok Amnuay.
You may have figured it out already but just in case, a string tying ceremony is a way to welcome someone or something (like a car) into a community. It can be done on any special occasion as well, as far as I understand. There was a joint string tying ceremony in Pla Pak during orientation but many volunteers had a separate ceremony with their own communities upon the first weeks of teaching. Mine. . . two months in was unexpected and very much appreciated and special. I loved having community members gathered around me wishing me well as I teach their children this year.
After the chanting Mr. Wit took a large chunk of strings off the center piece and tied them onto my wrist while still chanting. I was then officially “Thaied” into my Chok Amnuay community. Other teachers and community members then began pulling me this way and that to tie strings onto my wrists as well as hand canomes, eggs and money (300 bhat later) to me. I had to hold all this in my hands and still keep a “why” with one of my hands. Although it was overwhelming to be pulled in so many directions and many people touching my arms or shoulders as I was having strings tied to my wrist, I felt so special to be receiving so many blessings from my community. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face and felt so special having so much attention just for me. I am “Thaied” into my community for the entire year now, no going home! The strings are to stay on your wrist for at least 3 days before you can take them off. I spent my weekend with my wrists covered in strings. But a few remain to remind me of my connection to my home. Not to mention a few strings from our orientation ceremony are still on my wrist as well.Back to wan dek. . . students from each grade came up and put on a dance. Music in the background and silly dancing that I thought would be more choreographed considering that any time students weren’t in my class they were in the cafeteria area practicing their dance on the stage. AND the outfits they were wearing and the amount of makeup put on all the girls. In between acts there were competitions students could participate in if they wished. They included blowing up a balloon until it popped in their face and tying a balloon to their ankle and having other classmates try to pop it. The little Anuban kids (pre-k and K) were so cute as their act was hula hooping. One girl was the center of attention as she could hula hoop around her waist and move it up to around her neck and back down. She was also the only one not to drop her hula hoop during the entire 5 minute act.
I wasn’t shocked to see how many canomes (snacks-junk food) the students were getting but I was shocked when the students who performed were given 20bhat for getting up on stage. Talk about bribery to get your shy kids up on stage! I guess my bribe was 300 bhat during my string tying ceremony.
After the students getting way too much junk food for their own good, dancing acts and my welcoming into the community the remaining adults and teachers danced to way too loud music that was accompanied by awful karaoke singing while pounding the beer. Typical Thai party. Dancing was a blast though for the first 20 minutes but after about 1 hour of it I was a little ready to move on. Little did I know monks were on their way. They came because also part of the day was for people in the community to give rice to the school. The rice is a donation that the school then sells and the money they make from the sale is to help the school. I was fascinated to hear this and it really showed how much a community cares about taking care of each other. The people who have the rice are poor to begin with and need any penny but they are willing to give up huge bags of it to help the school improve. They are a most giving people, something us Americans can learn from. The monks came to bless the rice offering that was given and to bless the school. It was just like many of the other Buddhist rituals that I have been to. Lots of prayers chanted. . . this time there was a blessing of water like I mentioned in my blog about my first temple visit. Only this time there were only a few people around and the monk came up to each of us and gave us a good soaking. Once all was done with and there were closing words I still had my hands in the why position and my PA (principal) from across the room noticed me still in prayer posture and gestured to me to put my hands down. I mention this only because each and every time I attend a prayer service someone always has to remind me to put my hands down well after I should have. I guess I get in the zone from the chanting and enter my own little “why” world.
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