Thai Barbie Day

You have no idea how many times I heard 'sowoi' that day - especially considering the fact I marched around Phitsanulok in ill-fitting shoes (-shudder-).
(For refresh, check my post 'It never fails')


So apparently the shop I got dressed at is the hotspot for this school's day so the place was packed when we got there at 9. We were the only farang and it did matter.


Ryan starts to have his make-up done. Think his makeup artist is a woman? Look again.


Me with makeup - waaaaay scary sight. It supposed to make a Thai person look lighter, but for a farang? The application is like a paste that stick on your face and then smooth around - that includes the lips. (Man, that was such a strange sight - with fleshy lips!) Then they add powder and lip paint (applied with a small paintbrush) and mascara and eyeliner and everything. I swear I looked ten years older.

3 hours later...

I finally start getting my hair done. Ouch! They brush backwards and then apply tons of hairspray. (And yes, this was over 3 hours after we arrived at the store. Ryan and I were the last to get our hair done - and I hadn't even been dressed yet!)


After lots of hairspray - the adding of fake hair. Meanwhile, that nice roll in my hair - there's a towel roll in it. (They tried to use a roll of fake hair, but well, I didn't have enough real hair to cover it up, so they pulled out a towel. I kid you not.)


I love those flowers behind my ear!


Me in full get-up for the parade.


As the school's reps, Ryan and I carried the school name. Behind us is the director, carrying the school flag and another teacher.


On the parade route, with a rep from the Paraolympics held in P'lo in Jan. (I think). The rooster is big here, linked to Naresuan, the 'great' Thai king who was born here centuries ago.


Of course we weren't the only ones to dress up. (Sorry for the poor quality of this shot, but the lighting was pretty bad.) There were people dressed in gorgeous kimonos, old European wear, and various other costumes.

School is nearing the end

My M6 classes (seniors) on their last day of my class. We played US state bingo - for some reason, they prefer to call out 'Bing!' though. I taught divisions 1-6 (there are 12 in all), which is divided by how well they score on different tests. Generally, 6.1, 6.2 were better with English, but not always. (My M4 classes definitely don't correspond that well.) (Oh and I ended up autographing all these books for one class - they love that I can spell my name in Thai.)
Their exams have been for the last week, but I'll see them tomorrow during their 'yay, we're done!' party - I might be singing, but I don't know.













Ah the M4 building, where I spend most of my time outside the office.


They love their Doraemon!!!


I love bougainvillea, it always cheers me up when I see it, because it reminds me of my mom and her green thumb. I'd never seen it as a tree until I came here though.


Actually not a very uncommon sight - students get on their knees to show respect, usually when presenting something to monks or sitting teachers. Most don't go to such an extreme when visiting the office, but it is Thai culture to not have your head higher than an elder's.



My trip to a nearby waterfall:

It actually doubled as an environmental trip, the kids picked up trash. Of course, that was the first half hour. For the next three, they ate and enjoyed the water, as below: