Graduation

This morning the M6 and M3 classes graduated, there were also awards for the student representatives, and the students at the top of their class. All the students that were graduating gave out pins with contact information, candy, pictures, and messages. They also give out necklaces with hearts, candy, and photos as well. Mr. John's students all gave him pins and necklaces!
After the ceremony I met up with my friends Biak, Khom, and some other M5 students.

"What people are you?" Said the girl in 5/3

Yesterday I went to help Ms.Mee with her last two classes of the day, 5/3 and 5/7. The first number is the grade and the second number is the class they are in. I roam the school everyday and I spend a majority of the time with my homeroom class, but still, after six months of living and going to school people still don't know that I am an exchange student. One of the first questions that students ask me is, "What people are you?" in their heavy Thai accent and grammar to go with it. Everyone thinks I look so Thai and not Japanese-American. People have also told me that I look Chinese or Korean, on my part I am not too pleased. Many Thai people are surprised that I am Japanese but I come from America. They don't realize that America is full of many different people and cultures. I consider myself to be full American and full Japanese. I am fourth generation American, not first or second but fourth! In Japan I would not be considered Nihonjin but Nikkeijin instead. It is true, however, that in Hawaii I celebrate my heritage and keep many of my Japanese values.
I also find that being Asian in a country like Thailand and being an exchange student do not mix very well with me at all. People who are Falang or posses Falang features tend to receive more attention, respect, and in many ways are put into a status which is higher then the normal Thai person. While I blend in with the people and receive the same treatment as a Thai student, I am, however displeased by the thought that, based on the looks of a person, they are automatically greater than others. Looks mean so much more in Thailand than in America.

Ubolratana - Lake, Garden, and Dinosaurs

Ajarn Narin wanted to take myself and the foreign teachers to Ubolratana for the day. Ajarn Narin, Ajarn Jojo, Ajarn Jingwu and he girlfriend, Zixi, and I all went to Ubolratana. Zixi has been visiting Udon Thani from Beijing for about three weeks now.

We first stopped at a garden in the mountains of Song Nang where there were also dinosaurs! Now real ones of course but before many years ago there were.

When we got to the lake I was in a way disappointed that it was so muggy. I believe it was due to the fires up north. The day was not clear at all, but a haze...

วันมาฆบูชา....The First Instructions

Do good

Don't do bad

Purify yourself

The first instructions given by the lord Buddha to his followers on this day many years ago. The Thai people remember this day every year with prayer and celebration. My host family took me to a Wat outside of Udon Thani. Many people were there, some slept at the temple while others came just for the night. My host mother, father, and aunt all went this night to pray and later we lit a khom (floating lantern) into the sky.

The instructions given by the Buddha were, as best I can relate it to, similar to the Eightfold Path in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. For those who do not know, I am a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist and the eightfold path, for the most part, is similar to the first two instructions given, Do good and Don't do bad.

Highlights from the Northern tour! LOOK LOOK LOOK!

DANGER! NO POKE! ~ I have no idea why they put that there... This was at a national park outside of Ubon. The hill tribes near Chiang Rai, in North Thailand. The tribe seemed to be more touristy than ethnic. At the zoo in Chiang Mai they had two giant Pandas, on loan from China. I bought key chains made of panda poo at the zoo. ;p They spelled it correct in Thai but in English it is completely wrong! Poor English skills they have at the Chiang Mai zoo.Women have limitations in Thailand....a lot. This picture was taken at a wat in Chiang Mai. The women were not suppost to enter because of their monthly periods. That is what the tour guide told me.

Nakhom Phanom

I went to Nakhon Phanom to visit my friend Suzanne for the weekend. Nakhon Phanom is a small town located on the banks of the Mekhong river. In Nakhon Phanom a person can see Laos and Vietnam! When I arrived on Friday there was a beautiful view of Laos accross the river and further away were the mountains and Vietnam. Sometimes I wish Udon Thani was that close to another country.

BUBBLE TEA!! My favorite drink in Thailand has been bubble tea (cha kai mok) and while I was in Ban Klang (Suzanne's village) we went to a bubble tea shop. My bubble tea was a green tea flavor, very good and not too sweet!
Suzanne, her host brother P' Pong, and I went around the village and stopped at a school, Wat, and the local noodle shop. At the school we made jumping pictures, played with really small merry go round, and took pictures of little Thai children. Suzanne is very tall so when she was on the merry go round it was very entertaining.