Random Thoughts of the Week

Fun with Jenga
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This week I've decided to write about some random things I've seen, that remind me how different and not so different it is living here in Thailand.

Blessing of a Spirit house -  Last Thursday when I awoke in the morning I saw a red spirit house being cemented to the ground outside.  One of the pictures from the beauty contest, is a pic of me infront of the tall red spirit house, which is a home for wandering spirtis or ghosts.  I asked Jack about it and he said that a ghost of an old woman had been seen around the area lately.  The tree she had been living in was probablly cut down, so that's why the spirit house was needed.  There was even a buddhist ceremony where they invited the old woman into this new dwelling.

Wasana, Sarah, and Brow
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Haircuts at school - At the start of one of my classes this week Pat  (formerly known as Yuphaporn) was talking to the students energetically in in Thai.  I wasn't sure what she was saying with them, but then with much authority she grabbed a pair of scissors and walked over to one of the students.  The teacher then went and clipped his hair that was getting too long in the back.  Besides wearing school uniforms, the students are also not allowed to have long hair.  A girl was also singled out for having long hair, and while the class hooted with laughter her hair was also cut by a few CMs.  The embarrassed students looked rather uncomfortable the rest of class, as they kept trying to shake their clothes free of the cut hair that had fallen down their shirts.  It was all somewhat surprising, can you imagin how kids in the US would react to this?!

Sunshine and Biw
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Fate of Cooper - A few weeks ago while we were still teaching classes underneath Jack's house, we heard Jack's father suddently fly into a rage.  Jack's dog, Cooper, a black short hair mut with a funny walk (a result from getting hit by a car last year) had just bitten him on his leg.  Not a good move!  He rushed for his gun, while Cooper raced to hide under a car.  The dog did not come out and Jack's father calmed down and put the gun away, which was somewhat of a relief since 10 kids had already gathered for their morning lessons.  I figured everything was back to normal, but last night Jack told us how the other day some men had tried to carry Cooper off.  Jack was not at home, but his neighbors saw some men who tried to put the dog in a bag and carry him off.  Jack, in typical Thai style, had a big fake grin on his face, and gave a short laugh saying how he thought his father had given the men money to take the dog.  I think Jack is thinking of giving the dog to the wat, or too his grandfather, but I guess the fate of Cooper is still to be determined ...

Toffee and a bug
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Joe's Last Days - Joe, the volunteer from Manchester, will be leaving tomorrow for a week of traveling then a return to England.  Since he is leaving so soon we spent our last visit at Jack's grandfather's house taking a bunch of pictures - I included some of them.  It is somewhat sad he is leaving, but in true Thai fashion we are all going out Karaoking tonight.

One last bit of randomness - I went to the  market last night, and what should catch my eye - a brand new Butler University tshirt.  It was so odd seeing a tshirt for a very small Indiana college in this small village in Northeast Thailand!?!  I also saw several MTV t-shirts and other American shirts advertising farms in Wisconsin.  I guess American shirts are very trendy right now.