Holidays on Rice

Given that Thailand is a predominently buddhist country, I was surprised to find myself busy during the holiday season. While I'd like to give each event it's own dedicated journal entry, I will have to suffice with a quick recap of my December holiday season.

Saturday, December 13 -- Santa's Little Helpers

A small group of Ferrang and Thais got together to add some holiday cheer to some under privileged children in a near-by village. We started by collecting donations in order to buy each child a "winter" coat. I use the term winter coat loosely, as these coats would be laughed at by anyone who's ever had to brave a Midwestern winter. We took our presents to the village early on Saturday morning, where we proceeded to play games & activities, hand out prizes, and teach the children about the "real" meaning of Christmas.

Santa's Little Helpers

Sunday, December 14 -- Sunday Brunch with Bixby

When I lived in the States, one of my favorite past times was Brunch. It's one of those meals that is perfectly suited for a Saturday or Sunday (any day really), when you get together with your closest friends to get caught up on the previous happenings of the week. Another of my favorite parts about Brunch is the food! After finding a place to have brunch on Sunday with my friends Jen & Otto, I decided to spend some much needed alone time with Bixby. He and I went on a long bike ride, where we got to catch up on each other's lives. One of the most liberating things about living in Thailand is being on your motorbike, with nothing but you and the open road. It's very cathartic! Bixby and I found ourselves up at Kilom Dam -- about 30 kilometers out side of town. The drive was amazing, and while the changing autumn colors aren't much to look at in Thailand, it's a welcome distraction to the "hussle & bussle" of Lampang Proper.

Sunday Brunch with Bixby

Friday, December 19 -- Christmas at LCCT

What's more fun than a Christmas Pagent in a Buddhist country? I give up, because the LCCT Christmas show had to be one of the funniest things I've witnessed since I've been here. As though we need to give our students a reason to skip class for a day, and not study; the administrators at LCCT put on this "holiday" festival each year. The festival includes the usual kareoke, some dancing, a "funky dress" contest, and enough donuts from Mister Donut to satsify even the most voracious of Jenny Craig appetites. One of the other English teachers even dressed the part of Santa Claus for the students. It was a great day, and a wonderful way to start my two week holiday break!

Christmas at LCCT

December 23 -- 25 Christmas In Lampang

Christmas in Lampang is like Chanukah in the States -- it's recognized, but not actively celebrated by most people in the community. I could still count on getting a "Happy Christmas" from my fellow Thai teachers, but it was said with the same affection and zeal you use when you are wishing someone a Merry Kwanza or Happy Boxing Day. On the 23rd of December, a few of us got together at our local hangout -- I Love Coffee-- where we proceeded to have hot apple cidar, some whiskey, and some "fresh" baked cookies (Thanks Mom!). My Christmas Eve was uneventful, as I stayed home and read the latest book in the Twilight Saga (I'm a homo who's hooked on Edward Cullen). On Christmas morning (after talking with my drunk family), a small group of us were invited to a fellow ferrang's house for Christmas brunch. After brunch, we had a small gift exchange, and proceeded to lounge around watching television and enjoying the company of friends. That evening, we all went to our other local hangout -- The Riverside -- for pizza dinner. It was sad to be away from my family, who I love and miss dearly. But, isn't that the idea of Christmas -- disappointment with the gifts you are blessed with.

Christmas In Lampang