I lied this is June 19th

June 19th – Today was Wan Kruu (teacher's day), the day when students wai kruu (pay respect to teachers). Personally, I would think that teachers would want a day off. However, this school already had some mentality of a day care, so closing school for a day didn't seem like an option.

As guest, who were also novel in being Westerners, the principal had asked us to sing a song for the children. After much discussion, it was decided that the hokey-pokey would be the easiest for them to learn or participate.

After a very long assembly of prayer and thanking teachers and signing songs, then reading from scripture, and a little more prayer, we were finally asked to perform. What we beheld was a highly amusing sight as two hundred Thai children put their left feet in and out and showed us what it was “all about.” Some could say that it was a waste of time, but the humor of the situation for all parties is probably much more lasting than any work that we could accomplish.

Our work time is from 9 – 4 with a lunch break, but by the time lunched rolled around we hadn't done any work. While eating, we had the pleasure of finding out that we would be performing another English song for the opening ceremony of the school's outdoor agricultural learning center. On the fly, we chose the “Chicken Song” which contains no words, but a fair amount of comical movement. Avi, one of the participants from Seattle, prefaced the songs instructions by saying that this was a traditional chicken song in honor of the agricultural learning center which did in fact contain chickens. In all the bizarreness of the situation, I had a hard time controlling my laughter.

Once the song ended, and a few more formalities passed, we were finally able to work. However, there wasn't enough time to lay the concrete. We did some nominal work in preparation, but eventually the participants dissolved into playing with the children during their recess.

I haven't had much experience with Thai children, but a single sample would suggest that they are very energetic, physical, and resistant to pain. Our game of Frisbee monkey-in-the-middle continually devolved into tugs-of-war between five children or more, most of whom seemed content to wrestle over each other as much as over the Frisbee.

Furthermore, the children had little restraint about jumping on the volunteers. The most hilarious example of this was but Matt, another participant. He had graciously offered one diva of a child who had stolen his sunglasses to ride on his back. After a few paces, other children also wanted to join in. Matt, not being on to break the hearts of children, was soon laden with seven children who brought him to the ground, then release him, only to jump upon him once more when he was upright. People asked him a number of times if he was alright, and he continued to answer in the positive. Again quite humorous to all, even Matt.

In terms of productivity of work, the day did not fair well. In terms of enjoyment and memories, the day faired quite splendidly.

Good times had all around.