June 22nd

June 22nd – The schedule for Sunday's activities is quite eclectic. There is an elephant festival to begin the day, followed by lunch, a visit to Three Pagoda Pass (the historical border crossing between Thailand and Burma), and a visit to the town Sangklaburi's main attractions, including Thailand's longest wooden bridge.

The elephant festival was quite a spectacular way to start the day. Unlike most participants of the trip, I had some context to place the experience. Thai festivals for the most part are a mix of fun and friendliness mixed with a dose of self-aggrandizement. As the largest contingency of Westerners there, we were somewhat of a spectacle ourselves. However, the best seats in the field were reserved for the chief of police, some key ministers, and the governor of the province. The school principal and the education director of all Thailand's Christian schools were also there, but they were relegated to the somewhat uncomfortable plastic chairs where we sat. The education director was especially pleased to learn that I might be interested in teaching in Thailand. He gave me his number and was insistent that I call him. It was comforting to know that the ease of getting a teaching could be so straightforward.

Soon it didn't matter who has the comfortable chairs, as everyone stood to watch the procession of elephants coming. In bright orange and pink covers, the elephants were led by a parade of drumming people to a gigantic cake awaiting them. When I say “cake” I really mean a tower of fruit and sugar cane and when I say “gigantic” I mean the size of an outdoor pool in area and slightly taller than, let's say, an elephant.

Good fun was had posing by the elephants, saying prayers by the elephants, and subsequently watching the elephants gorge themselves on fruit. There was also free food for humans to gorge on, some of which was provided to all who came, and other food which was provided by the governor and ministers. Fortunately or unfortunately, the ministers decided to invite us to eat with them.

It is always conflicting to receive special treatment based solely on your country of origin, or skin color. After some insistence on their part, we did away with our home organizations rules about not accepting or extending any gifts.

With food in front of us, we enjoyed some traditional Thai music and dance, as well as a children's play. We left the event somewhat confused and overstimulated by the happenings, but nonetheless extremely elated and strong of heart.