I participated in the English Camp at the primary school on Thursday and had a really amazing time. Experiences like that always remind me of how much I love kids and how great I feel spending time with them.
We all woke up early, had breakfast, and got in a sung tow to the school. When we arrived the kids (all in what looked like Cub Scout uniforms) were having their morning assembly and were singing songs and listening to announcements. Eventually they all lined up in a circle and began to march by us so that each student could individually wai us.
The kids broke up into groups to pick a team name. I was assigned to a group and was supposed to help them pick a name, but I was unsure of how much English they spoke and was hesitant to give instructions. One of the Thai girls ended up jumping in and helping them.
My camp station was ‘memory’. On cards there were words written out in English and then there was a corresponding card with a picture. I would go through all the pictures and sound the words out in front of the group so they were familiar with how to pronounce it. They were mostly actions words like ‘sing’, or ‘swim’ animal words like ‘giraffe’ or ‘camel’. They had a lot of trouble with L’s and R’s and when I tried to go over the word ‘pilot’ they kept saying ‘pirate’.
The kids all seemed really excited to be there and practice their English. They were all really polite and we had a really relaxed time teaching them.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
ICU Observation Exercise
Where: The Dokmai (Flower) Festival in Chiang Mai
When: all day
Why this location: It's a typical Thai festival and tradition. I thought it would be a wonderful place to observe Thais and Thai society.
1. Make note of everyday activities of the people around you. What are people doing? For those who are working, what is their job? For those who are not working, what are they doing why are they there?...
Everyone seems generally happy and enjoying the festivities. Everyone is walking around and seeing what there is to see. People are talking, eating, shopping, and crowding around the flower displays. There are a lot of children. Those who are working are essentially all vendors selling souvenirs, clothing, food, and everything imaginable (including tiny bunnies in vests and bows). The rest of the crowd is shopping, either buying or perusing the different tables and stands and everyone seems to be enjoying the festivities.
2 . Describe something that demonstrates traditional Thai values and/or way of life, something that you would not see in your home country.
Families sitting together on mats in the park. I feel this is a great symbol of the traditional Thai family unit and the importance of family within the culture. Seeing families together is also common in the United States but I feel that there’s a greater multitude of whole families here. In the states there is less emphasis on the family unit and families rarely go out as a whole even to events like the Dokmai Festival.
3. Describe a product or evidence of ‘globalization’ that surprises you, or that you didn’t expect to see.
Sitting on top of the old city wall, there are three seven-elevens within view sight. I expected to see typical Western products and chain stores; I even expected a seven-eleven or two in the city. I did not anticipate the great presence and ubiquity the convenient store would hold in Thailand. Seven-elevens aren’t even this common in the states, but here they are a part of my everyday life.
4. Document interesting religious expressions you encounter…
I don’t see many religious expressions but, as always, there is little question that this is a Buddhist nation. There are Buddha statues in the part, spirit houses, and Buddha pendants for sale. One of the floats even has a small Buddha figure made of flowers. The Thai people really seem to embrace their religion in their day to day life and the Dokmai festival is no different.
5. Observe communication between at least two people…
Two vendors speak loudly over the crowd to each other. Their conversation is almost entirely verbal; they barely look at one another and keep their eyes on the crowds and customers. There seems to be no hierarchical difference between the two women and they speak loudly and quickly to each other, one not showing any particular reverence for the other. I assume that they know each other, there are no formalities in their communication and they don’t seem be expressing any particular forms of respect nor affection.
6. Do you see any non-Thais? Describe their behavior and key observations about their appearance…
Like most places in Chiang Mai there are a noticeable amount of foreigners here. They seem to mainly be tourists and possibly a couple ex-pats. Some look incredibly out of place and are obviously here on vacation. Like typical tourists, they wear short-shorts, fanny packs and big cameras around their necks; they generally seem excited by the festival. The locals and vendors seem to be indifferent but I see a couple of them give the foreigners particularly big greetings, either being truly friendly or hoping to make a sale.
7. Go to a magazine/newspaper stand. Decide on a particular magazine…
I feel that nearly every newspaper I have seen in Chiang Mai has a large picture of a beautiful woman on the color. I unclear as to whether these are models, celebrities, prostitutes, or part of an article. In this particular newspaper I notice a small color photo of a bloody corpse on the sidewalk. I’m taken back by this, graphic or violent pictures don’t appear on the front page in the U.S.A. The media here seems to be less censored and more willing to put such pictures alongside articles.
When: all day
Why this location: It's a typical Thai festival and tradition. I thought it would be a wonderful place to observe Thais and Thai society.
1. Make note of everyday activities of the people around you. What are people doing? For those who are working, what is their job? For those who are not working, what are they doing why are they there?...
Everyone seems generally happy and enjoying the festivities. Everyone is walking around and seeing what there is to see. People are talking, eating, shopping, and crowding around the flower displays. There are a lot of children. Those who are working are essentially all vendors selling souvenirs, clothing, food, and everything imaginable (including tiny bunnies in vests and bows). The rest of the crowd is shopping, either buying or perusing the different tables and stands and everyone seems to be enjoying the festivities.
2 . Describe something that demonstrates traditional Thai values and/or way of life, something that you would not see in your home country.
Families sitting together on mats in the park. I feel this is a great symbol of the traditional Thai family unit and the importance of family within the culture. Seeing families together is also common in the United States but I feel that there’s a greater multitude of whole families here. In the states there is less emphasis on the family unit and families rarely go out as a whole even to events like the Dokmai Festival.
3. Describe a product or evidence of ‘globalization’ that surprises you, or that you didn’t expect to see.
Sitting on top of the old city wall, there are three seven-elevens within view sight. I expected to see typical Western products and chain stores; I even expected a seven-eleven or two in the city. I did not anticipate the great presence and ubiquity the convenient store would hold in Thailand. Seven-elevens aren’t even this common in the states, but here they are a part of my everyday life.
4. Document interesting religious expressions you encounter…
I don’t see many religious expressions but, as always, there is little question that this is a Buddhist nation. There are Buddha statues in the part, spirit houses, and Buddha pendants for sale. One of the floats even has a small Buddha figure made of flowers. The Thai people really seem to embrace their religion in their day to day life and the Dokmai festival is no different.
5. Observe communication between at least two people…
Two vendors speak loudly over the crowd to each other. Their conversation is almost entirely verbal; they barely look at one another and keep their eyes on the crowds and customers. There seems to be no hierarchical difference between the two women and they speak loudly and quickly to each other, one not showing any particular reverence for the other. I assume that they know each other, there are no formalities in their communication and they don’t seem be expressing any particular forms of respect nor affection.
6. Do you see any non-Thais? Describe their behavior and key observations about their appearance…
Like most places in Chiang Mai there are a noticeable amount of foreigners here. They seem to mainly be tourists and possibly a couple ex-pats. Some look incredibly out of place and are obviously here on vacation. Like typical tourists, they wear short-shorts, fanny packs and big cameras around their necks; they generally seem excited by the festival. The locals and vendors seem to be indifferent but I see a couple of them give the foreigners particularly big greetings, either being truly friendly or hoping to make a sale.
7. Go to a magazine/newspaper stand. Decide on a particular magazine…
I feel that nearly every newspaper I have seen in Chiang Mai has a large picture of a beautiful woman on the color. I unclear as to whether these are models, celebrities, prostitutes, or part of an article. In this particular newspaper I notice a small color photo of a bloody corpse on the sidewalk. I’m taken back by this, graphic or violent pictures don’t appear on the front page in the U.S.A. The media here seems to be less censored and more willing to put such pictures alongside articles.
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