Thailandia. : พรรคคริสต์มาส

Christmas is celebrated in Thailand but it is much different. All of my students knew who Santa Claus was (because they attend a bilingual school) but none receive presents from Santa. One of my students, Praewa, said that she doesn’t like Santa Claus because he never comes to her house. There were decorations (including a life-size Santa) in our grocery store, Tesco, and every once in a while there would be Christmas music but that was about the extent of it. But it was more than enough to make us homesick.

During our last week, Charlotte and I celebrated Christmas with our K3 students. We did Christmas games, decorated cookies and gave them to Tang (owner of the school) and Teacher On (our kid’s Thai teacher), and also made gifts for each other from the students (My class made Teacher Charlotte a gift and vice versa). Charlotte and I also had a small gift exchange with our students. We collected stickers, candy and small toys for our students. They were very surprised and loved opening their personal gifts.

Phuvit frosting his cookie.

Me helping Ongry

Max with his presents from Teacher Jessi and Teacher Charlotte

Fei-Fei and Yindee being crazy

My kids made me a wreath with Teacher Charlotte

One of our Christmas activities was a photo booth. Teacher Lindsay spent a lot of time making it and the kids had so much fun! We also did a "Christmas card" from us teachers!

My class being silly

Teacher On

Gui

Sydney making me laugh!

Mhew, being her adorable self

Phuvit

Beautiful Yada

Ongry lookin' classy

The girls

The boys... being boys.

The twins

Imperial Bilingual School does have a huge Christmas celebration in early December before us teachers leave. It functions at an opportunity for the parents to see their children speaking English and interacting with us teachers. We had been practicing songs, making crafts and decorating the school for weeks beforehand. Each class learned a Christmas song with their individual teacher and then each age group learned a group song as well. My K3 kids learned a variation of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Charlotte and I changed it up a little bit and had the gifts in the song be Spiderman webs, Angry Birds, Alligators, Gangnam Style dance moves and Ben 10 toys. My individual class's song was called “Holiday Lights.” I was taught this song when I was in elementary school and it involves flashlights, which I knew my students would love.

"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" with Teacher Charlotte

Our MC, Teacher On

Ongry, Leo, Me Me and Maeni ready for the English performance

The students also learning a dance with their Thai teachers! We loved watching them practice and see what kind of music and costumes the Thai teachers had requested of them. Here are some pictures from our last week with the students; a week of celebrating Christmas in Thailand.