The New New Year

Thai people love to celebrate, and I'm down too so I was happy to learn that they celebrate 3 different new years here! In addition to our western New Years celebration on Jan 1, they also celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year (last week) and will celebrate again in April for Songkran!!

All the teachers have been preparing class performances for months and it was finally time to get on stage for "Happy New Years"! The kindergarten classes went on Children's Day and there was a huge spectacle of food, costumes, and heaps of makeup! Literally, some of my 5 year old students were caked with more makeup than I have worn over the span of my entire life combined. I was rather terrified, but they seemed to love it so who am I to judge?!

I was one of the few teachers to choose a song that was actually age-appropriate for my class, I went with a cute song from Sesame Street performed by Will.I.Am called "What I Am" -- the kids were adorable and we all had a great time! Unlike all of the Thai dances there were no hip thrusts or crotch grabs in my dance, so sorry to disappoint....

Our last day of school is March 6th so we are all realizing how little time we have left and its a bit of a mad rush to the end! As we are wrapping up the year it is a bit mind-blowing to step back and take it all in. I have definitely learned as much but likely more than my students, and for that I will be forever gratefuL

Here is just a taste of the joy these kids share with me on the daily . . .

And not to mention, the weekends are still consistently amazing. Traveling to the Andaman Sea, ferries to Koh Samui & Koh PhaNgan are beginning to feel just normal.. its almost scary really! I think my new favorite place is Orion's Healing Center - located right on the beach they have yoga & dance classes, detox programs, and amaaazing vegan food & fresh juices! Pretty sure this is heaven on earth!!!!

OneLove
HappyNewYears
ChokDeeKaaa