Independent Day in Isaan

Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays, mainly because it celebrates all my favorite elements of summertime: beach, bbq, friends, and fireworks!!! Knowing that this year would be my first 4^th not in Laguna, I was a little sad. BUT, the CIEE crew vowed to make it an awesome weekend nonetheless by venturing out to Isaan to party with us. So they boarded the 8 hour overnight bus from Bangkok to Kalasin, that Reu and I have grown so familiar with, and arrived in Kalasin bright and early at 3am!

Before the arrival of the entire flock, however, the lovely Miss Jo graced us with her presence on Friday morning. Jo, another CIEE survivor, works at a private, government secondary school in Bangkok. The differences between her school and my jungle were striking! Jo came to two classes with me on Friday morning. In my first class, 3/7, Jo was surprised to find that only 20 of 60 students decided to show up (to me, this is nothing new). In this class last week, 12 girls were removed from the classroom by the police for spreading a sex video of two of their M3 friends (9^th graders). Yea… My second class of the day 3/5, is one of my favorites as it has contains 9 lady boys. Fun stuff J Needless to stay, Jo and I continued to find humor in the differences between our two placements.

Teeechaaaaa Denaaaa hard at work!

On Saturday morning, with the full 10 member crew in attendance, we rented a songtaw (that’s a covered pick-up truck you all you farang), and headed out to Lim Pao Dam about 36 km from Kalasin. The dam, which is basically a big mucky bottomed lake surrounded by red pebbly shores, trees, and water buffalo (of course), was certainly surprised to see a bunch of white people cruising in. However, with true Isaan hospitality they quickly welcomed us like we were VIP. We were outfitted with lawn chairs, low tables, floor mats, intertubes, fried chicken, and cold beer before we could ever lift a finger. We spent the day floating around the dam sharing 4^th of July memories, playing drinking games, and having our pictures taken by thai spectators. I’m telling you, we’re VIP!

Tubing, Isaan style

Damn proud to be an American!

When we came back into Kalasin, we were ushered off to another A-list event: “The Farang Welcome Party” hosted by our amazing Thai teachers. Held at our favorite restaurant near the river, the party boasted a menu of all our favorites: Som tam Thai, Cashew Chicken, Pad Thai, Special Isaan River Fish and Special Kalasin Fish Sausage mmmmm. The evening was complete with an endless string of awful karaoke performances including a Spice girls versus Backstreet Boys sing-off and a Titantic duet. After this debauchery we took our visitors to experience the Kalasin Club scene at MV Entertainment… magical!

Karaoke gone awry...

Reu and I with the foreign teachers, Hong, Neng, and Kat.

On 4^th of July Sunday, we headed over to Palmy’s house for a real American BBQ, or so we thought. We arrived with our supplies only to find there was no kitchen, no unusual in Thai houses as it’s actually cheaper to eat out than it is to cook for yourself. Being the creative individuals that we are, we quickly set to work making a make-shift kitchen. Though not entirely sanitary, it was completely successful! The menu included homemade ground pork burgers on sliced bread, barbequed hotdogs, crudite with tzatziki, edamame, chips, and fruit. The day ended at the local pool where we, once again, caused quite a commotion, I think it was the largest group of farang ever seen in Kalasin!

Thai style pork burgers, cheers to the chefs!

All in all I think it was one of my favorite 4^th of Julys, and beyond that, this weekend contains some of what will be my favorite memories of Thailand. Not only for all the fun we had, but also for what it helped me see. Having visitors made me realize, many times over, what a unique experience Reu and I have had being placed out here in Kalasin. Not only because of the natural beauty of the countryside, or for the special way of life we have been exposed to, but for the truly amazing teachers that we have encountered here. I barely want to call them teachers any more, they are my family. Palmy, Jeanie, and Wanne went above and beyond to make our guests feel completely welcome in Kalasin. Palmy opened her home to us so that we would have a place to celebrate our “Independent Day” and Jeanie bought each and every visitor a special gift from the Silk shop. They are the most thoughtful, warm, and wonderful people I have ever met, and my time here would not have been the same without them.

Happy Fourth of July everybody!