My girls

Every Monday and Wednesday since the first day of school, I’ve found myself at Karafair, the coffee shop near my apartment, in the pleasant company of Dew, Nuii, and Michelle. I tutor these three girls in conversational English, grammar, test prep, and occasionally American culture or whatever else is on their minds. They are Mattayom 3 students from my 3/1 class, the smartest of their grade.

On our first day, Dew informed me that her other English teachers named her Shanikwa , and asked me if I thought it was a good name for her. At first I was angry at those Mormon missionaries giving this sweet Thai girl such a ridiculous name. However, in the time we’ve spent together I can think of no better name for this eccentric individual. One of the first things I learned about Shanikwa was her obsession with all things American, especially the boys. A favorite memory comes from the day she told me she was starting her own country. It was to be called Shanikwaland, and no one prettier than her would be allowed in. All the girls would have to have farang boyfriends. The flag would be a picture of her face making a kissy face, and the national anthem was Rihanna’s “Rude Boy.”

Shanikwa is the clear leader of the group, more talkative and confident then the other two. In our last class together we learned about horoscopes. We went through the description and selected three words that accurately described her and two that did not fit. She wrote that she was fair “because when my friends fight together I can decide them (but I will not say) and in the future maybe I want to be a lawyer.” She also decided that she was indecisive “because when I order the seller, I will say cake please, oh no hot chocolate please, or anything until the seller angry me.” My favorite was when Shanikwa declared that she was certainly not envious “because when I see boyfriend and girlfriend hook up, I will throw up. I think they’re nasty.”

Nuii is the opposite of Shanikwa, neat, quiet, and very shy. She has a tiny face with small features and a silly little giggle. More recently, she has become more confident and now speaks to me quite clearly, often telling me stories about Shanikwa or teaching me little phrases in Thai like “ti rak” (my boo) and “law len” (just kidding). I think she described herself best when she wrote in her horoscope that “sometimes I very tired and quiet but when I meet my friend and then I happy and laugh same madman!”

Despite her soft demeanor, she is by far the smartest. She has a better grasp on verbs and grammar, as well as a clear and witty sense of humor. A few weeks ago we learned how to write haikus. Even before reading hers aloud she was reduced to giggles:

Animal haiku

Look at my puppy

What wrong about my puppy?

My puppy is dead :(

Lady Gaga haiku

She is beautiful

Gaga look like lady boy

And she have girlfriend?

Michelle is the most traditional of the three. In our first lesson together she told me that she would never have a farang boyfriend because Thai is better. I asked about Chinese and Korean boys and she ranked them accordingly, but every time Thai boys were her first choice and Americans never made the list. These discussions were often filled with muffled snorts of laughter and frequent looks towards Shanikwa for reassurance, at which point Shanikwa goes off on some tangent about her perfect farang boyfriend, or Reuven.

In our last class, through the window of the café, we saw something truly groundbreaking: a Thai couple engaging in pda. Not just hand-holding (bold), or a sly peck on the cheek (brazen), but a full on kiss on the lips (very rare and totally outrageous). Upon seeing this Michelle let out a loud guffaw followed by several sounds that insinuated her shock and disgust. She ran across the café to her backpack to fetch her glasses and pressed her face up against the window for a closer look, snorting and mumbling the whole time. I was startled and confused and had yet to pick up on what she was so upset about and then I saw the couple sitting on the lake, kissing, in broad daylight, and I was….. totally shocked and disgusted as well! (Ok, not really but after a year in this country I have come to understand that traditionally this is unheard of, even between married couples, and especially in Kalasin).

When she finally calmed herself and sat back down, Michelle announced that she found this very gross. The girls explained that if it had been a Farang couple it would have been cute and acceptable, but since it was a young Thai couple it was not “riaproy” (modest and mannerly). I then had the distinct pleasure of explaining the difference between “a slut” and a “slutty girl”. Oh the joys of English!

The time I have spent with these girls has been so special because of moments like these. Whether we were learning grammar, practicing irregular verbs, discussing the hotness of Twilight characters, or just laughing at Shanikwa’s dance face during her very unique rendition of “Rude Boy” it has been a pleasure tutoring them. I will miss my girls very much.