A Thai Holiday Season

My holiday season was filled with lots of time off. So much so, that I only taught classes for one week in December.  How did this happen?  Well, the first week of December was Sports Day, the second week we had off for the King’s birthday and Constitution Day, the week after that I actually had to teach, then it was midterms (I gave out my exam all week long), followed by a week off (only for the foreign teachers though). The last week in December was the actual midterm week, but there wasn’t enough room in the schedule for my class (Listening and Speaking) to have the exam then, so I got that week off.

Spending my first “holiday season” away from home was interesting.  First off, it was very strange being in a hot climate during the month of December. I’m used to frigid weather, wearing sweats, and curling up in bed with a big mug of hot cocoa. Yet I did none of that here. I had to keep reminding myself that it was December, because there were no signs of it here. No frost on my windows, no snow on the ground, no icicles hanging from the trees or the roofs of houses.

My holiday season started off with Hanukkah.  Or rather, my attempt to bring Hanukkah to Thailand. I tried my best to teach my students about Hanukah.  I even taught them how to play dreidel and gave each and every one of them a dreidel to play with. Did they understand the meaning of Hanukkah?  Probably not, considering they don’t even know what the word Jewish means. In one class, I basically acted out the story of Hanukkah.  Yes, I single-handedly acted out the Maccabees fighting King Antichious and the Greeks. I think my students thought I was on crack.

Hanukkah made me feel a little homesick, mostly because I haven’t found a single Jew here in Chiang Rai. So it was a bit weird (and a little sad) not seeing a menorah anywhere in town.

However, like the good Jew that I am, I got into the Christmas spirit. We had an office Christmas party on the 24th and we even did Secret Santa. I had Jessie, so I got her four pairs of earrings from the night market (she likes to wear big, fabulous earrings). P’Kop had me. I was worried about this, because the day before our party she asked me if I would like to lose weight… so  I was obviously terrified that she was going to get me diet pills.  Not only is this a horrifying gift to receive, but knowing that we were going to have to open our gifts in front of one another, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold back the tears if she actually got me diet supplements or something.  Thank goodness she did NOT get me that.  Instead, she got me coffee and a coffee mug. Perfect, something I will use!

Christmas was a little depressing, because both Jessie and Alexis’ families were here.  Jessie’s parents were visiting and so was Alexis’ sister.  So, I was basically alone. Not to fear, P’Pie invited me to a Christmas/birthday party on Christmas Eve, which was fun, and I basically just ate Thai food (while Thai people stared at me and said I looked like Michelle Obama) for three hours. On Christmas Day, Santa Cait (Caitlin, woo!) came to town.  She actually came on Christmas Eve, and while I was still at my Thai party, she decorated my “living room” with Christmas lights, a cute little paper Christmas tree sent from home, wrapped presents, and some treats. SO CUTE and such a great replica of Christmas in America.  On Christmas Day, we met up with Jessie and her parents at the Chiang Rai Flower Festival (beautiful), then found a little noodle shop for lunch, and headed home to celebrate Christmas.  We opened up our gifts, made hot cocoa with candy canes, and cuddled in my bed while watching Love Actually.  A perfect Christmas Day! For dinner, we went to this guy’s restaurant, Thai-Texas.  John, is from Texas and his wife is Thai.  They own a restaurant here in Chiang Rai (Thai-Texas).  Caitlin and I ran into John and his wife  a week before at the Walking Street where he told us all about his restaurant and how farangs usually go there for dinner on Christmas.  Lured by the thought of a roast pork loin, we headed off to Thai-Texas for our Christmas dinner. Although instead of ordering something “Christmas-y” like the pork loin, Caitlin had enchiladas and I had a double-cheeseburger with fries.  Don’t judge, it was delicious. Some rice pudding and our Christmas cocktail of rice-whiskey and passion fruit, and it was a glorious evening.  We even hung out with a British couple who are traveling (literally) around the world for two years.

So, there you have it, my holiday season: a mixture of East and West this year!

Christmas Party at the office. Showing off our Secret Santa gifts.

At the Flower Festival with Jessie and Catilin