Suphan Pride

I have been in full teacher mode for the past couple of weeks, and the work load just keeps on coming. Between lesson-planning, test-making, grading, behavior reports, after school prep courses, tutoring and even more grading, I am one busy chica. There are about 2 1/2 weeks left of teaching before final exams start and I am both excited and sad for the break to come. Excited because I'm tired and need a break, but more-so because I will be filling my weeks with trips around Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Bali and Malaysia. What's not to be excited about?  On the other hand, I'm sad about the end of the school year. I came into the school halfway through the school year, and next semester is the start of a new year so I will no longer be teaching some of my students. I have become so attached to my M2's and it's going to be hard to let them go. Luckily, I get to keep my M1's and I already know most of the incoming students, but my heart hurts at the thought of losing my M2's. Boooo. 


Anyways, my days and nights have been filled, and so anytime I can sneak away, I am more than happy to. This past weekend we went to Kanchanaburi (I'm totally crushing on it), just to get away and have the opportunity to speak in English (and eat pizza!). It was a great time and we even randomly bumped into a friend from home who is studying abroad in Bangkok. However, the highlight of the week had to be our excursion to the Don Chedi Festival with the EP Staff. There has been plenty of talk about this festival since arriving in Suphan, as I am pretty sure it is the city's pride and joy. I presume the only reason we have hotels here are to house the many visitors who come to enjoy the main spectacle. What kind of spectacle you ask? Oh, well none other than a live elephant battle....Duh. 



We arrived at the Don Chedi monument only to be completely shocked at the massive market set up with lights, live music and hundreds of booths and 'restaurants.' Our staff ate at the Sa-nguan Ying restaurant before getting escorted backstage to our seats, passing by men with samurai swords, girls in traditional dress, and a few elephants (also dressed for the occassion). We nestled into our seats (cement stairs) and waited in near darkness for the show to start. The set looked pretty legit, setting the scene for the story of King Naresuan and the war against Burma. Vendors came around selling fans and dried squid, (seriously, what happened to the days of foam fingers and cotton candy?) and soon the show began. As with every Thai celebration, they went above and beyond. I really wish there was a way to describe the 1 1/2 hour show, but nothing will do it justice. I felt as though I was on the set of a movie (somewhere between Star Wars and Gladiator), as music boomed over the speakers, men broke out into a full on war re-enactment with sword fights, cannon blasts, horses speeding across the grass, and pyrotechnics coming from all directions. The most climatic point was obviously the elephant battle. About 6 elephants came into the arena, and 2 with long (possibly fake, wooden) tusks stood face to face. And then...Battle Royale (elephant-style) commenced. They put on quite a show as they jabbed, they jumped, they ran and they embraced (in a not so loving way) until one of them was finally defeated. The show was seriously impressive. Luckily I was semi familiar with the story because the whole thing was in Thai. Even so- there was enough visual stimuli to keep me entertained and content. 

Oh...and I had a really cool balloon, so it was obviously the best night of the week. 

Now I just need to finish up the week before heading to Bangkok for the weekend to get some things accomplished. The top priorities are 1. See a movie. 2 Get Starbucks and 3. Buy a Thai Language book. I am so determined to learn Thai.

War scene

Elephants and Fire....scary!