Two weeks ago when we visited Jessie in Chiang Rai, her teachers repeatedly mentioned the English Camp that would be taking place on the 17th, and how much they are in dire need of native speaker teachers. We politely declined at the time, due to the fact that we weren’t planning on making another trip to Chiang Rai (about 4 hours) and we were nervous taking more time off from teaching. Turned out that things got desperate over at Rong Rian Chulabborn, and native speakers were bailing right and left, so enter Kru Erin and Kru Emily to save the day! (Plus we got an official letter from Chulabhorn for an excused absence from Hangchat, and our bus tickets paid for!)We arrived back at lovely Chulabhorn on Thursday evening and had a chance to visit with some of our long-lost CIEE program-mates, (whom we had never met before!) and some of Allison’s fellow Fulbright Scholars, nine Americans all together who would be working at the camp.
The English Camp was for Matayom 2 only, (8th grade) because they are the only class at the school that doesn’t have the pleasure of being taught by a native speaker regularly. After a 7 am breakfast (pork and vegetables over rice . . .Yes that’s right, dinner for breakfast is typical in Thailand, Gilman) we had a chance to get a look at the kids over in the meeting hall. If I wasn’t impressed by these kids before, I certainly was after that encounter! As each of us introduced ourselves to the group, (a simple, ‘Hello, I’m Emily,”) the kids applauded and shrieked wildly in absolute glee. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. At Hangchat, when Erin and I say “Good morning’ to the kids, we get occasional glances in our direction, completely laughed at, maybe a smile and a very quiet ‘Good morning teacher,’ as a response. The Chula-bots were in utter ecstasy to be in our presence. (I call the Chulabhorn students Chula- bots, because they are so incredibly smart, well-mannered, and eager to learn, as if they have been programmed for success by the Princess herself).
The English Camp was for Matayom 2 only, (8th grade) because they are the only class at the school that doesn’t have the pleasure of being taught by a native speaker regularly. After a 7 am breakfast (pork and vegetables over rice . . .Yes that’s right, dinner for breakfast is typical in Thailand, Gilman) we had a chance to get a look at the kids over in the meeting hall. If I wasn’t impressed by these kids before, I certainly was after that encounter! As each of us introduced ourselves to the group, (a simple, ‘Hello, I’m Emily,”) the kids applauded and shrieked wildly in absolute glee. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. At Hangchat, when Erin and I say “Good morning’ to the kids, we get occasional glances in our direction, completely laughed at, maybe a smile and a very quiet ‘Good morning teacher,’ as a response. The Chula-bots were in utter ecstasy to be in our presence. (I call the Chulabhorn students Chula- bots, because they are so incredibly smart, well-mannered, and eager to learn, as if they have been programmed for success by the Princess herself).
We spent the day on Friday manning a station, and doing our assigned activity with each of the 8 groups. I should add that the genius theme for English camp, that Jessie and Alison came up with, was the Solar System, so each group was a planet and each game involved something Space-like. The Cha Cha Slide became the “Space Boogie Station,” so cute and clever. Erin baked in the sun while playing shooting star hopscotch, or something similar. I baked in the sun while hosting a constellation game show, or something similar. If the game show finished early, I would ask the kids to sing for me (a common theme in my life these days). Here’s a clip of a Thai song and dance that all the kids are doing these days. We heard the Hangchat kids sing it a few weeks ago on Sports Day. Here is "Venus" singing on command. Love those mutant ninja turtle headbands!
Friday night we took all the kids to the Night Bazaar, to ‘practice their English.’ In reality, the kids shopped and got their BB guns repaired. A few completed their assignment of interviewing “Farangs” at the market, asking where they were from, etc. ‘Where are all the Thai teachers,’ we were wondering at one point. Look no further than the food stands, great supervision. When the kids left at 8, the Americans stayed, took in a Gateuey show (a ladyboy spectacular-spectacular extravaganza,) ate roti (Thai fried dough, most likely my favorite food here) and had a few drinks. Then we went to listen to some reggae at Peace Bar. It’s all about the reggae here in Thailand, and I’m sort of loving it!
On Saturday we watched and judged the kids’ skits. They were really weird. Many involved some really awkward young teen slow-dancing. Others involved lots of baby powder, used in lieu of a fog machine. One had Michael Jackson in it. All involved lots of shrieking and swooning. All in all, it was sort of like being asked to choose in which manner you would prefer to die – all so painful, how do you choose?
Then we got presents, a phenomenal buffet lunch at a fancy hotel (complete with both cake and ice cream,) and some hugs from the Chula-teachers.
Saturday night, we met up with yet another CIEE-er, (Wow! Reunion!) and made our wonderful return to Teepee Bar and then back to Peace Bar. Erin met some British teens (19, but still, some of our students are almost 19!) and she liked to pet their heads and call them ‘her little nuggets.’ We all did our fake British accents and disgusted them with our crass American ways. At some point during this very eventful night, I was attacked by some sort of demonic breed of insects. I’m going to have to blame it on Teepee Bar, just because that place is violating more health codes than exist, and we were sitting on mats on the floor. The next morning, I woke up with approximately 75 large red bites covering my calves and ankles. I will spare you a photo, but I will say that they are getting grosser and itchier by the day. Thank you Teepee, for the lovely souvenir.Sunday, (after some banana pancakes of course,) Erin and I hopped a bus to Mae Sai, where Thailand borders Myanmar. We were told that we must visit this town because of the unbelievable shopping opportunities. Although the town itself isn’t all that scenic, the shopping was something to experience. Market upon market was lining the streets selling everything from transistor radios to cashews to kiddie pools. I got to practice my bartering, (“Pang ma! Lok noy ka? Nitnoy? Mai dai, Sawadi ka!” Shut down!) and we got a killer view from the top of a mountain Wat (temple). When we came down from the Wat, a random man made us smile for a picture, first one of Erin, then one of the two of us, far away shots, then close-ups. If only my students were so captivated!
Before the journey home on Monday, we made our way to Sop Ruak, (after a broken sandal emergency, during which Erin saved the day by running across the street and buying me the ‘ugliest flip flops she could find’). 
Sop Ruak has become known as the center of the Golden Triangle in Thailand. The Golden Triangle is really a stretch of thousands of kilometers of land covering Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, where opium harvesting and production was most prevalent in Southeast Asia. Now Sop Ruak is basically not much more than a tourist attraction, although there were some cool Disneyworld status statues, a somewhat interesting museum, and again, some more great scenic views across the Mekhong River. And I have finally found a circumstance where being a Farang has its benefits. In our Sarng tao-ous (taxis) and buses, there were frequent police stops and drug checks. All the Thai people had to show their ID cards and papers, to ensure there is no illegal border hopping going on. Erin and I are white, obviously not Burmese, so they didn’t give us a second look. What if I was transporting drugs across the border? Maybe I was adopted by a Burmese couple . . . come on guys, cover your bases!
Sop Ruak has become known as the center of the Golden Triangle in Thailand. The Golden Triangle is really a stretch of thousands of kilometers of land covering Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, where opium harvesting and production was most prevalent in Southeast Asia. Now Sop Ruak is basically not much more than a tourist attraction, although there were some cool Disneyworld status statues, a somewhat interesting museum, and again, some more great scenic views across the Mekhong River. And I have finally found a circumstance where being a Farang has its benefits. In our Sarng tao-ous (taxis) and buses, there were frequent police stops and drug checks. All the Thai people had to show their ID cards and papers, to ensure there is no illegal border hopping going on. Erin and I are white, obviously not Burmese, so they didn’t give us a second look. What if I was transporting drugs across the border? Maybe I was adopted by a Burmese couple . . . come on guys, cover your bases! 
Merry Christmas to everyone! Erin and I will be celebrating by drinking Johnnie Walker at the club with Pan and ‘some math teachers.’ Unconventional, yet unforgettable I’m sure. We’re missing everyone a lot, go outside and make a snow angel for me. 
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