Parents' Day

On Friday afternoon around 3:30 Aj. Oi said that there is Parents' Day on Sunday and we must attend. Cool. Thanks for the notice. So I rearranged my plans and walked into my office at Sattriwithaya 2 School on Sunday morning at 9 o'clock sharp. Right when Aj. Oi told me to show up. I arrived at an empty school and an empty office. Not surprising because this is Thailand and no one is ever really sure when things will begin.

So at 10:15, I headed to my homeroom where I waited with most of the students and their Thai homeroom teacher for the parents to arrive. I wasn't exactly sure what to do but the students had me pose for pictures all around the room. Some of the early arriving parents took my picture as well. 45 minutes later all the parents were sitting in their students' seats respectively. Aj. Homeroom gestured to me to stand and introduce myself. Which I did. "My name is Mary. I am from America. I will be teaching Art, Health and English Club. It is nice to meet you." (Most Thai people won't understand United States or USA. So I have to say 'America') The parents clapped, then bowed to me. Some mumbled "Good Morning". Then Aj. Homeroom told me, "You are free." She keeps saying that.

I always enjoy seeing my students' parents. (Maybe that will change once I am a full blown teacher with all the responsibilities. I love how the students look like their parents. All of the kids were so proud to show their parents around their classroom, guide them to where they sit and point out their work on the walls.

I headed back to my office when Aj. Sito/Grandma grabbed my arm and gave me some information about what would happen next.... all in Thai. All she said was lunch in English. Lunch turned out to be a container full of rice and chicken and a bag of soup. Not sure how I am going to eat it. Normally best to just wait until someone who speaks English shows up. I am getting the feeling that my presence at Parents' Day has more to do with showing off than meeting the parents. Your students go to prestigous, highly academic school. Look at all of our foreign teachers. Whatever. I got a free lunch and pictures of me will be blowing up the newsfeeds of the students of M 1/5 at SW2.

Photo: Mary at her desk.