White Strings

After fifteen years together (in Thailand, kindergarten lasts three years), it's really hard for the graduating students to say goodbye to one another, especially at a school as small and close-knit as the one where I teach.

As the school year comes to a close, it's time for an annual school tradition: the M6 (senior) farewell trip. School life in Asia is quite different from that in the United States. Much of the students' lives revolve around their school, not just their studies, but the social aspect of school life is a huge part of their lives as well. The annual farewell trip is the last time the entire graduating class will be together (except for graduation), and is a chance for the students to say goodbye to the friends they've known for their entire lives, and to their teachers.

Petchaburi Beach

We boarded our three big busses, and, with a highway police escort, set off for the southern beach resort town of Petchaburi, quite close to Hua Hin. Again this year, we were staying at the officer's hotel directly on the beach.

I've been on the trip every year. Each one meant something different to me. The first year I just went for fun. I didn't teach M6 that year. My first year in Thailand, I was the main teacher for the M2 students, and only taught M1-4. While James and Ryan had meaningful goodbyes to say to their students, mostly it was just a fun time for me to hang out with my friends from work.

Last year was a little different, since I actually taught the M6 students, although only for one year. I made a point of saying goodbye and wishing luck to each of the students in my class.

But this year was really special for me. I've written so many times about how great class 46 is. I've been their teacher for three years now, and I was their main teacher last year in M5. I only got to teach 14 students in my writing class this year, and although I have taught most of these kids at one time or another, I have one core group who has been in my class for three years in a row. They're the ones who made me feel very welcome and encouraged as a teacher, and helped me decide to come back to Thailand for multiple years.

After a fun day on the beach (although I did end up getting baldly sunburnt), the students and teachers gathered together in the evening for the white string ceremony. It's the final farewell. Some of the teachers had prepared goodbye speeches to give. Although I hadn't prepared anything (because the entire ceremony is in Thai, so I really didn't think I would be asked to speak), they handed me a microphone, and I had to wing something. I think I did a pretty good job though!

Then some of the students spoke. Though most of them spoke Thai, two of the guys said their goodbyes in English, which was definitely directed at me, since I was the only foreigner on the trip who taught them. One of them was the student who told me they were very kind. I'll never forget that! Then the students circled up. The room was darkened except for the light of the small tea candles each student had in front of them. We teachers were given a handful of white strings, like the ones monks give at temples, to tie around our student's wrists with a final message and a wish of good luck. I didn't have enough for everyone... but I made it a point to speak to every student from my class this year.

goodbye ceremony

The next morning, we stopped to tour a wetlands on the way home. It's one of the royal projets, and is a place where they study natural filtration through mangrove forests. Really intersting! Luckily our friend and fellow English Teacher, Mo, was there. She's been with us at the school since I started, and is back this year after teaching abroad in Hawaii last year. She was our translator for most of the trip!

Royal Project wetlands

Then, just a week later, it was graduation day. This year was different than in the past. This year, all four schools (kindergarten, primary, secondary, and vocational) graduated at the same ceremony. Our assembly hall is kind of small, so only the new teachers, really important teachers, or ones winning awards had seats. I was lucky! Instead of sitting through the long graduation, I got to hang out with my Thai coworkers in the office, eat snacks, and watch the ceremony on TV!

It's the end of another successful year. It's been a good one overall, although I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy that the semester is at an end. I'll be ready to get back into it in May. Until then, best of luck to my graduating class! The day after graduation, I'm off to the USA via Japan. See you soon!