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Mr. Songkran

Posted by Stuart at 01:45 PM on April 12, 2003

Pom chue Stuart. Pom yu wittiyalai nanacha. Pom mah jak America.

When I arrived at the office this morning at 9:00, I was given the red silk jacket that I was fitted for yesterday. Then, one of the Thai teachers rolled up a silk scarf and tied it to my head and then wrapped a gold-weave cloth around that. I was then drapped with a long gold chain over one shoulder, had golden leaves placed in my hair and given touch of stage makeup. What an emsemble!

All 21 participants were assembled and we walked onto the stage one-by-one as we were introduced. Then, each of us had to take the microphone and introduce ourselves. I gave the speech above, which means "My name is Stuart. I am from the International College. I come from America."

No, I didn't win Mr. Songkran... but I did make it to the second round where they asked each participant one question. I'm terrible of thinking up stuff on the spot (especially in front of a crowd) but I guess I did well enough to get the second runner-up award. (Woohoo!)

So now, my Songkran holiday is here. I am heading to Buriram to the home of my friend Nat. We will be joined by his boyhood friend Pae and Pae's friend from Australia named Richard. We are renting a car for what should be a 5 hour drive, but it will probably take us all night. We are expecting unbelieveably terrible traffic as we join everyone else in getting the heck out of the Big City.

Happy New Year!