ALL up in my face!

Today literally blew my mind!  As if we have not been shown appreciation and thanks for traveling to KPRU enough, we became the prime hotspot of the exhibition on campus today.  The day started off at the opening ceremony, where we were seated in the front section next to the President and his cabinet.  Dr Matney was honored by sitting on the couch with the President and former President to watch the ceremony.  The president talked for a while with us as he showed us where to sit.  I enjoy the fact that he makes time to talk with us and shows interest in how well we are enjoying our stay.  The ceremony consisted of the KPRU band, Thai dances, and a presentation of awards from the governor of Kampaegn Phet to faculty members.  Throughout the whole ceremony, it was if we were at some celebrity awards show.  People would take pictures of the ceremony, notice us, then turn and take our picture.  Some would even get right up close and personal.  Not what I am use to.  The group shots were okay, but having a personal photo of me watching the ceremony…not okay!  It was very strange to have that much attention.  We were then interviewed by the KPRU tv.  Again, way too much attention for who we are.  We are treated as if we are some group of well known, important figures.  But in reality, we’re just typical American college students.  Most of us were talking about how if this situation was reversed and Thai students came to visit us in the states, there would be little attention.  One, the United States has a very diverse citizenship, and two, BGSU host many study abroad students every year.  It would be highly unlikely for any attention or recognition be given to them. 

                 

 After the ceremony, we joined our Thai college friends and walked around the exhibition.   This reminded me of BGSU tailgating with white tents lined throughout an area.  Each department had a booth where they presented games, food, activities, etc.  Most were run by student organizations within the departments who charged a small amount to buy food or participate, but most were free.  My Thai friends (Pad, Jane, and Toey) were very generous and thoughtful the whole day.  They were always offering to buy me food, they gave me any prize they won, they intentionally tried to win me a prize during a scavenger hunt that was all in Thai, they always grabbed things out of my hand to free them for an activity, and if I had trash in my hand they grabbed it and threw it away.

                

At lunch time, as Pad, Jane, and I walked to watch 180IQ (a math competition for secondary students), Toey went and got me lunch and brought it to me….only I ate at this time.  It was very odd, but very thoughtful and generous of him to go get me food himself.  We watch one round of the 7-9 grades 180IQ competition.  I quickly witnessed in 3 seconds just how fast Asians compute in their head.  It was unbelievably.  The students are given 5 single digit numbers and a two digit target number.  The goal is to determine what combination of computations of the 5 single digits results in the target number.  Before I could even process what 5 numbers I was given, a student already buzzed in.  Crazy. Just crazy!  Being the nerd I am, I was very jealous of their mathematical brain!

We then took a break before heading to watch the parade.  All the Thai college students and BGSU students went back to the math education room “hangout” room and bonded as a whole.  We first showed each other typical dancing of cultures.  They taught us some silly song/dances that we will do at the math camp this weekend.  Since we were lame and had no song/dance, we taught the Macarena and the hokey pokey.  We then were taught a silly game they play sitting in a circle.  When someone messes up, they have to stand in the middle and do some silly little dance.  Through this whole experience, it was clear this group of students acted more as a family.  They were all very close and the environment created was very warm, welcoming, and friendly.  As many of us mentioned, we were not embarrassed to dance silly in front of them.  However, back in American, dancing these silly dances as a group or alone would be very embarrassing.  It was very comforting to know this environment exists.  I am jealous I did not have something like this. 

To end the day, we went back out to the exhibition for the parade.  There, we again had close seats, this time the row behind the President and his cabinet.  This ceremony had music, dancing, and a parade.  The parade was full of people representing many different universities in Thailand and countries near it.  At the end, we got to engage in the Prayer for the King.  We held lit candles and listened to the governor read a special prayer for the King, the last portion was repeated by the crowd.  The band then played 2 songs and the crowd sang the words very loudly.  In American, I feel the crowd would be quiet and only half sing.  Here, everyone sings very loud and proud.  I felt an instant sense of strong community during this portion of the ceremony. 

                

Our Thai friends took us around different tents to get dinner while dances were performed.  The whole day was very enlightening on how the Thai culture views visitors and Americans in general.  I appreciated all the honor and recognition we were given.  I very much enjoy hanging out and building bonds with the Thai students.  It amazes me how after only 2 day we are all very comfortable and bonded.  We joke around, laugh, and learn from one another all day.  There is a lot of teaching from both sides about the language and what certain words are.  I have created a very good bond with my 3 Thai students.  We already have inside jokes and pick on one another.  The entire day is full of laughter. 

I am excited to spend the next 4 days with these friends and hope to build stronger bonds with more. 

Did I mention I spotted cheerleaders at the exhibition?!  Of course I had to stop and watch…and take pictures! Missed the whole pyramid part on camera....but I got the cradle!