the month of goodbyes.

February has been filled with goodbye ceremonies, goodbye dinners, and cleaning out desks and houses. Matti was the first of us to leave. He got a job back in Finland and started shortly after he ended here. We had Matti's goodbye ceremony, then later that night had the goodbye dinner for Matti, Marty, Jen and Belinda. The next week was Marty, Jen and Belinda's goodbye ceremony and they left that weekend. Last Friday we had Catie, Kati and Lijuan's goodbye ceremony and last night we had their goodbye dinner. It's only Glendon, Brett and me left as the only fa-rangs (foreigners). Glendon will be leaving after summer school and then Brett and I will be anxiously waiting for the new arrivals. 

Matti's goodbye ceremony was the first introduction of what goes down in this emotional ceremony. All the students in the EP program gather in one of the empty rec rooms. The person or people leaving sit in front of everyone at a table to their hands folded together hanging off the table. Under their hands is a silver bucket type thing filled with flowers. First, Chaht makes a speech in Thai to the students about you then Tuke calls up a representative from each class. That student comes to the front and says some nice things in English about you and what you've done for them. Some classes sing songs, or read things to you or give you drawings. Then you say a few words about your experience and thank yous and whatnot. After, one by one the faculty first, lines up and pours water over your hands and says some meaningful words to you, the students follow by grade.

The goodbye dinners are just for the faculty to say a last goodbye and eat over some delicious food.  Chaht makes a speech, you make a speech and we all have a good time. The dinners seem to get smaller and smaller. Sad.

Pattaya & Valentine's Day

I've been a bit behind so I'll catch you up on my month of February. Catie, Heather and I spent the first full weekend in Pattaya. Apparently one of the most popular beach spots for tourists. There are lots of Swedish, Russian, and Finish people. Most of the Thai's who work there can speak at least one of those languages to be able to sell to those tourists. The beach was alright, but there was always something happening in town. Definitely a big nightlife spot we got to eat at a Mexican restaurant which was a nice change of pace. We stayed at a really cute hostel with a restaurant below and made friends with the waiters there. They were really nice. It was good to be able to lay on a beach again though!

The next weekend was Valentine's Day. Heather, Brittany, Catie and I decided that we would go into Bangkok and finally see the Sky Bar. It's a rooftop bar with an amazing view of Bangkok at night. Although the view is amazing it comes with a price. Drinks are very expensive so we only stayed for two but it was worth it!