These are from this year's celebration of Loy Krathong. I went to the huge lantern send off on Saturday where about 20,000 people celebrated together and sent off lanterns at the same time (well, some people were too impatient and sent them early, but most people sent them together). My camera died, so I didn't get many pictures of that, but Seal and I met up with some of the kids on Monday for the parade and to do some Kom Loi and banana leaf Krathongs. There is more to the story below if you are interested to read.
I have been enjoying Loy Krathong/Yee Peng and saw the lanterns on Saturday and went to see the parade and do krathongs with the kids and with Seal, another of our Thai staff. But, can you tell me why people have to suck and ruin things when everyone just wants to have a good time?
So, tonight, Seal and I walked down the street to where the families of most of our kids had their booths selling things, and were just chatting with them and the kids and watching the parade, when out of nowhere this white guy from Sweden who had been watching us, comes up and asks where I am from. I say the US, and he's like "Do you like it better here?" so I'm like "sure!" and then he totally goes off about why do all Americans have to come change everyone's religion? So, i"m like "whoa, dude, I don't want to get into a theological discussion with you, I'm just here to watch the parade and enjoy myself."
But, he won't let it go, he starts saying how he has lived with Akha people for 20 years and they are all dumb and uneducated so all these Americans are paying them to change religions. Meanwhile, all the parents and Seal are like "what is he saying? What is he saying?" so I'm trying to translate, and they are like "What? no, it's not about money, it's about your heart." So, I translate that for the guy and say that maybe 50 years ago that was true that people paid Akha people to convert, but not anymore, and he says "oh, I just saw it today," pointing at one of our families who is Christian and has been for years and I see at Akha church every week.
So, I'm just like "whatever, buddy, I don't want to fight with you, I just want to watch the parade," and try to walk away. But, HE FOLLOWS ME and now, he's yelling in the street "F*** Americans! F*** Americans! You are all F***ing horrible people" so finally, I go "Hey, man, this here is my family" but before I can either punch him or give him a piece of my mind, all the parents are stepping between us and saying "don't talk to him, don't listen to him, just go with the kids to the bridge" and Seal is dragging me away because, I don't know, I guess they thought he was gonna like attack me or vice versa.
I hate when stuff like that happens, it really rattles me, because in the moment I am so stunned that someone would tallk that way to a perfect stranger in the middle of a crowd of people and simultaneously want to have a well thought out argument to shut him up and at the same time want to punch him for offending me and the people I love. It's so infuriating! Later I thought, I should have just said "don't worry about it man, there have been missionaries here for 100 years and they've only converted 2% of the population, so your indignation is unwarranted." Oy. What do you do in those situations (assuming you have been in them).
The evening was redeemed by going to do Khom Loi with about 10 of our kids and then floating Krathongs on the river (after reminding the kids about how Baby Moses was floated on the river and having them say a prayer before we lit them and floated them) and finally taking everyone for a ride in the ferris wheel, during which it started to downpour, so we walked home in the drenching, blinding rain. That part was less fun.
I have been enjoying Loy Krathong/Yee Peng and saw the lanterns on Saturday and went to see the parade and do krathongs with the kids and with Seal, another of our Thai staff. But, can you tell me why people have to suck and ruin things when everyone just wants to have a good time?
So, tonight, Seal and I walked down the street to where the families of most of our kids had their booths selling things, and were just chatting with them and the kids and watching the parade, when out of nowhere this white guy from Sweden who had been watching us, comes up and asks where I am from. I say the US, and he's like "Do you like it better here?" so I'm like "sure!" and then he totally goes off about why do all Americans have to come change everyone's religion? So, i"m like "whoa, dude, I don't want to get into a theological discussion with you, I'm just here to watch the parade and enjoy myself."
But, he won't let it go, he starts saying how he has lived with Akha people for 20 years and they are all dumb and uneducated so all these Americans are paying them to change religions. Meanwhile, all the parents and Seal are like "what is he saying? What is he saying?" so I'm trying to translate, and they are like "What? no, it's not about money, it's about your heart." So, I translate that for the guy and say that maybe 50 years ago that was true that people paid Akha people to convert, but not anymore, and he says "oh, I just saw it today," pointing at one of our families who is Christian and has been for years and I see at Akha church every week.
So, I'm just like "whatever, buddy, I don't want to fight with you, I just want to watch the parade," and try to walk away. But, HE FOLLOWS ME and now, he's yelling in the street "F*** Americans! F*** Americans! You are all F***ing horrible people" so finally, I go "Hey, man, this here is my family" but before I can either punch him or give him a piece of my mind, all the parents are stepping between us and saying "don't talk to him, don't listen to him, just go with the kids to the bridge" and Seal is dragging me away because, I don't know, I guess they thought he was gonna like attack me or vice versa.
I hate when stuff like that happens, it really rattles me, because in the moment I am so stunned that someone would tallk that way to a perfect stranger in the middle of a crowd of people and simultaneously want to have a well thought out argument to shut him up and at the same time want to punch him for offending me and the people I love. It's so infuriating! Later I thought, I should have just said "don't worry about it man, there have been missionaries here for 100 years and they've only converted 2% of the population, so your indignation is unwarranted." Oy. What do you do in those situations (assuming you have been in them).
The evening was redeemed by going to do Khom Loi with about 10 of our kids and then floating Krathongs on the river (after reminding the kids about how Baby Moses was floated on the river and having them say a prayer before we lit them and floated them) and finally taking everyone for a ride in the ferris wheel, during which it started to downpour, so we walked home in the drenching, blinding rain. That part was less fun.
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