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.
