His name is Tata

So I really didn't have any classes today either. Out of the 3 I was supposed to have, one didn't show up, one I only taught a mini-lesson, and the last asked to leave early so they could get lunch before the procession. It was the beginning of a Buddhist holiday, and a day during which the kids took large candles that they had carved designs into, placed them in an ornate parade float type thing, and walked in their various class groups to deliver them to Wats around the city. Ben, Char and I went to Wat Chang Si with the green group. We tagged along with Char's Thai little sisters. It was an interesting and intensely hot walk. There were several sign holders, a group behind them holding offerings, then dancers behind them, the parade float being pulled and pushed that had the candle and several students perched atop it, and following behind were about 100-odd students. When we got to the Wat they all sat and prayed. Ben, Char and I left before the end and headed back to school. Char and Ben had to go travel, Ben to Chiang Mai and Char to Pattaya. Alli and I will be headed to Chiang Mai ourselves tomorrow.

Today, we went to walking street with one of my Thai little sisters, Jar, and a couple of her friends. Alli and I were on a mission to find Tata, one of our coworkers, a graduation present. It took us a little while but we finally found a kitschy photo holder that would suffice. We went after Walking Street to Tata's graduation party, which was at his house about a block and a half from the school. Holy karaoke. Seriously, from the time we got there until about 4 hours later when we left, so much Thai karaoke. They kept trying to get us to sing so we found a couple of English songs we knew to sing. Otherwise it was a time full of drinking and hilarity. Our little Japanese teacher man friend, Ryoma, was there and his English is "very casual." We got to hear him call himself a "real motha-fucka," and another teacher "bitch-ass," which I wish I could relay to you in his heavy Japanese accent. He learned most of his English from rap songs, he tells us. Ryoma got Tata a Doraemon bookbag like a 5 year old would wear. Tata wore it the entire night, and insisted every time Ryoma said his name that he instead be addressed as "Doraemon."

By the end of the party, Tata's father had invited me, Ryoma, and Alli to drink his Johnnie Walker with him at his table. While Alli and I were anxious at first, we definitely agreed by the end of the party that it was a good life choice. We cannot unhear the way Ryoma said some American curse words (hilarious... "Pan-ze-ass!"). My face still hurts from laughing, and we had a great if not fully awkward time at a Thai coworker's graduation party.