The School

When it comes to school, what one soon realizes is the fact that kids here love it. Smiley faces, bright eyes, dirty feet from running around barefoot, hands joined in respect every time a teacher passes by. Children come to the school even on a Sunday to meet up and play.

Teachers in Thailand are highly respected. That is evident in the way teachers are greeted with the ‘why’ at the level of the nose, which is the same sign of respect towards parents. Similarly to elsewhere in Thailand, teachers in MSPT are highly regarded not only by the children but also by the villagers. There is even a day, the second Thursday of June, that is devoted to showing gratitude to teachers and takes place at a nation-wide level. The previous day students seek flowers which are later put in gold and silver bowls with the help of teachers and given to the later on Teacher’s Day.

The school has relatively good infrastructures, and a lot of space where the kids can play. In the village, students help in building their school. A typical school day in MSPT starts at 9 in the morning and ends around 4 in the afternoon with a general assembly, and a one-hour break for lunch is taken. Students living in the nearby village are transported back and forth daily for the classes in a vehicle, the expenses of which are covered by the school, while the MSPT students arrive on foot. After the Thai flag has been hoisted to the sound of the national anthem, students scatter to go to their classes. Not only at home, but also at school, students and teachers alike take off their shoes before entering a room. Each teacher has her class and each class lasts around sixty minutes. At lunchtime, students have to chant what their food contains in terms of nutrition in the form of prayer before they proceed with their lunch, which has been cooked and administered by the teachers themselves. As far as teachers are concerned, they eat in the kitchen situated behind the teacher’s room and dishes are washed before going to class to resume teaching. Provided that the Thai are a very polite and hospitable people, it is hard for guests to assist in anything, as they insist that they do not inconvenience the guest by doing everything themselves. We’ve been told that when you are able to help with chores etc you are considered as part of the family. We washed our first glasses on the second day… albeit not without a little persistence on our part.

Also, we do not lack protection! The school stuff and the students have their own hairy, quadruped guard, a dog that responds to the name Bobo… or not, unless you are eating something. To the question ‘Who feeds him?’ the teachers answered ‘Everyone!’. Bobo is a happy, spoiled dog, indeed.