Graduation

A couple weeks ago I experienced my first Yonok Graduation. However, I was not sitting in the audience. Since I am the interim head of the English Department, I had to participate and walk in the ceremony. My robe was black with a neon pink velvet trim. This robe was definitely not suited for the Thai climate! We had to practice for 5 hours the day before the ceremony. What a hassle!

And let me tell you that I have never in my life seen a ceremony with such pomp and circumstance. We processed from across the campus while thunderous orchestral music boomed over the speakers. Even the undergrads were allowed to wear hoods (which I thought was very unusual but then I remember that this is still a developing country and it's quite an honor to graduate from college here.) So the ceremony was torturous....I was the only one onstage whose seat was in the sun. Also, they put me in the front row on stage (because I'm white) and I felt pretty self-conscious. There must have been 1,000 people there. However, it was quite good to see my English majors graduate and I felt very proud of them. Also, the campus looked gorgeous and I did my best to try to understand what was happening during the program. There are ample opportunities for me to practice my Thai!

This is one of my favorite students. Her name is Sein which means diamond in Burmese. She's from Myanmar and very bright. I know she will go on to do great things!


This one is with my friend Rachanee (which means "queen" in Thai) who just finished her MBA. She welcomed us to the Hindu temple in town.


These are my Business English majors! Yam, Mon, Nai, Me, Pung and Tu. I'm so happy that all of them have gotten jobs already as teachers and translators.


And a picture with all the big-wigs as well as the humanities students.