The Thai Work Party

Some of my favorite teachers at the kindergarten

My school’s manager has a birthday that happens to be around the time of News Year’s. So instead of having a New Year’s party when most of the staff is traveling, the school waits to throw one big party that combines both the kindergarten and the high school. The massive kindergarten stage, complete with a new background and blinding lights, was the setting amid white clothed tables and chairs. Because when the Thais get together to throw a dinner party they also want entertainment…in the form of embarrassing their teachers. And I mean really embarrassing them. And for the kindergarten English department that embarrassment came in the form of the self-proclaimed (or was it SNL?) “Greatest Singer in the World,” Celine Dion. No, I did not choose the song. I did, however, choreograph the dance. But we’ll get to that later.

Thai dance party

The dinner came with a seven course traditional Chinese menu which included an entire duck. Smelled great so I dug my spoon in. Out came intestines and liver as well as a little breast meat. I lost my appetite fairly quickly and to my own dismay, for it was about an hour later when I pointed out to my friend Phil that he was eating intestine that he told me it was really just flower petals and roasted chestnuts (which have the exact same texture in your mouth as liver so I had legitimate grounds for confusion.)

“Really, Bradley, you think a duck has five livers?” he asked, pointing the chestnuts on everyone’s plate.

Fair point. I’ll give him that one. But to my defense, there was a lot of not-so-clandestine whiskey drinking going on at our table. Each table was equipped with only two bottles of beer meant to be shared between seven people. Naturally, we stuffed ten people (the entire farang English department of both schools) onto one table. And we all came stocked with our own provisions of beer and whiskey.

Drinking at a work party, especially when the majority of your coworkers don’t drink, is a dicey game to be playing. However, imagine my astonishment when I look over to see a table of Thai teachers also going to town on their own bottle of whiskey. They proved quite adept at rocking to the karaoke in their inebriated state.

Time for the English department to go home...

And no party, even a Thai work party, would be complete without dancing. And dancing and singing has always been a tradition for all Thai gatherings. Everyone was invited to come up and dance around the stage, though if you didn’t volunteer you found yourself dragged up to the crowd anyway. Got to say, it was one of the best work parties I’ve ever had (though my head would have appreciated if the English department had stopped partying when the party actually ended.)

And now, a moment I’m sure I will forever regret sharing with you, but I did make a promise to document everything. So without, further ado, here is the Celine Dion dance number (we nixed the singing party and decided to just dance.)

Disclaimer: A bit more courage was imbibed than was probably needed. Luckily for me, Jenna really steals the show. (Credit goes to S for taping it, although she couldn't figure out how to stop taping so it goes on for a bit at the end.) Password: shame

http://vimeo.com/19422990