Sukhumvit Fair

We had our big school fair this past weekend, the Sukhumvit Fair. It was a really good time. There were a lot of tents set up with food vendors and games for the kids. My job was the late shift MC. I had a lot of fun with that and received a lot of compliments for the job I did. Pretty much, I was on the main stage talking in between the acts by the kids and other people. A lot of the performances by our kids were really good. I was shocked and very proud of the ones who went up on stage.

I also found it very interesting that they had beer stands at the event. The fact that people, let alone teachers, can drink alcohol on school grounds blows my mind. But for everyone there, it was no big deal. After the first shift of teachers was done with their duty, they just gathered around a table and started throwing them back. Kids running all over the place as if its no big deal. Definitely a cultural difference, because I would never imagine drinking alcohol at school or in the presence of students and their parents.

We had a in-service day the Friday before the fair. Teachers from both campuses were there to help set-up and get prepared for the fair the following day. Our school service staff also showed up and helped set-up for the fair. By service staff, I am talking about the people who work in the copy room, supply room and secretaries. It would be similar to the secretaries and book store workers back home.

The one difference was the teachers were allowed to go home around 2 or so, while the service staff stuck around and continued to work well past that. I'm not sure what time they finished, but I imagine it was late. I do know that these individuals often come in on Saturdays and work as well. In fact, during our 3-week Christmas break, the service staff only received 1 or 2 days off work.

If I were part of the service staff, I would get really upset at the teachers for not putting as much time and for having to come in on Saturdays. But that is part of the culture over here. They are told by someone above them (socially, economically or in their job) to do something and they don't argue. I have come in on Saturday to get some work done and I sometimes see them sitting around not doing much of anything. Not that they are lazy, but because there is nothing to do with no teachers or students around.

I truly think part of the reason they have to come in on Saturdays and work such long hours is because by making them do this, the people 'above' them can maintain the social order that is established. It may seem far-fetched, but I believe that it is a way of controlling a lower class. By forcing them to work those long hours and many days, the upper-class is in a way, keeping them in their place and not allowing them to search for avenues to improve their social or economic status, either through education or job searching.

I have no research basis for this, but its simply theory that has come to me through my observations.

Aaron