I think one of the highlights for us during the first semester in schools in Thailand is the Wai Khru Ceremony. This is when the students pay respects to their teachers and present them with flowers or jasmine garlands. I have tried to explain this ceremony to some teacher friends from America and they found it difficult to comprehend. They said that no way would American students prostrate at the feet of their teachers. But, that is exactly what happens here. The students are making merit in order to gain good fortune over the coming academic year. When we receive the flowers we are not supposed to say “thank you” though I am often tempted to do so. We should take this opportunity to give them some good advice for their future and also to wish them good luck and say that we hope they will get good grades. These are pictures that I took at Sriwittayapaknam School this morning. Other schools will hold their own Wai Khru Ceremony this month. It doesn’t matter which week but it must take place on a Thursday.
