First Day of Sports Week

Classes this week have been occasionally cancelled in preparation for a little event called "Sports Days". Kids missed my class so that they could practice cheering for the competitors. I barely understand the concept of cheering and practicing for it makes no sense to me whatsoever, but now that I've seen some of their routines, it is impressive. Along with the massive artistic sets that have been prepared, it's quite a production. Another thing that bothers me, but would be acceptable to lots of my western friends, is that most of the cheering has so far been for running, which I consider a non-sport.

Today, there are no classes, and though we have to be here today, offices and classes are locked to prevent wandering children, I guess. The gymnasium was even closed up this morning so that more people would pay attention to the communal happenings on the soccer field. A long track was set up with corresponding cheering sections watching runners go round and round. The sun was hot and luckily, as the day progressed, the gym became free and unorganized sports took over that particular area.

I do not remember having a 'field day' in any of my school years, but I can guarantee that I would have been one of the kids in the gym, playing volleyball, basketball, or badminton in the most unofficial way possible. Basketball is simple enough because the rims are bolted to walls, but they remove the volleyball net so that kids had to build a "net" out of their shoes. This actually sums up many of my observations of Thailand: they do have the net, the ball, and the will, but these things are purposefully removed to serve something of the greater good or the master plan. Needless to say, I spent my time playing the unorganized, pay-no-attention-to-the-color-of-my-shirt, activities. This is partly because that's what I've spent my life enjoying the most and I appreciate the way it brings everyone together in friendly competition, but it's also partly because I'm one of two people not wearing the team colors today (i.e., I don't actually own a yellow shirt), and I feel out of place in a sea of synchronized colors.