Twice before my wife and I have attended Sport Days that Tahsang Village School has participated in. This year was an even more special time for the students of the school; their school was hosting the event.
The Sport Day is actually conducted over five days with the last day being like a mini Olympics between competing village schools - complete with opening ceremony, dance routine, and an Olympic flame. Four local schools for children 3 years old to 15 years old were participating in the grand event.
We drove out to Tahsang Village early on Friday 28 December in order to watch the parade of the students from Tahsang Village the short distance to the school at the perimeter of the village.
Some Tahsang Village School Students Awaiting Their Marching Orders |
Bem and Friend Ready to Lead Tahsang Village School Students |
Bem Leads Her Fellow Students On To the Field |
After the schools had assembled on the field of competition, there was a ceremony to raise the Thai flag, firing of three fireworks, opening speeches, lighting of the Olympic flame or rather the lighting of the pot of charcoal and finally an awards presentation.
Duangchan was awarded a certificate of appreciation by Tahsang Village School for her support and contributions during 2012. Duang had attended the school for four years but had to leave to help support the family by working in the fields when she was ten years old. Besides the current students being relatives and friends from the village, I suspect that Duang enjoys being able to help others. She contributes milk, food, and snacks to the students for special events. It was nice to see her generosity and support for the students recognized.
Tahsang Village Students Perform Wai Khru Ram Muay |
Just as for the opening of the Olympics there was a dance routine for the Sports Day. As hosts for the event, Tahsang Village was responsible for the routine. They did a fantastic job! Tahsang Village School has 48 students and I believe all of them participated in the routine. The students wore their blue and red uniforms accessorized with a red headband invoking the mongkhon worn by actual Muay Thai fighters. The students preformed a stylized "Wai Khru Ram Muay". The Wai Khru Ram Muay is a warm up activity resembling a dance prior to competing in a Muay Thai match. Besides preparing the fighter physically and mentally, it demonstrates respect for the teachers and the trainers of Muay Thai. It is accompanied by unique music which reminds me of the music you hear in old movies where a snake charmer is performing. For me, the Wai Khru Ram Muay is the best part of most matches. The movements and music are hypnotic and steeped with a long history. The students performed it very well.
The Wai Khru Ram Muay is an individualized activity with each fighter selecting the movements to demonstrate his skills as well as personality. The activity by the Tahsang Village students was meant to be a choreographed routine performed in unison. To the most part it succeeded in that intent. However as the saying goes, "There is one in every crowd".
I had left the sidelines and walked to the middle of the field to get some better close up photographs of the students. As I approached the back side of the performing students, three year old "Eat" broke from formation and re positioned himself directly in front of me. Then in perhaps in a more genuine display of respect for the tradition of the Wai Khru Ram Muay broke into his own set of moves with huge amount of enthusiasm and unbridled joy.
"Eat" Performing His Own Wai Khru Ram Muay |
After the performance concluded. the competitions got underway. There were running races, relay races, ping pong, volleyball, futbol (soccer), taekraw, and petanque. There was also an unofficial competition between the schools for enthusiasm - blaring sound systems and students performing competing dance routines vied for bragging rights around the field.
No Need for Track Shoes or Even Shoes to Race In Isaan |
Besides the teachers and students there were many spectators at the event. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers, sisters aunts, and uncles all attended the event. They enjoyed themselves watching the children and of course - gossiping amongst themselves. Duang's Aunt, "Momma Glasses", showed up with a full bottle of whiskey that did not remain full for long. Everyone was enjoying themselves but then again that is what typically happens when the Lao Loum people get together.
Eat Enjoying Some Ice Cream |
Too Young To Go To School, But Old Enough To Enjoy A Cucumber |
Who knows? Maybe they will win, next year.
Tahsang Village School Fans |
No comments:
Post a Comment