I'll have to admit, it's difficult to read news about the drought-induced water shortages in California while this entire country is splashing, dumping, dunking, firing, hosing water at each other for three straight days. Though there is something to be said about an annual festival that largely involves brightly colored aloha shirts and some serious water guns.
In Thai class last week, we were talking about Songkran and our teacher asked us to share what festivals we have in our home countries. With fellow students from Russia, Japan, and Germany, there were some interesting festivals but none quite compared to Songkran. Our teacher asked brightly, "So what do people in your country do for your festival?"
"Eat a lot of food and watch football." (U.S. Thanksgiving)
"Make special food and pray to our ancestors." (Japan Summer Festival)
"Drink a lot of beer." (German Oktoberfest)
The teacher's smile faded as she gently asked, "Is that all?"
Granted our Thai vocabulary was limited, but she basically was saying, none of you have national festivals where you get to run amok for three days laying siege to the streets with water guns? Where is your national sense of fun?
And fun, or sanuk, one quickly learns is a huge, mostly wonderful, part of Thai culture. If a national water festival every year doesn't convince you, you'll eventually realize that making sure sanuk is had by all is a national pastime for Thais. Occasionally, always being enthusiastic and up for a good time can get tiring for foreigners but your Thai family, friends and colleagues always mean well. Just keep an open mind and an easy smile, and always remember, nothing gets in the way of sanuk. Nothing.
*Thais follow the Buddhist Calendar Year, which is currently in the year 2558. It's really neat to see on your Thai work permit or driver's license that your birthday is 500 years in the future.
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