Most people enjoy a good party but everyone has different ideas on what the best way to celebrate is. Some love large crowds, others are content with several close friends nearby; some prefer to dance and sing, others would rather keep things peaceful; some would like a full on meal, others just want a nice cup of steaming coffee; some readily dress up, others keep things casual; etc.
In Baan Phak Phing, Christmas is a huge deal and we celebrate it big time. For us that means dancing, playing games, singing, listening to a story, acting out sketches and sharing an elaborate meal. We invite former girls, our neighbors, friends and family over so that we can celebrate with a large group. Thankfully, we were able to celebrate Christmas despite Corona. It felt like such a privilege, we are so grateful. When it came to New Years, we were still able to celebrate, though we usually keep that a bit smaller anyways, with ‘just’ our large family. All the girls and co-workers came together for a lovely and long Thai barbecue. In between bites, we played games and danced. We also shared a story and even sang karaoke. It was such a pleasure to be able to start the year together like this.
Robbed of your self-esteem
Nina* (not her real name) is the first daughter of her mother and father, she is 10 years old. Her parents are divorced and her mother has a new husband. Her mother worked in a food company and she used to leave Nina with her grandmother’s sister, who was unable to work due to an