Lab School Symposium 2011

Symposium originally came from the Greek term sympinein, "to drink together". It was a forum for men of good family to debate, plot, boast, or simply to revel with others. They were also frequently held to celebrate the introduction of young men into aristocratic society. Symposia were also held by aristocrats to celebrate other special occasions, such as victories in athletic and poetic contests.

Nowadays, the term Symposium  is used to define social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas
or a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics.  This year, my hubby's school hosted the Lab School Symposium where government schools all over the South Province joined . It's aim is to acquaint the students of the basic culture and traditions of Asian countries- Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Brunei, Japan and more! Each country was represented by a group of students . They wore the national costumes of the countries and displayed figurines/miniatures that represent the countries treasures (flags, buildings, tourist spots and more!). Let take a peek of what took place on that Symposium day:

The stage is ready to parteeeyyy!!!!

Booths for each ASEAN countries are represented

Here's our very own flag:)

This booth has made a very elegant entrance hall

A student representing the country of Malaysia. Behind him is the face-in-the hole board photo of Philippines' national costume. Too bad, hubby forgot to snap a closer version of this photo board:(

Bridal couple at a Malay wedding. They are beautifully dressed in traditional Malay wedding costumes in gold color theme. Even the wedding dais (raised platform) color matched the costumes of the couple. They are preparing for the 'bersanding' ceremony.

The wedding bands + gifts the bride & groom exchange to each other placed on wrapped step stools ( reminds me of  medical step stool )

Here, the students were busy jotting down important notes about the Philippines because they were required to make a narrative report about the symposium and important information about each ASEAN countries.

Hubby managed to capture Philippines miniatures- figurines wearing our costume, desk flag, Chocolate Hills...There's a poster about Manny Pacquiao but I didn't include it because it's blurred:(

a Thai vendor exhibition on making the famous Thailand Milk Tea "Chaa Yin"

We also had our own symposium but I only manage to have a photo with our students with their costume for the dance. Aren't their attires so fabulous?

How's my Thai Language?

I've been in Thailand for 5 years already but still my Thai is worst than ever! For me, Thai is a very difficult language to learn because it's a very tonal language. Basically, the same word can have multiple meanings depending on the exact renunciation and whether you use a rising tone, falling tone, mid tone, etc.! I know some people that pick it up fairly easily. I think if on my first few years here I have decided to seriously attend a Thai language school, I might learn enough to get by within a few months and be fluent by this time...*sigh*...However, though I'm not fluent yet with my Thai, I have survived because I learn how to ask for directions, ask how much something cost, and handle some of the basic travel type of situations. I could do basic conversations like how am I,  I could talk about where I was from, where I was going, I could bargain, give the taxi driver directions, and make my way through Thailand pretty well.

Now that Hyzyd will start his pre-school on November, I think I gotta learn with him. I'm pretty sure kids could easily pick up different languages. Hyzyd could now do basic greetings accompanied with wai (Thailand's way of greetings that consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion), saying Khop Khon Khrap (thank you) and Chuay Duay (Help!). I need to buy a Lecteurs MP3 (MP3 players) to make use of the Thai Lesson series I had in MP3 format.The series could be very helpful because I can listen to the words and they are very repetitive so I don't forget them .

I'm glad my motivation to learn Thai is back again! Thailand is a great place and Thai people are the best and the more I can communicate with them in their language the better the experience!

Rain

It's wet season here again in Thailand. Though I love rain on weekends because we could just snug on bed while watching movies with snacks and hot coffee, I could hate it when it hinders our plan to go outside the house like going to the market, to church , to the post office and to go anywhere! Tuktuk is kinda expensive and hard to find on rainy days especially in our side of town. Thus, the necessity of car for every family which we don't have yet! I read from Thaivisa.com that Phitsanulok in the lower North is still suffering from heavy flooding - at the highest level in 16 years, provincial authorities said. Hope we won't have flood again this year, I pray!

Because of the rain, my marketing is delayed. We don't have vegetables, meat and fish in our fridge already. I badly needed to go to the market amidst this heavy rain! Plus, I need to call our water vendor. Every time we run out of drinking water, we just call him up and he’ll be in our doorstep after few minutes. The drinking water that we ordered is the special one – 25 baht per container instead of the usual 12 baht. It’s much expensive because of the upgraded reverse osmosis systems used. We’re really sure that this type of system remove an extremely broad range of contaminants , thus, we’re safe with it.

I've decided this Sunday morning that instead of grumbling for the rain, I have to thank God for it. As I am writing this post, I am listening to the splashes of heavy rain hitting the Land of Smiles.

My Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs 2011

This is my official entry for The Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs 2011.

1. Tottering Mama. This mama-blogger shows ways to joyfully maximize your time at home as stay-at-home mom- from cooking simple and healthy meals to homeschooling tots! From time to time she's sharing parenting tips from choosing shoes to building character and self-confidence. I'm currently following their Playhouse Preschool Themes. It's fun and I'm sure my lil Hyzyd loves the activities!

2. My Painted Lips. This blog is more than just a lipstick blog. It hopes to inspire other stay at home moms to spent a "Me-time" for themselves like dabbing lip gloss or lipsticks before starting the day. Stay-at-home moms may not well-dressed all the time but with the help of painted lips , these really brings out the va va voom in here! My Painted Lips helps the readers (especially the busy SAHMs like her) to unleash their inner glamour girl with beautiful lip color that lets them know just how sexy they are!

3. Mom Writes .This mom just write for the sheer pleasure of writing , not because she's paid to it! It's one of those blogs that a writer pours out her soul. She likes spreading the joy that is her life amidst the struggles and qualms she met in life.

4. Green Living Ideas. It's a blog that gives the readers tips to help save energy, money and our planet!

5. Mommy Survival Guide. You just enrolled yourselves into motherhood and don't have any idea to survive? This blog could give you tips and guides to enjoy motherhood instead of enduring it!

6. Pepperrific. A blog about the highs and lows of being a single mom. It offers bits and pieces of advice on raising a kid alone. This one of the bloggers that could really write well- amazing, talented writer she is! Wait till you read 5 Things a Single Mom Forgets and Why You should Forgive your Ex? and you'll be hooked to read the rest of the posts in her archives.

7. Notepad Corner. A personal blog of a mom that's filled with tips in running household and how to handle a child with ADHD. The posts are both inspiring and informative. You'll never get bored in visiting this mom's corner!

8. Certified Foodies. A food blog maintained by siblings who's love for food never get wasted.They share, review and rate new dishes they've tried on in order to educate readers not to be afraid on trying new food. You can't help but drool over sumptuous food imagery they presented on their blog!

9. LEVYousa. One of the blogs that radiates good vibes and spreading positivism around the blogosphere through her entertaining posts that makes one appreciate life and embracing life to the fullest!

10. The Bloggers Journal. For those who are on infancy stage in blogging , you need this blog to help you get through the Basics of Blogging. For those who are already in the blogging world for quite some time, you need this blog to tour you around the world of blogging which you haven't known before,  get to know the do's and don'ts of blogging and make us of the tips and tutorials offered in order to survive the tough world of blogging and earning from blogs.

The Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs is a writing project that aims to identify new and emerging blogs that are making an impact to its reader. This year is the 5th year of this writing project. And this writing project would not be possible if not for the following sponsors:

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