Roi Et - Clowning with the kids - Day 1

First day of workshop. October 13, 2008.

120 in the school and first day they put 70 kids in one class for us to do our workshop! Holy cow. After that we arranged three groups so we have a more manageable amount for each class. The kids are very shy and held back. I don't think they have ever done or even seen anything like this before. Silly goofy movement, especially done by an adult, in a class. On purpose! I see them act and move silly and freely when playing on their own in the school yard, they're kids after all. But to do so consciously, in a structured way, as requested by a teacher. To express themselves with purpose -- freely and assertively with creativity and imagination. That's not done in school. There is no creative play in school. No exposure to expressive arts, to theater and dance. I am told that in Thai schooling, children are taught to follow rules and not to have any ideas of their own. Total conformity. This can be said for a lot of education, in the Western world too, but especially true in Thailand, so it appears. Indeed, it's been a challenge to get them to move freely about the room, not in a circle or a line.

I wonder how they are receiving what we are doing. Not too many tourists come to this area; they are not used to seeing foreigners -- and here I am making all kinds of silly movements and sounds, acting like a fool! And wanting them to do it!