Trip to Thailand
Without Leaving School
By Martha Slater

Last week, Randolph Elementary School students presented a spectacular evening showcasing what they had learned about many aspects of Asian culture. Over the past school year, they’ve had a window on the Asian world opened for them by Primprao ("Prim") Dejdamrong, a young teacher from Bangkok, Thailand.

"Having her here makes it all more real for the kids," explained RES teacher Nora Skolnick. "A far-away place can be an abstract concept for kids at this age, but to have a real person here and hear her talk about her home and family makes it so real for them. This kind of experience can help get rid of boundaries and division between countries."

Prim is spending a year in Vermont under the auspices of the Visiting Teacher Program administered by the American Field Service organization. When she first arrived in Randolph last August, she lived at Nora’s home, where she stayed until January. After a couple of months with the family of Shirley Stewart, she is now living at the home of Gretchen and John Kidder.

Back in Bangkok, Prim is a secondary (middle) school teacher at a large school with about 3,500 students. With about 50 students in each of her classes, she teaches English grammar and writing, and says that although English is not commonly used in conversation in Thailand, it is often used in the business world there.

Like English, Thai, which is the national language of Thailand, uses a written alphabet based on letters, but there are far more of them. With 21 vowels (that make a total of 32 sounds), as well as 44 consonants, the language also has five different voice inflections.

"Depending upon if your voice goes up or down or stays at a flat pitch, the same word can mean something totally different," Prim explained.

In Thailand, unmarried women live at home until they are wed. Since she is single and her parents are deceased, Prim lives in Bangkok with her sister. She likes that her brother lives across the street and many other family members live in the same neighborhood.

At Randolph Elementary, Nora is the mentor teacher for Prim, who teaches classes in the kindergarten, 3/4, 5/6 and first grade levels, and also runs a popular Friday afternoon club teaching Thai cooking, crafts, etc.

"I appreciate how kind and generous the people here have been to me," said Prim, who also noted that she liked the "beautiful Vermont scenery." She was thrilled with both the fall colors and the snow. A photo taken by Nora during Prim’s first Vermont snowstorm shows her face and arms upraised joyfully to catch the snowflakes.

"A cold day in Thailand is about 70 degrees," Prim explained.

Nora has also taken Prim to visit Indiana, Niagara Falls (her favorite), Boston, New York City and Montreal.

Prim noted that one of the differences between teaching kids in the U.S. vs. teaching in Thailand is that "American students are much more outgoing in class. Thai students are quieter. The Thai culture has great respect for teachers and students duck their head as a gesture of respect when encountering a teacher."

In addition to her other classes with them, Prim has worked with the kids to create a wall hanging, which is now proudly displayed in the school hallway. She has also been teaching the Thai language once a week and taught the dances that were performed on Asia Night.

"I love the kids here," Prim said. "They are so lovely to me. They hug me all the time."

"It’s been wonderful having her here, particularly during the Asian unit," Nora concluded. "We’ll miss her! The kids have really bonded with her and are already planning to keep in touch by e-mail."

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