Students,
It is a fact that I am not a fan of St. Valentines Day. I think it is utterly unnatural that for one day out of 365 much of the population believes it acceptable to forget all past crimes of the heart in exchange for a fluffy red teddy bear or some obscenely saccharine love note. Students, believe me when I tell you it actually is all just a ploy by the marketing industry to extort cash from every poor sap who wants to follow the crowd and prove to themselves and others that they are not unlucky in matters of the heart. Sounds far-fetched? Well unfortunately it's true.
I may also tell you that a quite nasty and infamous incident occured on February 14th 1929 and this is quite conveniently forgotten amid all the hearts and flowers. It involved the Capone gang of Chicago. In an effort to 'off' seven of his rivals in the North Side gang, Al arranged for them to rendezvous at a local garage. They were lured by way of the promise of some bootleg whisky, and upon entering were lined up by gang members dressed as police officers. Thompson sub-machine guns were then produced and quite a mess was apparently left following the slaughter of the North Side gang whom were all dressed in their best suits. In actuality there were found to be seventy machine gun bullets and two shell casings left from shotgun blasts. You may also remember how the incident caused Joe and Jerry to head off on the run, don some (rather convincing) drag and fall for the charms of 'Sugar Kane' Kowalczyk / Marilyn Monroe. My point is for some February 14th can sometimes not be all that peachy.
ANYWAY I can only assume that this year my postal delivery has been delayed en route to Thailand, but in its absence I was treated to a card passed on from one of friend Brad's students. I can tell you that this card neatly sums up two things: firstly this is the type of card I'd prefer to receive as opposed to poetry or cute fluffy things, and secondly as an insight into the Thai mentality when it comes to romance this is particularly accurate. Above is the front cover and below the inside. Thank you to Tharatorn Nimitmuenwai of 5/19...
It is a fact that I am not a fan of St. Valentines Day. I think it is utterly unnatural that for one day out of 365 much of the population believes it acceptable to forget all past crimes of the heart in exchange for a fluffy red teddy bear or some obscenely saccharine love note. Students, believe me when I tell you it actually is all just a ploy by the marketing industry to extort cash from every poor sap who wants to follow the crowd and prove to themselves and others that they are not unlucky in matters of the heart. Sounds far-fetched? Well unfortunately it's true.
I may also tell you that a quite nasty and infamous incident occured on February 14th 1929 and this is quite conveniently forgotten amid all the hearts and flowers. It involved the Capone gang of Chicago. In an effort to 'off' seven of his rivals in the North Side gang, Al arranged for them to rendezvous at a local garage. They were lured by way of the promise of some bootleg whisky, and upon entering were lined up by gang members dressed as police officers. Thompson sub-machine guns were then produced and quite a mess was apparently left following the slaughter of the North Side gang whom were all dressed in their best suits. In actuality there were found to be seventy machine gun bullets and two shell casings left from shotgun blasts. You may also remember how the incident caused Joe and Jerry to head off on the run, don some (rather convincing) drag and fall for the charms of 'Sugar Kane' Kowalczyk / Marilyn Monroe. My point is for some February 14th can sometimes not be all that peachy.
ANYWAY I can only assume that this year my postal delivery has been delayed en route to Thailand, but in its absence I was treated to a card passed on from one of friend Brad's students. I can tell you that this card neatly sums up two things: firstly this is the type of card I'd prefer to receive as opposed to poetry or cute fluffy things, and secondly as an insight into the Thai mentality when it comes to romance this is particularly accurate. Above is the front cover and below the inside. Thank you to Tharatorn Nimitmuenwai of 5/19...
...I have also added a Thai song that I always enjoy and think is probably saying something romantic. I asked my students for the meaning behind the song but they said it was difficult to explain - this may mean they do not want to explain to me. Nevertheless I am certain that in their song Mai Roo Jak Chun Mai Roo Tak Tur the vocalists Da and Pop are in love for all of the right reasons. And if not, at least they have sweet voices to express their pain.
Comments? Questions? Class you may be excused.
Homework: Eat some heart for dinner.
x Teacher
Comments? Questions? Class you may be excused.
Homework: Eat some heart for dinner.
x Teacher
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