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Can Can’s Modern Life

For the past two weeks I have been feeling like someone has turned up the treadmill of my life; I’m just trying not to fall off!

A friend went back home to Canada to visit her family for the holidays. She works at a private international school teaching 6th grade. She asked me if I would be her substitute while she is gone. I said yes, not because I was eager to be alone with 20 12-year-olds for 7 bucks an hour, but because I knew she would have difficulty finding anyone else to rise to the occasion.

Teaching in the international school is it’s own little universe. This school is actually the cheaper of the two private school options in town, but still most of the students are from more or less well-to-do families. This translates to pampered children who aren’t very motivated to actually study.

Also they have interesting names, such as a few of my favorite: Big Boss, Lemming, Soft, Bomb, and Jew.

These are names chosen by parents who had some knowledge of English and wanted to pick a good strong foreign name.

I’m sure American’s pick names that sound silly in other countries as well.

I think it is safe to say that everyone in Thailand and Laos has a cutesy nick name, usually in their own language for obvious reasons. But, sometimes creative parents strike again and choose nick names (in English) that reflect their profession, like the coach’s kids, Bat, Ball, and Net, or the photographer’s son, Film.

Many times, Lao nick names seem to be inspired by the person’s appearance, like Dam (black), Nok (bird), Noi (small), Joi (thin), or Dui (fat). (Usually the “fat” one refers to chubby cheeks. But sometimes, they have a round body to match)

Jojo (my son) has white-blonde hair. This attracts a lot of attention when we are out and about in Southeast Asia.

As a toddler, Jojo loved the attention, but now that he is four, he is starting to shy away from inquisitive hands. He makes a frowny face when people try to touch his arm or talk to him.

I usually just tell Jojo, “She is happy to see you, because she has never seen a little boy with blonde hair before! She likes your beautiful blonde hair!”, or something like that. I want him to feel special, in a good way, not like he is some kind of freak show. I also don’t want to reprimand him for not wanting to be touched by strangers, so it is entirely up to him as long as he declines in a respectful manner (no slapping of hands, etc.)

This weekend we received a package of great toys from my friend Nikki. They came at a perfect time, and I was telling Jojo how nice Nikki was to send him and Deeds such wonderful gifts.

I said, “Do you know why people like to give you presents?”

I was searching for “Because they love me”, something to that effect.

Jojo answered, “Because they never see a boy with blonde hair before?”

I’ll have to check.

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