RiaLoves2Cook: Loy Krathong has captured my heart with its beauty, meaning, and dancing. Because as many of you know, there are two ways to my heart: food and dance. The holiday celebrates fresh starts and cleansing yourself of the past. It couldn't come at a better time. Here's to exquisite flower krathongs (would you believe I made one?), awesome Thai dancing, and finding more reasons to love this country every day.

#movingon #LoyKrathong #flowerarrangerskills

Posted: November 11th, 9:36 PM

***

Sunshine answered Maria's video call on the second ring. "Hey gorgeous, thanks for cutting your beauty rest short for me this morning."

"Anytime," Maria said with a grin. Not that it really mattered. No amount of rest would change her complexion.

Sunshine sat up straighter on her mom's couch. "Hey, what's up? Your ex isn't getting in your head again, is it?"

"No, I haven't spoken to him since Saturday."

"What's bugging you then?"

Maria chewed her lip. She hadn't wanted to burden Sunshine, but she might understand how it felt more than Maria's coworkers. "When you were here, did anyone ever..." Maria closed her eyes and pressed her head into her pillow. The answer was probably no. The aunties had always complimented Sunshine for her pale skin. "Did they give you a hard time for not being white or not light enough?"

Sunshine's nostrils flared. "Screw those assholes, you are perfect!"

"Those assholes are my students."

Sunshine's face softened. "What happened?"

"Nothing, really. They started the term laughing and misbehaving in my class, then Mitch overheard them saying something about me in Thai. He spoke to them last week, but he didn't mention it until yesterday when I asked."

"He talked to the kids, so that's a start. You'll want to speak to them about it too."

"How do I bring it up?" She'd dealt with judgement and aggressions most of her life, but she didn't turn it into a battle if there wasn't much to gain but an ignorant response. Would her students be different?

"Be direct. Tell them what you heard, how it affected you, and why it's unacceptable. You are as amazing as, if not better than, any white teacher." Sunshine ran a hand through her shiny hair. "When I talked to my classes about this, I asked them what experiences they'd had with discrimination because I knew they'd felt that too. It brought us closer because they learned I'd been through it and it upset me too."

Sunshine made it sound easy, but Maria still dreaded the conversation. "Regardless of the talk we have, I'm still not a certified teacher."

"Maria, you were the best Sunday school teacher, and the only reason you're not a certified one now is because you chose psychology. You would have aced your courses and practicum. I wasn't certified when I went out there either. I took distance courses and graduated during the Thai school year, like a handful of other people in the study and work-abroad program. You're not worth any less than those other teachers. You got this."

Maria nodded.

Sunshine stretched out on the couch. "A little bird told me you're on the fence about Samet."

Maria sighed. "A stubborn little blond, blue-eyed one?"

Sunshine laughed. "Perhaps. You should go, Ria. You deserve to relax and celebrate."

"I can't afford to travel right now."

"Didn't round two come with some prize money?"

"That's for repaying my food costs and my loans."

"Leave that until payday. You need to dip your toes in the ocean, get a massage, and sip coconut smoothies all day. You're only young once."

Maria laughed. "I'll be young next month too."

"There's dancing, all these different clubs to wander in and out of, no cover charge, cheap drinks, addictive beats. Think about it, no judgmental ex, just sweet freedom, and an amazing time with awesome people."

Maria bit her lip. "It sounds fun but—"

"You are the most stubborn chick I've ever met. Who turns down booze, dancing, the beach in a prime revenge hook-up window?"

"Now you sound exactly like Mitch."

Sunshine laughed. "Do it, Ria. Remember how you hardly considered Thailand because you were so convinced Adrian would change for you? Then by a miracle you applied to go and you're happy, going on adventures and kicking ass making Thai food. What if you had said no like you're doing now? Think of where you'd be. If you keep making the same choices, you can't change and grow. Those bills will be around to pay next month. If you need me to, I can shake down your ex for money if that's what it takes."

Maria grimaced at the thought of Adrian wasting more of her life, be it theoretical or real. "I want nothing to do with him."

"So you have to go! That's a feeling worth celebrating. Look, if you're worried, Dan and I got some cash from—"

"Absolutely not!"

"It'd be a super quick loan. That baby isn't ready to pop out yet, and you'll pay me back before then."

Maria chewed on her lip. Theortically she was right, but the idea still felt wrong and selfish.

"I feel like shit about how long you dated that monster. If I hadn't been in Thailand, that abusive prick wouldn't have lasted two weeks. The things you told me about him since you guys split make my skin crawl. I'm your Ate. I'm supposed to protect you from people like that," Sunshine said.

With her head bowed, Maria clasped her hands together. Her mother's warnings that he wasn't a good man, that something wasn't right, had not diminished Maria's desire to date Adrian. Why couldn't she have listened to her family?

"The only thing I can do from here is to send you to one of my favourite weekend escapes with people I love and trust almost as much as you. Please let me help you with this," Sunshine said.

"I can't take that money from you and Dan to party on the beach. What if something happens and you need it?"

"We have some back-up cash besides what I'd lend you, plus Dan and I are both working too. If it wasn't for this peanut, the money would be a gift and not a loan." Sunshine turned the camera, placed her hand on her stomach and laughed. "Peanut agrees and says to find someone to make you forget about your ex."

Maria couldn't help but smile. "I highly doubt that."

"Please, Ria, I know you hate accepting other people's money, but you need this. You just don't realize it. Think how much better life got you listened to me in September. Trust me again."

It worsened long before it improved, but it had in the end. Maria would probably still be weaved in some messy web with Adrian and Kelsey if she were still in Edmonton. Sunshine was probably right like everyone else had been about Adrian. Maria deserved a weekend away to celebrate with her friends and forget her pain. She would have the loan paid back once the round two contest cheque arrived, hopefully within the week, and she'd pay her other expenses off later. "Okay."

Sunshine squealed and moments later a Korean man sat behind her on the couch and wrapped his arms around her. "What are we celebrating?"

"Maria's going to Samet!"

Daniel grinned. "Popping the Samet cherry. Very nice."

"And we're lending her two hundred dollars."

Daniel didn't flinch, unlike Maria, whose cheeks flushed.

"Whatever you say, boss," Dan said.

"I really don't need to go this month if you guys—"

Daniel looked at her with kind brown eyes. "It's fine, Maria. I wish we were in a position where it could be a gift because if you hadn't taken my job in Thailand, I would lose my mind being away from Sunshine and our baby until spring."

"I only accepted a new life in a tropical country. Most people would jump at that."

"You're not most people. You left a man you were in love with, your family, a job you liked," Sunshine said. "And now you can enjoy the beach. I'm so excited for you!"

Maria mirrored her cousin's grin in hopes she'd capture her excitement too.

***

Later that morning at the school, Kru Bim, a Thai primary four teacher, pulled Maria's hair into a tight bun. She adorned the sides with orange flower heads, matching Maria's traditional Thai outfit. With the light make-up she'd worn and the beautiful skirt, Maria almost felt like royalty. A smile fluttered on her lips until Kru Bim's pale hand came close to her face and all Maria could see was the difference in their pigmentation. Next to her, Emma wore bright blue, and Shannon was in red and gold, their skin snow white. Golden belts held up their skirts and the fitted tops which matched the sari-style pieces slung over one shoulder and pinned in place with a flower. Those women never had issues controlling the kids. Maria breathed deeply and tried to remember her cousin's words.

As Maria, Emma and Shannon exited the Thai staffroom in vibrant silk dresses, Mitch whistled, his eyes not leaving Maria.

Her cheeks flushed. "You'll draw everyone's attention," Maria whispered. Kru Bim eyed the two of them.

"You told me good-looking people get noticed, right?"

His crooked grin spread heat through her body, as she recalled the many times they were close at Wat Arun.

She returned the smile, gazing down at the beautiful outfit. Thai silk was more comfortable and flattering than her work uniforms. Maybe the kids would respect her in this, or they'd think she was a fraud like always.

As Mitch left, the Thai kindergarten teachers complimented Maria's hair and make-up and said they missed working with her. Maria returned their sentiments. Their warmth and reassurance during camp had helped more than she'd realized.

She and the rest of the staff entered the shaded Buddha garden, where dozens of students and staff waited. Maria's stomach bunched in a knot. What would they whisper about her? She didn't have actual classes with them today because of the holiday, so Sunshine's plan would have to wait. While the tight material around her waist and thighs restricted her steps, the kids' excited faces and waves as they saw their teachers in Thai fashions made Maria smile. The children wore flashy, patterned or bright dresses, pants and tops.

A few of Maria's grade four girls approached her and Kru Bim to tell them how beautiful they looked. The girls wore identical blue dresses with white saris, ready for the dance number they'd been gushing about all week. Were those the same ones who thought she was incompetent? They seemed so sweet.

"I'm looking forward to seeing your dance," Maria said.

"Thank you." The girls bowed.

"Is it a traditional Thai dance?"

They beamed. "Mostly. Have you seen a Thai dance, Ms. Maria?" Nueng asked, using the verb tense they'd been learning in class.

"Not yet."

"They're very beautiful. Do you have traditional dances in your country?" Neung asked.

"That's a good question." Maria smoothed her hands over her skirt. "The First Nations people in Canada have traditional dances, and the people who came from all over the world to live there do too, but I don't know if there's one special to Canada. In my family, we'd learn dances from the Philippines because my parents and grandparents were born there."

Their eyes lit up. "Can you show us?"

Maria thought back to the Pandanggo sa Ilaw she and Sunshine had learned years ago from her lola. "If you imagine I'm holding a candle, it looks a little like this." Maria held her skirt in one hand, extended the other, and performed the dance her relatives had always cheered on. Her lola would get a twinkle in her eye that had made Maria want to keep dancing. As Maria danced, the girls joined in and picked up the steps.

"Like this?" Ming asked, adding some flair to the controlled arm moves.

"Very close. But, I should let you practice your dances before the performance."

"Thank you, Ms. Maria. You are a wonderful dancer," Ming said.

"And a good teacher," Nueng added.

"Thanks, girls, have a great show."

They ran off with a wave. In the gym, Maria spotted many students from her classes whose parents fussed over their hair and clothing. She followed graceful Kru Bim to the primary four children Maria was supervising this morning.

The assembly started with the Thai and English school directors on stage speaking of the importance and history of Loy Krathong, a day to celebrate the end of the rainy season. It was also a new beginning to rid themselves of bad luck, negative feelings, and cleanse their past deeds. The holiday came at a perfect time for Maria. Her old skin was slipping off with each visit to the church, delicious meal, and moment spent dancing or laughing.

Soon, the adorable kindergarten students performed traditional dances in blue mermaid dresses. They mimed washing their hands together and marched to the drum and xylophone-dominated music. Next, a slightly older student dressed as a red-masked demon stalked around the stage as others in green fish costumes ran about. A girl wearing an ornate gold headdress, which would fit in a Balinese travel ad, saved the sea creatures. Maria missed working with the kids that age, their charming smiles and stumbles.

Maria's primary four students partnered with Mitch and Shawn's primary fives, and the sixes judging by the cheering from that section of the gym. As the children performed a traditional Thai dance, Shawn and a Thai teacher stood near the stage miming some moves. Maria didn't realize foreign teachers could help with activities like this. Perhaps she could assist with the next one since it seemed fun, and she was far more confident with that than math. She studied their dance. The slow, precise yet fluid hand and foot movements were like Hindu dancing. The students were quite talented.

Partway through the song, the traditional music increased in tempo and mixed with electronic dance beats. The kids brought it to life, integrating their moves with modern ones, kick and step, shuffle, and bumping their feet together like a secret handshake. To finish the dance, they lined up so the front dancer kneeled to start off arm movements, and each one behind mirrored a few seconds later. Maria and most of her students in the audience swayed and danced to the beat. All the tension she'd feared this morning had vanished. By the end, they all cheered wildly.

Tom's students, the junior high matayom kids, put on a fashion show with flower-decorated boats called krathongs. Sunshine had joked she should have had a wardrobe of Thai-style dresses made, and Maria understood why. Some tops had wide shoulders and looked like closed blazers with necklaces worn atop. Other gorgeous dresses used the same beautiful silk but incorporated a more modern and adorned v-neckline. Once Maria earned enough money, she'd love to buy a few for her mom, tita, and lola.

The ceremony closed with a group of Thai teachers, including Kru Bim, Aom and Prae, dancing with krathongs to traditional music. The women did an excellent representation of the rice harvest in the routine. Maria hadn't realized Prae was a dancer too. If she wasn't so financially concerned about Samet, Maria would have tried to invite Prae, but she imagined Prae would have similar reservations.

In the afternoon, Maria joined Kru Bim and the primary four students in the cafeteria. Flat, green bamboo leaves, stalks, flowers, incense, and wooden pins had been placed at different stations to create krathongs. First, Maria and the children ripped their leaves to the proper size to cover the sides and bottom of the banana-stalk base. After Punpun demonstrated an effective technique and helped her pin everything in place, Maria assisted the struggling kids. Some normally unfocused boys showed impressive dedication and accuracy in their work. Smiles and laughter filled the cafeteria, giving Maria hope for the week to come.

Next, she and the students folded the leaves to decorate the top edges of the base and create an elegant green border. The kids devised a system where expert folders passed their finished products to the others, who pinned them on successfully. Once they'd reached the fun stage of mounting flowers and creating the colourful base, Mitch wandered over from his class.

"Look at Ms. Maria," Mitch said. "She'll be a professional krathong-maker in no time, right Ming?"

"It's very nice." Ming attached more orange blossoms.

Maria placed a purple orchid. "That's kind of you, Ming. I couldn't have done it without you."

"Ming, I think Frank needs help. Could you—"

"Yes, Mr. Mitch." She bowed as she passed both teachers.

"Why are you chasing away my best helper?" Maria tried to fold another leaf to layer in with the flowers, but it kept turning out uneven.

"We're booking the minivan to Samet for next weekend and need to know how many people are coming."

Maria smoothed the leaf out for another attempt. "You couldn't catch me after school?"

"If I convince you, then Tom will come, and the van will be full. Plus, who loves sticking around making phone calls after work on a holiday?"

"Fine, yes, I'll come if you show me how to fold this leaf."

Mitch picked it up and folded it with measured precision.

"That's all the convincing you needed?" Mitch asked with a laugh. "I'll have to remember that."

Maria took the leaf back, scrutinizing it to understand what he'd done. "I talked to Sunshine."

"Still working her magic over Skype. A real shame she's gone."

Sunshine would have kicked Maria's butt for moping and mulling over Adrian a month into the trip. But Maria took pride in settling the break-up nearly on her own.

Mitch glanced over his shoulder to his students, who waved at him. "I'm being summoned, but I'm glad you're coming to Samet with us. Your dance moves looked great this morning." He winked as he left, and Maria shook her head.

Ming gave Maria a thumbs-up and pointed at Frank's krathong, looking far more symmetrical now.

Once they'd visited all the stations, her students hurried to the pool to release the krathongs. Everyone kneeled or squatted where the water seeped near the edge. After Kru Bim said a few words in Thai, the children placed their finished creations, decorated with various flowers, from orchids to lotus and marigolds, and incense sticks, in the pool. They leaned down and blew on the krathongs while others flapped their hands to create gusts of air. When that failed, hand-generated waves coaxed the boats along.

The krathongs stayed upright as they headed toward the others at the opposite end of the pool. It seemed a shame to work so hard to watch it float away, but the kids were cheering and giggling, making the effort worthwhile.