Explorations in SE Asia: The Best New Year Party!!

I just had one of the best New Years parties ever; and it was with a bunch of school kids. :) Next weekend is Khmer New Year and next week the school is closed, so today we had a New Year party. My class played games like three-legged race, egg and spoon race, tie a balloon to your ankle and try not to let the other kids pop it and a game with hula hoops on the ground that were an island and the kids either had to be in the island or in the water, depending on if the teacher called 'sharks' (stay on the island) or 'tigers' (get in the water). It was grand fun. They kids had a blast playing all the games. There was so much squealing and yelling and laughing. The prizes for each game were oranges. :) After games we had snack; more oranges, a biscuit and a cup of pop. There was no pushing or shoving to be the first to get their food. The kids were quite orderly and stayed seated while we handed out the treats. They are so respectful here. After a short break the staff and volunteers got to have a little fun. We played a Cambodian version of the pinata game. Instead of paper mache, we had to hit a clay pot. Instead of raining down candy, talcum powder is spewed everywhere. We played boys vs. girls and the girls totally won! Alan wanted us to get a 'team picture' afterwards and as we so dutifully posed for the picture he whacked the pot above us, showering us in what talcum powder there remained in the pot. We fell for it hook, line and sinker. It did make for quite a good laugh. The best part of the day was the dancing afterwards. We had speakers set up and music was played from someones cell phone, a mix of Western club music and traditional Khmer dance music. It was SO hot, but every time I tried to leave someone would say, 'No Cha, dance!!!' It was great. After a much needed lunch (dancing in the heat for an hour, after playing games for 2 hours, is tough on the stomach!) the kids finally decided they'd had enough dancing and went home. The volunteers and staff went to the pagoda to get blessed. The staff came too because it's the New Year, a good time to get blessed. The day ended with all of us hanging out at the local soda shop, drinking beer/sprite/soyabean milk/coke and eating green mangos and teasing the head teacher about his recent trip to Australia. Happy Khmer New Year!!