American Prep International School will celebrate Wai Kru Day tomorrow. One of my fellow teachers, also a “farang” like me, asked me yesterday: “What is this Wai Kru celebration?” I am no expert on Thai culture, but have on more than one occasion participated in this celebration. Each time I participated my heart was touched.
Wai Kru, essentially is an occasion in which students show their respect and appreciation for their teachers. It is a simple ceremony: each student passes by on his/her knees in front of the seated teacher. The student offers the teacher a small garland of flowers and the teacher responds by putting a few drops of water on the head of the student and then pronounces a blessing on the student, The ceremony is simple, but the meaning is profound! In this day and age when respect for teachers and elders and authority figures have almost disappeared one cannot but appreciate the sentiments behind this celebration!