Mai Pen Rai - ไม่เป็นไร

Ayutthaya

I am a language guy - you could say it is one of my shticks (aside from the fact that it is my job to be a language guy). I enjoy travel, culture, and the languages that people speak. When I go places, I like to learn some of the local language. People appreciate it when you make an attempt to speak their language, even if it is only a few words or phrases.

This summer I went to Thailand, mainly because of a great affinity that I have for Buddhism. In many ways, it fits nicely with my own philosophy as a teacher: accept everything that happens, and find a lesson in every challenge. I did my best to learn some survival phrases, and the Thai people had a good laugh as I struggled to negotiate prices for a tuk-tuk ride. My favorite phrase was ¨mai pen rai¨, which is like saying ¨it´s okay¨ or ¨don´t worry¨, but those translations do not really do it justice. Traffic? Mai pen rai. Almost run over by a motorbike? Mai pen rai. Poisonous centipede the size of my forearm lurking outside the door? Mai pen rai. It is carefree bordering on careless, but it was unbelievable to see how little the Thai stressed about daily inconveniences.

Buddha and me

Mai pen rai is exactly what I (and maybe you) need in the classroom. You don´t speak English? You are twenty and they put you in the ninth grade? You fled your country to avoid violence in search of a better life? Mai pen rai. This year in the classroom, it will be my reminder to accept every student, whatever their situation, and to not let the small things get to me. I hope to impart this lesson to my students, and I also hope to show them that they can clear any hurdle life puts in front of them.