Since we launched our school's web site back in August '97 we have received hundreds of letters and questions from students and teachers from around the world. Many of them were working on projects about Thailand, whilst others just wanted to compare lifestyles. The following answers written by our students might just help you understand Thailand and the people a little better:

Q. Please describe an average day at your school.

A. Our day begins at 8 a.m. with assembly in the playground. We stand in lines and sing the national anthem as the flag goes up. The first lesson starts at 8.45 a.m. I have my lunch in the classroom at 11.30 a.m. We have an extra lesson after school and we finish at 5 p.m.

Q. What languages, apart from Thai, are commonly learnt in school?

A. In my school we learn English. Other schools learn English too. I started to learn English when I was about six years old.

Q. How many students are at school?

A. There are 1,541 students in my school.

Q. What do you find difficult about learning English?

A. We think that grammar is very difficult for us.

Q. What languages, apart from Thai are learnt in school?

A. We only learn English.

Q. Is school compulsory?

A. Yes, it is compulsory in grade 1-6 but grade 7-12 isn't.

Q. How many days a week do you go to school?

A. I go to school five days a week, but some students have extra classes on Saturdays.

Q. How many students on average do you have in a classroom? Do you have primary school, intermediate school, and high school?

A. I have 42 students in my class. Other schools have more. My school is a primary school (we call it Prathom). Next year I will go to high school (we call it Matayom).

Q. How long does it take you to get to school and how do you get there?

A. I go to school by bus and it takes about 15 minutes. Some of my friends walk to school, or go by school bus, car or samlor (a tricycle).

Q. How long is your school day, when does it start and finish?

A. I am at school for about eight hours. School starts at 8 a.m. for morning assembly and finishes at 5 p.m.

Q. How difficult is the English Language to learn and how long have you been learning it?

A. English is easier to learn than Thai. I like English. I have been learning for six years.

Q. How is your school year planned? Is school compulsory? How is a school day planned?

A. We have two terms in one year. School is compulsory. I am at school for about eight hours. School starts at 8 a.m. for morning assembly and finishes at 5 p.m. We have two break times. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. Lunchtime is between 11.30 and 12.30.

Q. What sort of subjects do you do at school?

A. (Nattawud) My favourite subjects are English, Computer and Math. I also learn P.E., handicraft, R.E., music, Thai, Scouts, Agriculture, art, social studies, housework, history and science.

Q. Do you have a school uniform? If so, what does it look like?

A. Yes we have a school uniform. We have a white shirt and black shorts. We also wear a tie. The girls wear a blue skirt.

Q. Describe a traditional game and how you play it.

A. A game I played today is called Monkey Steals the Ball. Two or more people throw a ball to each other and the "monkey" in the middle has to try and catch it.

Q. What games do you play in your spare time?

A. I like to play basketball very much with my friends. I also like to play football.

Q. What sports do Thai people excel at and why?

A. Thai people are good at kick boxing, takraw, football, shooting, swimming and volleyball.

Q. What do you do for leisure in the weekends and after school?

A. (Phimtuon) I read my books, I play badminton, I help my mother.

A. (Inthira) I watch television and read my books.

A. (Sakdipat) At the weekend I go to a department store to see a movie or play video games. Sometimes I play basketball or badminton with my friends. I like playing video games the best.

Q. What music do you listen to?

A. I like to listen to pop music and rock and roll music. I like to listen to Thai pop singers best. I also like Michael Jackson.

Q. Do you have pets? What is the most common pet that people like to have?

A. At home I have some fish. Lots of people have dogs and rabbits. At school we have rabbits and bunnies, guinea pigs, hamsters, fish and birds.

Q. What are the main foods in your diet and when do you eat them? Do you have traditional foods saved for special occasions?

A. I usually eat rice or noodles every day. With this I like to eat pork, chicken, fish and vegetables. I do not have special food.

A. The main food I eat is rice and noodles. I like to eat beef, chicken and fish with them. I usually eat them every meal. But sometimes we telephone Pizza Hut or KFC for take-away.

Q. What are the main religions in Thailand?

A. Most of my friends are Buddhists. One friend is a Muslim.

A. In Thailand, 95% are Buddhists and the others are Muslim and Christian.

Q. Tell us about the main religions in Thailand. Do you go to church?

A. I am a Buddhist. I don't go to church but I go to a temple. I go to the temple on special days and my birthday.

Q. Name two special holidays and why you celebrate them?

A. Songkran and Loy Krathong.

Songkran. On 13th April we celebrate the old Thai New Year. We show respect to monks and our elders by pouring water over their hands. We also clean Buddha images. We also have fun and throw water over our friends. This day is a public holiday.

Loy Kratong. On the full moon in November we have a special festival. Loy Krathong means to float a banana leaf cup on water. This is an offering to Mother of Water to ask her to forgive us for polluting the water.

Paweena: "On that night, I took my krathong made of paper to the river near my house. I prayed for the good things to come to my life and when I pushed the krathong into the river I asked for it to take away the bad things in my life."

Rewadee: "At school we made a Krathong made from paper. Our English teacher taught us how to sing a Loy Krathong song. In the evening I went to a lake with my family. I could see the full moon in the sky and in the water. It was very beautiful. Many children were playing with fire crackers. After I had finished I was very happy."

Q. What major celebrations do you have and are they public holidays?

A. King's Birthday (also father's Day), a public holiday

Queen's Birthday (also Mother's Day), a public holiday

Children's Day, a special day for children to have fun. Many places let children go in free.

Coronation Day. A public holiday on 5th May.

Christmas Day. We have a party at school and sing songs.

New Year's Day. A long weekend for us to celebrate the new year.

Visakha Puch Day, this is the most important day for us as we celebrate the day the Buddha was born, the day he became a Buddha and also when he died.

Constitution Day. A public holiday in December to commemorate the start of the constitutional monarchy.

Chulalongkorn Day. A public holiday in October to commemorate King Rama V who did a lot of important things for Thai people.

Wai Kru Day. On this day we show respect to our teachers and say thank you to them for being good and kind teachers. We also give them flowers.

Chakri Day. A public holiday on 6th April to commemorate King Rama I who was the first of the Chakri kings.

Teacher's Day. A public holiday on the 16th January so that everyone can say thank you to teachers.

Asakha Pucha Day. An important day for Buddhists as this commemorates the first time the Buddha spoke to the people. Many people will visit the temple to make merit and listen to sermons.

Q. What does Thailand's country side look like? How busy are the streets? Is Thailand rich in natural resources, if so what are they?

A. The shape of the country looks like a golden axe. Where we are in central Thailand it is flat. But in the north and south there are mountains. There are many forests in the north. In Bangkok the streets are very very busy. There are always traffic jams.

Q. Do you have a traditional dress, if so what does it look like?

A. We do have traditional dress but in Bangkok and where we live no-one wears it. I wear the same as you - shorts and t-shirt.

Q. Is Thailand multiracial or are there mainly Thai people there? If so, what languages do they speak?

A. Many Chinese people have come to live in Thailand. About 11% of Thai people have Chinese ancestors. There are also people from our neighbour countries.

Q. What form of government does Thailand have?

A. Thailand has a constitutional monarchy. We are a democracy.

Q. What are your living conditions like?

A. (Sakdipat) My bedroom is air-conditioned. In my bedroom I have t.v., video recorder, Super Nintendo with about two hundred games and a Play Station with about 100 CD's. My family has a Mercedes and a Toyota.

Q. What is the climate like? Do you have seasonal weather or can you tell us about the monsoon?

A. Where we are it is hot, hot and hot. This year I think the winter was about three or four days long. Everyone came to school with coats and jumpers as the temperature went below 22 Celsius. It usually rains between July and October. It rains a lot and in a few seconds the playground has a flood.

Q. Do the climates affect your lifestyles? If so, in what way?

A. I don't got out to play in the middle of the day. Before 8 o'clock in the morning is the best time as it is very hot after then. I like to play outside in the early evening too.

Q. Do many people own cars? Do you have any train, ferry, or bus companies? Do you have taxis?

A. Many, many people have cars because there is always a traffic jam. In our house we have five cars including a Mercedes. We also have trains, buses, ferries and taxis the same as you.

Q. What kind of job opportunities are there? Is it easy to get a job? What is the most common type of occupation?

A. Where we live most people work in factories or offices. But in Thailand the most common type of occupation is in farming.

Q. Has Thailand got a lot of history behind it?

A. The ancient capital city of Thailand was very big and rich at the time when London was a small village.

Q. Does Thailand have friendly relations with its neighbouring countries?

A. We are friends with our neighbours.

Q. What kind of climate and humidity do you have in Thailand?

A. Now it is winter in Thailand. It is cold but it does not rain. It is about 30 degrees Celsius today. Summer starts in March. It will be very hot in April. It starts to rain in July for about four months.

Q. Are there any native animals or plants in Thailand?

A. In Thailand we have elephants and tigers.