From: tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Thai Soccer
Date: 26 Jan 93 02:18:28 GMT
Organization: Auspex Systems, Santa Clara


 Sawasdee Khrup Tuk Kon

 I watched the 49th annual University Soccer Match between Thammasat and 
 Chulalongkorn last Saturday.

 In case anybody is interested, the score was TU - 2, CU - 1.
 Each team scored a goal quickly in the first period.  Nothing happened
 until the last 5 minutes of the second period.

 I really wanted to get one of those cute CU soccer t-shirts but I was unable
 to visit the bookstore before it closed.

 The students displayed several banners and floats before the game.  In that
 respect, it was like an American Homecoming Football game.  However, the
 floats were all hand-carried instead of decorating cars or using cars to
 pull floats on wagons.  Thammasat even brought a band.
 
 Thammasat floats were leftwing as usual.  I saw a tank and a statue of
 General Suchinda.  Also, a cute dead mannequin labeled "AIDSS for sale."
 I heard that Thammasat students speak English better than Chula students,
 but I guess they do not spell as well as Chula students.  :-)

 The game was also different from American games because of the student
 participation.  I was surrounded by screaming girls (gee!  too bad I am
 married :-) who seemed to know every cheer!   Do the students learn the
 cheers for the school?  I remember watching some freshmen students at
 Chula learn some cheers.  Like Americans, the boys clapped but did not
 cheer.  Only the girls cheered (Boys are too cool?)

 The cheerleaders were both boys and girls!  The boys appeared to have as
 much fun as the girls.  The Chula students wore nicer costumes, but both
 groups changed costumes during the half-time show.  Why did the Thammasat
 students wear the peace sign (3 lines inside a circle) on their costumes?

 Also, at either end of the stadium, students sat together wearing their
 school soccer shirts and holding square cards of different colors.  During
 the game, they displayed their cards as directed and spelled out Thai words
 which were read by the announcer over the P.A. system.  I could only read
 some of the words, because the colors were too close together (I am totally
 colorblind).  The Thammasat students always spelled words.  The Chula 
 students drew pictures instead.  I saw the faces of Vishta, Harumakien, 
 a giant and one other person.  It was very clever!

 The half-time show consisted of several children acting out a play.  I
 thought it was something from the Ramakien but I could not tell because
 everyone was facing the Chula side.  Were these dancers university
 students?  Most appeared to be less than 140cm tall.

 The ending show consisted of another play.  This time, it appeared to be
 some people fighting on a boat.  The actors waving cloth above their heads
 created a very dramatic display of the ocean in motion.

 Finally, there were 2 dancers.  They danced individually a style I would
 call modern ballet.  They danced on the grass in front of the Chula
 students with their cards.  The Chula students created a descriptive
 stormy sky complete with lightning from rotating spotlights.

 Afterwards, they had the usual dedication to the monarchy.  The announcer
 sang the national anthem and everyone stood quietly except for a few boys
 who started throwing fireworks.  Then fireworks began over the heads of
 Thammasat students.  Usually about 30m above their heads but sometimes as
 close as 10m!

 The most interesting thing about the whole affair was the lack of civil
 disobedience or display of bad manners.  In America, because the game is
 at night, students the same age would be drinking smuggled alcohol (the
 alcohol drinking age is usually 21) or smoking marijuana or using drugs!
 Nobody was drinking alcohol and I cannot remember seeing anyone smoking.
 Also, some students would be kissing and many would be hugging.  I looked
 and looked but could not find a single couple holding hands.  Lastly, it
 is sometimes difficult to get Americans to stand proudly and respectfully
 for their National Anthem especially if they live on the coasts.  Most
 Thais stood quietly.

 I apologize for watching the game from the Thammasat side.  I was lost and
 tired.  Probably Thammasat won because I was giving them my luck.  :-)

 tim

 Chula is still better!
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai