A Birthday Party

Today Jacob went to a birthday party for one of his classmates. I'll have to say that it is probably the most elaborate birthday parties that I have attended.

They held the party at the Nichada club, which has an Olympic sized swimming pool. Around the pool, they had a variety of those giant inflatable slides and games. There was a water slide going into the pool, a regular slide, a 20 foot tall rock climb, a reverse bungee jump (where strapped into 2 giant rubber bands and bounce up and down), basket ball hoops and some sort of laser shooting game.

In addition to the inflatable fun, they also had a band and a clown entertain the kids. They catered a meal for the approximately 75 or more guests. Additionally, they had a cotton candy stand, a Thai desert stand, and a stand that made ornate candy flowers.

The party lasted for four hours. Jacob had a great time. I can't help but think that this party had to cost them several thousand dollars.

Of course, Thai kids who attend ISB generally come from fairly well off families. While a lot of foreigners have their company pay for tuition (although we don't fall into that category), Thais generally pay the entire 15k per kid themselves. There are exceptions to this as there are some Thais who may have been relocated here by their company, but I think this is the exception rather than the rule.

Additionally, it is pretty difficult to get into ISB for Thai students. ISB caps the Thai students at 20% of the student body, and the child's ability to speak English is given a heavy weight local students admission. Some Thai children never make it off the waiting list for ISB. Still, as this is Thailand, I have to believe that being connected helps one get into ISB. Its just the way things are done here.

Interesting, while the Thai kids are generally very well off, the foreign kids are more of a mixed bag. Certainly the higher level managers who are transferred here by U.S. and European countries are likely highly compensated and fairly well off. There are others, who while certainly not poor, of much more modest means. Spending $45k per year to send three of their kids to elementary and middle school would not be part of their plan back in the U.S. For their company, however, its simply the price of doing business.