Thailand goes GAGA!

MAIDS goes GAGA!

On Friday May 25^th the MAIDS program went GAGA.  We put down our books, notes, research and laptops and set out to see Lady Gaga come to Bangkok.  What we didn’t know is that our own celebrity status would skyrocket.

For less than $10 we each were able to get outfits, wigs and accessories, got ready at my apartment, and then climbed in the back of a very generous Rotarian’s van – and all carpooled to the Gaga extravaganza.  Eddie (the Rotarian) was taking his 11 and 13 year old kids, who were mortified to be seen with us in our costumes.  As we entered the concert venue, they wouldn’t walk anywhere near us, and kept a good twenty feet in between us and them.  Waiting in line to pick up our tickets from Will Call, someone asked to take a picture with us.  All of a sudden, twenty cameras and videocrews showed up.   Not knowing exactly what to do, we stood there awkwardly, and then soaked up the moment with our best Gaga poses and monster claws.  All of a sudden, Eddie’s children popped out of nowhere, and posed with us.  Puzzled, I went after our paparazzi moment to ask Eddie what all of that was about.  He screamed “That was NATIONAL TV – you just made national television!  The kids thought you were all ‘cool’ now that you did that so of course they came to join you!”

Gaga's Lil' Monsters

Throughout the evening, we had phone calls and SMS messages from classmates, friends and even professors who saw our debu moment on television.  We made the papers with our best poses and had a blast.

Overall the concert itself was spectacular.  Seeing Thai culture embrace an American pop star was unique – but seeing how many Thai people came to see Lady Gaga was impressive.  55,000 strong, Thailand’s largest concert – ever.  She certainly was not welcomed all over Southeast Asia and was prevented from performing in Indonesia and heavily protested in the Philippines, but it was clear by the overpowering amount of adoring fans, that she was loved in Bangkok!