One month...

November 14, 2010

Well the dogs are alive and well. As usual, the smallest of the lot, a brown and white spotted mutt jumped up to say hi to me. I guess they have been living in the garage and sleeping during the day when it’s hot, and so, we haven’t seen them until recently.

So Week 4 has come and gone and I can’t believe how fast everything has moved as I’m living this new life in Thailand. I’ve been teaching for what seems like forever, but it’s really only been about a month. And it’s true when people say each day is truly a new day. There is no take backs, no pause. Something is always happening whether it’s a random meeting that dismisses class, an upcoming English competition that we need to help the students prepare for, or a national holiday that students are getting ready for such as the Loi Krathong.

Each time I step into the classroom I still feel nervous because I still don’t know how much of what I taught they grasped from the week before. Also, I don’t know all the 1000 kids names!!! Realistically I know I won’t know them all. I have attempted to learn the children’s nicknames, which are way better and more helpful. Crazy nicknames that are funny and not something I would have thought they use such as Boss or Wassa, and of course, the name I give my kids silently in my head as well…work too. What’s more, each week the kids act differently. One week they’ll be on time and ready to learn, while other times they’ll be 30 minutes late, and I don’t know what I can really teach in 20 minutes. I guess I just need to always be on my toes, to find ways to make it interactive, and where TTT (Teacher Talking Time) is less regardless of the amount of time I have. Sigh…never a dull day in the life of a teacher in a new country.

So as a gift to myself, I went with my girls, Liz and C, to Khruen Thep aka Bangkok for some stress reliving via dancing, shopping, and eating. Life as a teacher is hard huh? It really is…just not on weekends :) Surprisingly this one place on Khao San Rd. which last time kicked us out since we didn’t order drinks was fun -amazing music, a really nice bartender, and some interesting dance partners until late. While I’m not a fan of overally touristy spots, it was a great way to blend in on such a night. We were just another bunch of farangs. I got to meet some remarkable individuals. This teacher who we’ll call Moa is originally from Africa has been teaching for two years in what is the flurry of Khruen Thep’s government school, while getting his masters. I met Tony who was infectiously funny and kind. He was speaking English as he was sitting with his friend who was hennaing Moa’s friend. Then I met Guk who was the brother of the tattoo artist. He was so curious as to why this Thai girl couldn’t speak Thai. What a compliment I think…I look Thai. Then again I’ve been counting all the countries I appear to represent. [List on the side] 

 

The next day, we had a tuk-tuk tour that cost 5baht but we paid the driver 30B since it was over an hour worth of driving to see the tallest standing Buddha and the lucky Buddha.

Both wats were free, not swarming with tourists, and was just as amazing as the others I’ve been too. I don’t think there is such a thing as an uninteresting wat. Hopefully, all the wats don’t’ begin to blend like the churches I saw in Europe.