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| Weekend excursions through Thailand! |
"Teacher, why is your nose so big? Is it real? Did you put collagen in it? Teacher why are you so hairy? Why do you (sometimes) shave your legs? Is your hair real? Is the color real? Why do Americans like to be tan? Do all Americans have big butts? Have you seen snow? Why do you walk to 7-Eleven...it's so far away! (It's literally right down the street). Why do you have spots all over you (freckles)? Why are your eyes so big?"
Also (sorry male readers) but I showed all my friends what a tampon was for the first time. They were utterly disgusted! Cultural exchange at its finest!
Well folks, my semester is coming to an end!
Two and a half weeks to go. Crazy.
Where has it gone, you ask? That's the question.
I feel like I haven't described my classes very much, and so since it's the majority of my life, here's the lowdown:
School
Monday- Starting fresh. I have my younger classes and so they have a ton of energy! M 2/1 (the first track in 8th grade) is one of my favorite classes and there is a group of girls who I have really connected with here. So precious.
Tuesday- Affectionately nicknamed 'the day from hell' by me. I teach four classes, which to an American teacher is a normal day, but for a Thai teacher---that's a heavy work load, and for a Thai teacher who doesn't fully speak Thai (me) it's a heck of a lot. My naughtiest class M 1/2 greets me with "Hello teacher! You don't have to teach today! We are hungry, we want to go eat! Pleasse don't teach!". Now if this was in English, maybe I could get excited about that welcome. Maybe. But It's in Thai. Also, because of their affinity for running out of class, I have taken to being 'serious' (sooo not Thai) and pretending to circle their names and write notes about them when I see them run out the door. And they freak out and come back! For the win! Siri-1, Students- 0.
I've realized that their Thai teachers pretty much let them go early everyday and so they have these bad habits that are perpetuated by non-enforcement by other teachers. In the afternoon I have M3/1 and M4/2. For M4/2, the amount of students usually ranges from 8-15 out of 40 students, so that tells you something. However, I saw a gang of the rough boys (I always wonder why they look more like grown men than the guys in M 6) in the canteen earlier this week, of course skipping class, and so I decided to talk to them and see what's up. Turns out they don't like English! Who would've guessed?! But I ended the conversation with "I'll see you TOMORROW!" and they all sheepishly said yessss....and they came! And then proceeded to make my life hell. Did I really win on that one?! Still not sure...
Wednesday- Mornings are free and so I go study Thai with Ajan Napawon. She talks so fast, but it is always pleasant to be around her and the kids and other teachers pop their heads in and get quite the kick out of our sessions. In the afternoon I have M 5/2 and M 6/1 (jr's and senior's) and they are always really participatory (albeit late) and my faith in myself, teaching and life is restored!
Thursday- I have coffee and breakfast with one of my favorite teachers P'Jum and we go to the elementary Nong Khoo. I have two kindergarten visits with the adorable little mokeys, and then teach 1-3rd together and 4th-6th together. Usually I'm hoarse by the end of the day, but I'm so privileged to be with these little kids, many of whom come from such impoverished families that I can tell they only have the uniform that they wear to school. This week, however, I am staying at Warinchamrab to participate in all the Valentines Day student activities, such as discussions on safe sex and the prevention of teenage pregnancy! Should be a grand time! Oh and by the way---Thailand is ranked 2nd highest in the world for teen pregnancies, such an interesting social problem in a culture that seems so 'conservative' about male-female relationships on the surface. My one good English speaking student has informed me that I have pregnant students, who are keeping it on the low.
Friday!- Happy 'wan-suk'! 3 classes to go and I'm feeling good. My favorite class, M 5/1 is the last class of the day and so I end the week on a high note. They are always present, full of enthusiasm and are so, so funny---also immature like any 17 year-olds would be. Last week when asked to provide a team name, the girl side of the room selected 'Team Banana'. Not very original, but acceptable. The male side decided to run with that and selected 'Team Big Banana', much to their own delight. It took me a split second, but as soon as I got it I promptly ex-nayed it only to be quickly provided with two alternates: 1) Team Small Banana and then 2) Team Banana and Two Eggs. Almost started writing the second on the whiteboard. Oh man. Teenage boys are just the same everywhere in the world I think.
So seems pretty routine, right? Ha try interspersing all of that with craziness, dogs fighting in my classrooms, 100 degree weather, gang fights, Thai celebrations, judging a wide variety of English competitions, and being fed by every teacher and it makes things a bit more interesting.
What's up next:
- Friday: I am taking my M 5/1 class to a local hotel to show them how to eat 'like a farang' (foreigner). Wish me luck! Might get ugly!
- A little jaunt over the border to Laos on Saturday. Ya know, just a day trip to another SE Asian country. The usual.
- One week of classes and then finals!
- Also might my helping at an English camp and going to Angkor Wat in Cambodia sometime before the end of the semester.
- For the month of March I am moving to Chiang Mai for Fulbright's internship month! I will be working at the American Pacific International School in the mountains and living with four other Fulbright girls in the city. SO EXCITED! I hope to help establish a library literacy program and assist in the ELL classes. Really ready for a change.
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| No...my students did not have a sleepover at my house...(I totally would get sued in America) |
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| Some of my M 6 boys! |
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| Wat Sarapong...the most beautiful temple I've seen! |
