My First Week of School : )

"My head hurts." So said one of my students in Thai. Aptly enough the newest one who couldn't understand a word I was saying. Poor fellow! But I can relate. By 6pm my head is hurting too and I hardly make sense when I talk. I think I am digressing more than the students are progressing! Not a pretty turn of events.

For all of that, my first week of classes is over! And on the whole I would have to say it went well. I made it, number one. Plus, the students really did seem to be learning. I am really enjoying seeing this new side to them. The side that earnestly studies and works with the other students on their class work. As the teacher of first year English I will have to share the credit for whatever the new students learn with everyone else.

The week had its wrinkles but most have been ironed out. It is hard finding the balance between too easy and too difficult, especially when there is a major communication barrier. I am trying to relate to the newer students (Fon and Chai just arrived a week ago with little to no English) and give them a break because their heads must be swimming with all the new information - new physical environment, new classmates, and the prevalence of English being spoken.

On Monday and Wednesday I had three classes: Computer 1 (typing), Choral, and Athletics. The last class I don't really have to worry about. We just go outside and play soccer. The other two, however, took monitoring.

The great thing about a small school and two teachers is that it is flexible. We had a hard time placing one of our students, Malat, because he is in the first year, but was testing towards the top of the class in everything. Since we don't want him to be bored in all of his classes we are allowing him to finish his typing class on his own and move into the advanced class now. One problem partially solved.

Choral went very well on Monday and went downhill from there. My project for the weekend is to think about how to fix that class. My problems are: the strong singers who sing loudly and at their own tempo, the "weaker" singers who aren't singing out at all, and those that don't understand that if we split into parts they are not singing the melody. All of this combined makes for a rather tedious class in which I feel many students are getting bored. It helped today when I told them to pay attention when the other groups are singing, because it will help them learn pronunication and timing. I have to remember to always point them in the direction of what will help them out.

Tuesday and Thursday I taught: Piano, Beginning English, and Music Theory. If I am not infinitely more well-versed in music by the time I get home, I have a serious deficiency! Piano was fun all week. I had ten students between Tuesday and Friday, each for half an hour. I think what I enjoyed most was that we could start at their level (which, for all but one, was the very beginning) and work at their own pace. I also enjoyed getting to know them a little better and also, while sitting there with them, I can see right when the light bulb goes on and they understand something.

Music Theory was a lot of fun from the start because I have very good materials to teach from. It is an elementary level book with worksheets and quizzes that really reinforce what we are learning. It is also really helpful because it crosses over a lot with choir and piano.

That leaves Beginning English, which I really needed to change. That class was so challenging because two of the students have a decent level of English and have been here at the school for a few months. Then there are the two new students. The first class Malat was bored while Fon and Chai were thoroughly confused. What also complicates matters is that three of these students speak Thai and Malat speaks Burmese. So Rat is kept busy trying to fill in the new students. On Tuesday we spent the first hour of class going over phonetics (which went well) and the second going over basic questions (What is your name? My name is... Where are you from? I am from... etc.) - which did not go well. After becoming mildly discouraged I came in to talk to Stacey and she mentioned that the teacher last year walked around the village pointing to things and saying the names. On Thursday I had a plan. I walked in, confidently wrote our agenda for the day on the board and proceeded to actually do said agenda with success. We first went over phonetics, which was made easier this time because the students did not have to write down the information from the board and instead read from phonetics books Stacey found. This helped a lot to put all the students at one level since it takes awhile for Fon and Chai to write. Then we worked on very simple grammer with the present tense of the verb to be. I had all the students stand up so we could act out I, you,he,she,it,we, and they. Then we used nouns from the classroom. I worried that it would be too hard, but I think they understood enough to build on next time. In our second hour of class we took our walk around the village pointing to things. All of the students found this fun because all of them had something they wanted to know the English word for.

While I am sure future weeks will bring more problems to work through, I enjoyed those I had this week. They really dealt with how each of the students learn and will provide a foundation for issues that arise in the future.

I will keep you posted.

Bangkok and beyond

Considering that not every day of my life is incredibly different from the last - nor are many of my weeks - I have decided to write a "filler" blog. In actuality, this should be of some interest as I intend to go back in time and write about my arrival in Bangkok. With all of the hoopla surrounding my arrival - well, if not hoopla, general laziness - I did not write about my first few days here before.

I arrived at 1am making it very fortunate that I have a friend currently living in Bangkok. I think that after 25 hours of being on planes (three to be precise) and in airports (I've been to Taiwan! - for three hours! - in the airport...) I would have been lost. My friend met me inside, helped with my luggage (oh so nice) and hailed a cab. I didn't have to do anything. Can you tell what a relief that was?
I worried before flying to this side of the world that 1) my flight would be way too long and 2) I would have major jet lag. These proved false. Modern convenience ensures that each person on a China Airlines flight gets their own personal screen - so three movies and several naps later I arrived - not too difficult. As for the second, for some reason I woke up at 7 am the morning after my arrival and felt ready for the day. Actually, I should credit my 4:15 am start time at Starbucks for keeping my body on it's toes.

The first thing I noticed about Bangkok was that it seemed everyone was up. At nearly 2am there were food stalls still hopping with business. There were still quite a few cars and motorbikes on the rode and people were still talking and joking around. I found that amazing. I wonder when the city sleeps.

My first day in Bangkok was relatively low-key. We went to Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is the the big Thai market. I actually was quite amazed at the labyrinth - stalls stacked close together, awnings overhead making it quite enclosed, very narrow walkways. I was glad we had gone in the morning, because as the day wore on it became much more suffocating. After wandering around we had lunch and took off. Being that it was the weekend, the sidewalks were packed with vendors around the market, and I found it difficult to both walk (without tripping!) and see everything.

The next day proved far more interesting. We widened our circle of exploration and took in the popular tourist area (Ko Ratanakosin) that houses Wat Phra Kaew, the Grand Palace, and Wat Pho. Wat (temple) Phra Kaew houses the Emerald Buddha, which I overlooked the first time I went inside. This buddha is quite popular and from the guidebooks I thought it would be easy to spot. After much contemplation and a determination that I had not in fact seen the Emerald Buddha my first trip inside the wat I went back. This time I spotted it. Seated at the top of a very elaborate altar I was reminded of the beauty of simplicity. For all the attention paid to where the buddha rests, it is swallowed up and it's significance is greatly diminished.

Next I saw Wat Pho and was again surprised that I didn't see the main attraction right away. Wat Pho houses the reclining Buddha, which is 151 feet long and 49 feet high. This time I didn't see it because it was too big and is tightly enclosed on all sides. I'm sure in both these instances it would have helped if I knew what exactly I was looking for. At any rate, once I saw the buddha it was impressive for it's size.

Before coming here I wondered how I would feel walking into these temples that represent a belief I do not believe in. I actually thought I would feel uncomfortable. Instead, I felt only as if I were looking at art. These wats are so touristy that it is very difficult not to see them as anything else.

We finished off the day by taking a boat down Mae Nom Chao river. I enjoyed getting to see the city from a little distance instead of feeling penned in by people, buildings, stalls, and heat. We also looked in a couple of the fancy hotels and even were asked to leave one. Apparently we didn't look fancy enough to belong there! It was a first for me and I thought it was rather snooty.

My last day in Bangkok I spent literally wandering everywhere and purposely getting lost. I thoroughly enjoyed it - but I was exhausted at the end of the day.

So here are some of my impressions: there are dogs that look half dead lying everywhere because of the heat, people drink their beverages out of a straw in small plastic bags, when at a restaurant the server "hovers" waiting for the order (this makes me feel rushed, but I am getting used to it), there are a large number of motorbikes and it is amazing the number of things/people that fit on them (and it's odd seeing little kids on them - someone at the school here saw a baby being breast fed as the mother drove down the road!), lastly I felt like I did not want to take a deep breath.

In retrospect I like Bangkok. I think it is an interesting city because it is changing so quickly. There are still ghost buildings from the asian crash in the late nineties, buildings of historical importance, buildings of those that are poor, and through it all the Skytrain which, from what I have read, is like a symbol of the city moving forward and trying to realize the dreams that were almost lost 10 years ago. Personally I am looking forward to going back and eating more street food!

Our class trip

Today was an answer to the restlessness of my last post. I think the students have been getting restless too. So the school sent us all on a day trip to Mae Sa Waterfalls. I was expecting a short outing actually. I heard we would be leaving around 9 or 10 this morning and that was about it. I grabbed an umbrella (I never leave home without it - and am often rewarded) and my camera and joined the crew. We piled into the back of the pick-up (my first time using the back as a mode of transporation for myself) and jolted down the road. Our journey in the truck took us through Mae Rim and, as we had to stop for lunch supplies, gave us a close-up look at one of the many colorful shops along the road. They are colorful because the stores are so shallow that all of the inventory is close to the road.
The waterfalls are only about a 15-20 minute drive from here. We arrived shortly and hiked a short way up the ten adjoining falls. We set up a little base camp of sorts and started the rest of the way up. Here is where the camera became a big deal. I had no idea how much everyone would love having their pictures taken. There was pose after pose. Needless to say, the hike up the relatively short distance took awhile. After about 2 hours of hiking/walking we returned for lunch.

I would have to say that the highlight of the day was finding out everyone was prepared to go swimming. Of course, I wasn't prepared - but in the end it was no matter and I jumped right in with the rest. Many just swam in regular clothes anyway and brought dry clothes along.

It was really a lot of fun chasing eachother around in the water, falling over, doing silly things. I think it actually really did help to bring the students closer together - and the teachers too! Since about half the students are from Burma and the other half are from Thailand, there is a natural divide that is difficult for them to cross. They have to speak English when they talk to eachother. Good for me, hard for them!

After a couple more hours of fun it started to rain and was time to go. The ride back was very interesting - but the students have a hang of how to hold the umbrellas so we weren't soaked through (although I was already soaked, so it didn't matter!). I thought it was a refreshing close to a really enjoyable day. I am already looking forward to more excursions, as they are all so much fun to be with!

Addition 6/15: Just for you Aimee! : ) A picture of Malat, myself, and Kohn Din - Plus, look at that crazy tree!

Restless was a vocab word

It is one of those spring nights, not unlike one in Minneapolis, where, after a long hot day, we are rewarded with a glowing sunset and a cooling breeze. On these types of nights at home I would get the urge to call someone up, jump in the car, and meet whomever someplace, anyplace - preferably The Brewpub, Psycho Suzi's, or the lakes. The weather calls for an outdoor patio, a good drink, and fun conversation.

It sounds like I miss home when in actuality I don't that much. However, I am feeling a bit restless tonight. I have been pacing the courtyard here at the school and wanting to go out and do something. One of my students, Beka (bayka), appeared to be in the same mood as he was riding his bike around in circles. I stopped to chat and said, "It is just one of those nights where I am feeling restless." He gave me a smile (a polite one that means he doesn't know what I am talking about but doesn't want me to have to repeat it.) I now know this smile. "Hey, restless was one of our vocabulary words," I said. "It means that a person can't sleep, that they may be nervous, and/or they can't sit still - they want to be doing something." He seemed to understand then and went pedaling off muttering "restless" under his breath so as not to forget the word.

This kind of illustrates how I feel here a lot. We are kind of out of the way, making going into town difficult, and while here I feel a little claustrophobic because talking is kind of a chore. Fortunately, there is the other teacher, Stacey, who I get along very well with, but one person day in and day out doesn't make my world feel like it's getting bigger. Of course I do speak with the students quite a lot and really enjoy all of them.

I do hope that this post doesn't sound too negative - I'm actually in a really good mood! I went running this evening with one of the students, Naley, and played badminton with her and two other gals. I also talked to our cook, Andrew, for awhile about gas prices and where he should visit when he comes to the US. (I had to admit, though it pained me, that there isn't really much for a tourist to see in Minneapolis.) Andrew has a good grasp on English. In terms of the others, I am trying to find activities that they enjoy and am hoping to connect that way. Once classes start and they all respond to my mad teaching skills I see a dramatic change in store!

If anyone has any suggestions for me about teaching (or making the most of being a foreigner who doesn't speak the language) let me know. I do intend to learn some Thai while I am here, however, I am supposed to speak English with the students since that is a big reason they come to this school. Makes sense.

The Semi-Painted Picture

I must admit, I am pretty much on vacation at the moment. I actually get 8 hours of sleep a night, eat three square meals a day (that I don't have to cook!), have someone else do my laundry, and am pretty much spoiled. In return, I teach two one hour classes each week to a group of students who seem to think I can do no wrong. Life is good. Every morning I get up, have jam, toast and Nestea coffee (a step down from good ole Starbucks) and relax. This is followed by a quick trip to the farm to hang out with the students or a session trying to read about the culture, the classes I will teach or recreational reading. (Did I mention I am really spoiled right now?) Afternoons consist of more reading or a trip to the internet shop. Some afternoons I go into either Chiang Mai or Mae Rim to get groceries. And at night, Stacey (the other teacher) and I watch the Gilmore Girls (in order to keep our vocabulary and wit from disappearing). This pretty much sums up the extent of my days. For those that now think I am a lazy bum, this will change in two weeks when classes officially start and then I will have 5 classes and lots of work. I've decided to revel in this current peaceful period. Well, revel and prepare - I'm not a complete bum!

The Farm

Every morning during the week the students work at the farm. I have tried to get in the habit of dropping in a couple times a week just to get to know the students. It's also helpful to speak with them to discover their level of English. It makes teaching a little easier. Plus, they seem to feel less pressure and are more likely to make an attempt to say something to me. Usually I try to find a small group or one person, sit down to help weed, make brief small talk and then wait for them to start talking. Sometimes it's difficult as some of the students are newer arrivals and haven't learned much English yet.

The farm is on the bank of a river and consists of the main house, the chicken coop, a huge garden (used for our food at the school), and a smaller house (for the family that attends the school). It is landscaped beautifully with a pond, waterfall, bridge, an open green area, many beautiful trees. It is a very peaceful place and many of the students go there to get away and read.

Here is a view of the farm (through all those trees!) from the bridge over the river. All of the grasses to the right will be covered by water in the upcoming rainy season.

The house at the farm.

The School

Most of my time is spent at the school. We eat all of our meals here, and this is where most of the students plus Stacey and I live.

The ajarn's (teacher's) house.