Watch out - Erika's behind the wheel!

For those who may - please do not get your hopes up. This post is gonna be tiny.

Today was an interesting day. It also goes to show that I'm the kinda gal that just needs to jump in feet first.

I got a call this morning saying that the guy that usually oversees the farm and drives the students around could not be reached. I was asked if I had ever driven the truck. I have actually. A couple of times at the feast. Both with a knowledgeable driver beside me and at 2am. That really wasn't too hard. Ahhh, yes, and for those who might not realize why driving the truck is a big deal, well, for starters it's a manual, and everything is opposite over here. At any rate, I gamely hopped in for a test drive to the farm. I backed out with little difficulty, but upon putting the car into first it kept stalling. I was blocking the whole road outside the school (not hard to do) when a truck came up. Still I could not get our truck to move. One of my students had walked out to make sure I didn't hit anyone while backing up. He piped up and said he had driven a truck 3 years ago. I thought "sure, hop on in and give it a whirl." Well, he did, and while he was trying to go forward he realized the parking brake was on. He pulled it out and we lurched towards the brick fence across the road. "Brake, brake, BRAKE!" I believe he froze and we plowed right into the fence. I was sure the truck would crumple, but instead the fence did. Indeed, the parking brake was the problem and I easily went on my way to the farm to 'fess up. Fortunately, Aj. Leon was completely relaxed about the whole thing. Whew! He just said "we all make mistakes - so do you feel up for bringing the girls to swimming?" "Uhhhh, sure, I can do that..." I replied. And that was that. I did. And after a lurching ride back to the school -where they all said it was so much fun - and another lurching ride to the pool - where I was congratulated upon arrival - I finally drove back to the school with hardly a problem. And now I can drive the truck!
By the way, the students all gamely offered to repair the fence. And the truck didn't have too much damage (just a little bent), so all in all, we got through things okay. I just felt bad for my student. He'd had a rough week as it was - and then this! I think he's good now since I said the whole thing was on me - and no one was mad at me or him.


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In other news, I am headed to Cambodia next week. There was a time (just a few months ago!) where I would have thought that was crazy - but now it's a neighbor. So it will be a nice week long visit and then back to school.

Chicken soup for this gal's soul

Apparently ten hours of sleep is not enough for one night. Here I sit at 4:30 in the afternoon yawning. In my defense I have been battling quite the bug this week. I'm still not sure what it was. Was it the fish caught in the river that I ate Monday night? The bad cheese I ate Tuesday? Or the fact that I hardly slept or slowed down for two weeks before that? I'm willing to bet it was a combination. At any rate, I was walking around rather hunched over for a few days (that's when I wasn't on the couch doing nothing, or the day I spent in bed sleeping). Today I ventured out to the farm to see the students and read a book. I went hoping to alleviate worries that I am alive and well, but instead I probably only created concern. They are very sensitive to us teachers getting sick. I imagine part of the reason is the fact that if I go down there go almost half of their classes. At any rate, they took note of the sunken eyes, and the thinner frame, and promptly invited me to stay at the farm for lunch. Fortunately I was able to eat the heaping plateful put in front of me and hopefully put some minds at ease.

For me being here makes me look at things a little differently. It used to be that if I were sick I would want to be well primarily because I didn't like how it felt and also because I had responsibilities to a job. I suppose on the surface this is still true. But since I now live at my job it's kind of an added incentive to make sure that I am always strong. I suppose I know that I am a healthy person, and don't really worry about my health to much because I pay attention to how I feel and generally respond accordingly. But now I feel this even greater responsibility just so as not to worry others. Next semester is going to be extremely busy so I will have to be sure not to let my guard down on sleeping and eating.

Anyway, I hadn't really started this blog with the intent of it being a synopsis of my health. Mostly, I really liked my day today because the farm was so beautiful and the students all felt like a family. We actually do have a Burmese couple living at the farm until Sunday who act kind of like parents for the Burmese students. (They all knew eachother in Burma.) It was fun, though, today seeing them all around the table talking and laughing together. They even lingered which is something they never do - usually it's eat and run. I think, too, that when we are sick we miss our family more (because really, my mom's chicken soup and my dad's urging me to eat an apple would have been much appreciated!) and feeling concern from a big "family" here was so nice.

Next week it will be back to teacher mode and hopefully building relationships with the students over the break will help and not hinder our progress.

I also will have to write an update about the Feast (The Feast of Tabernacles - part of the religious Holy Days I keep) because it was insanely busy but insanely fun after all was said and done!

Snippets

There have been several times over the past couple of weeks where I thought "ooop, I should write about that" and finally I am taking the time to do just that.

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We had a week of fireworks near the school culminating in a massive display several Friday nights ago. It turns out that for those that are well-to-do there is a huge sending off when they die. I heard, although could not actually confirm with my Thai students, that the fireworks are to guide the departed's spirit. I'm not sure where, exactly. But guide it did through both light and noise. Friday's display was beautiful, and it was fun standing with all the students in the yard, ohhhing and ahhhing, however, the week was a bit rough. They go on rather late (11 or so) and are very loud. It was a bit nerve-racking. Often the displays were accompanied by chanting, which I actually alternate between finding eerie and soothing.

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I have students from both Thailand and Burma/Myanmar. Some of the Thai students make a point to keep up with what is going on in the government. The village has a little kiosk where the newspaper is posted and I am sure they hear from others. The Thai students were (and still are) very interested in what happened with the coup and hoping that the former prime minister will not wheedle his way back into the country. (He's a tricky guy and very rich. He recently bought Manchester United - a soccer club - and they have been winning. Thailand loves soccer and can't help but follow this team.) They were also interested in the voting process for the new Constitution and additions and subtractions there have been to it, to ensure that the shady dealings of the past don't return. (The former Prime Minister Thaksin became very rich while in power. He made sure that rules were changed or relaxed to benefit his companies.)
The Burmese students also follow what is going on in their country. Burma's government is terrible. Recently prices have been going out of control in Rangoon (the capital) and many are short on food. The students at Rangoon University are also getting restless for change. Fortunately, those out of the cities are still able to afford the basics because they are more self-sufficient. There is a lot of corruption and the students often share stories about growing up that reflect this.

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Every weekend at church we get to hear the most amazing music. So many of the students are naturally talented and put their songs together the morning of. Usually they will sing in their own language (Thai, Burmese, Lahu, Shan,....), and every so often we will get a song in English. I personally really like their voices with the native music. The two meld so well, and it sounds and looks natural. When they sing in their own languages they get into the song so much more, which is no surprise since I am sure they are less nervous and the lyrics mean more to them.

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Now that I have directed a choir, I have a whole new appreciation for directors. Actually, this experience has given me a whole new appreciation for instructors of any kind. I imagine that generally when people teach, they are hoping to share something they take pleasure in, and are hoping those being instructed will too. If the instructor really cares, they put a lot of effort in to help. They are constantly trying to improve themselves, analyze the students, and find new ways of passing on knowledge. Well, I can say, then, that it can get very discouraging when others don't take advantage of the work.
I now see what past teachers and directors have done in a whole new light. I don't know why I never realized how disrespectful it was to not try my hardest when others clearly were. I suppose we assume that the teacher doesn't really care that we pass. Or, when it comes to choir, why should I try when the end result sounds good? Well, I can say from experience that when you see a sea of blank faces, yet you have given study guides, tutoring sessions, recorded music, conversation time, etc. etc. you really start to wonder why you are trying so hard and yet aren't seeing a lot of effort on the other side. Eeeks, to all those I have done that to I'm sorry! : )

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This past weekend we had a visitor come up from Bangkok. It was wonderful to have someone else around for a bit. We wandered through the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai and then went to the Riverside Restaurant to hear a live band play. We didn't expect much, but were pleasantly surprised when the Thai band began playing covers of songs by the likes of Coldplay, U2, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Considering that none of my students know who U2 is, this is a very cool thing. Not only did they play these songs, but they also sounded really good. I even liked a couple versions better than the originals.

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A few days ago, Stacey came in to say that she had seen some of the guys poking around in the yard and digging holes. When she asked what they were up to, they replied that they were digging for crickets that they were then going to fry. "Mmmmm mmmm," was my first thought upon hearing this. "I've gotta see for myself." So off I went to see the dying crickets in the plastic pop bottle. They were very plump, brown specimens - disgusting looking actually, with their long legs and huge eyes. However, I gamely went into the kitchen once they were fried. One of my other students was standing there and looked a little curious about the whole thing. I asked her if she had ever tried crickets to which she shook her head no. "I will try one if you try one on the count of three." I said. So we did. And they were actually pretty good. (Side note: They did not taste like chicken.) However, I don't think this will become a major staple of my diet. Thinking about those legs and those eyes kind of made me queasy. A welcome side effect of this cricket excavation was that the school is a lot more quiet. Those things make the most piercing noise.

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We are in the midst of finals week. Finals will be done on Thursday and after compiling grades first semester will be a wrap.