http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip209-1.jpgtoday is a national holiday in Thailand for “Weesaka Bulshar” (this is probably a terrible transliteration but that’s what it sounded like.) the most important day in the Buddhist year. The day when Buddha was born, found enlightenment and died) its based on the lunar calendar and the full moon did us proud shining brightly over the temple we attended.
Because Buddhism is the religion of over 90% of the Thai population there were shed loads of people about. The highlight is where everyone including us following the Monks in a walk 3 times around the temple carrying a candle and a flower (symbolising the good Buddha has brought into the world). I found this very gratifying and noone (even though we were the only Farang among thousands) made us feel unwelcome. We saw the Mayor again (Charlie Gulaim) he insisted on more photos with us.
After the ceremony we went to a tea shop for iced tea (no alcohol on this day much to Aaron and my chagrine) but hey - when in Rome……..
Earlier in the day we went to the beach again although the sea nearest us a little murky and the beaches nothing on Kho Phi Phi….
Still we’ve booked a long weekend on Kho Ngai (hai) island where the beaches are top notch apparently.
Thursday 31 May 2007
thai boxing...
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip182.jpgdid a couple of lessons at school yesterday. this time lesson 1 was in smaller groups of about 6 people helping with English conversation.... subject soon gets around to music and sport...........they seem to be familiar with premiership teams and top players but dont seem to have a handle on music at all - there big stars are tata young and a band called endorphin.
lessons finished at 1100am then Sawapao our "guide" and Director of the school took us to Pak Meng beach about 10 mins away where we sat in 37 degree heat under palm trees eating spicy fish balls and a sweet coconut dish wrapped in palm leaves.....noone around...very quiet here - no tourists.
after that returned home and had a group chat with Khem our CCS manager where we could talk about our placements and how they were going. 2 of the girls innocently gave some money to their pre-school to buy a new fan (v poorly equipped place) and were poilitely told not to do it again. we (and i understand) shouldnt give gifts as the Thai people will come to expect it and that is not good for anyone.
in the evening we visited a Thai boxing training centre (nothing more than an open tin shack on the side of the road amongst rubber trees BUT boy could those lads fight!) very aggressive kicking and punching and kneeing to the chest with great speed, outside the ring they were happy to act as waiters passing around drinks and generally being very friendly. cool dudes.
there were olders guys who had been there, seen it and done it teaching the young bucks the art - very interesting, they were fit as fleas and very passionate with very little equipment. one of the lads was a national champion and he showed us his belt etc. some of us had a go (not me). emma the only other english person managed to kick the instructor in the testicles - very funny, although not for him.
then went for a meal at a nice restaurant in Trang - I had spicy chicken noodles - all the American contingent had pizza. i would have had fish and chips but they didnt do it.
lessons finished at 1100am then Sawapao our "guide" and Director of the school took us to Pak Meng beach about 10 mins away where we sat in 37 degree heat under palm trees eating spicy fish balls and a sweet coconut dish wrapped in palm leaves.....noone around...very quiet here - no tourists.
after that returned home and had a group chat with Khem our CCS manager where we could talk about our placements and how they were going. 2 of the girls innocently gave some money to their pre-school to buy a new fan (v poorly equipped place) and were poilitely told not to do it again. we (and i understand) shouldnt give gifts as the Thai people will come to expect it and that is not good for anyone.
in the evening we visited a Thai boxing training centre (nothing more than an open tin shack on the side of the road amongst rubber trees BUT boy could those lads fight!) very aggressive kicking and punching and kneeing to the chest with great speed, outside the ring they were happy to act as waiters passing around drinks and generally being very friendly. cool dudes.
there were olders guys who had been there, seen it and done it teaching the young bucks the art - very interesting, they were fit as fleas and very passionate with very little equipment. one of the lads was a national champion and he showed us his belt etc. some of us had a go (not me). emma the only other english person managed to kick the instructor in the testicles - very funny, although not for him.
then went for a meal at a nice restaurant in Trang - I had spicy chicken noodles - all the American contingent had pizza. i would have had fish and chips but they didnt do it.
Tuesday 29 May 2007
heat exhaustion...
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip280.jpg4 more lessons today….. on the way to school saw a pair of flip flops in the road, nearby was a huddle of people on the verge. I assume a moped accident. The riders around here are carefree and have no idea of road safety..
got to school and was offered sticky rice and some sweet substance. Ate it. First lesson I was on my own with a very nice English teacher who basically (as they all do) leave you to it. The first student who came into class came up to me and said “I am very happy you are teaching me and my friends today”… I think she meant it. That was nice.
After this lesson had another one with a less helpful teacher who said nothing and didn’t really look at me throughout the lesson – we did “adverbs of frequency” what??
Sometimes, seldom ,never, occasionally, usually, often, frequently, rarely and all that….. they need help with pronunciation..
After this returned to staffroom for further instruction only to find Sawapao and Shayla had gone off somewhere? Sat there for 90 mins wondering what my next move was – the heat stifling especially wearing trousers, shirt and my new booties…
At 1240 hunted down the teacher i had in the morning and she was pleased for me to take a double lesson for her this PM.
Enjoyed it immensely. Covered farangs in Thailand, why the students want to learn English and come to England, the weather, physical appearances, my photo album and more..
After school went to see some traditional Thai dancing (oldest in Thailand) bit like Morris Dancing but more glamorous and stylish.. very impressed although the band had the rhythm of pre-school kids.
Bar b q outside tonight – sneaked off to the shop with Aaron for a cold one.
Knackered now – this heat really slows you down – no wonder less gets done here.
.
got to school and was offered sticky rice and some sweet substance. Ate it. First lesson I was on my own with a very nice English teacher who basically (as they all do) leave you to it. The first student who came into class came up to me and said “I am very happy you are teaching me and my friends today”… I think she meant it. That was nice.
After this lesson had another one with a less helpful teacher who said nothing and didn’t really look at me throughout the lesson – we did “adverbs of frequency” what??
Sometimes, seldom ,never, occasionally, usually, often, frequently, rarely and all that….. they need help with pronunciation..
After this returned to staffroom for further instruction only to find Sawapao and Shayla had gone off somewhere? Sat there for 90 mins wondering what my next move was – the heat stifling especially wearing trousers, shirt and my new booties…
At 1240 hunted down the teacher i had in the morning and she was pleased for me to take a double lesson for her this PM.
Enjoyed it immensely. Covered farangs in Thailand, why the students want to learn English and come to England, the weather, physical appearances, my photo album and more..
After school went to see some traditional Thai dancing (oldest in Thailand) bit like Morris Dancing but more glamorous and stylish.. very impressed although the band had the rhythm of pre-school kids.
Bar b q outside tonight – sneaked off to the shop with Aaron for a cold one.
Knackered now – this heat really slows you down – no wonder less gets done here.
.
the kids are alright..
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip138-1.jpg
Ok,..
Big school day today. Was there all day – took 3 lessons with my friend Shayla…..
The children are so pleased to have a white person teaching them English. Also the teacher is genuinely very grateful as their pronunciation (and grasp) of the English language is limited…
We really do help them with pronunciation as the Thai language is so different from ours, there are certain sounds they find very difficult to say like “th” and “s” at the end of a word. Its really strange walking around the school (1000 pupils) and everyone wanting to say Hello to you.
So far I have not seen one incident of bad behaviour in any way. The kids have built in respect for their elders no matter how poor their backgrounds are and they always are in pristine uniform.
Very grounding.
After school we were had a go at traditional thai wax painting on cloth… my painting of a butterfly looked like an 8 yr olds work but was deemed to be abstract”………another word thai people find very hard to say.
A very rewardingday…….
Got home and decided with Aaron (our new videographer and a bloke!) to nail a couple of cold ones….Our “bar” was a shop with no tables and chairs (we found 2 plastic stools and were sorted. We joked that this was all a man needed to be at peace with the world.
Aaron is a decent bloke who went on a CCS programme a few years ago while at film school and did a video for them. They invited him back after graduation to work for them videoing the different sites in the world. Aaron has a plan to make it big in Hollywood. Save loads of money over the next few years while studying film scripts and them when the right one comes along throw the kitchen sink at it and hope for the best. This is what Quentin Tarantino did with Reservoir Dogs.. to be fair this kind of success will happen to someone again…
Laters
Ok,..
Big school day today. Was there all day – took 3 lessons with my friend Shayla…..
The children are so pleased to have a white person teaching them English. Also the teacher is genuinely very grateful as their pronunciation (and grasp) of the English language is limited…
We really do help them with pronunciation as the Thai language is so different from ours, there are certain sounds they find very difficult to say like “th” and “s” at the end of a word. Its really strange walking around the school (1000 pupils) and everyone wanting to say Hello to you.
So far I have not seen one incident of bad behaviour in any way. The kids have built in respect for their elders no matter how poor their backgrounds are and they always are in pristine uniform.
Very grounding.
After school we were had a go at traditional thai wax painting on cloth… my painting of a butterfly looked like an 8 yr olds work but was deemed to be abstract”………another word thai people find very hard to say.
A very rewardingday…….
Got home and decided with Aaron (our new videographer and a bloke!) to nail a couple of cold ones….Our “bar” was a shop with no tables and chairs (we found 2 plastic stools and were sorted. We joked that this was all a man needed to be at peace with the world.
Aaron is a decent bloke who went on a CCS programme a few years ago while at film school and did a video for them. They invited him back after graduation to work for them videoing the different sites in the world. Aaron has a plan to make it big in Hollywood. Save loads of money over the next few years while studying film scripts and them when the right one comes along throw the kitchen sink at it and hope for the best. This is what Quentin Tarantino did with Reservoir Dogs.. to be fair this kind of success will happen to someone again…
Laters
Monday 28 May 2007
Morris dancing - Thai style.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip147.jpg
ok..
full on day in the school .... 3 lessons - kids between 12 and 16. Classes between 30 and 40 students. really enjoyed it - having to wing it somewhat but start with the basics and repeat until you think of something new to say.....
teachers are great because we really are helping them if only on the pronunciation of words. the thai language is so different that (and we have the same problem in reverse) sounds like 'th', 's' at the end of words and the letter D at the end of a word is really difficult for theThai students.
it is so unusual to be in a position where everyone is looking at you and wanting to say Hello.
tomorrow the Head Teacher has asked for help with a speech she has to make in English to local dignitaries and Swedish delegates with regard to a joint Swedish/thai project.
Back to school.. it's a 1000 strong and i have not encountered any bad behaviour, ill discipline, attituded from any of the kids so far. they have respect built in - its admirable...
aaron the videographer from philadelphia arrived yesterday (a bloke! - we chewed the fat over a couple of cold ones this evening - a welcome change.....
the bar is a shop with no tables or chairs (until we managed to extract 2 plastic stools from the owners....) sitting on a busy road in trang in high humidity and half light we joked that this was all a man needed to feel satisfied
ok..
full on day in the school .... 3 lessons - kids between 12 and 16. Classes between 30 and 40 students. really enjoyed it - having to wing it somewhat but start with the basics and repeat until you think of something new to say.....
teachers are great because we really are helping them if only on the pronunciation of words. the thai language is so different that (and we have the same problem in reverse) sounds like 'th', 's' at the end of words and the letter D at the end of a word is really difficult for theThai students.
it is so unusual to be in a position where everyone is looking at you and wanting to say Hello.
tomorrow the Head Teacher has asked for help with a speech she has to make in English to local dignitaries and Swedish delegates with regard to a joint Swedish/thai project.
Back to school.. it's a 1000 strong and i have not encountered any bad behaviour, ill discipline, attituded from any of the kids so far. they have respect built in - its admirable...
aaron the videographer from philadelphia arrived yesterday (a bloke! - we chewed the fat over a couple of cold ones this evening - a welcome change.....
the bar is a shop with no tables or chairs (until we managed to extract 2 plastic stools from the owners....) sitting on a busy road in trang in high humidity and half light we joked that this was all a man needed to feel satisfied
Sunday 27 May 2007
Kho Pleasant Pleasant
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip175.jpgarrived on Kho Phi Phi. after 2 hr boat journey where I managed to get sunburnt on my side through lack of diligence when applying sun cream. staying in neat one bed bungalow with shower 50 yds from the beach.
on saturday we hired a longtail boat and went to Kho Lay (for those who know it's where the film "the beach" was shot - Leonardo DiCaprio and all that).
i have not seen anything as breathtaking as the Blue Lagoon that is in the centre of Kho Lay island. you enter through a narrow channel which opens out into a pool surrounded by those vertical cliffs i keep talking about. the water is crystal clear and teeming with an array of tropical fish of many different species each more vibrantly colourful and iridescent as the next. time to go snorkelling, well, the fish are your friends after all..... if you hold your hands out in front of you they mass around and take small nips at your hands.. no pain though...
as well as the fish the are stunning Coral reef outcrops all over the place. the water was about 12 feet deep, i tried diving down to the bottom but my ears started to hurt although not before a giant clam (2 feet across) closed tightly shut as i approached. this is a different world both over and under the ocean.
on the way back to Kho Phi Phi we stopped at a very small island inhabited by a colony of Rhesus Monkeys who get fed by Farang tourists. mean little buggers and totally ungrateful for the food they are given. alpha male jumped on to our boat freaking everyone out then promptly pissed on the deck before jumping back to the shore. the sad thing i spose is that if farang tourists stopped coming they would probably die out as the instinct to get their own food has probably died out..
watched the sun go down overlooking the Andaman Sea last evening - ive never been to a more beautiful place. the cicada symphony is deafening and the call of the Muezzin in the distance just adds to the ambience...
back to mainland today (sunday). work day tomorrow - im really looking forward to the stultifying classroom heat in my proper strides, proper shoes and proper shirt (not). hey ho...
i must say i do prefer my Fishermans pants - got 2 colours and am becoming quite attached to them.
ps
well done to Nicky and Sally for completing the first day of the Hill Fort and Waterways Challenge back in Dear Old Blightie
pps Pop kan mai khrap (see you later)
on saturday we hired a longtail boat and went to Kho Lay (for those who know it's where the film "the beach" was shot - Leonardo DiCaprio and all that).
i have not seen anything as breathtaking as the Blue Lagoon that is in the centre of Kho Lay island. you enter through a narrow channel which opens out into a pool surrounded by those vertical cliffs i keep talking about. the water is crystal clear and teeming with an array of tropical fish of many different species each more vibrantly colourful and iridescent as the next. time to go snorkelling, well, the fish are your friends after all..... if you hold your hands out in front of you they mass around and take small nips at your hands.. no pain though...
as well as the fish the are stunning Coral reef outcrops all over the place. the water was about 12 feet deep, i tried diving down to the bottom but my ears started to hurt although not before a giant clam (2 feet across) closed tightly shut as i approached. this is a different world both over and under the ocean.
on the way back to Kho Phi Phi we stopped at a very small island inhabited by a colony of Rhesus Monkeys who get fed by Farang tourists. mean little buggers and totally ungrateful for the food they are given. alpha male jumped on to our boat freaking everyone out then promptly pissed on the deck before jumping back to the shore. the sad thing i spose is that if farang tourists stopped coming they would probably die out as the instinct to get their own food has probably died out..
watched the sun go down overlooking the Andaman Sea last evening - ive never been to a more beautiful place. the cicada symphony is deafening and the call of the Muezzin in the distance just adds to the ambience...
back to mainland today (sunday). work day tomorrow - im really looking forward to the stultifying classroom heat in my proper strides, proper shoes and proper shirt (not). hey ho...
i must say i do prefer my Fishermans pants - got 2 colours and am becoming quite attached to them.
ps
well done to Nicky and Sally for completing the first day of the Hill Fort and Waterways Challenge back in Dear Old Blightie
pps Pop kan mai khrap (see you later)
Friday 25 May 2007
bitter sweet....
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip051.jpg
what to say?
yesterday had first day teaching (2 lessons). first one with MWS .. we had an intro from the teacher then it was off into it.... 30 kids all around 12.... fantastic! we winged it completely doing role plays of introductions etc then got the kids to do it...... they seemed to like us being there -big smiles and lots of laughter! when walking around the school everyone wants to say "goos morning" to you...... my aim is to get the kids saying gooD morning at least.
2nd lesson was a little more tricky and challenging but more rewarding. the teacher appeared to have little or no interest in this Farang - all she said was "children excited" and then sat at the back of the class letting me get on with it. on my own this time with 41 kids (15 years old). luckily had my photo album so split them into groups of 4 and gave them a photo each telling them to ask me questions.... went OK..... I ended up taking the photos back and writing a sentence or 2 about each one on the blackboard and making them say it.. biggest cheer was when they found out Ollie was 15 the same as them!
an amazing experience and only my first real day.
straight from school jumped on a bus to Krabi. this place. wow. good and bad. when approaching by road it seems you have left Earth as the awesome vertical limestone, vegetation covered cliffs spring into view everywhere - reminded me of the illustrations of a comic book i once read when i was young about 2 aliens and there life on some other world. i suppose the writer could have been inspired by visiting here? not so inspiring is the Westernised sea front - hate all that. say no more... old whiteys with young thai beauties. i dont get it.
had dinner overlooking the sea and more limestone outcrops rising vertically from it. it truly is beautiful scenery.
had a few beers tonight (3) for the first time in over a week - felt pissed and strangely remote from the world. got back and found out my dad was in hospital - not good. love to dad, love to mum, love to nicky, love to ollie, bryony and evie monkey...
took boat to kho phi phi this morning.... an island paradise that has a certain level of Farang invasion but not as bad as the mainland... laid on the beach in the sun thinking of home....
in internet cafe now. laters
what to say?
yesterday had first day teaching (2 lessons). first one with MWS .. we had an intro from the teacher then it was off into it.... 30 kids all around 12.... fantastic! we winged it completely doing role plays of introductions etc then got the kids to do it...... they seemed to like us being there -big smiles and lots of laughter! when walking around the school everyone wants to say "goos morning" to you...... my aim is to get the kids saying gooD morning at least.
2nd lesson was a little more tricky and challenging but more rewarding. the teacher appeared to have little or no interest in this Farang - all she said was "children excited" and then sat at the back of the class letting me get on with it. on my own this time with 41 kids (15 years old). luckily had my photo album so split them into groups of 4 and gave them a photo each telling them to ask me questions.... went OK..... I ended up taking the photos back and writing a sentence or 2 about each one on the blackboard and making them say it.. biggest cheer was when they found out Ollie was 15 the same as them!
an amazing experience and only my first real day.
straight from school jumped on a bus to Krabi. this place. wow. good and bad. when approaching by road it seems you have left Earth as the awesome vertical limestone, vegetation covered cliffs spring into view everywhere - reminded me of the illustrations of a comic book i once read when i was young about 2 aliens and there life on some other world. i suppose the writer could have been inspired by visiting here? not so inspiring is the Westernised sea front - hate all that. say no more... old whiteys with young thai beauties. i dont get it.
had dinner overlooking the sea and more limestone outcrops rising vertically from it. it truly is beautiful scenery.
had a few beers tonight (3) for the first time in over a week - felt pissed and strangely remote from the world. got back and found out my dad was in hospital - not good. love to dad, love to mum, love to nicky, love to ollie, bryony and evie monkey...
took boat to kho phi phi this morning.... an island paradise that has a certain level of Farang invasion but not as bad as the mainland... laid on the beach in the sun thinking of home....
in internet cafe now. laters
Wednesday 23 May 2007
Remember that Stranglers song..?
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip099.jpgWed 23rd may
Another very interesting day. Lots of good things interspersed with “Hanging around, just hanging around….. “
Started the day with a visit to the Mayors office…. a passionate, self made man who was in his 3rd term as Mayor. Cares deeply about his Municipality and wants to introduce tourism into Trang BUT differently from what has happened in Phuket etc. He wants investment into tourism from only local people (Farangs will not be allowed to build hotels or set up tourism businesses) and for them to continue charging the same for things as now. Not rip the tourists off..
Sounds like a plan to me… we’ll see.
Had lunch back at Home Base then went to Le Khao Kop a cave with a twist. Basically its an awesome series of limestone caverns with a river running through it. You take a boat through and periodically get off to explore the caves and wonder at the amazing stalactites and stalagmites. Will give the caves at Cheddar Gorge a run for their money any day. THEN the cave roof gets really low and you are told to lie flat on your back in the boat, bearing in mind this is a rowing boat with a draft of about 6 inches. I had my sunglasses on my chest and at one point the roof knocked them off… this is serious potential claustrophobia for those that way inclined…all taking place in darkness bar a torch held by one of the 2 boatman and for a distance of 400M. At one point we got stuck and I had to help push the boat along via the roof. I was glad to get out of there and it certainly set the heart racing and adrenalin pumping..
Khem and Ohb kept very quiet about this.. another case of “mai pen rai”…
Ate in the best restaurant in Trang that evening and came across this amazing citrus, lime dish with cashews and fish and vegetables that you wrap in a leaf.
We’re off to Kho Phi Phi after work tomorrow, staying in Krabi one night then ferry over to Kho Phi Phi on Friday AM. Stay Fri and Sat night. Should get lots of sun, sea and sand and hopefully beer. Noone here apart from Vicky my Kiwi friend drinks and there aren’t many bars……
Laters
Another very interesting day. Lots of good things interspersed with “Hanging around, just hanging around….. “
Started the day with a visit to the Mayors office…. a passionate, self made man who was in his 3rd term as Mayor. Cares deeply about his Municipality and wants to introduce tourism into Trang BUT differently from what has happened in Phuket etc. He wants investment into tourism from only local people (Farangs will not be allowed to build hotels or set up tourism businesses) and for them to continue charging the same for things as now. Not rip the tourists off..
Sounds like a plan to me… we’ll see.
Had lunch back at Home Base then went to Le Khao Kop a cave with a twist. Basically its an awesome series of limestone caverns with a river running through it. You take a boat through and periodically get off to explore the caves and wonder at the amazing stalactites and stalagmites. Will give the caves at Cheddar Gorge a run for their money any day. THEN the cave roof gets really low and you are told to lie flat on your back in the boat, bearing in mind this is a rowing boat with a draft of about 6 inches. I had my sunglasses on my chest and at one point the roof knocked them off… this is serious potential claustrophobia for those that way inclined…all taking place in darkness bar a torch held by one of the 2 boatman and for a distance of 400M. At one point we got stuck and I had to help push the boat along via the roof. I was glad to get out of there and it certainly set the heart racing and adrenalin pumping..
Khem and Ohb kept very quiet about this.. another case of “mai pen rai”…
Ate in the best restaurant in Trang that evening and came across this amazing citrus, lime dish with cashews and fish and vegetables that you wrap in a leaf.
We’re off to Kho Phi Phi after work tomorrow, staying in Krabi one night then ferry over to Kho Phi Phi on Friday AM. Stay Fri and Sat night. Should get lots of sun, sea and sand and hopefully beer. Noone here apart from Vicky my Kiwi friend drinks and there aren’t many bars……
Laters
Tuesday 22 May 2007
a day of firsts and a la's...
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip178.jpgTues May 22nd
Got up. Feeling a little twitchy. Put on my new strides, new yellow shirt (colour of the King) and new boots and panties for my first day at Sikaoprachadaogungvit secondary school (the first test is spelling the name). Turned out I was fretting over nothing (although I haven’t taught yet).
Was shown around (with Mid West Shayla) by Sowapao a Director of the school. We met all the teachers and introduced ourselves and where we were from in Thai. I also introduced myself to a couple of classrooms in Thai (30+ pupils).
The kids are so respectful and genuinely pleased to see you. They laugh at your Thai pronunciation. This is good as if I can get a laugh its all the encouragement I need. To be fair the teaching will be more difficult but the people and the environment are conducive to getting the best out of you. We’ll see.
Had lunch with the Head and a couple of teachers. The male teacher next to me had his hand on my leg for most of the meal. I found it a little disconcerting but decided it was probably a Thai cultural thing. Although I must say he was sporting a moo-stash a la Freddie Mercury!
After lunch I sat in a cold A/C’ed room waiting for Sowapao to return from dropping Shayla off ½ a K down the road. This took an hour. Thais are severely flawed in the sense of urgency stakes a la Tim Fenn (getting a few a la’s in today). Anyway “mai pen rai” as they say here, always good to keep a “jai yen”
Had the best and most painful massage ever Thai style this PM, then went for the hottest and sweatiest (in the humidity) run ever. An afternoon of firsts.
Now going to sit and watch a movie with the girls (its like Bryony and her mates coming round with Ben and Jerrys and duvets everywhere. Plumped for Spiderman 3 purchased from a local market for a quid…. Quality OK – I lasted about ½ hour and decided doing this was more fun.
Meeting the Mayor of Trang tomorrow (he heard I was in town) then school in the afternoon. And finally just removed the biggest ever Cricket from the house.
Got up. Feeling a little twitchy. Put on my new strides, new yellow shirt (colour of the King) and new boots and panties for my first day at Sikaoprachadaogungvit secondary school (the first test is spelling the name). Turned out I was fretting over nothing (although I haven’t taught yet).
Was shown around (with Mid West Shayla) by Sowapao a Director of the school. We met all the teachers and introduced ourselves and where we were from in Thai. I also introduced myself to a couple of classrooms in Thai (30+ pupils).
The kids are so respectful and genuinely pleased to see you. They laugh at your Thai pronunciation. This is good as if I can get a laugh its all the encouragement I need. To be fair the teaching will be more difficult but the people and the environment are conducive to getting the best out of you. We’ll see.
Had lunch with the Head and a couple of teachers. The male teacher next to me had his hand on my leg for most of the meal. I found it a little disconcerting but decided it was probably a Thai cultural thing. Although I must say he was sporting a moo-stash a la Freddie Mercury!
After lunch I sat in a cold A/C’ed room waiting for Sowapao to return from dropping Shayla off ½ a K down the road. This took an hour. Thais are severely flawed in the sense of urgency stakes a la Tim Fenn (getting a few a la’s in today). Anyway “mai pen rai” as they say here, always good to keep a “jai yen”
Had the best and most painful massage ever Thai style this PM, then went for the hottest and sweatiest (in the humidity) run ever. An afternoon of firsts.
Now going to sit and watch a movie with the girls (its like Bryony and her mates coming round with Ben and Jerrys and duvets everywhere. Plumped for Spiderman 3 purchased from a local market for a quid…. Quality OK – I lasted about ½ hour and decided doing this was more fun.
Meeting the Mayor of Trang tomorrow (he heard I was in town) then school in the afternoon. And finally just removed the biggest ever Cricket from the house.
Monday 21 May 2007
culture shock..........
totally awesome day (starting to sound like the preppies now.)
visited one of the volunteer placements today a school for the disabled run by the Thai government. kids are either autistic, downes, deaf, blind or physically disabled, we met some of them. totally sweet, happy, friendly kids......it moved me.
we then visited a Buddhist temple and had the pleasure of being blessed by a monk.... on to the local library to find out more of the history of trang. its a pretty interesting place where many cultures and religions seem to be able to co-exist happily together.
in the afternoon we drove to the coast taking in on the way some Thai Moslem men crafting knives for latex harvesting.
we then hopped aboard a longboat and went along the coast a short way to a deserted beach covered in golden, soft (im mean really, really soft) sand backed by breathtaking vegetation covered limestone cliffs rising 300+ ft.... went swimming in warm (i mean really, really warm) water with soft, soft sand (have i said that?).... paradise or as near as damn it - all it needed was a few cold ones and sky sports and bobs your uncle.
on the way back we raced with the other longboat (bit like wacky races it was) before stopping off at a mangrove swamp to plant (well throw shoots into the mud like darts) new trees as part of government initiative (not for tourists benefit but there's probably money there) to help stop the erosion of the shoreline.
ate at the restaurant on the beach. im not a king prawn fan but these babies cooked up with a spicy lime sauce were sound as a pound... also had chicken with cashews, soup and spicy thai mushrooms. magic.
long but very rewarding day. tomorrow is first day at placement im nervous.
laters.
visited one of the volunteer placements today a school for the disabled run by the Thai government. kids are either autistic, downes, deaf, blind or physically disabled, we met some of them. totally sweet, happy, friendly kids......it moved me.
we then visited a Buddhist temple and had the pleasure of being blessed by a monk.... on to the local library to find out more of the history of trang. its a pretty interesting place where many cultures and religions seem to be able to co-exist happily together.
in the afternoon we drove to the coast taking in on the way some Thai Moslem men crafting knives for latex harvesting.
we then hopped aboard a longboat and went along the coast a short way to a deserted beach covered in golden, soft (im mean really, really soft) sand backed by breathtaking vegetation covered limestone cliffs rising 300+ ft.... went swimming in warm (i mean really, really warm) water with soft, soft sand (have i said that?).... paradise or as near as damn it - all it needed was a few cold ones and sky sports and bobs your uncle.
on the way back we raced with the other longboat (bit like wacky races it was) before stopping off at a mangrove swamp to plant (well throw shoots into the mud like darts) new trees as part of government initiative (not for tourists benefit but there's probably money there) to help stop the erosion of the shoreline.
ate at the restaurant on the beach. im not a king prawn fan but these babies cooked up with a spicy lime sauce were sound as a pound... also had chicken with cashews, soup and spicy thai mushrooms. magic.
long but very rewarding day. tomorrow is first day at placement im nervous.
laters.
Sunday 20 May 2007
feeling hot hot hot....
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t281/beejay44/trangtrip007.jpg
finally i get the internet to work!
well here i am - what a place.............. flight to bangkok the best ever (so good i even watched and concentrated on casino royale, never done that on a plane before.......). Taxi at airport took me to wrong hotel first of all.......... met shayla from nebraska a medical student who'd lost her luggage in chicago! went for a beer , live music was a man doing a rendition of "we gotta get outa this place" so we did - terrible. saw an elephant in the street. slept badly that night before getting up early to catch flight to trang on a plane with a beak on it?! good flight again... met all the CCS staff at the airport and then went to Home Base.... nice place, a room to myself and good air con. met other voulnteers al female! mostly from US apart from 2.......
went into town and bought some "fishermens pants" which are cool and really cool ..they are the only things to where in this weather 32 degree and high humidity.. went to night market -interesting array of food but a bit smelly.
had a thai lesson today - this is worrying me as i will need to speak a little thai in the schools..
am nervous about the placement as i want to be useful and i dont how to be...guess i need to be patient.. something im really good at (as anyone who knows me will testify)..
at the moment there is a lot of sitting around and not much doing - i am finding this a challenge.....
thai people are not task oriented (like me) they prefer to take things more slowly ...... apparently in order of importance 1 eat 2 fun 3 work - sounds great and im all for this order but i also like to do things... im sure it will all come out in the wash and i can adjust................ after all i did want a challenge.. first day in school on tuesday..... wish me luck!
loads more to tell
Barry
chue thai -eak
(thai name - "only one")
finally i get the internet to work!
well here i am - what a place.............. flight to bangkok the best ever (so good i even watched and concentrated on casino royale, never done that on a plane before.......). Taxi at airport took me to wrong hotel first of all.......... met shayla from nebraska a medical student who'd lost her luggage in chicago! went for a beer , live music was a man doing a rendition of "we gotta get outa this place" so we did - terrible. saw an elephant in the street. slept badly that night before getting up early to catch flight to trang on a plane with a beak on it?! good flight again... met all the CCS staff at the airport and then went to Home Base.... nice place, a room to myself and good air con. met other voulnteers al female! mostly from US apart from 2.......
went into town and bought some "fishermens pants" which are cool and really cool ..they are the only things to where in this weather 32 degree and high humidity.. went to night market -interesting array of food but a bit smelly.
had a thai lesson today - this is worrying me as i will need to speak a little thai in the schools..
am nervous about the placement as i want to be useful and i dont how to be...guess i need to be patient.. something im really good at (as anyone who knows me will testify)..
at the moment there is a lot of sitting around and not much doing - i am finding this a challenge.....
thai people are not task oriented (like me) they prefer to take things more slowly ...... apparently in order of importance 1 eat 2 fun 3 work - sounds great and im all for this order but i also like to do things... im sure it will all come out in the wash and i can adjust................ after all i did want a challenge.. first day in school on tuesday..... wish me luck!
loads more to tell
Barry
chue thai -eak
(thai name - "only one")
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