I've been in Thailand for a little under 2 months, and OH BOY, do I have a lot to share. But before I admit my most embarassing and humbling moments, let me get real.
I made the jump to teach in Thailand because I wanted to have an adventure and challenge myself as an educator. I wanted to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Still, nothing could have prepared my for the quick learning curve I had to face--and continue to face-- in Chonburi, Thailand.
Every work day I open the door and I am blown back by a hair-standing greeting of "GOOD MORNING TEACHA, HOW ARE YOU?!" My students, first and second years at Eastern Technological College, are full palpable energy. Does this enthusiam last throughout the entire class? With the right mixture of GAMES (!!!!!!), movement, American pop culture references, and Teacher Thea making a fool of herself--yes, yes it does. Is each class a success? Wishful thinking. My teaching license may have given me an edge initially, but never have I found myself in front of a class of hyperactive students who know little to no English. AND I need to teach these students English...in English. I gotta admit, I've become quite the professional at miming, drawing shitty stick figure pictures, and improvising.
It's all so worth it though. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) might not be my passion, but helping my students improve even the SLIGHTEST bit with their speaking skills is such a reward . And you know why? Developing my students' English speaking skills allows me to get to know them better. It helps me make class more relevant and meaningful. It reassures me that my students are creating more opportunities for success in their lives by practicing basic English.
Some days, I leave my classes discouraged and absolutely wrecked. Some days, I walk out of class with my chest puffed out and a grin tattooed on my face feeling ON TOP OF THE WORLD. It's all part of the game.
I promise I'll include frequent updates of my travels, pictures, and teaching stories on my blog posts to come. I had to start somewhere! To end on a light note, here is a short list of learning moments I've had over the past 2 months:
1. Thai is a very tonal language. For example, the word "moo" can actually be 5 different words when said with a different intonation. Well, one day in class I intended to tell a student her handwriting is very beautiful. Being the farang that I am, I accidentally told this student her handwriting is very penis. The moment the word left my mouth my students gasped and screamed "TEACHAA!!!" with their mouths weighted down in shock. Whoops. Gotta work on those tones...
2. There are stray dogs EVERYWHERE in Thailand. Euthanasia is not a common practice here because of Buddhism. That means dogs here are not neutered and the sight of low-hanging dog balls is normal. One evening, my fellow teachers and I found an English version of Mockingjay playing in theaters. A preview came on for an animated super-dog movie (ripping off Bolt, lemme tell you). Well, I choked on my candy a little bit when the animated super-dog with his equally animated dog balls flew majestically across the movie screen. I looked frantically around to gauge the reaction of children around me, yet no Thai children seemed the least bit fazed.
3. If you're not weaving through traffic while desperately hanging off the back of a songtaew or motorbike going 110 mph, are you REALLY even using public transportation correctly?
4. There is no such thing as good Thai beer. (Hint: this is a plea to my American friends to send some craft beer this way ASAP). However, I haven't had a disappointing meal yet. The food here is incredible--flavorful, fresh, flaming hot.
5. Thai people are some of the nicest people in the world. They rarely ever "lose face." If you are lost or are in need of help, you'll almost always have a kind Thai person rushing to your aide, though they may giggle at you incessantly.
Example A: One day the other English teachers and I realized we had no way of getting back home from a neighboring town's track. We couldn't find a songtaew or motortaxi and it was getting dark. We spotted a coach bus and asked the driver where he was going. Though the driver was not scheduled to stop through our town, this nice Thai bus driver made an extra stop at our school to drop us off--and let us ride for free!
Example B: I was on my routine run after school down my town's incredibly busy road. About 20 minutes out my stomach feels like it's on fire--I need to find a bathroom ASAP or I'm going to poop myself. I look around and I spy a sign of hope: a woman selling pork on the side of the road. Surely there must be a bathroom nearby if she sells her pork outside all day long. I approach her and ask in Thai, "DO YOU HAVE A BATHROOM?!" She initially laughs at me. But soon she sees the desperation on my face and signals for me to follow her. The pork lady brings me to another woman (who laughs at me), to another woman, until suddenly I have a parade of four Thai women trying to help me find a bathroom. Finally, my Thai posse knocks on the door of a very small house. The women push me forward and there, behold, is a squat toilet brilliantly waiting for me. Thai people are the nicest, I'm telling you.
So, here's to the ups and downs of being a foreign teacher and a novice traveler-- and to wherever it may lead me.