6.6.12

Finally! A taxi to our very door to take us directly to school! It’s the simple things in life…

It was very fortunate, too. The rainy season started last night. At some point, I awoke and thought I heard lots of running water. When I looked out the window, I couldn’t see that it was raining, so I thought it must be our cistern running over, as it does most of the time. I found out differently in the morning. It wasn’t still raining, but I could tell that it had. And possibly would again.

We headed out, stopped at a 7-11 (had to get our ham and cheese toasties!) and headed off to school. Just the four of us (including Pi Ying) with A/C and door-to-door service. Luxury! It did start raining again on our way to school.

Got to the school about 45 minutes before class. I got things sorted before I started my day, confident in my material. I was also glad that Phil had opted to observe the kindergarten teachers at the other school today instead of us. I am so much more relaxed and better at whatever job I do when I am not being scrutinized.

Cheeky buggers. My first class had older kids in it. I think I will have to separate the four at the back next time. They were still a load of fun. After doing their mug shots, I decided to start with Buzz to get them warmed up. Again, they are too smart for me. I was doing everything I could to trip them up. Had to call it quits with about 10 students still standing. Out of only 17. I then went back to the questions I used in my second class the day before. This was the only class so far who had a couple of people guess my correct age. I have James in my class (“Lady Gaga” from student orientation in the park). He couldn’t believe that I was 32. “But you are so baby face!” How many times do I have to say that I love the Thai people?

I happened to add “Who/What is your favorite artist/band?”. While I didn’t get a whole lot of response out of them, I did somehow get roped in to singing Lady Gaga and (at James’ request) “Jingle Bell Rock”, of all songs. Good thing I know my Christmas carols…

They did test me with the cell phones, but I didn’t have an issue after I told them that I WILL confiscate phones until the end of class. They mostly kept them in their pockets after that.

This class ended up with some time at the end so I gave them the same homework that my class the previous morning was assigned. I told them that if they worked on it quietly for five minutes, I would let them go five minutes early. That did the trick.

I think it’s pretty standard for them to be let out early. There aren’t any passing periods between classes. They butt right up to one another. So, it’s kind of a reward to me also when I let them go early…

I had 45 minutes between classes to relax. Originally, I thought that I was teaching the same class again today. I figured out (after looking up some more games) that I was incorrect. I decided to use the games anyhow.

I knew this class would be fun before it started. One of the girls who was early said to me “Teacher, teacher!” and then stuck out her tongue to show me her piercing. I don’t think she was expecting me to stick mine out back at her and also have a piercing. They squealed and giggled.

This class was much older than my others. They were all 18-24. It was a noticeable change. Their English wasn’t as strong as my second period class the day before, but they had more willingness to learn and contribute to class.

I started with a name memory game. It actually helped ME immensely. I started by saying “My name is Robyn”. Then the next person had to say “Her name is Robyn. My name is …”. This continued with each of the students having to say the names of all the people before them. It was great practice for them in recognizing when to switch pronouns and also provided an opportunity to point out contractions. I was able to use Thai to get them to understand the difference between ‘his’ and ‘her’. Ka = her. Krap = his. Simple. And they totally got it from that point on. Then, one of the students, on her own, was saying “His name’s … Her name’s…”. I stopped her for a second and asked them if they could hear what she was saying and showed the contraction on the board. I got the “Aaaah” from the class (which means they really did get it). I let her know that it was absolutely what a native speaker would say. She was tickled.

When we were doing the Getting to Know You questions, they were really getting in to it. I was able to add to “Where do you live?” and ask “Where are you from?” They got it with one example. “I am from Thailand. I live in Hat Yai.” Some of them were free-thinking and giving me the city they were born in. Donut gave me, not only his country and current city of residence, but also his province. The class gave him “Oooohs” and cheers and applause. Which warmed my heart because he seemed a bit of the odd man out sitting by himself in the front row. I think it made him feel special.

I gave them homework and let them go five minutes early. I was erasing the board and T came up and took the eraser from me and finished clearing it. Then a bunch of the girls were shaking my hand and thanking me and Patty asked me if I would be doing tutoring. It is praise when they ask you that. They like me!

Had an uneventful rest of the day until we were trying to leave school. Apparently, no one told our driver from that morning that we would like his services at the end of the day. Khun Sungob saw us waiting and personally took us back to Songkhla. His wife is the director of one of the high schools there (4,000 students) and he took us on a driving tour around the perimeter of Songkhla. It was very nice of him. He told us that when we move to Hat Yai, he would like to take us out to dinner. I have never received as much hospitality from anyone as I have from the Thai people I have met.

It only took a week and a half for me to be desperate for “American” food. I decided that I wanted pizza and Tom and I went to Liwiwat. Like a pro, I waved down a tuk-tuk on Lopburi, told him the destination and we were off.

The pizza was really good (ham and mushroom) and we had forks that we were actually meant to use as our eating utensil! And actual paper napkins instead of a roll of toilet tissue. However, foreign amenities come with a price here. For my personal pizza and a water, I paid 224 baht ($6.34). Ouch! That’s the most I have spent on food in one sitting. Then a scoop of Rocky Road from Swensen’s for dessert. Forty-nine baht ($1.39). It was totally worth it. I had also wanted to grab some donuts (after talking to Patricia earlier about Donut). However, they were really expensive for what they were and the ice cream satisfied my sweet tooth. Mission accomplished.

Grabbed a tuk-tuk. Headed home. Rinsed off (really sticky and clammy from all the rain). Got in bed to write.

Today was a good day.