1 Month Bangkok Update

So its been about a month since I began teaching. It has been a positive yet exhausting month! I am proud to report that I learned all of the students names by the 2nd week and that some of the shyer students have finally opened up to me. I teach my student a variety of subjects in English. I teach them Reading and Comprehension, Spelling and Phonics, Grammar and Writing, Health and Art. I also have to prepare my students for the many events the schools participates in.
November 5th was my birthday and I had a mellow celebration. On my birthday weekend I went to a few Thai clubs with friends and listened to Thai rock bands – I didn't understand the lyrics, but it was a lot of fun. Then we went to lounge where they play western music so that was enjoyable. On Monday, my actual birthday, the students gave my flowers and told me 3 nice things. It was really cute – so in English they said “1. We're glad you're teaching us English 2. You're nice 3. We love you.” It was hilariously adorable. Then my fellow teachers got me a decadent chocolate birthday cake and a lovely card in which Rachel, an awesome artist and former art teacher in the U.S. Made me. It was a surprise and very much appreciated. All in all my birthday in Thailand was a lovely one :) Wish you all could have been here! ....On the following Sunday I met up with a few teacher trainees from my program and went to the Linkin Park concert. I was surprised to see how many Thai's are really into the band. It was good time to meet up with the other trainees (one of them being Taryn with whom I roomed with in Ko Samet) who aren't in Bangkok and swap teaching stories!Oh and somehow I ended up crowd surfing for 5 seconds, a rocking time indeed :)
This previous week, on the 21st, the students had U.N. Day – in which the various classes in our department (ELPC – English Learning Program Center) grades 1-6 focuses on 2 countries and do reports, songs, dances, decorate their classes accordingly, etc. The whole school outside of ELPC ( My school is huge and has children from Pre school to High School in one campus but different buildings) visited ELPC to check it all out so the kids were excited to show their stuff. Unfortunately I missed the actual event, I was traveled down to southern Thailand where I went to Phuket and Ko Phi Phi. It was soooo nice to get out of Bangkok and be on the beach...Funny thing is I actually went to where they filmed “The Beach” featuring Leonardo Di Caprio (Pictured on the left) – of course it was crawling with many other tourist who were also hoping to capture that never-never land of escape, but ended up meeting with hundreds of other tourist who had the same idea - alas, it was beautiful all the same. On Thanksgiving, friends and I tried our very best to have a traditional Thanksgiving feast – so we went to a restaurant in an expatriate part of Bangkok and had TURKEY in Thailand – with all of the fixings. It didnt beat my mom's Turkey and stuffing but I was so thankful to be able to have something resembling Thanksgiving food so I can't complain. To make the meal uniquely in Asia – I decided to grab a few sushi rolls, why not!? I had such a wonderful week, one that I'll never forget!!!
Also, on Friday the 23rd the school celebrated Loy Krathom – which was on the 24th. Loy Krathom is one of Thailand's most aesthetically pleasing holidays. Thai's make Krathoms – which are little boats that are made of banana leaves. They decorate them beautifully with flowers, candles, and place coin on the little Krathoms. Thai's light the candles on the krathoms and float them down the many waterways of Thailand at night which is absolutely a sight to see. They pray to the water goddess and float away their regrets and anger in the krathoms and whole process symbolizes a fresh start. Pictured my friend and fellow teacher at my school, Jessica, with our Krathoms. A young boy ( of many young boys) actually did the dirty work of setting our Krathoms afloat for us in the river, the boys do this so people dont fall in the slippery sides along the Chao Praya river! I watched a few people take a fall, so Jessica and I opted to utlize the boys' services - as we didnt want to risk getting wet. The boys actually get in the river- they have boogie boards and all. Its funny, because I think they also make money from taking the coins off the Krathoms ...even though those coins and krathoms are suppose to stay in the water. I saw a few boys retrieving the Kathoms from the river and putting them all in a huge basket - so they dont go too far. Perhaps this is for environmental reasons?? Anyways, After we set our Krathoms free, there was fireworks AND an awesome boat parade on the river. It was like Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade! All the boats had these elaborate light decorations in honor of the king and Loy Krathom. It was such a visual Feast! For another event and school event for that matter( Father's Day) I worked with some students with reciting a poem for father's day and had them make gifts for their dads. On the father's day event, the children sang songs and it was special day for the children to talk about how much they love and respect their fathers through songs and poems. After the performances, all the parents from each grade were called to sit on stage. The students then got on their knees ( diffrent from the U.S. but to be lower than an elder is a show of respect - even when students walk by us, they're suppose to lower their heads as a show of respect.) and told their parents how much they loved them. It was really cute to watch! All the parents were really please with the performance and the activities.Father's day in Thailand is also the King's Birthday – since Thai's consider him to be the father of their country, so it isn't in June like it is in the states. So there is no school ( Yippee!) on December 5th . There's festivities going on all around the country celebrating his majesties 80th birthday. On every Monday, most Thai's wear King Shirts. At my school, we are required to but the students do not. They are yellow, which is the color for Monday. So on Father's day we'll also wear king shirts - as well as the students to honor king.

Alive and Teaching in Bangkok

It's been about a week and half since I've arrived at Bangkok. I am living in the greater Bangkok area, which is good for me so that I am away from the hustle and bustle ( and crazy traffic - L.A. and S.F. pale in comparison) of central Bangkok. But when I do want to check out central Bangkok - it could be a bit of a production. It can take as much as 2 hours during peak traffic times to get into central Bangkok, but I've been told that at 2 am ( and other traffic free times - it can be as quick as 15 minutes if you have a heavy footed taxi driver! There are a few modes of transportation in Bangkok. There's the motorcycle taxi, a tuk tuk ( a carriage carried by a motorcycle - My friend & fellow teacher, Jessica are pictured in one to the left), a regular car taxi, buses, song taws (trucks with 2 long benches in the truck bed), the subway, the skytrain, water taxis, and the old trusty foot. I am sure there are a few that I've missed, but you get the point :)

I am teaching at a Catholic school - in the English learning program, where the students have half of their classes taught in English.It's a bit different teaching at a catholic school - because there are MANY religious references, but as Thailand is a predominately Buddhist country, they are open to different beliefs at the school. We have to have wear HIDEOUS uniforms. They are polyester and not flattering in the least bit. The material isn't the best for the climate - but luckily we have Air Con in the classrooms (which is nonexistent for my other fellow teacher trainees in their teaching placement schools). The bright side, is that I don't have to worry about what to wear everyday! At the school, we have to address every teacher as "Miss so-and-so or Mr. Blah-Blah." It takes some adjusting to, when I call my friends Ms. Rachel or Ms. Jessica - but I've gotten the hang of it.

I am teaching 2nd graders, so it has been an adjustment as I was trained to focus more so on Middle and High school level students. Everyday before class starts, we have to attend the flag ceremony - which is ALL in Thai. We have to stand with our students for 30 minutes outside in the sun ( luckily its the cooler season now but its still hot and humid) and we have to"WI" (which is a respectful greeting in Thai culture. You put your hands together as if you are praying) ( Ronald Mc Donald to the left - doing his "WI") during the allegiance to the country and stand perfectly still during the duration of the ceremony. I think I'm having a more difficult time to stand still than some of my students! lol. On the first day of school, Rachel, Jessica and I were given a welcome ceremony.It was really heart warming that all students in the program sang a song " Welcome to the Family" and gave us each a jasmine flower bracelet. Every morning the students in my class greet me with a 'WI" and after each class, the students all say, "Thank you Miss Monica" all together. It was uncomfortable at first, but very cute.

I have taught 2 days now and I am still getting to know the students. They are all adorable and enjoy learning English. They are also VERY energetic. I need to learn some classroom management skills! Its hard for me to remember each student's name. They all have REALLY LONG Thai names - and then they have nicknames. All Thai's have nicknames that are short and fun. The nicknames are a bit cheeky and some are just downright hilarious. Some examples of my student's nicknames are: Ploy, Poom, France, Mochew, Namo - the more unique ones are Balloon, Web, etc . So it's been quite the task of getting the names, nicknames, and the faces of the students. Hopefully I learn in the next week or so!