Sunday
After I got to bed around 430 in the morning, I slept only about two hours. The only thin we had planned was to meet Geoffrey, our point of contact, for lunch downtown. Kelly and I both woke early, so we decided to go for a short walking tour. The humidity and glaring sun got to us before we could go very far. It might have been for the lack of sleep as well. The three returning teachers are so very helpful that Kelly and I have both mentioned feeling like we have been here for longer than these few days.
We headed to lunch by bus and by rail. That afternoon was so overwhelming, the amount of people, new smells, and unfamiliar language was mentally draining. We got back to the apartments and just wanted to pass out. I think it was around 1930, though I wanted to stay up until at least 2000.
Monday
Van pick up time: 0900
This allowed us the opportunity to try to sleep. Did that happen? Not really. But it meant that I was ready with time to spare. We got our first look at the schools today. The prathom (elementary) classrooms have chalk boards and no air conditioner. Unexpected, but easy to work around. The students are not here his week, so we have time to adjust and get settled. Geoffrey took Kelly and I to the bank to set up our accounts for our salaries. It is great to have a local bank card so that I do not have to worry about ATM charges. We got to meet a few of the Prathom teachers that we will be working with in the classrooms.
We went out that night after work with a few of the teachers for dinner that night. It was all so delicious and I think I tried everything but a soup on the table. We have come at the beginning of rainy season and we saw a spittle after dinner, hardly more than a sprinkle that lasted for a few minutes.
Tuesday
Van pickup time: 0630
And it begins. It is actually not that bad to leave that early. I like getting up a little early and it affords me the opportunity to Skype with anyone online at around 1600.
We got to school and had a delicious breakfast of sticky rice, shredded pork, fruit, and a bread that was covered in a sugar and butter. I feel this will be a common meal. We met with P. Oil (pronounced Oi) the head of the English Department at our school. She went through some of the academic calendar with the two of us, and we are getting excited for the year to begin.
After that load of information, we headed to a hospital to get a small check-up for our work permits. We were there for nearly three hours waiting for blood results to come back. Good news, we are all in the clear. Then it was back to the school for another wonderful lunch. We got to see some of the classrooms and pick our desks in the office. Kelly and I pulled out some of the materials and began to practice some of our Thai with a few of the teachers in the office.
The van came to pick us up at 1600 and dropped us off at the nearest MRT (subway system) at Bang Sue. Kelly and I made it back to the apartments by ourselves for the first time. We even ventured down to the Big C ( a Walmart like shopping complex). I got a few things to make my room a little homier. We ate dinner there and it was not so great. That night I had a little freak out of "what am I doing here? This is for ten months!!!"
Wednesday
We got to sleep in this morning. We had the day off since the remaining teachers were coming in that morning. They gave us the day off so that we could help them get situated. Kelly and I made our way back to the malls by ourselves. We felt so accomplished and thankful for the guidance of the other teachers. We met up with the new group, had lunch, and navigated our way back toward our apartments.
We wanted to visit he Big C once more for mattress toppers and a few more supplies we forgot. We finally had our first big down pour. Luckily I was inside the apartments, getting ready to leave, so we decided to wait it out. We were able to purchase everything at the Big C, but it was an ordeal trying to get everyone home. We had to flag down three taxis in rush hour traffic. I will probably sound like a broken record when it comes to the traffic on Lat Prao Road. According to some, taxis will even refuse to pick up your fare once they hear Lat Prao. All is well that ends well, we got home in one piece with all of our belongings safe from the rain. I feel that my room is starting to feel a bit more like home.
Thursday
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| Delicious breakfast of sticky rice and shredded pork :) |
There was a little mishap with someone else's alarm and we left nearly 15 minutes late. Let's just say that probably won't happen again. The little store opened at the school so that we could buy food items for breakfast.
I took the new teachers on a tour of the elementary school site. Then we all mostly sat around the office reading through old lesson plans so that we could get an idea of what we will be doing. I was able to help the new teachers get home from school from my one day of extra experience.
That night we decided to order food in and sat around together eating pizza. I know, first week in Thailand and we are eating pizza, but now I have left overs in he fridge. And with no microwave or other way to cook in the room, cold pizza is wonderful.
Friday
Van pick up at 630 once again and everyone was on time.
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| Wonderful fruit basket given to us from P. Kay. |
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| This is what they looked like cut open. |
More details to come, especially pictures. I need to get better at carrying my camera around. I think I will use this van time the most often to type up this blog.
Time for week two?
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