July... Better Late Than Never

Where we stayed :)

     I feel like such a tease with this blog. I started with the best intentions, but live gets in the way. This coming week we have a four day weekend, and I will be headed off for more adventures. I plan to be more prompt with the next posting. That being said, here are some highlights from the last month. Enjoy! 

Khao Yai (Big Mountain)

Beautiful sky, so clean and fresh!

     Since that wonderful trip to Koh Samet, I have only left the city for one other weekend. The first weekend in July, a few of us went into the country side to Khao Yai. I loved the silence that enveloped us. The only down side of the trip was that it was so short. We only stayed there for one night, but I hope to go back there before the end of the year. It was less humid than the city, and in the "winter" months, it can apparently get "cold." Or at least whatever cold can be here in Thailand.

Stairs leading up to house

     When the trip was first planned, I was asked if I would like to go camping in the country. Envisioning staying in a tent, in the middle of a jungle atmosphere I was unsure, but willing to give it a go. As more details came out, I was informed that camping meant staying in a house. It has a small working kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and a wonderful deck to lounge about. Saturday, we left Bangkok around noon, and met up with the second half of our party for lunch and a run for groceries. Two cartloads later for basically a 24 hour stay, we were on our way to the house.

Looking from the deck 

     Not only the seclusion of the location made me happy, but the lovable dogs on the property were a treat as well. We see so many dogs around Bangkok, but it is best not to approach them considering their demeanors and general hygiene. The dogs at this house were friendly and offered a much needed animal attachment. In fact, we had to keep them away from the deck as we prepared dinner for the evening. We (the Americans) grilled chicken and pork skewers with pineapple, peppers, and tomatoes. Our fellow Thai friends prepared a number of Thai dishes that were delicious. There was an over abundance of food, the table was never empty the whole night. The atmosphere was light, the conversation flowed, and we all relaxed for the evening. The pace provided a mental reset from the bustle of the city. Sunday, we all woke up, ate a quick breakfast, cleaned up, and headed back to the city. It always amazes me how you need a break from the break, I felt comfortably lethargic upon returning to our apartments.


School
     Classes continue to be challenging, but tons of fun. The students just completed their midterms for the semester, so the past few weeks have included the added stress of completing the units to be tested and reviewing the students. In fact, we were taking a quiz and I caught a first grader with a cheat sheet. The students were being tested on numbers and colors, and the student written out the names of the colors in their respective color. He also wrote the names of the numbers in order. It was shocking to see a seven year old who felt so much pressure that they had to create this tool. Of course, since he is a first grader he was not good at keeping it hidden. I am sure he will be a crafty one as he gets older.

    I also had the opportunity to attend a field trip with the first graders. We took the students to a local science museum. The program for the first graders included learning about different insects and exploring color/ light. It was nice to be able to see the students outside of class and be able to see more of their personalities. There was even a station where we were able to hold crickets. A few of the students were terrified of them, and would not come near me when I had one crawling on my wrist.

     Life in the English office continues to be entertaining. We all get a bit loopy in the office, since we spend so much of our day there. We try to keep ourselves entertained, but we often act sleep deprived and laugh maniacally   :)


Around Bangkok
     A few weekends ago, I was able to attend a chair-ball game played by the fifth grade girls from the school. Chair-ball is much like netball, the players cannot take a step once the ball is in their possession. Instead they pass the ball up the court to score. Instead of a hoop, one of the players on the team holds a basket (reminds me of a laundry hamper). That player is standing on a small platform the size of a chair. Their job is to catch the ball in the basket to score two points for their team. They can scoop it up, catch it on a bounce, or reach high above their head to ensure that the ball gets into the basket. My favorite part of the afternoon was seeing the excited support of the families. The dads would get so excited and turn to pat each other on the back or offer a thumbs up whenever the girls scored. They were also hilarious with their filming of the event. With each time out the moms and dads would rush out onto the blacktop with water and cold packs. The dads with cameras would circle the group filming every second of their daughters. Adorable!!

     Three of the ladies celebrated their birthdays within the last two weeks. We finished off the birthday- fest with a visit a lady boy show. The night was fun as we started watching a Beatles cover band, moved to the club to watch the show, and then continued to dance with the rambunctious crowd.

      I also made my first and second visits to Chatuchak Weekend Market here in the city. It is a maze of shop stalls that offer almost anything you would never think of buying. I feel like I have only scratched one corner of the outdoor market, and cannot wait to explore some more. I was so overwhelmed I did not take any photographs, but I will have to document my next visit.

     We have some upcoming events at the school that should be a lot of fun, including a celebration for the Queen's birthday. I feel like so much has occurred, but it all just blends into the routine of the week here. Much more to post after the weekend. I promise I will get better at this, it has only been about ten weeks of my total time here.

    See you soon!!