High's and Low's of Thailand

Two weeks have passed since I moved away from the Twinhouse and into my new ‘home’ and to say the least, it has been a rough transition. It was a rude awakening to leave a place where you were always surrounded by people and then suddenly be dropped into an old, empty apartment. It’s definitely something I haven’t adjusted to yet. My first week was slow and boring, but I chalked it up to the lack of work at school and hoped it would improve in my second week. I tried my best to look busy and waited as patiently as I could for the weekend.

Saturday morning I was up before dawn, accompanying several of my new co-workers and boss to and awards ceremony in Lompini Park in downtown Bangkok. The school had received some sort of award so I was asked to come along for the ride, but I think mostly just for show. Something I have picked up on so far is that foreign teachers are often times just a ‘marketing tool’ for the school, especially large ones like Sarasas. The more foreign teachers a school has, the more a school shows them off and the more parents want to send their kids there. The quality of the English program itself often isn’t even taken into consideration, just the fact that we are there looks good for the school. The ceremony was uneventful and the fact that it was in Thai made it feel infinitely longer than it probably was. Things weren’t improved by the stifling temperatures and rising humidity. By the time we left at 10am, I was sticky, tired and ready for some air conditioning.

After lunch (on the boss) at a nice Japanese restaurant downtown, I parted ways with my coworkers and headed off to meet my friends. It had just started to sprinkle as I crossed the street and hailed a cab. You know that saying ‘When it rains, it pours?’ Well I think they were talking about Thailand because but by the time I reached my destination 45 minutes later, the streets were all but flooded. When I stepped out of the cab I was met with mid-calf high water and the fattest drops of rain I have ever seen. I quickly dipped under an awning with rest of the unlucky ones stuck in the unseasonal downpour and waited for my friend to meet me. I kept myself occupied by avoiding the critters looking for dry land and watching the few souls, shoes in hand; brave the street of ever of rising water. A patchwork quilt of tarp and plastic covered stalls lined the street as shopkeepers struggled to keep the water at bay with brooms. Thirty minutes and too many cockroaches later, a very wet Tobias showed up and we ventured out into the rain and a foot of water, towards the hostel. On any other day I would have been grouchy and complaining that I was drenched, but I was finally in Bangkok with my friends and not even a flash flood could kill my spirits. I was on cloud nine and would be for the rest of the night.

Tobias and I at 'Happy Bar'

After the water subsided a few hours later and the streets were mostly dry, life went back to normal, as things often do here in Thailand. Tobias, the resident Bangkok expert, and I spend the afternoon mindlessly wandering the ins and outs of Khao San, the infamous backpacker’s paradise of Bangkok, sipping Carlsberg’s and relaxing with foot massages (best $3 I ever spent). We met up with the rest of the Twinhouse gang for dinner and needless to say it was great to see everybody again. Spending time with everyone again was exactly what I needed after a week of boredom and monotony. That night you could find us either wandering up and down Khao San road, Chang in hand; or at Happy Bar, a favorite reggae-themed hangout of the Twinhouse gang. To top off a perfect evening, we relaxed with 3am foot massages (spoiled, I know) and lazily wandered back to the hostel, drunk with happiness.

The dreaded Sunday morning came, and whether I liked it or not I had to leave my friends and go back to school. All I wanted to do was go back to Sing Buri with my friends but instead I was left to take the 45 minute cab ride back to Bangbon by myself. When I got back to my empty apartment that afternoon I started counting the days until next weekend.

For the first few days of this week, I shadowed different teachers and was slowly given some classes of my own to teach. I taught mostly English and Phonics classes to grades 1, 2 and 6. I definitely prefer the younger ones; although their English is minimal they are so enthusiastic and love to participate. Getting a 6th grader to contribute is like pulling teeth, but when I ask a question to a grade 1 or 2 class, almost all their little hands shoot up in the air. Other than that, things at school this week have not improved as much as I had hoped. Spending time in Bangkok and having such a great time made me realize just how unhappy I am here at school.  I am not going to ramble about all the reasons why I don’t like it here, I feel silly complaining while I’m in Thailand. Basically I am finding it unwelcoming and lonesome, especially being one of a only a few teachers my age, and the only female. The other teachers are always complaining and the work environment seems overly political and tense. I constantly feel as if I am walking on eggshells.  For the past week I have gone back and forth several times, deciding whether I want to stay or not but there are so few pro’s to outweigh the many con’s. I have tried to stay positive and give the school the benefit of the doubt but I also know I don’t want to spend my time here unhappy. The teaching is great, especially the younger grades but that is about the only positive for me and I know the teaching will be great other places too.  Ultimately, I have decided that Sarasas is not the best place for me.  I have contacted my program coordinator and he is currently working on finding me a new place to teach.

Obviously much has happened since I last posted, but that's what happens when you don't have internet readily available.  Hopefully I won't have to wait so long to post again.  Spending another exciting weekend in Bangkok with friends and hopefully hearing some good news regarding a new placement as well.

Cheers!