Good Morning Teacher Jade

It's currently 9 AM, and the school office doesn't turn on the air condition until 10. I will pass the time at my desk under this swaying fan and describe my whirlwind of a week.
The weekend began with some uncertainty as we learned that the Bunyawatt School in Lampang could no longer employ us due to funding disputes. In a matter of 48 hours, we were placed elsewhere. Utaradit, a smaller town 2 hours south, was in need of more "forang," foreign people, so rather than compromise the integrity of our corporation and pay high taxes in Lampang, we moved to a city with greater appreciation and need. Kelsey and I have been placed in separate schools, but we live in the same apartment. A sigh of relief... For now...

Before the move though, we were able to visit the Elephant Conservation Center, an expedition with fellow teachers we had missed. Hopping in the back of a Taxi truck, we and our spunky language coach and young friend named Nook, started up the mountain. After being driven on a tour bus up the mountain, a near jungle safari in itself, we arrived at the show grounds where ten elephants with trained riders paraded around performing tricks, rolling logs and painting elaborate pictures with their trunks. They bowed graciously to the crowd. It brought tears to my eyes to see these gentle giants so willingly perform.
When the show was over, we greeted the elephants who only nuzzled us long enough to discover that we had no food. Their huge brown eyes were so aware, so kind & so wise.
Next, we hopped aboard the back of an elephant for a real safari. The crude seating on the creature's back rocked a dangerous amount as he ambled carefully into the water. I cringed, hoping we wouldn't topple into the murky water below. I relaxed though. Because after all, I was traveling on the most majestic and memorable of transportation. Serenity was broken though when a flapping, airy noise (akin to a frustrated horse) sounded behind us. Our safari "driver" with his straw hat and tunic turned to us with a crooked, toothy grin. "That you? That you?" he jested.
Yes, elephants have massive gas.
We continued on our journey, the scenery of which resembled a scene from Kipling's Jungle Book.

On the way home we stopped at a market for lunch. Having only witnessed a few of these, I was overwhelmed by the rows of raw meat, pickled vegetable, fresh fruit, sausage on a stick and thousands of other delicacies. The US Health Department would have had a fit, but I ate anyway. People walked around with soup and noodles in bags, sipping the contents with a straw. Balls of sticky rice were scooped into plastic baggies, people nibbling those as they walked too.

Back at the apartment, our bags were packed to move to Uturadit. Open arms and smiling faces greeted us as we boarded the school bus. We were on our way. Attempting to nap while a Thai drives a vehicle is an absurd undertaking. The roads are a free-for-all here. Cars speed at least 30 miles per hour over the speed limit, leap frogging one another and passing 4 or 5 cars at a time around a mountainous curves. The threat of head on collisions are not feared because on-coming traffic will just run off the road and let them pass (much to the dismay of motor bikes who traverse the shoulders.)


This new apartment makes our previous place in Lampang seem uncivilized. To be honest, it was. Holes in the ceiling, no AC, no hot water and basically unfurnished. Our new apartment is completely opposite, but because it is sponsored by Kelsey's school, I am at risk of having to move- a problem we hope to overcome with Dr. Nirund's "poo-yai" or seniority that is highly respected. I hope so, anyway. Kels and I are a team.

Today is my third day at Uturadit Duranee School. My first day was ultimate culture shock as 2,500 girls swarmed about a college sized campus. Yes, my school is an all girl school, with the exception of about 50 extremely out of place (or lucky) boys. Until the day I leave, I will never be accustomed to their respectful terror. I walk by, and the dear girls bow and cringe at the sight of me. They smile and put their hands up in prayerful admiration and even bow on their knees at a teacher's desk. Their level of respect cannot be matched. The first day, I had to introduce myself at assembly in front of the whole school. If that didn't cure stage fright, I'm hopeless. I stood there with a microphone, looking out over a field of children lined in perfect rows and dressed in perfect uniform. What a sight it was.

Today was my first day to teach on my own, and I was anxious. In interest of time, I won't explain the Thai grade system, but I am teaching Mathayom 3, which consists of 14 and 15 year old girls. I crept into my class and saw 50 pairs of glistening black eyes staring at me and just as many smiles and gracious nods. They stood up, and in unison say, "Good Morning Teacher Jade." By the way, after several failed attempts at explaining and pronouncing my name, I am known as and called Jade. It's actually fun to have a Thai alias, and it's especially fun to hear my name called across campus by a group of giggling girls.

Today was just an intro. I will only teach these girls once a week since I am teaching 12 levels of Mathayom 3's, and even though there is no hope of remembering names, I asked the girls to introduce themselves. Names like Bamboo, Ploy, Mai, Bow and CD are among them. I reviewed basic conversation, we played games and practice questions such as "How are you?" and "How old are you?" The girls are smarter and more advanced than I had imagined, so I will have my work cut out for me as I try to plan adequate amounts to entertain their hungry minds.
As of now, I still have celebrity status. I've been in pictures, given out my email and explained why I have 2 different colors of hair at least a billion times. I hope their admiration continues because I know that it will only reflect itself in the classroom. Their attentiveness in impeccable, but their confidence is lacking. I know we will learn a lot from one another.

In my first M-3 class, I had them write their name and a few fun facts about themselves. After the lesson, as I gathered the papers, I couldn't help but be choked up by their honest and innocent answers. Some loved Rihanna, others Lady Gaga. Some dreamed of visiting America, others had an insatiable desire to learn English. One paper specifically that caught my eye, and a recurring scenario that is all too true in this county, said, "My family is poor but we are happy because everyone love."

That's what it's all about after all, right? I love these kids.