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Entry 52 - THE QUAKE




While finishing up our travels in India we began to realize that our quest of circumnavigating the globe would be helped by paid employment. I kept my ears open and looked for jobs. Both Miranda and I agreed that we were ready to work overseas once more.

While sitting and talking to a nice young couple in Calcutta one day, they chanced to mention they had worked as teachers in Bangkok, Thailand. They asked if we had ever considered teaching.

As I considered our educational background and experience working in schools in Lahore and Transkei, the idea made more and more sense. Bangkok became our next stop after leaving Calcutta.

Bangkok: a clean, modern city

Our first impressions of Thailand -- Bangkok to be exact -- were those of a clean, modern city with many amenities. Of course it might have been because we had just left the city of Calcutta.

The contrast was staggering. We couldn't get over the cleanliness and the modernity of the area in which we lived at Wendy House on Soi Kasem San 1 near Siam Square. The shopping centers just blew us away. I guess we had been traveling too long in slower moving societies. We could make our way very quickly to the Grand Palace and other sights of note, but it was nice to come home to the friendly and clean Wendy House.

In only a matter of days, both of us had jobs. Miranda -- much to my surprise -- agreed to teach Kindergarten 2 (four year olds).
Sarasas was a bilingual school and she enjoyed it very much.

I ended up at Thammasat University teaching business and economics. We were soon immersed in a new culture and challenges.

A New Mindset

On the weekends we made an effort to visit Bangkok's many fascinating spots including the Chao Praya river, Chinatown, the Grand Palace, Chatachuk Market and Wat Pho. The city had so much to offer and we never tired of exploring: finding new friends, food and experiences. And once again living and working in a different culture has taught us a great many things: our students are a great joy (most of the time) and working at places run by Thai people gave us an insight into a new mindset. All in all we were having a very satisfying time.

An Earthquake Northwest of Mirik

Miranda was off at October English Camp with a group from the school. She was running daily workshops on Broadcast Journalism for 125 students aged ten to thirteen. I prayed that she would return home without being too stressed!

It was that Saturday that I turned on the BBC News. I could not believe my eyes! There had been a massive earthquake Northwest of Mirik.

Over the past several weeks we have not heard from any of our friends. None of our contacts seem to have knowledge of their fate. However there was little we can do but wait.

Links:

Earthquake Photos

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