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Published: February 22nd 2007
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I'm going to have to start with an apology for the lack of contact lately - January was a month plagued with illnesses - Coughs and colds continually picked up from the kids as well as a particularly nasty bout of food poisoning. We think this was caught from the pool and we were both ill (in one small room!). I didn't eat for 4 days!!!! and then couldn't eat properly for a couple of weeks and we both had to be taken to the hospital. Apparently there is a well placed mistrust of GPs in Thailand which means hospital is the first port of call. Imagine this - there was no queue! We were treated very well and had to pay the doctor 50p for his time! A bargain! Anyway I promise to try to do better when work finishes.
Next week is our last week and we can't wait to finish teaching! Before then I have over four hundred reports to write but as I will have left the country by the time they are given out I don't care too much! Teaching in Thailand has been an amazing experience but not always enjoyable and we are ready
to move on. Most of the kids are great - very eager to learn and enthusiastic, the younger ones are so much easier to teach as it is done through games. The older ones (12/13ish) can be really difficult to motivate and they spend the lesson muttering to each other in Thai and refusing to speak English. We've seen a very different education system - the children learn through rote and repeat EVERYTHING you say, whether you want them to or not. They are also hit regularly with a ruler or cane. They also laugh when you are telling them off - to 'save face' apparently but still very annoying. One of the best things is when they sit and meditate at the end of the lesson! Brilliant idea! Most of the children are very respectful and 'Wai' (bow with hands together) when they thank you. They also make sure they are lower than you, even if you're sat down! A lot of the children are very disciplined - a girl in Neil's class last week was wearing a band knotted tightly around her head, she had done this to keep her 'stupid thoughts' in because she'd answered a question
Morning Line up
If you look closely you can see the kids at the front leading the dance routine to a Thai pop song- they do this every morning! wrongly!
We have been making a real effort to spend every weekend away and make the most of our time here. In January we visited Kanchanaburi (west of us) which is a lovely town, where the Bridge over the River Kwai is. We went to the 'Tiger Temple' which was an amazing experience. It is a tiger sanctuary run by monks containing orphaned tigers who have been rescued and raised by the monks. They play with them just like cats! They are allowing people to have pictures taken with them for a short time to raise money for a semi-wild enclosure and it was an amazing thing to do. The temple was also surrounded by all kinds of strange rescued animals.
For my birthday we spent the weekend in Bangkok but due to a hotel mix up we ended up in the dodgiest hotel room ever - it was proper seedy Bangkok - cheap wood panelling, low ceiling and no windows! I did have my hair cut for the first time in 6 months - it took me 2 months to work up the courage as my hair is a little different to the average Thai's!
We
also travelled to Hua Hin twice. This is a Thai beach resort; apparently it is popular only because it's where the king goes! We went last weekend and stayed in the most beautiful house, only a minute's walk from the beach. We had our own small pool, big garden and a bar area - It was such luxury! We also had a housekeeper who came to make us breakfast and drinks!
Brother Jim is also currently in Thailand for a visit. He arrived looking February-pasty and armed with goodies. In exchange I gave him the obligatory yellow t-shirt, insect repellent and a pair of plastic flip flops and sent him island hopping! I took him to see the tigers and he got to experience first hand the celebrity status bestowed upon any westerners in this small town! When we get home I will wonder why people aren't constantly shouting hello and staring at me, or touching my arm hair!! I was asked last week to 'take my eyes out' by one child as she didn't realise anyone could really have eyes that aren't brown.
Anyway, we are preparing to move on - only 2 weeks left in
Thailand then we face a horrendous journey to central America - Bangkok - Hong Kong - LA - Dallas - San Jose. And we both hate flying!
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Chaz
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I tort i taw a puddy-tat!
Bonjourdidalyorno guys!! Great to see another photo-filled blog! Crazy tiger-tickling pictures! I did chuckle at the picture of Gramps surrounded by the tigers! You looked (understandably) slightly un-comfortable- ready to dash at any time i guess! Ha Ha. Exellent, take care. Lots of love Chaz + Beck's.