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Published: December 29th 2013
There are always stories to tell. Some of them are big enough for their own entry, but some are just little tidbits. But it's these tidbits that make life better each day, that bring a smile and joy. They bring people and a culture to life. It's also these small tidbits that are usually overlooked or quickly forgotten. The better one's day to day interactions, the better one's life. I don't want to forget the little things that made me smile.
My new landlord called a few hours after I met him and suggested that if I wanted to, I could offer red soda to the land god at the shrine in front of our building. I agreed, because I want to participate in my new culture. Apparently I can buy the red soda out of the machine on the first floor.But--he texted a few minutes later-- I must do it tomorrow because it is dark now and the god might have gone to sleep already.
As I was walking home from, I discovered my Tesco Super Lotus reusable shopping bag was anything but. I schlepped my purchases home, one arm holding together the reusable bag, the other carrying a mop and 3 other plastic bags.
My security guard caught sight of me, leapt up from his half-eaten lunch, and tried to help me with my bags. I gestured that I just needed help opening the key card door, and he helped with that and getting me in the elevator.
I just had my favorite conversation so far. I was comparing two surge protector power strips that looked identical except for price. It was a lengthy process because the clerk's English wasn't the best. I finally figured it out and asked for confirmation.
Me: So this this same same. But that that different different?
Clerk: Yes yes.
Buying alcohol in Bangkok has its share of rules and restrictions. While available 7 days a week, you can only buy it between 11am ad 2pm, and then from 5pm until midnight (I think). But if it's a major holiday--Buddhist or otherwise--it's not for sale. Knowing that
the next few days were such a holiday, I went out on a very obvious 5pm beer run. When I returned, the gardener, the cleaner, and the security guard were all over on one side of the entry talking and relaxing. My cleaner held up a glass bottle of dark brown liquid. Interested, I made my way over... and proceeded to have a shot with them.I'm feeling particularly welcome in my new home.
The only warning I got was, "Look, teacher teacher, Muai Thai!" Too late.
Rule #1, kid in the skinny jeans, don't pick a Muai Thai fight with a kid twice your size.
After I ordered my lunch, the woman who runs the food cart told me it would be a very long time. I said not to worry and sat down to relax. After a bit, I saw her take a large amount of tofu and then break egg after egg onto the hot surface. What could she be making? I then
George
Meet my tiny house gecko, George Ta Toe Stanley. (Ta Toe means "big eyes")
By far the best roommate one could hope for: no dirty dishes, no wild parties, and he lets me control the video remote. He watches Law and Order over my shoulder. And he eats gross things I don't want to know about.proceeded to watch her make 8 portions of pad thai at the same time. It was like an ever-growing mountain of noodles with steam.
As I got into my cab, my baseball hat and sunglasses wearing cabbie started muttering at the talk radio. We drove for a while and he kept doing it. It was a bit unsettling. Then suddenly, he changed to a pop station, took off the hat and sunglasses, and was smiling and singing along. I have an appreciation for pop music now. ...But really, a song called, "Moves like Rihanna"??
For our youngest students we offer a free, trial class to make sure they like it and can handle it before their parents pay us. After one class today, a little boy ran out and said something to his mom in Thai. My coworker smiled and said, "He say he really like it." His mom smiled, "No, he said he loved it."
For our youngest students (3-4 yrs) we let the parents sit in for part of the first lesson so they're more comfortable. Today, parents stayed for the whole thing because we had a number of
Hide and seek
George likes playing hide and seek. I don't have the heart to tell him he's not terribly good at it. very shy girls. On the way out, a father was assuring me that his daughter would warm up in a few classes.
"And," he said, "You're really good."
After some of our usual laughter, my Thai coworker looked at me and said, "Kriiiiis... uh, just a moment," and then she pulled up Google translate. A moment later she turned back to me. "I'm so glad to know you."
Me: what's this a picture of?
Students: DOG!
Me: good! Now, what's the first sound in "dog"?
Students: D. D. D. D.
Me: right!
Students: dddddddddd
Me: Batman!
I asked my student to choose a book for us to read. He selected Lady and the Tramp. As I started to read, he pointed to Lady and said, "Scooby Doo!" I laughed and kept reading. When we came to a page with Lady's master and mistress, he yelled, "Scooby Doo's mom and dad!" I changed it to Scooby and the Tramp for the rest of the story.
I had a new student who was a bit shy. He ran out to tell his mother that
he'd really liked the class, though. His mother turned to me and said, "He loves you," and then prompted her son to tell me that. He grinned, and showed me the sign language for "I love you."
Apparently I order pad thai so often that even if I order something different (and they're tired and only half listening) they just assume I said pad thai. This has happened twice.
Today I taught some of my students about transportation. I held up a picture of a police car and asked, "What is this?"
Without hesitation, one student replied, "Po-Po."
I wish I could take credit.
Often the youngest students are nervous about the new environment and some are scared to go into the classroom. One little boy ran back down the hall and my coworker ran after him. We shouldn't have worried; he wanted to hug and kiss his parents good bye before starting.
Until I moved to Thailand, I was seldom thanked as a teacher. Here, I do have parents thank me on nearly a weekly basis. Tonight, though, one parent was so grateful for my
help and kindness (his words, not mine) that he thanked me and bowed while
wai-ing, a true sign of respect and gratitude that I normally only see adults do toward monks.
For a going away party at pub quiz, my American friend made homemade brownies. We didn't eat them all (astonishingly) and she graciously let me take them home. I decided to share them with my Thai coworkers, who have obviously never had homemade, American-style brownies. I brought her three because I knew she'd love them, and she's always sharing treats with me. After her first bite, you could tell she was in love. First she took a photo of me, her, and the brownies, and then she posted it on Facebook. Then she had a few more bites and put it on her desk to enjoy later.
At the end of the night, I noticed she hadn't finished them. Perplexed, I asked why. She explained, "So good, take home. I will share with boyfriend." She's right, good things and new experiences are best when shared.
Today I was pointing at some pictures and asking my students what they were. I pointed to
a horse. "What's this?" I asked. "Hore, hore, hore..." Ah, the pesky S strikes again. "Almost," I said. "HorS, horS, horSSSSSSSS." They finally got it. On to the next picture.
"What's this?" I asked pointing at a rooster. "A COCK! A cock, a cock, a cock!" yelled one boy. I had to work hard to contain my laughter. "No, we call it a rooster," I said. A few minutes later, I pointed at a picture of a sheep. "What's this?" I asked. The same enthusiastic student shouted out again: "A shit!"
It's amazing how small little changes in pronunciation can make such a big difference.
I love how sometimes ideas get rephrased between cultures and languages. Tonight, we were discussing vocabulary related to jobs, including the word 'actor'. Everyone's favorite Scientologist was used as the example and then we talked about him a bit. While gesturing a bow as an explanation, my teacher said, "Tom Cruise respects aliens."
Most apartment buildings in Bangkok have a security guard. Sometimes the guard is at the door and he doubles as a doorman, and sometimes he sits outside to help with incoming/outgoing building traffic and
just keep an eye on things. But the men stay the same and quite a few of them are keen to smile and wave to me as I pass. I like it, really. It makes me feel a bit safer and more like I really live in the neighborhood.
One of the guards I pass each day on my way to work is a bit chatty. He always has a huge wave and hello. Sometimes he'll ask me a quick question, like where I work, or whether he should be saying, "Good morning!" or, "Good afternoon!" I'm always happy to talk with him. I think we both look forward to our usual hellos as I go to work.
Last weekend, I was walking to work around 8am. I passed by and didn't see him at first. Then I noticed him waving enthusiastically from inside his little guard house. (He's usually outside tending to something.) Not only did he wave, he asked if I'd eaten yet and held out his bowl of breakfast to offer it to me. I smiled and declined and went on my way. Today, on my way to work, he said something I didn't quite
hear due to my ipod. I pulled out the ear buds and walked over. He stuck out his hand to shake. I obliged and he grinned and said, "Oh, very good." I'm happy I could make his day with something so small as a confident handshake. It really is the little things.
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Donna and Neil
Donna and Neil
Small changes in pronunciation
We were sitting having drinks with some Vietnamese university students in HCMC and one of them asked Neil if he liked penis...took us both a while to realise he meant peanuts; it still makes us laugh today thinking about it! We especially liked the po-po comment from your student :)