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Published: February 8th 2008
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We spent three days on the small island of Ko Bulon Lae in the south of Thailand. For a while now, I have been scouring the internet for volunteer teaching placements, but without a huge amount of success. They either want a three month commitment (I am looking more for a week placement) or 300 euros a week (too expensive!). Finally, on Ko Bulon Lae, an opportunity presented itself.
We checked into our pre-booked accommodation at Marina resort and instantly loved our bungalow. It had so much character - a high thatch roof, decorative mosquito net, and a big balcony. A huge improvement on our digs on Ko Libong (a.k.a. Ko Disaster) I have to say! However, as we headed there, something had intrigued me. We went past what looked like a tiny elementary school and saw a sign for "School Bungalows". The next day, we went to check them out and found that they were run by one of the teachers as extra revenue for the school. I guess an auction wouldn't be too successful here!!! I asked the teacher if I could go in and assist her with the English class, and she sad I could go in
at 10am the next day, and then asked me to share her meal - this is the old friendly Thailand we used to know and love!
The next day, I got dressed up in the best and most respectable clothes I could find and went off to find the teacher. She wasn't there. In her place was the other teacher (there are only two) and managed to comunicate in broken English that she had had to go to the mainland. Then, he sat at his desk and motioned for me to go to the front of the class!!!
With absolutely nothing prepared and knowing nothing about the children, I walked to the front and stood at the chalkboard and saw eleven smiling faces looking at me, all dressed in the same blue uniform. It was a bit like one of those dreams that all teachers have about being totally unprepared on the first day of school, but this was real!!!
I began by introducing myself and writing my name on the board, breaking the chalk as I did (I'm used to nice whiteboard markers by now in a variety of colors!). I then proceeded to try to
find out their abilities by asking several children their name. I soon discovered they knew virtually nothing! Somehow, I managed to fill an entire hour by practicing simple greetings and questions and answers, followed by a rather drawn out version of "heads, shoulders, knees and toes". I wasn't sure they would remember anything, but as I made my escape, I was at least satisfied that a meaningful cultural exchange had taken place and maybe the kids would not be as afraid to speak to foreigners from now on. I was pleased when I later chatted to some other tourists and they told me that a bunch of kids had approached them, asking them their name and their hobbies - I guess something must have stuck!
Apart from that short experience, we spent the rest of our time on the island sunbathing, snorkelling, and exploring the inland areas, which were full of rubber plantations, the second industry on the island after tourism.
Oh, the cute bungalow that we at first loved so much became not quite so appealing when one night a cockroach managed to squeeze in through the net and crawl on me in bed - ugh! All
I could think about to console myself was that at least it wasn't a scorpion!!!
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Barbara Kelly
non-member comment
Hello again
Thanks for your blog. I love this form of armchair travel. Thanks for sharing and to you John for passing it along. Can I send this school blog to my retired school teacher grammar school friend? Happy travels. Barbara