In my opinion, the word beautiful is extremely overused in Thai culture. … “Suay… then translated “Beau-ti-fullll!” seems to echo as I walk down the street. At first I blushed, then I was flattered, then maybe a little annoyed, now I just take it as a Thai quirk as I’ve realized that the kids homework is just as vehemently considered beautiful. Still I will likely never be the same. If I don’t get told I’m beautiful at least four times a day by some stranger or student I tend to think that something is stuck on my forehead. For example today, I lost count around the 7th time someone called me beautiful. I believe they were almost all students today as I was walking down the halls. “Teacher beau-ti-full.” Even more embarrassing is “NATALIE, same, beau ... read more

The Thai’s are very fond of their motorbikes and indeed it is the most effective mode of transportation available. The first day I came to live in Chumphon I decided to go ahead and splurge the extra $1000 Baht ($33) per month and rent myself a motorbike from the landlord. I went ahead with the cheaper version and got a manual rather than an automatic. While never having driven a manual bike I figured it couldn’t be that different from a car. Upon receiving the bike my landlord watched as I bumped the bike along the driveway and took it for a nice little spin. While looking out rather disapprovingly at my progress she said, “Its ok, wait, you and motorbike be one, then it ok.” I felt this was very good advice. Now, as I ... read more

On a side note, Thanksgiving was a huge success. Here is the menu so you can all be impressed that I pulled this off with one burner one pan and a borrowed toaster oven. Though I planned everything my fellow teachers pulled together and two of the girls actually ended up making much of the food. Green Salad - Lettuce, tomatoes, asparagus, corn, apples, pumpkin. Fruit Salad Yam Soufflé - Yams here are purple so it looked a little like purple goo when you put it on your plate but tasted divine as usual. Thanks Aunt Betsy. This was cooked in a toaster oven. Green beans with Cashews and roasted carrots Corn Mashed potatoes with chives Mushroom gravy for the potatoes - This near disaster turned into a masterpiece. Using tempura flour (the only thing they ... read more

I wake up every morning to roosters crowing and the dawn light coming gently into my bedroom. Outside there is a coconut tree, a vegetable garden with some kind of vegetable that may or may not have an English name and a cute row enclave of homes with some of the other English teachers. This is very likely because only English teachers can afford the rent which is pretty high, about $150. We are paying for luxuries like hot water and a kitchen! I am dying to get my hands on a ripe coconut so far I’ve cracked open only one that had fallen and it was very green on the outside and very brown on the inside. Not very appetizing… My house delights me everyday. Last night I began exploring the kitchen and made a ... read more

October 31, 2009 A great sigh of relief was nearly audible as we all finished our week of Practice Teaching. The first day I stood up in front of that class I realized this was something that I could do. 8 Children looked up at me. They had been taken out of their fall vacation in order to get to go to an English class taught by a real live westerner. I was first on the first day. The lesson went smoothly. The kids listened! I was amazed. I left feeling a elated. Maybe they won’t tear me to pieces I said to myself. Day two we went to the Agape House. This home is a school for children with HIV. The students varied in ages from maybe 7-15. The home had classes but was a ... read more