one week down, twenty-four more to go

My first week of classes here in Bangkok is finished. It went well. I keep mentally pinching myself to make sure that things really are as good as they feel right now. Serving as the only SM for four months in Chiang Mai was miserable, at least for me personally. Here, at the English Language School, there are four other SMs. Carignane, Patrick, and Krystin are from the States and Merika is from Finland. I don't think I can really describe the simple pleasure of eating lunch with people who speak the same language that I do. And it would be tough to explain the joy found in just shooting the breeze with other teachers during downtime or in between classes.  The realist angel (or devil) that sits on my shoulder whispers that I won't always be this content. But for now, I ignore him; I want to absorb as much of this contentment as I can. Life is pretty dang okay.

Random sidenote: Ask me if I am going to be attending a wedding on Saturday night. And not as a guest, mind you, I am going to be a groomsman. Ordinarily, this would involve knowing the groom. In this particular case, however, being acquainted with the groom (or anyone else in the wedding party) is purely optional. I will be sure to write more after the fact; the wedding should be interesting addition to my weekend.

Peas.

never mind dentistry for 200, unless it is a daily double...

Today was better. Teaching is a lot about confidence. That was what was missing from Monday. Much like dogs can smell fear, I am pretty sure that students can smell a teacher who is unsure of himself. I felt like I was on the brink of losing control all day Monday, especially with the younger kids. What changed between yesterday and today? After daydreaming of ways to avoid teaching the next day, such as: catching 24-hour malaria, being deported, and breaking both my legs in a freak walking accident, I simply called home. I was overwhelmed. And idealess as to what teaching English actually entails. (Should I teach grammar, conversation, reading, writing, or some other nebulous part of the English language?) So I asked my mom if she had any ideas. And she did. She also gave me a useful piece of advice: just focus on what you will do and don't be distracted by all that you could do.

So I prepared and I prayed for courage and confidence (and apologized to God for being such a Complaining Carlos when things went badly).

And today was better. Besides, I am pretty sure that a root canal falls into the category of Things-I-never-want-to-go-through.

i'll take dentistry for two hundred

If I had to choose, based on my classes today, to either teach or visit the dentist everyday for a root canal, I would go with the root canal. And unabashedly hug the dentist before and after. Today wasn't that great as far as first days go. I really don't have any idea what I am doing. And that certainly doesn't fly well with primary school kids. Or high school students. I was worried on Sunday. After today, justifiably so.

I don't think I can take 6 more weeks of days like today. I'm off to brainstorm. And lick my wounds.

i hate sudden change

After approximately two months of doing the same thing every week, it is all about to change. Suddenly. I hate sudden change. I have been team teaching with Thai English teachers in high school since I arrived. However, due to the resignation of a teacher, the whole world is about to be turned upside down into a blender and set to liquify. Well, maybe that is a little dramatic.

The change: now I will be responsible for teaching grades 1-6 along with a smattering of high school classes. And the kicker: I will be teaching all by myself. Normally, this wouldn't cause such consternation on my part (after all, I came here to teach), but this is a school that teaches all subjects in Thai, including teaching English. Furthermore, I am sorry to report that after eight weeks (eight weeks!!!) my Thai is still pretty limited; although, if you need someone to order food for you, I am your man. Essentially, I have no idea how to teach English in English to Thai-speaking people. Especially Thai-speaking people in elementary school. Aargh! To say that I am a little worried is an slight understatement. I am very worried.

digging for gold, or, eww, gross

It's Monday, and i am helping to proctor exams. So far i have seen three people pick their noses. And not the kind of discreet nose picking when you feel as if something is about to fall out of your nostril during an important meeting. No, this is the full-on, finger-in-to-the-second-knuckle-kind of digging for gold. It's gross and funny, all at the same time. Maybe taking tests is like being in a car; by virtue of driving or writing an exam, one feels invisible and therefore capable of doing whatever without being seen. Yep, in case you couldn't tell, I am dangerously bored. [sigh]

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teaching

Some people have been wondering how teaching has been going for me. So after almost two weeks, here the synopsis:

Chiang Mai Adventist Academy is a boarding school with around 680 students. After asking around, it seems like that number includes the boarding elementary school as well. It's pretty amazing that you can be a boarding student from grade one through grade twelve. I can't imagine leaving home at age 6--good grief!

Mayatom (where I teach) covers grades 7-12 and each class is divided into 3 sections according to grades--section one is the best, section two is mediocre, and section three has the worst students. I often ask myself, "Are they poor students because they are in the third section or are they in the third section because they are poor students?" It doesn't seem right to me, but who knows, maybe it builds character.

There are eight periods every day and I teach between three and five of these periods. Well, I wouldn't say teach exactly. Since I don't speak Thai and I am not a certified teacher, I team teach with other instructors. In some classes, I assist teachers with their activities; these are my favorite because it feels like I am helping students work toward learning something--like I am an important part of a plan. In other classes, I am essentially the teacher. I have to come up with activities that get students involved with using English. That part I can handle. However, making sure that my activities are useful/relevant is difficult. In these classes there is no overarching plan to guide the scholars. I run about like a little dutch boy, trying to stop all the leaks in the dike with my fingers, all the while knowing that I am doing very little.

Either way, it is certainly good practice for going to Bangkok and teaching by myself

This is the week before exams. I am excited to be able to travel a little bit. And plan for my classes as well. Not to mention seeing other SMs. It will be good.

Peas.