The night before I leave on a trip I always find myself rushing to do last minute tasks. These things aren't important to the big picture, which is probably why they're getting done last minute. Tonight, such things included trying to add new music to my itunes (because given that this is the 3rd weekend in a row I will be making the 6 hour bus ride to Bangkok I needed some new tunes), adding books to my kindle (because the new Ken Follet is out and I can't think of a better book to take with me on a beach vacation), writing this blog post (yes, I know you think this is really important Mom), and cleaning my room. So where am I going? I'm spending the next two weeks in the south of Thailand. After some very confusing research (sometimes the internet has too much information and too many opinions) I've decided to go to Ko Tao, Ko Samui, Surat Thani, and Phuket. The first three all came highly recommended to me either through the internet or friends here in Chaiyaphum. Phuket is the only place I knew by name in the south of Thailand and being probably the most famous island in the south I figured I should probably go. I am really excited about this trip - I'm keeping my plans really flexible which is unusual for me and quite liberating. Unfortunately for you this does mean that it is unlikely that I'll be posting anything in the next two weeks. I'm not bringing my computer and it is unlikely that I'll be spending so much time in internet cafes that I'll be posting.
So before I get bogged down by the next two week's adventures, let me fill you in on what has happened the last week! So last week G and I gave our final exams and I am happy to say that with much hand-holding my kids did very well. I also gave out make-up tests for the kids who didn't do so well on all the unit exams. I felt really bad about this because a lot of the grading and administering of these make-up exams fell on my TA so it meant a lot of work for her the last few days. Next term I definitely plan on giving make-up exams before the following unit test so we don't get so backed up! The last day of my classes I threw a party in each class. The kids and I had a lot of fun and it was nice to do something fun with them after giving them 3 exams in 2 weeks! So that's my school update. After school on Friday, G and I got on the bus to Bangkok (G opened my eyes to a smaller bus company that goes to Bangkok and it was so much nicer! The other company is always full up but I had an empty seat next to me the whole time. Plus there was way more leg room and better food!) because Saturday was G's birthday!!!! She and her boyfriend were throwing her a birthday party and she invited me so of course I said yes. She and her boyfriend just moved into a new apartment and it is really nice. Also, her boyfriend is an excellent cook and made us a delicious dinner. It was nice to have a little break from Thai food and its something I definitely took advantage of while I was in Bangkok. After stuffing our faces we played bananagrams (which no one had ever played before but everyone loved) and 20 questions. G's friends are all really friendly and it was fun to hang out with a group of people.
The rest of the weekend I just wandered around Bangkok. I went and found a bookstore and a market and a park - basically just walking around a lot. I was staying at G's old apartment and it's right near a whole bunch of Indian restaurants. It was very exciting for me to eat dosa for the first time in 2 years! Funny story about eating in an Indian restaurant in Thailand though is that I got all twisted up in which language and local habits to use! I ended up speaking Thai, English, and Hindi while doing both the Indian head nod and the Thai wai (not simultaneously - I'm not sure that's possible). It was very confusing for me but in a really good way.
It is really different being in Bangkok versus being in Chaiyaphum. In Chaiyaphum people recognize me as that farang who walks around a lot (my landlord told me this the other day) but in Bangkok I'm one of many travelers/expats. Its a very different sort of "special attention" but I have to say that as much as I love being in a city I also really like that there are people in Chaiyaphum who know me as a neighbor and a teacher and someone who lives there. It's a really good feeling to know that when I'm done travelling I have someplace to come home to.
So before I get bogged down by the next two week's adventures, let me fill you in on what has happened the last week! So last week G and I gave our final exams and I am happy to say that with much hand-holding my kids did very well. I also gave out make-up tests for the kids who didn't do so well on all the unit exams. I felt really bad about this because a lot of the grading and administering of these make-up exams fell on my TA so it meant a lot of work for her the last few days. Next term I definitely plan on giving make-up exams before the following unit test so we don't get so backed up! The last day of my classes I threw a party in each class. The kids and I had a lot of fun and it was nice to do something fun with them after giving them 3 exams in 2 weeks! So that's my school update. After school on Friday, G and I got on the bus to Bangkok (G opened my eyes to a smaller bus company that goes to Bangkok and it was so much nicer! The other company is always full up but I had an empty seat next to me the whole time. Plus there was way more leg room and better food!) because Saturday was G's birthday!!!! She and her boyfriend were throwing her a birthday party and she invited me so of course I said yes. She and her boyfriend just moved into a new apartment and it is really nice. Also, her boyfriend is an excellent cook and made us a delicious dinner. It was nice to have a little break from Thai food and its something I definitely took advantage of while I was in Bangkok. After stuffing our faces we played bananagrams (which no one had ever played before but everyone loved) and 20 questions. G's friends are all really friendly and it was fun to hang out with a group of people.
The rest of the weekend I just wandered around Bangkok. I went and found a bookstore and a market and a park - basically just walking around a lot. I was staying at G's old apartment and it's right near a whole bunch of Indian restaurants. It was very exciting for me to eat dosa for the first time in 2 years! Funny story about eating in an Indian restaurant in Thailand though is that I got all twisted up in which language and local habits to use! I ended up speaking Thai, English, and Hindi while doing both the Indian head nod and the Thai wai (not simultaneously - I'm not sure that's possible). It was very confusing for me but in a really good way.
It is really different being in Bangkok versus being in Chaiyaphum. In Chaiyaphum people recognize me as that farang who walks around a lot (my landlord told me this the other day) but in Bangkok I'm one of many travelers/expats. Its a very different sort of "special attention" but I have to say that as much as I love being in a city I also really like that there are people in Chaiyaphum who know me as a neighbor and a teacher and someone who lives there. It's a really good feeling to know that when I'm done travelling I have someplace to come home to.
Home is where the heart is.... sounds like yours has found a lovely resting place <3 Travel safely and have tons of fun!
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