Front and Center

Sabai dee mai ka! Yesterday, we started our training classes and lesson planning.  It went well. We went over some basics in Thai culture and greetings.  Also, we learned to Wai (pronounced "Y"). We learned four ways to Wai. In addition we did our lesson planning and went over the structure of our remaining weeks of training.

Last night, the 5 of us headed out in search of some basic teaching and food necessities.  We went to a department store called Big C.  Think of it as an Asian version of Walmart.  I was bought a notebook, muesli, whole grain cereal, and mango yogurt.  While in the store, I have never had my picture taken by so many strangers. Perhaps they know I am not from around these parts. We walked home, some ate out. I chose the mango yogurt with cereal for supper, delicious. 



I woke up this morning with no water, no shower.  Getting ready was easy enough.  I went to my class was in the upper level of the Pattaya Baptist Church (see picture).  It maybe about a 1 minute walk from where I am staying.  I got to the room and there was one student there.  She appeared seemed to be the "church lady-type."  She was tidying up the room and greeted me with a big smile.  She introduced herself and asked if I wanted coffee or tea.  The next student came in (early 40s) and she began cutting up mango she had purchased at the market on her way in.  She also had fried bread (similar to a donut hole) and sticky rice.  The sticky rice is cooked in a banana leaf - has a clay-like texture.  Once you bite into the rice, the center is pink (I don't know what the pink is)..my homework.  The class filled up with seven students, two were in their early 20s and the rest, 40-50 years old.  They were all very kind and happy to be learning English. The is something to be said about that.  Because Thai names are long, they each have shortened names or nicknames.  They each wanted to write their names on the board for me to see.  My favorite, Jame^^.  When I asked how it was pronounced she said, Jaim.  I repeated it, it still sounded like Jaim to me.  Then she said, "James,"... you know James Bond?"  Her name is JamesBond. Yep.  The funny thing is she is cute, young, and shy.  I just love thinking about how she came up with this name.

Sticky Rice in a Banana Leaf, student made

Overall, this class of women appeared very appreciative.  The class ended in a prayer.  I am assuming it was a Baptist prayer, it ended in Amen - the only word I recognized.  "See you tomorrow teacher" - this was weird hearing.  I haven't really thought of myself as a teacher.  It is also interesting being so highly respected by those that are much older than I.  Teachers are highly respected in Thailand.  The government subsidizes much of the English learning programs and English speaking schools.

PS - I showed a couple of ladies in class my bite on my arm.  They started talking to each other in Thai.  The one grabbed a jar from the shelf. Two words, Tiger Balm.  She rubbed it on my arm and said, "there."  My mind went straight to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where the father sprays Windex on everything - believing it's the miracle cure all.

After class, I had some extra time and still no water to do laundry, so I Skype'd Nick. It was pretty successful.  He was dressed in his John Deere stocking hat, a sweatshirt, and pants... I was in shorts and a tank top.  Only in two different world would we be in such opposite roles.  Time went by fast talking with him, then off to class I went.

We kickstarted our first Thai class, this was interesting and rather fun.  We worked with the 5 tones in Thai, Ex. "maa" can me said in high (high tone to high pitch), flat, rising (start low and ends high), falling (sounds whiny), low (from the throat) tones. For the "maa" -> flat tone means to come, low and falling tones have no meaning, high tone means horse, and rising tone means dog.  Have you mastered that yet? If not, maybe just start with a good ol' hello/hi : Sabai dee mai ka/krab. You end with ka if you are a girl speaker and krab if you are a male speaker.  This can be used to say hello or goodbye. Kinda cool stuff.  The class ended with lesson planning.  Tomorrow I am teaching conjunction pronouns and job related vocab.  I have some fun activities planned lets see what happens.

After class, I went for a walk.  Some of us got some food at a hut-like bar.  I ordered spicy chicken with herbs and spices.  I had no idea what I was ordering.  There was a flavor explosion I cannot explain - tangy, herb-y, spicy.  I liked it but the texture was so odd to me that I couldn't finish it. So.. I got frozen yogurt. Vanilla chocolate chip and coconut. Coconut wins hands down! Fresh coconut was pureed into it.


My water still fails to work tonight. Supposedly we get water every afternoon. Let's just say that if I don't have water in the morning it may not be pretty.  Not in the warm humid weather. .And there's my laundry that I haven't been able to hand wash yet.
Until tomorrow. Cheers!