BEAT BAMA & WAR EAGLE - they are getting better!

Happy Turkey Day from Amata Nakorn!

So here is how we got in the holiday spirit...

We bought chicken from the street - I don't think they know what a turkey is here.

We cooked a holiday meal on a hot plate - I say we but I really mean Alex and Nichole.

We drank beer and wine - very Thanksgiving!

We made indian hats to wear while we celebrated and ate - mine was the best.

We pasted out right after our meal - not a turkey coma but it felt like it.

 

Nichole's amazing Turkey Day card she made to how her students - Mom, is that you??

 

So this is what teaching in Thailand is like...

Well I have been ajarn (teacher) Catie for almost a month now and I have way too much to say about it all. I don't even know where to start really because it really has turned into one big blur. Everyday is different, every class is different, some days I walk away with a huge smile, and other days I feel like I accomplished nothing. I am teaching 6 to 9 year old children with mixed abilities in English. It really has been an adventure so far and I am positive my next 4 months will be just as exciting and terrifying as this first one! I have four different classes and I float in at different times during the week for their English lessons. P1s and P2s have 2 split lessons (out of 3 lessons) and for these lessons I take half of the class down to my office, The Phonics Room, and after 25 minutes I return them and take the other half. I think the best way to break down the past 3 and a bit weeks is to introduce each class and share some stories from our lessons. 

First, here are some pictures of my school -

My desk.

Just because I think these are funny.

P1/1 –
This is grade 1 and I have 21 students in this class. The class is mixed abilities with some special needs children. I have one 4 year old in this class because her parents wanted her to get a head start in school. She is adorable and her English is much better than I thought it would be. The class is wonderful to teach and by far (even thought I hate to pick) my favorite class. Knock on wood, I have not had a bad day with them yet! I am suppose to be their “Pilot Teacher” so I sit with them during lunch once or twice a week, and any events I will be with them. So next month they have a field trip and I get to tag along with them for the day to a place with clay molding and temples (name to come with that post). Our classes our normally fun and happy! We play games, sing songs, and work from out of the book. They love candy so they try and be as good as possible so they can get stickers. I carried on the last teachers reward system which is 8 stickers = a piece of candy. We have done animals and food so far and they have a test next week – hopefully they all do as good as they say they will! They are all so eager to learn and I love the days I get to teach them because even if they don’t know how to spell or do something they try! I often say – “hands up who can do this?” – and I look around and most of them want to try! I see my P1s 3 times a week and I have them for a 35 minute HAPPY TALK on Wednesday mornings, which is perfect because we review for their spelling test which normally always falls on a Thursday!

School lunch is always a big adventure...

Getting ready for the fair - their dance is adorable! 

Turn around to write something on the board and all of a
sudden a few of my students are wearing funny hats. 

Why yes this girl has a Cath Kidston pencil case.

P2/2 –
My first P2 class is a pretty funny class! I have a few kids who are pretty fluent and excellent at English. One of them just moved from South Carolina and his English is better than his Thai. He often comes after school to chat. He loves to be an example and will help anyone if they need it. It is nice to have a helper in this class. Over the past 3 and bit weeks we have done a chapter on shopping and we are now finishing up travel. They are very respectful and I would say they do “Good Morning Teacher Catie” the loudest. I have a few kids in this class who come by the office to play games and play with their friends after school. We started to play Appletters last week after my Mom sent it to me in my care package but this week we are taking a break because we haven't had enough players.

Teaching in The Phonics Room

Highest to Lowest class with prices. Sent this to my father and he replies - "What are you doing... playing the Price Is Right? I am guessing you beat them all?"

P2/3 –
This class has my coordinator as their homeroom teacher so they are very well trained and behave like angels. Before I even get in there they are ready for whatever the day has planned and with one look she can make a student behave. I wish I had this power on some of my students - especially my P3s. This class has a few brilliant kids in it who always are helping their friends out. The first day I had one of them walk up to me and speak to me in almost perfect English telling me all about himself and then about everyone in the class. I have the sweetest girls in this class who are always offering to help me carry my stuff and ALWAYS volunteering to answer the questions. This class LOVES X and O’s, boys vs girls. What we do is before they can put an X or and O they have to complete the spelling word in the space. It is extremely entertaining to watch them play this and to see how excited they get when they beat each other. We have a running tab of who is winning and always carry it on when we have the time to play it at the end of class.

They needed no help from me when I asked them to get in order.

One of these girls is in my class and the other one is her twin sisters.
I need to capture a picture of them walking together from the front because it is so freaking precious.
The girl in my class is so shy and when I get her to smile we just end up giggling. 

As you can tell this class works hard!

Both my P2 classes are great and even when they are a bit crazy as soon as I clap and yell 1,2,3 they normally snap back into work mode and we get things done. The Phonics Room sometimes makes them a bit wild but normally after a few minutes standing outside the door watching the other kids the naughty ones beg to come back in. We have had 2 spelling tests and no one got a zero on the second one! The fail rate was lower and most of the kids who failed the first one improved on the second! Made me REALLY happy! I just hope they roll this knowledge over to the test next week! Both classes are just so funny and I need to start posting little clips and quotes, like I did with my students in Qatar, about the funny things they do and say. I had one girl draw the pictures of her spelling words next to the word in her book this week, you know, just in case I needed clarification. I also had my first throw up kid this week, right after milk break. I was helping one of the kids who sits in the back because he is a bit of a trouble maker with his card and I look up to = “TEACHER! TEACHER!” - and a kid standing by his desk with puke all down him. Was pretty impressed when he returned from the bathroom and attempted to clean it up by himself and then carry on with his card for his dad.

P3/1 –
I don’t know where to start when it comes to this class. The first 3 weeks I only had a few good days with them. Last Friday was my first time to break down and go mental on them. I left the class at the end without saying a word after making them sit in silence (well almost silence) for 5 minutes. They are a trouble class and I will not give up on them! It might take us longer to do things and I might not always have great days with them but I will change this mentally they have about English. I tried the sticker system I have with my P1s and 2s but they just took it as a joke and didn't care about the rewards. I had a long conversation with my good friend Allan in Doha, he teaches English there, and he gave me great ideas to help this class. So this week I have started a new reward system – Teacher Catie’s Treasure Box! Inside is a bunch of toys, candy, Doraemon things, and Angry Bird toys. Side note - Kids in Thailand LOVE Angry Birds and Doraemon (the first anime character), and it is pretty crazy how crazy they go for anything to do with them. So to get a treasure they need to get 10 tokens and they only get these for good behavior and excellent work. Monday seemed to go well but yesterday was a bit crazy as we were working on Father's Day cards and not on English work from the book or for the test. The class has some really bright kids in it and they are always happy to answer but the bad out numbers the good in the class. I have a few kids who forget to take their ADHD medicine and some that just refuse to do any work. This week I was also stuck in the crossfire of a eraser fight and got smacked in the face pretty hard. The same kids seem to forget their book and they just disrupt the rest of the class, they refuse to stand at the door when I tell them to and I sometimes I just have to throw my hands up and deal with it. I just keep on saying – I WILL NOT GIVE UP!

As you can tell from the three pictures above of my P3s... They are CRAZY! Ask them if you can take their photo to send to your parents and they run at you like mad people!


So that is my very long post about being a teacher in Thailand. I promise to update about teaching more. Now that I have more of a routine I am finally catching up on things like my blog! 

I think the day has finally come - I am sick of rice!

Pretty sure this GIF explains it all. I am officially over rice. I have eaten way too much of it since my arrial in Thailand. I try not to but it is everywhere! Even though I am over it... I am sure I will continue to eat it with my school lunch everyday because without it the school lunch is pretty horrible, most of the time. Rice comes with everything here. I just don't understand how Thai people are so skinny! They love rice! I just really hope I don't end up with a rice belly!

Rice Baby Belly - click here for GIF blog!

http://thattimewelivedinthailand.tumblr.com/

Staying local! Back to back weekends in Amata!

The last two weekends we have stayed local to save money... November has been a tight month because we tried to live off of 2 weeks pay from October. It was hard and I would be lying if I said I did not dip into my savings. Staying local in Amata is pretty boring. You have to make your own fun! Here are a 10 ways to kill time when you say local -

 

1. Pool time. That is right work on your tan! It is just really unlucky when your first weekend is rainy and overcast. Pool time for me means relaxation, spending the day in the sun, and living in my MOO MOO dress for a day.

2. Do ALL your laundry. You have plenty of time to let it dry. Simple enough and surprisingly it takes a while!

 

3. Catch up on your TV shows. Perfect day/afternoon task!

 

4. Go to your local bar and force your OEG pals to sing karaoke with your new friend and local singer King. It will be one of the highlights of your weekend. Your friends might need redemption and the next time you go to grab a beer after dinner the Thai waitresses will point and laugh because they remember them singing.

5. Eat at the restaurant you never get to eat a because during the week it is always closed for dinner. Don't be shocked when your meal has a whole chicken in it. Or when what you order at your other restaurant comes out very different at this one.

 

6. Explore the local areas near by. Bang Saen is our nearest beach town so we spent the day there and participated in Loi Krathong events. See Loi Krathong post for details about this event!

7. Go to the mall. No not your local mall! Go to the one in the main city if you are not already there. While you are there watch a movie in English. Our local movie theatre does not have English movies so we got to watch Thor :) Happy days!

 

8. Plan all your future adventures and freak out when you realize how little time you have. December is already PACKED!

 

9. Paint your nails. Yes I said it. Again, you have plenty of time to let them dry!

 

10. Sleep. You don't sleep much when you travel. You don't sleep that well during the school week. Naps are your friend - don't neglect your need for rest!

 

Can I be Julie Andrews?

The school fair is on December 14th and since week 2 of work I have been able to see each grade practice their dance for the big day. They all have very different choreographed dances and I can’t wait to see what this school fair is like and to see them all in their different outfits. 

The best ending to a LONG Monday!

There is nothing better than coming home from work and getting an amazing care package from the best MOMMY in the world! Monday has been a long day. Teaching and then tutoring. When I walked through the doors of Amata Mansion and I saw my package from my Mommy I was beyond happy! Hands down she sends the best care packages in the world :) It is true... Everyone at university used to be extremely jealous, and excited because there was always something for them, when I got a package from home.

 

This care package had LOADS of goodies. Clothes for work, christmas stuff, my advent calendar, my 2013 ornament (a globe), and TONS of stuff for my kids! School supplies that I had requested and much more! Can't wait to use it all with my students! She also sent a stocking for each of us (me, Alex, and Nichole) and we will be decorating them next month and it will be a great way to start getting festive in Thailand!

 

MOMMY I LOVE YOU!

 

Loi Krathong Bang Saen Style!

Loi Krathong is a Thai festival where they pay their respect to the water spirits. It is mainly celebrated in the north of Thailand but people do celebrate it in other places. It is in two parts and is held during a full moon. First you make or buy a KRATHONG which you will put into a river (or ocean) and your are offering it to the water spirits. Some people offer a clipping of their hair and nail, and it is also common to place some money in your KRATHONG. The money is seen as an offering, and the hair and nail is a symbol of letting go of your negative thoughts. When you release your KRATHONG you are saying goodbye to your regrets from the past year. The second part of the festival is Yi Peng and this is where you "make a wish" as you let a paper lantern fly in the sky. I hope I have said all this right - this is how I remember it from my googling and from what I was told before the weekend by some of the Thai staff at school.

Unfortunately, we could not make it up to Chiang Mai for this wonderful weekend. Chiang Mai is amazing for Yi Peng and all the posts on FB made us extremely jealous. In the spirit of staying local we made our way to Bang Saen beach to meet up with some other OEG people teaching in the heart of Chonburi. Bang Saen had plenty of KRATHONGS for sale and lanterns too. After the sun went down and the tide turned we let our regrets go and we sent our new wishes to the sky. The night ended with lots of fireworks going of right over our heads and a long search to find a songthaew to take us home. My camera could not capture how cool it was (nothing on the north Thailand size) but I tried my best. Bang Saen was fun, I had ROTI for dinner (oh how I miss Sri Lanka), and it sure was nice to be away from Amata for an afternoon. Bang Saen is not really a beach you would like to swim in but it is a cool little beach town with universities, and apparently there is a pretty cool street called Walking Street where you can grab dinner and go out.

Krathongs for sale.

Dinner anyone?

Alex and her firework.

Alex and Nichole

ROTI!!