Good Morning Class

After the previous blog, I figured you are in dyer need for some wholesome-ness! And don't you fear, even if my writing is horrible the pictures should make up for it all! 

Just to catch you up on our journey so far, the certification course I am taking is a month long process. It started in Phnom Phenn Cambodia for 2 weeks, then we came to Pattaya Beach (Thailand) Where we completed 2 weeks of classroom training, Thai language training, and Culture awareness course. Needless to say the past 2 weeks were jam packed with lesson planning, tests, and tedious paper work necessary to receive our certification. (http://www.languagecorps.com/) They take it very seriously which I appreciate, our certification actually goes through  a University in England so its really legit and highly respected around the world! 

So teaching started a little something like this. 

I was placed to teach at a school about an hour out of town, 3 Kindergarten classes ranging from 3- 5 year olds every day from 9-12. Nick got placed at a school 15 min. away with 3 of our other classmates. He had a range of classes, they changed each day. By the end he had observed/ taught 8th, 5th, 2nd, and 1 kindergarten class.  This is my "classroom, with out the kids in it of course" Very colorful and out doors, which wasent as hot as I thought it would be! 

The first day was for observations, or so we were told. So going in Monday morning I prepared a semi lesson/game just in case they asked me to teach, but was told I should only be observing. Well was I surprised when I walked in to 30 Kindergartners (3yr olds) and a Thai teacher who basically said, "Okay, you teach". 

My first thought? Holy Sh*t! 

What am going to do! Haha, the last time I was in a Kindergarten class room.. I was in Kindergarten! And most of our training was for adults! But being thrown to the wolves I had no other choice but to roll with it and make the best of it! So I went with my little lesson plan, and basically tried to evaluate where they were academically.  They were actually pretty smart. They could count to 20, knew most of their colors, all of their ABC's and true to form messed up the part when it came to "L-M-N-O-P".  The day was finally over and some how I survived my first day as a "teacher"! I made my hour long trek home, and tried not to fall asleep on the driver who spoke 0 English! That night I went home and made a detailed lesson plan so there would be no dull moment the next day. 

The next couple of days went by well, half way through the week my principal informed me that we had a big sports day coming up the following Friday, and tomorrow we would be going to the outdoor gym to start practicing and get a leg up on the 6 other schools we would be competing against! I thought, Hell yeah, a day off from teaching. But JUST IN CASE, ill try to have a few games  planned. The next day we got to the gym and the teacher once again said okay , "You Teach". This time I was prepared, I somewhat put together a little work out routine and taught them new words in English as we acted them out. IE: Jump High, Jump Low, Kick, Ball, Jumping Jacks, Hula Hoop... went pretty well! Especially considering the fact that I had all 3 classes at once! Except when i tried to teach them "Duck Duck Goose" Which i had to change to 1,2,3, Go! Because in Asia the head is the most holy part of the body and touching heads is a big no no! But Duck Duck Goose, basically turned into, chase teacher around in a big circle... Fail! hahah At least they had fun!? 

Here I am with all my little ones in preparation of sports day

This is Bum. He has autism, and is By Far the best hula hooper ever. He could hula hoop for hours, on one leg, with two hoops, probably even eating a sandwich! (The following day I had him show off his skills in front of the entire class as a review of the new words we had learned, he loved it, and at the end of the week he even told my principal that "teacher was beautiful". )

These are some of the older girls! 

I mean could you just eat him!?!?!?!?!? The boy on the left is "Tartar" He was the most adorable little boy ever! And very smart! 

Hahah Picking your nose is socially acceptable in Thailand, and here's proof! 

This  boys name is Nine, with some of the other girls... He came in very handy when I was reviewing counting 1-10! hahah

This is one of the cutest things ive encountered here. To get the children to be quiet they tell them to "Swallow a lemon" So they puff up their cheeks like the have a lemon in their mouth and put their fingers over their lips! These are my two favorite boys... the one on the right is Earth, pronounced (Eart) 

This is my K-2 Class Ages 3-4, making silly faces and completely being hams for the camera! 

K-3 Ages 4-5

After the first week, I was finally getting the hang of things! Lesson planning was getting a bit easier, and the kids and I had a good rapport going... and half way through the week my assistant principal informed me that she was going to teach me how to cook a Thai dish, and I wouldnt have to teach for the day. SCORE!!!  

I got to school on Wednesday, and hopped on her moto bike, and we drove to the market! Picked up the necessary ingredients. 

Chicken

Tomatoes

Limes

Green Onions

Galanga root (which is similar to ginger)

Garlic

Mushrooms

Fresh Coconut Milk

Lemon Grass (my favorite new herb)

a few chilies 

and green onions. 

Made our way back to the school where we with no hesitation started preparing the meal at one of the picnic tables. Here we threw all sanitation rules that I have grown accustom in the state out the window. IE: Washing your hands, Using a separate cutting board for chicken and veggies, WASHING YOUR HANDS!  The minute she turned her back I decided it would be in my best interest to pop an Imodium, Just in case! So we started hacking at the chicken (bones and all) chopped it up in small pieces and put it in a plate. Oh yeah, she washed the chicken off first, In this little sink that all the kids wash their hands in. (eek)  Chicken cutting, was followed by veggie cutting. On the same board. With the same knife. 

With out even as much as a quick run under the water. Although the min. she left the room for some more plates I took the cutting board, and knife and scraped it in the sink as much as possible! 

We then mixed all the ingredients together added some water and brought it all to a boil. (Which made me feel a little bit better about the contamination) 

It was actually a very tasty dish, and now when I go to a restaurant I can order "Tom Kai Gui" with pride knowing what I will get!  

That Friday was sports day, which unknown to me was a really big event because it fell on the Chinese New year! The kids practiced a parade the day before which i had no idea was for sports day, I just thought they were doing some sort of ritual! lol 

This is C, he loves getting his pic taken... with the Flag of Thailand! 

The following day I showed up for the parade, they had so kindly given me a uniform that said on the back "Kindergarten Teacher, and Long Live the King!" It was basically a Green polo, and sports pants. I looked like a lesbian soft ball coach. But they did not fool around, the kids were dressed to the nines! Carrying pictures of the King, full blown make up and dresses... Here, See for yourself! 

Carrying The King

All suited up leading the group. 

I don't really know what this is, but had to take a pic!  Of course when I got there I was the only Farong (what the Asians call Foreigners) And my Principal so nicely informed me that I would be leading the parade. Basically to show off that they had a Foreign teacher at their school. I was like a walking billboard! But hey, if me walking around with a smile on my face can help get students at the school, I didn't mind playing that roll. 

Here are some more pictures from through out the day: 

Having fun, and being kids <3 

Me with some of my kiddies! :)

I told you they were Hams!  ;) 

This little girl was amazing, and really reminded myself of me in a way. (And I mean this in the least conceded way possible) She was the smallest girl in the class, and quiet. Until it came time for me to teach them cheers, and for her to lead the group in the dances.. She never stopped smiling, was nice and loud, sometimes bossy, but looked adorable doing it. She was tiny, but it didn't stop her from kicking butt! 

All in all my time teaching at Attidan, was an experience I wont forget. I was dreading teaching such little kids, but figured out a way to do it. I was very sad when my time with them was over, and took away memories for a life time! 

So now on to the more stressful part of the trip. The move to Bangkok, where we will be on our own. Time to find a job, and a place to live, which has already been a task in itself. We don't want to get an apartment until we figure out where we will be teaching so we can be close, but we don't know where we will be teaching so for the next couple of days we shall be hanging out in Backpackers district known as Kao San road. It is full of Westerners which is a bummer but has some really great trendy restaurants with great music! If you ever make your way to Thailand it is definitely a place I will take you to. 

Hope this hold you over Till Next time.... 

Miss You.

Cheers!