Passion

People can go their entire lives without finding their passion.  I can remember in kindergarten being adamant I was not going to be a teacher.  Then I went to Emporia State - a college known for it's teaching program. I changed majors many times in my short time there, and always ignored that voice in my head telling me to become a teacher.  Then I spent 13 years in the corporate world, and when I got burnt out there and was unemployed for 6 months, I avoided the many signs to think about teaching.  Even the huge billboard near my place I saw every day advertising the nontraditional program for obtaining a teaching license.

Never in my wildest dreams, did I think it would take moving across the world to find it!  I came to Thailand to experience life living abroad, pushing myself outside my comfort zone, and all sorts of inspirational bullshit that are quoted and hashtagged all over Instagram (#guilty).  But I've found that I don't love living abroad.  I don't love Thailand.  I don't love being away from family, friends, and queso.  But I love teaching.

And it's because of these kids, right here.  These are my M2 students.  And they are such a special bunch.  Overall, all three classes I had this semester were good.  But these kids were nothing like the other two.  Sure, we had a few rough days here and there.  But I never dreaded going to teach them.  I never had to cut a fun activity short because of complaining, eye rolling, or that one kid rolling around on the ground like a rolly polly.  I never had to feel like I was having a conversation with myself at the front of the class due to lack of participation.  This class has the best sense of humor too.  They get sarcasm and love to laugh and make jokes.  They love American pop culture.  Some of them know more American rap songs than Thai songs I'm sure!

It's because of these kids that I decided to finally stop ignoring everything pointing me in the direction of becoming a teacher.  I finally looked into the website from the billboard I ignored every day, and am in the process of getting my teaching certification for Texas.  My original plan was to be over here at least a year, but the cool thing about life is that plans don't always work out.  I'm lucky that my parents miss me enough to let me move back into their basement until I am able to start doing the student teaching part of the process. It wasn't an easy decision to make - in fact, it was easier to decide to come to Thailand, than it's been to leave.  But I know that it's the best decision for me right now.  I'm leaving a huge part of my heart with these kids.  But because of them, I can say I'm one of the lucky ones that has found my passion.

Workin' on a Sunday

Last Sunday I worked my first English camp.  During my orientation with my agency, we had a quick overview of what English camp is.  And it was all this ridiculously silly songs, games, and just overall craziness.  Our contracts state we have to work one a semester, which happen on the weekend.  The semester is over at the end of September, and the closer it was getting to that, the more I was hoping it wouldn't happen. Then we got word it was happening at our school on Sunday, August 28th.  I was not looking for to it for a few reasons.  1. It wasn't with the students I teach every day.  It was only for non EP students. 2. It was on a Sunday.   The week before I spent all weekend at a conference, so that was 2 weekends spent doing school stuff. 3. What middle school aged kid wants to spend their Sunday at school, playing crazy games and singing songs in a language they don't speak.

The answers is nearly 200 students! I was shocked when I walked up at 8 am and saw how many kids were already there!  There were six of us from my school, plus two more from another school there.  When our agency finally showed up (because Thai time...), we were given bright yellow shirts to wear and were given a brief overview of what was going to go on during the camp.  Basically, the morning was playing games like 1 baht, 2 baht (girls are 1 baht and boys are 2 baht.  A number is called out and you have to get the right amount of people in your group to equal the number called out), and other games where you group together.  The teachers were there to get the kids excited.  The last game we played ended up getting the kids in groups of 7, and from there they were numbered and split into groups with the teachers as the leaders.

Once we were in our groups, we had to come up with a team name, a team chant, and a team flag. This is where I really started missing my EP kids!  I did not realize how used I'd gotten to my students understanding 90% of what I say, and not having to speak at a super slow pace!  They all just stared at me when I was throwing out name suggestions (I was trying to come up with any and all pop bands they like).  Finally i just told them we were going to be Team SKR (our school's nickname) and some shook their head.  Then I tried to get them to make the team flag.  More stares.  So I just wrote SKR in big letters on the poster board and one girl caught on that I needed them to decorate it.  They all got into that!  I just did a simple clapping of my hands and we chanted SKR for a few times for the chant.

From there we went to each group and told them things about ourselves, ask questions about what we told them, and when they answered in English they were given a sticker.  The person with the most stickers at the end got a huge stuffed teddy bear.  And let me tell you, their English all the sudden was on point.  Bribery with a stuffed teddy bear, who knew!  After that was the "Peel Banana" song.  It started out with the teachers doing all the actions in front of the group.  Peeling the banana, chopping the banana, shaking the banana, eating the banana.  Pure ridiculousness!  But the kids were more than enjoying it, and we were all looking just as stupid up there together!


We each had to pick 1 boy and 1 girl from our group that were doing the best and they got to go up on stage and do the dance.  This is where things got um well, I'm sure nothing like this would ever go on at school in America...  Then it was lunch time.

After lunch we were each given a station to work for games.  I was at the station where each team was given big letters and I'd say words (or in some instances show the word to them) and they'd have to spell it out.  Things got competitive!!!  And I was sure I was going to have no voice from shouting the words over and over again.  After the winners were announced and the girl with over 50 stickers got her huge stuffed bear it was time for the powder game...

The highly popular stuffed bear

The kids were all given handfuls of baby powder and told to go after each other and the teachers.  I've been told a time or two my body language speaks loudly.  I was not even remotely looking forward to being ambushed with baby powder.  And I guess my body language said that!  I had a few of the students walk up to me and very sweetly put small pats of powder on my cheeks.  Compared to some of the other teachers who I can only imagine are still finding baby powder in crevasses!

And by the end I was exhausted, hot and sweaty, and ready to just lay down.  But it ended up being such a fun day.  It's also been fun seeing the other students on campus that normally would just politely say Hi.  Today I heard shouts of Hi Teacher BA! from across the other side of the yard when I was walking to my class!  It ended up being a fun experience and a fun way for the students to use English!