This is Thailand y'all...Part 2

This change also affected the Filipino teacher at my school. But he wasn’t being offered a job at the same school as me.  Even though we’d only known each other 2 days, we were sad to be going to different schools.  We had been told someone would come pick us up around noon to head to Korat (the capital of the providence we were in) to the bus station and help us get to our new towns.  I received a phone call and a message from two people at XploreAsia after they saw my Facebook status asking how I was doing and telling me good job with the positive attitude.

I had packed pretty much everything the night before.  Jhon, the other teacher, was still living at the other apartments so we met at a coffee shop in between our two places for breakfast.  It was around 10:30 and my phone rang.  It was the HR rep from my agency – the same one that had emailed me the day before.  Her and another lady informed me that the school in Sikhio changed their mind and were back in contract with the agency and I wasn’t leaving, and would still be teaching at the same school.  Talk about messing with your emotions.  I hung up the phone in a shock and walked back in the coffee shop.  And Jhon was on the phone with them now.  After he hung up we both just kind of started at each other in disbelief.  Then my mom texted me that she was going to bed and that she hoped my move went smooth and to let her know when I got to my new place.  I walked outside, called her and absolutely lost it.  I was crying so hard I’m sure she had no idea what I was saying.  But what I was saying was I want to come home.  I can’t do this.  I finally calmed down enough and said I need to call Joe and talk to him.  

While I was on the phone with my mom, Jhon had messaged Joe.  I went back in the coffee shop and told Jhon I needed to go back to my apartment to process all this.  He understood.  On the walk back to my apartment I got a call from Joe.  He was very apologetic and said that the Thai teachers loved us and had nothing to do with what was going on.  It was between the higher ups at the school and the agency.  I told him I was very nervous about going back to a school that so quickly got rid of us over money and once we didn’t show up on Thursday, they had no one to teach about 44 classes of 45 students!  I told him I still wanted to go to the new school.  He completely understood.  Thursday was spent with many phone calls back and forth between Joe and me and even a phone call to people at XploreAsia to see what my options were.  There were also lots of tears and checking out flights back to the US – which resulted in more tears because then I was a failure.  By 4:00 it was agreed that I could move to Sakonnakhon and that my agency would reimburse me for my bus fare.  All that needed to be done now was move out of my apartment, get to the bus station in Korat and on a bus to the very Northeastern part of Thailand.  Easy, I can handle that! 

This is Thailand y'all...Part 1

What a crazy, hectic 3 days it’s been in my world.  I did get moved to a new apartment that had a flushing toilet and was just better overall.  School started on Monday and I was assigned grades M2 and M4, which are basically 7^th and 9^th graders.  The kids were decent.  I had one boy that blew me a kiss as he was leaving.  I fell in love with him.  He earned the spot of favorite in just a short 45 minutes.  There was the one class that was awful.  The girls were the worst.  One boy punched another so hard in the nuts that he was on the ground in tears.  I was never so happy for that period to end!  There were some comments made by a Thai teacher to me, which in America would be considered extremely rude.  But I was assured she didn’t mean it rudely and it was just the way Thailand is. 

            The culture shock was definitely affecting me.  I was trying really hard to push through it.  On Wednesday afternoon, I forced myself to start a conversation with one of the Thai teachers in the teacher’s room.  She was being very friendly.  She was explaining why there were so many parents on campus.  If a student didn’t pass classes the year before, they have until the middle of June to do stuff (stuff like possibly lessons, but also chores or anything the teacher sees fit) to pass the class. But a parent must also come to the school and make sure they are going to class and doing the work to make up the class.

            At the same time, three M6 students (seniors) came into the teacher area and started talking to her.  They were asking if I was interested in tutoring them after school.  One wanted to just improve his English and one wanted to go into the tourist industry and would have to pass an English test to be able to get a job.  She said that it was completely fine for me to tutor them.  That they would be in groups of 4 and would pay me 200 baht per group to tutor them twice a week.  That’s an extra 400 baht a week and I’d get to know the students better and have something to do in the evenings.  I spent about 30 minutes talking to the boy that just wanted to improve his English and finding out things I could teach him and his likes and interests to make it fun and interesting for him.  We were both really excited about it!

            As he left the room, I checked my email on my phone and got this email. 

I would like to inform you Skihiu school is no longer contract with (agency) due to contract issue. We would like to offer another school for you. The schools' name is Sakolraj it is located in Sakonnakhon province. You will be teaching IEP Program (4 skills such as Listening, Speaking, Writing, and Reading) for Mathayom level 1 - 5. Let me know if you are interested.

I apologize for the any inconvenience that this may cause you. The consultants will meet and talk to you about Transportation. We will cover the cost of transportation.

I was in shock at first.  I messaged Joe, my point of contact with my agency.  He called me extremely apologetic and said that he was just learning of it all too…in the same email.  While I was slightly freaking out, I realized that this was a second chance.  I wasn’t 100% happy where I was and while I could make the best of it, I was being given the opportunity at something possibly better.  Even though I was going to pack everything up once again and not be able to tutor those students, it was a good thing.  I got on board and was looking forward to moving to a different part of Thailand, a little bigger area and now closer to Laos and Vietnam…more opportunity to travel to other countries! 

The Island Life

After a month in Hua Hin doing the TESOL certification, I had about two weeks before school started.  Luckily, two others (Morgan and Bronson) were in the same boat and we decided to spend a week on an island!  It was a very wise decision!

We chose Koh Chang as our destination at a resort called Mam Kai Bae.  It was definitely no Marriott in Hua Hin (yes, #PrincessBA spent a luxurious night there), but it suited our needs just fine!  It was directly on the beach, was clean and had beautiful sunsets.

We planned on arriving in Koh Chang on Sunday, May 1st.  However, due to some obstacles (i.e. a really fun night on Khao San Road the night before, not enough room on the 1:00 bus for all 3 of us and the ferry only running until 7 pm) we had to spend Sunday night in Trat before getting to Koh Chang on the 2nd.

In Trat we saw first hand how nice people really are.  We were feeling pretty defeated after a day in Bangkok and an unpleasant 5 hour van ride.  I'd booked a room at a guesthouse online.  We weren't really sure where the guesthouse was.  I was in the front passenger seat and as we got close to Trat the van driver was asking where we were going.  One of the ladies in the row behind me was trying to help since the van driver was fairly busy driving fast, riding the bumper of the vehicles in front of us and flashing his lights for them to get out of our way. I gave her my phone to show her the name.  There was some gesturing and words like 2 blocks.  She must have been able to see the confusion in my eyes!  The van pulled up to the hospital and the van driver got our luggage out and the lady and her friend also got out.  Since our luggage was out, we gathered this was where we were getting dropped off!  Through a game of charades I figured out she was going to get her car and drive us to the guesthouse.  At that moment, I saw her wings and halo!

On the 2nd we got up early, made it to the ferry and onto Koh Chang!  I got to introduce the Canadian and New Zealander to queso (well Thailand's version of queso...they have to get toTexas and get the real deal sometime), listened to a fun cover band, experienced the party scene on Lonely Beach (once was enough for us), kayaked to a small island near us (well they kayaked I just held on for dear life), watched the most beautiful sunsets I've ever experienced, got one of the worst sunburns in my adult life, and just relaxed because we knew that very soon it was all getting real!!

Definitely not Waterloo queso!!

where I am supposed to be...

Today I finally arrived in Sikhio (basically pronounced C Q).  I want to remember this day and the raw emotions I was feeling, so throughout the day I wrote them down in the notes section of my phone.  Here they are unedited.  I have pics of the bathroom situation on my phone, but the wifi isn't working that well in this room...I'm using my phone as a hotspot and it's taking too long to send them to myself to get them on my computer.

totally on my own for the first time since leaving Austin. as much as I crave alone time, I am a wreck being alone! I'm actually crying. I'm sure the taxi driver is wondering what the hell is wrong with me. this is what I signed up for and I'm scared as hell. I know it'll be fine once I get on the bus and to my apartment. this is what I signed up for and what I want to be doing. where are all these emotions coming from! It wasn't this scary to get on the plane and fly to the other side of the world. From everything I've read and heard Isan has the kindest people. I know I'll find a Thai family and be loved and taken care of. And it's not like I'll be cut off from contact with everyone. Nothing is going to change. I can't stop the tears though. 

The bus station was not near as daunting as I had imagined. I walked in and a sweet man asked where I was going and got me to the right counter. The hardest part was lugging my heavy heavy suitcase down a flight of stairs to the actual bus! Too bad that sweet man wasn't around then! 

I am relieved to be leaving Bangkok. I've only spent a few days at a time in the city, but it makes me very anxious. All the smells and sounds and people. When I told my mom that I was going to be in a smaller town, she replied along the lines of good maybe that's where your soul needs to go to rest right now. I thought that was a little silly and might have even rolled my eyes. But my mom is actually a very wise lady. This year in rural Thailand is right where I need to be.  

Made it to my new apartment. I figured it would be a small studio type place. I wasn't wrong. What I wasn't expecting was the toilet situation. I was told I'd have a western toilet. But I guess a western toilet you actually flush was too much to expect! There is a big trash can full of water in my bathroom/shower (it's all one small combined space) with a bucket in it. I'm 99% sure I use that bucket and water to manually flush my toilet...

When I got off the bus, a man came running over from his songtaew and asked where I was going. I told him Green View Apartments and he said 100 baht. that was fine with me. he helped w my luggage across the street and into the songtaew. another man came up to the songtaew and just kept staring at me. he was saying something and just smiling. looking back he might have been telling me I was getting ripped off to pay 100 baht! but I had no idea how far I was going. I am wondering if he'd ever seen a westerner in his town before. 

There is a cute coffee shop right behind my apartment.  I walked over there hoping for some food, but they only had coffee.  The mocha was good and they seemed to have decent wifi.  I knew there was a Big C Supermarket near so I went to walk to it.  I saw two men sitting in the shade so I walked up and said Big C? The younger one said something to the older one and they started pointing in all directions.  Finally the older man pointed back to the coffee shop - basically telling me to go back and ask them!!  I finally found Big C and got a few essentials needed (my apartment is furnished).  There was not another Westener in the store. Some of the people smiled at me, a few stared and most just ignored me.  I did see what looks to be nicer, newer apartments that I think I will go check out tomorrow.  

Two weeks in

I've been in Thailand for a little over two weeks now and what an adventure it's been!!  The first week was spent learning about Thai culture.  I got to meditate with a Buddhist monk, get up close and personal with elephants, learn basic phrases in Thai, take a Muay Thai class and buy ingredients needed to make a papaya salad at a market using only Thai.

The second week has been learning how to become a teacher.  Since I've been here I've been working with a company called XploreAsia.  They've been amazing.  The instructor has really made the learning experience top notch.  I might be slightly biased since Andrew is a fellow midwesterner and a Chiefs fan...but that aside he's making what could be long and daunting days exciting!

What has amazed me so far is the change I've seen in myself in these short two weeks.  I knew that by moving here I'd be taking a huge step outside my comfort zone.  But I honestly didn't realize how big of a step it'd be.  I'm living in a house with 9 other people (most who are still in their very early 20's...).  I told one of the girls that living in this house was roughing it for me.  I'm pretty sure she thought I was joking, but I wasn't!  I share a bathroom with 5 other girls.  I have a roommate that sleeps in very close proximity to my bed (which I'm still not convinced that she doesn't have the mattress and I have the box springs), there is a rodent of some sort that runs around in our walls constantly (we keep telling ourselves it's a squirrel and not a rat...) and in Thailand you don't flush anything but the waste from your body down the toilet (everything else goes in a trashcan next to the toilet and that has to be dumped by one of us...).

I sweat constantly.  I walk everywhere.  I shop at what is the equivalent to Thai Wal Mart.  I've only worn make up the very first day here and stopped once it sweated off (and into my eyes) within minutes of being outside.  I haven't blow dryed my hair once.  I'm using new words (rubbish is a much more pretty word than trash).  I let people hug or touch me without the slightest of a flinch now.

I really don't recognize who I am anymore.  And y'all I haven't been happier.  I still have some #PrincessBA moments but those are happening less and less.  I miss people from back home (the 12 and 14 hour time difference between my closest people and me is a big adjustment).  I miss queso (but oh how I love sticky rice and mango).  However, this is my new normal, I'm embracing it and loving every second of it!

Hello Tokyo

March 31^st/April 1^st will be the day that I made some impressive marks on my bucket list.

ü  Cross the International Date Line

ü  One more continent I’ve been on

ü  Eat sushi in Japan

It’s been an emotional day too.  Starting with having to tell someone that’s been a major part of my life good bye and not knowing if I’ll ever see this person again.  Then the anxiety of a 14-hour flight solo.  Then exhaustion from the 14-hour flight.  The melatonin I took did little to help me sleep.  The unknown of navigating the Tokyo airport (which was a wasted emotion.  I kept imagining the cluster that is the Johannesburg airport and was most scared about finding my gate. It’s been super easy and everything is in English).  Then the confusion of the airport bathroom in Tokyo. never have I seen instructions on the wall on how to work the toilet!

Now more exhaustion and dread of another 6 hour flight ahead of me to Bangkok.  But all those emotions are out weighed by the excitement of what lies ahead of me!! The texts and Facebook messages of support and encouragement have helped that along too!  It’s nice to know I’ve got so many people excited for me.   

one month to go

First off - thanks for all the congratulations, kind words, and encouragement!  It means a ton.

Things are coming together!  I had two people point out that it's March and I leave in March.  The first one was my personal trainer.  The workout I did today was tough, so I didn't really pay much attention to her.  I was more worried about staying alive for the next hour!  The second person pointed out that I will land in Thailand exactly one month from today.  I was home, surrounded by all my stuff...stuff I am not taking with me...stuff that I need to sell, donate or throw away.  I had time to freak out.  My mom is coming down in a few weeks.  I hope to have as much done by then.  If not, she'll get me in gear.  She's good at that!!

I got everything sent off for my visa application. Here's hoping that process goes smoothly and I get approved a non immigrant B and won't have to make visa runs while over there.


I bought my flights also!  I'll leave the morning of March 31st from Austin.  Before this whole moving to Thailand life event started happening I already had a trip back to KC planned for March 26-29 to see the twins and for Lilly's birthday.  So I'm planning on having everything ready by March 25th, make that trip back home, come back to Austin and sell my car and turn in my keys to my apartment on the 30th and then head out on the 31st!

I'm also working on checking things off my Austin bucket list - kind of playing a tourist in the city I've called home the last 3 1/2 years.  I live less than a mile from a cool bridge with a trail up to a ledge with some cool views.  I took advantage of that a few weeks ago.  It was beautiful and peaceful up there!


I also went to the KU/UT game last night.  This is the 4th KU/UT game I've attended.  They've won two and lost two.  So glad last night's game was a win.  Luckily, I did not get a nose bleed since I was in the nose bleed seats.  That's what I get for paying $25!!  While at the game, I got to see the lady that was very influential in my career at my previous employer.  I once joked that I followed her from Topeka to Kansas City and from Kansas City to Austin.  I'm finally breaking out on my own and not following her anymore!  I also ran into a guy that I lived across the hall from when I lived in Orlando for that short stint my freshman year of college!  At first I thought he was a friend of a friend, then I realized who he was.  We hadn't seen each other since 2001 and had no idea the other was living in Austin.



Still on my list is Gus's Fried Chicken, Hut's Hamburger, the bats on Congress, and getting as much queso as possible.  I'm sure there will also be a couple of BBQ lunches in there too.  I heard there is a place in South Austin that is TexMex BBQ...BBQ and queso #heaven