Things have continued to go really well here in Thailand. Yesterday we went to the local hospital to get a “check-up” to prove our health for our work permit. Basically all we had to do was wait for them to fill out a form and tell them we didn’t have any diseases, and then they listened to our hearts. Done.
Today was really exciting though. We got to visit our schools and living quarters. We went in groups of four so we could also see where the volunteers who are closest to us are. We started out at Michelle’s high school, where they had water, coffee, and snacks waiting for us. Her P.A. (principal) was hilarious and incredibly welcoming. There were also 2 women who I think are English teachers at her school who traveled with us all day and very fluent in English. They also brought us to Michelle’s house where she’ll be living with Kerry. The house was in the middle of being renovated, but you can already tell that it will be very nice.
Kerry’s schools were next. The first of her elementary schools was teeny tiny with only about 50 students, but it seemed very sweet, and they had water waiting for us. The next of her schools was quite an experience. We pulled up to the school courtyard, where about 100 of her future students were waiting. There was also a little stage area set up (it may have been just for this occasion, but it may have been permanent). The P.A. there prepared a speech in English and read it to us. Then he asked us all to introduce ourselves and say something to the students, which is something we were all a little unprepared for, to say the least. We spoke in English, but I decided to try my hand at “yin tii dii dai ru jak ka” which means “nice to meet you” and as soon as I said it everyone laughed…which I guess was expected.
On the way to Gen’s school we stopped to take pictures at Wat Ranunakon and for a 7-11 bathroom break (which was clutch considering all the water we’d been offered and needed to drink). We also bought small things in order to break our big baht bills. Apparently 7-11’s are the only places that allow bills over 100….and we’re all saddled with 500 and 1000 baht bills from when we exchanged money (fyi, 1000 baht is the equivalent of roughly $30 US).
Next up was Gen’s school. They had water waiting for us (begin to see a pattern here?). We toured her school and the palatial home she’ll be living in with one of the teachers whose sons all moved away.
Then we traveled into the boonies for my school. Michelle, Kerry, and Gen were all located on one of the main roads, but we turned onto a tiny village road for me. There were only clapboard houses and maybe only one convenience store. On the way to the school we passed a lotus pond with a new little house on its edge and I knew it was mine. My P.A. and Nit were there waiting to introduce me to the English teacher (who is 8 months pregnant) and give us all water. We toured the school, which seemed very nice and very similar to the other schools we visited. Next, we all (and by that I mean my P.A, Nit, the English Teacher, and some of the other teachers) went to visit my pond house. It is very picturesque (I’ll get photos up as soon as possible). It is sitting over a lotus pond (it isn’t even touching land and all. Right now you have to jump to get onto my very sizable furnished porch, but there was wood there that I think they were going to try to make a bridge with. The home itself was pretty small and unfurnished, but I was told I’d have a bed, cabinets, a pantry, fridge, tv, and wireless internet. I’m not sure how all that will fit into the house but alright. There also wasn’t a bathroom in the house, but Jes had told me it was in construction when she went there. I’m assuming it will be some sort of outside bathroom so I don’t have to go traipsing through Nit and Loi’s home in the middle of the night. I think I’ll be very comfortable there and I’m excited to move in and get settled!
On the way back, we stopped at Michelle’s assistant PA’s home and drank more water and listened to a whole bunch of people speaking Thai (I don’t think I’ve ever drank so much water in 3 hours in my life).
I think it was only a ½ hour in the car from my placement to Pla Pak and only about 10 minutes between Kerry/Michelle and Gen and myself as well, which is promising for biking purposes between towns. J, a volunteer staying for a 2nd year is in the area too and has experience biking between our towns and is drawing a map for us to be able to get to eachother.
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