Ch..ch..ch..changes....

Although it was an unfortunate experience that led to all these changes in Thailand, I’ve felt very fortunate in what has come from the upheaval that has been my life for the past 3 weeks. There have certainly still been highs and lows, but overall I’m incredibly happy with the way things have been working out. Here’s the basic rundown, and of course, we’ll end with the positive notes:

-          feeling awkward when having to explain my presence at events that I would have otherwise been at Kut Chim during.  Do I explain that I’ve moved and then try to avoid further questions? Or do I just say I teach at Kut Chim, but I had free time and chose to come to the event?

-          Frequent requests for me to return that I (or Jes) have to then turn down.

-          Missing my home in Kut Chim.  I really did love everything about my home (minus the scary spiders) and my village. I still feel very sad about leaving.

-          Missing my students.  This is by far the worst part about my departure. I miss my students each and every day.

-          I still feel incredibly angry at the stupid man that ruined what I had in Kut Chim.  Everything there was going really well and I was so happy.  Emotionally, I have been completely fine, other than the fact that I am so pissed he decided to take all the liberty in the world without even considering the consequences it would have.  

Here are the good changes:

+ gaining incredibly valuable work experience while assisting Jes in the FD office.  Working on budgets, organizing teaching materials, etc. will all prove to be valuable skills in the future.

+ going on site visits to the other volunteers’ schools.  This is one of my favorite parts of the new gig…I love going to see how everyone else’s placements are going.

+ the prospect of Kut Chim students coming in to the city to learn from me a few days a week.  This idea is a great one that my Paw Aaw had, and I’m really hoping that it will work out.

+ working with Pornchai, the director of the English program for elementary schools in the district as well as the liaison for WorldTeach.  He is a truly wonderful man.  During all of the craziness while I was moving out, he helped so much without requiring to know why.  He is so excited to learn English and is so willing to help with anything I need.  The very first day in the office, he rearranged his desk so I could have a desk in between his and Jes’. Every so often he’ll receive some lesson plans from the volunteers.  When he does, he’ll scoot his chair next to mine and ask me to explain everything.  Sometimes it can take 2 hours, but I don’t mind doing it at all.

+My thai language skills have increased 10-fold. Pi Nok and Jes predominantly speak thai at home, and even just listening to them I can tell that I’m picking up more of what they say.  I get the gist of almost all of their conversations, and can always ask Jes when it sounds like its information I should know and that I’m confused about.  Along the same lines, its so much fun to just practice the language a bit. Starting just this weekend, Jes has taken to “testing” me every once in a while, “So Heather, how would you say ‘He’s in a good mood?’” which is kinda a fun surprise.  It’s also hilarious to hear others’ (and certainly my own as well) mistakes.  Rita was on the phone with one of the teachers at her school (phone communication is already incredibly challenging without having laughter in the background) and was trying to confirm a time to be picked up. She said, “phet mong chao ok mai” which translates to “spicy o’clock ok?”

+ living in NKP.  I feel like I’m in the hub of everything, and I get to see all my friends when they come in to get mail or do errands on the weekends. Not to mention the highly entertaining free aerobics class in the park not far from home…or the prospect of swimming in the nearby high school’s pool for less than a dollar a time. 

Jes with the scissors..scary...

Pi Nok, Myself, and Rita along the Mekong in NKP

Making Rita's Christmas treat!

+Living with Jes and Pi Nok.  I’ve never had sisters, and my friends from home and college come close, but these are two incredible women who really do feel like sisters. We tease each other incessantly, but also help whenever one needs it.  Rita has also been coming in on weekends to get in on this sisterly bond.  We’ve had awesome girls’ weekends filled with baking cookies, watching The Bachelor, making fun-shaped pancakes and talking about anything imaginable. Pi Nok is hilarious and loves any show with American men. I’ll probably write a blog about her at some point but here’s just a tidbit from our last girls’ weekend.  When we explained that we’d have to wait another week to view a new Bachelor episode she said, “No. I cannot wait.” Not in an excited “I can’t wait!” kind of way, but in a literal way, kinda like the way you’d say “no, I cannot wait to go to the bathroom.” Rita's latest blog (including pictures stolen from yours truly) is all about our girls' weekends...check it out: http://www.ritaafarrell.blogspot.com/