So I was told before moving to Thailand that RAINY SEASON WAS HORRIBLE!! I was told to "expect rain for hours and hours" and that "you will constantly be wet".
So when packing, I made sure to bring some crocs (gift from my Lucky 13 Roomster) and mentally prepared for months of rain on end.
Whelp, rainy season is here...so I've been told. Maybe it's different in other parts of Thailand, BUT over here in Phibun Mungsahan, rainy season is MAYBE a rain shower in the AM - lasting less than an hour, and then again at night, also lasting less than an hour. On average I have seen it rain about 30 minutes at a time.
Then there was the other night....
Thursday morning on the way to school Tim asked me if my room had gotten rained on. I of course replied, "Huh? My room is dry" Well according to him, his room got soaked, including his "teacher clothes" he had planned on wearing that day. As we got downstairs, we noticed that the first floor of the hotel was SOAKED...as in WATER EVERYWHERE. It had apparently flooded so bad that the staff had to move our motor scooter inside....but not soon enough!! The exhaust had flooded with water, so when we tried to turn it on to get to school, it wasn't really working. Luckily Tim was able to fix it by the afternoon so we didn't have to walk home from school (7 minutes of walking is just TORTUROUS!).
So that's our rainy season. We are equipped with ponchos, but have only used them 2 or 3 times. I don't even bring my umbrella with me anymore, as the rain never lasts more than 30 minutes.
Rainy season?? Try "twice a day sun shower".
Sawasdee Kha,
Apes :)
Friday, August 26, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
NEW FOLLOWER ALERT!!
I just wanted to give a shout out to my newest blog follower - HEY MEL!! I've known this broad for years, and she is currently trekking her way from good 'ol VA to grad school in CALI!! From one coast to the other!
Hope the move is going great - and thanks for following :)
Sawasdee Kha!
Apes :)
Hope the move is going great - and thanks for following :)
Sawasdee Kha!
Apes :)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Random Thoughts While Sick in Bed...
So I took the afternoon off from school (no worries, I only have 1 class on Wednesdays and it's in the morning) to rest in bed and get better. Last night I had a fever and an achy body. Timmy is doing his best to take care of me; getting me meds, soup, juice, etc.
While I'm on my sicky bed, I figured now was the perfect time to put out some thoughts that aren't enough to make a full post, so here it is:
- Do I really only have 1 follower?? While Ashley is pretty awesome and all, I am sure she is lonely in my "follower group" How can YOU fix that? Easy!! If you are reading this on FB, scroll to the bottom of the post and click "See original post" then on the left hand side of my site, click "become a follower" and there ya go!! Ashley can have some friends to throw a "follower party" with. If you're NOT reading this on FB (cuz Jeffro), then just click on the "become a follower" on the left side of the screen.
- Teaching in Thailand isn't really teaching...it's more like having a butt load of Assistants. For example, It is rare that I carry anything to class. If I am seen carrying anything, there will no doubt be a student to rush over, take my things, and put them at whatever destination I am heading. The other day in class, while grading papers I had a student fanning me the whole entire time. I mean, REALLY?? It can't really get much more awesome than that. Oh, and I can't forget the daily affirmations of how beautiful and lovely I am.
- NEVER go to restaurant to order anything besides an omelet or fried rice if it's your first time. Apparently Thai's (or Isaan people) think that is all Farang (foreigners) eat. After your 3rd or 4th time, you can order other food and actually GET WHAT YOU ORDER!
- No one cares if you are late to class, or even show up at all. As long as you sign the "sign in sheet" that your class has. For example - we had a long meeting one morning, and it cut halfway into first period. After wards, the teachers weren't in any rush to get to their class. Another example - during "Science Day" or "Language Day" or any other themed day, there are concerts on campus all day. The teachers say "sign the sheet, then send your students to the concert". No problem there!
- Follow-up is non existent here. An example (one of many) - we were given a log-in for a website to record our students grades. Once logged in, it has your class list and from there you can input grades. My log-in worked, but my classes listed were wrong. They said they'd get back to me....that was over a month ago.
- Farangs are awesome (with the exception of in Bangkok), but blonds are even better. Example - during English camp last weekend, we had our blond friend Chris come and help out. We never saw him after the first 10 minutes, as the students had hold of him and wouldn't leave him alone...I'm sure it helps that he looks like Ron Weasley.
- Surprisingly, Thai mail takes about the same time as US mail! Who would've thought it wouldn't be slower than molasses?!?!
- Massaman Curry is the #1 most delicious food in the world. You can even buy it in a can! But you canNOT find it anywhere in our town.
- Eating rice every day doesn't get old!! You can eat it plain, sticky, and even sticky with coconut milk. Anyway you choose - it's still tasty!
- On the local cable stations (the 2 English-ish ones), it doesn't matter what part of a movie you are at, it will at some point be switched to Thai. I have watched the opening of Salt 2 times, gotten to where she is in NY, and then it switches to Thai. I have never seen the beginning of Adjustment Bureau - but I can recite the end f the movie by heart.
- If you get a Thai cell phone, and you hear the text message alert, don't bother checking it. 99% of the time it's Spam. If some one wants to talk to you, they actually call you because it's cheaper.
Ok - time to roll back over and sleep off my sickyness.
Sawasdee Kha,
Apes :)
While I'm on my sicky bed, I figured now was the perfect time to put out some thoughts that aren't enough to make a full post, so here it is:
- Do I really only have 1 follower?? While Ashley is pretty awesome and all, I am sure she is lonely in my "follower group" How can YOU fix that? Easy!! If you are reading this on FB, scroll to the bottom of the post and click "See original post" then on the left hand side of my site, click "become a follower" and there ya go!! Ashley can have some friends to throw a "follower party" with. If you're NOT reading this on FB (cuz Jeffro), then just click on the "become a follower" on the left side of the screen.
- Teaching in Thailand isn't really teaching...it's more like having a butt load of Assistants. For example, It is rare that I carry anything to class. If I am seen carrying anything, there will no doubt be a student to rush over, take my things, and put them at whatever destination I am heading. The other day in class, while grading papers I had a student fanning me the whole entire time. I mean, REALLY?? It can't really get much more awesome than that. Oh, and I can't forget the daily affirmations of how beautiful and lovely I am.
- NEVER go to restaurant to order anything besides an omelet or fried rice if it's your first time. Apparently Thai's (or Isaan people) think that is all Farang (foreigners) eat. After your 3rd or 4th time, you can order other food and actually GET WHAT YOU ORDER!
- No one cares if you are late to class, or even show up at all. As long as you sign the "sign in sheet" that your class has. For example - we had a long meeting one morning, and it cut halfway into first period. After wards, the teachers weren't in any rush to get to their class. Another example - during "Science Day" or "Language Day" or any other themed day, there are concerts on campus all day. The teachers say "sign the sheet, then send your students to the concert". No problem there!
- Follow-up is non existent here. An example (one of many) - we were given a log-in for a website to record our students grades. Once logged in, it has your class list and from there you can input grades. My log-in worked, but my classes listed were wrong. They said they'd get back to me....that was over a month ago.
- Farangs are awesome (with the exception of in Bangkok), but blonds are even better. Example - during English camp last weekend, we had our blond friend Chris come and help out. We never saw him after the first 10 minutes, as the students had hold of him and wouldn't leave him alone...I'm sure it helps that he looks like Ron Weasley.
- Surprisingly, Thai mail takes about the same time as US mail! Who would've thought it wouldn't be slower than molasses?!?!
- Massaman Curry is the #1 most delicious food in the world. You can even buy it in a can! But you canNOT find it anywhere in our town.
- Eating rice every day doesn't get old!! You can eat it plain, sticky, and even sticky with coconut milk. Anyway you choose - it's still tasty!
- On the local cable stations (the 2 English-ish ones), it doesn't matter what part of a movie you are at, it will at some point be switched to Thai. I have watched the opening of Salt 2 times, gotten to where she is in NY, and then it switches to Thai. I have never seen the beginning of Adjustment Bureau - but I can recite the end f the movie by heart.
- If you get a Thai cell phone, and you hear the text message alert, don't bother checking it. 99% of the time it's Spam. If some one wants to talk to you, they actually call you because it's cheaper.
Ok - time to roll back over and sleep off my sickyness.
Sawasdee Kha,
Apes :)
Monday, August 15, 2011
English Camp 2011
As part of our teaching, we have to participate in our school's International Camp (English Camp). This is a weekend event where our school takes select students to another part of Thailand for a few days of fun.
(English Camp 2011)
We had about 80 or so students registered for English Camp (out of 3000 students that our school hosts). I was lucky to have about 10 of them come from my advanced English class, so I knew them by name (or nickname rather). There were the 3 boys; Man, Alek, and O-P. And there were the girls; Army, Garfild, Poppy, Poopey, Chompue, and Ing. All 80 students and the teachers were divided between 2 buses and shipped off to Chonburi to spend a few days at the Open Zoo.
(As you can see, we were on board the "mermaid fairy" bus. The other was Finding Nemo.)
Once on the bus (a kind of double decker), the students sat on the top level, and the teachers sat in the small lounge below. Everyone sang Karaoke (the upstairs mic and downstairs mic went through the whole bus, so we could hear the students, and they could hear us). It was fun....but once midnight came - it was getting out of hand. Once the students finally went to sleep, they only lasted a few hours before they were up again at 6am with more Karaoke. No sleep for us!
Once at the zoo we met up with Chris and Meredith (from our ATI training group) who came to help us out. We grabbed breakfast and got settled in our rooms with showers and clean clothes. Then it was camp time!!
Camp started with some Ice-breakers. I am not sure how exactly the students "warmed up to camp" but us teachers had to dance in front of them. Of course I blew everyone out of the water with my "white boy" dance.
Then it was already lunch time!
After lunch it was time for group activities. Meredith and I had a "Acting Scavenger Hunt" for the kids who came through our rotation. In partners, they had to use clues to figure out the correct animal, and then take a picture of their partner acting out the animal. The animals were Zebra, Giraffe, Rhino, and Springbok (google it). Needless to say, they definitely had funny pictures. Then, for the groups that finished with a bunch of time left over, we did an animal version of Simon Says.
(Giraffes - with their long necks)
After about 2 groups, it was snack time.
Then after about 2 more groups it was dinnertime.
Apparently English Camp = Eating Camp.
Dinner was a buffet dinner, and the most coveted item was CHICKEN WINGS!! We kept going back for more and more and more. Needless to say, we were STUFFED full of chicken!! MMM.
Then it was time for the NIGHT SAFARI!!! We took the Trams around the zoo to the Cat Area and made it in time for the show. We saw Hyenas, Lions, Tigers, etc. Even Tigers swimming!!
Then we played with some animals, finished the night safari, and headed back to turn in for the night.
The next morning, after breakfast (and catching the score of the Skins game - WOOO!!!) it was time for free time with the animals. Mere, Tim, and I explored the zoo, where we fed long beans to Giraffes, grass to Rhinos, and long beans to Deer. We could get right up to the animals and pet and feed them! Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to make it out of the "African Savannah" so we have already decided to go back!
After the zoo, it was BEACH TIME!! We bused down to the beach, where the teachers were treated to endless seafood (crab legs, breaded shrimp, bbq fish, baby crabs, oysters, and more). While we ate - the students played in the water. How relaxing for both groups :)
After the beach, we said Goodbye to Meredith and Chris, and made our trek home...getting in at 5am Sunday morning.
WHEW, What a weekend!!!
Sawasdee Kha,
Apes
(English Camp 2011)
(As you can see, we were on board the "mermaid fairy" bus. The other was Finding Nemo.)
Once on the bus (a kind of double decker), the students sat on the top level, and the teachers sat in the small lounge below. Everyone sang Karaoke (the upstairs mic and downstairs mic went through the whole bus, so we could hear the students, and they could hear us). It was fun....but once midnight came - it was getting out of hand. Once the students finally went to sleep, they only lasted a few hours before they were up again at 6am with more Karaoke. No sleep for us!
Once at the zoo we met up with Chris and Meredith (from our ATI training group) who came to help us out. We grabbed breakfast and got settled in our rooms with showers and clean clothes. Then it was camp time!!
Camp started with some Ice-breakers. I am not sure how exactly the students "warmed up to camp" but us teachers had to dance in front of them. Of course I blew everyone out of the water with my "white boy" dance.
Then it was already lunch time!
After lunch it was time for group activities. Meredith and I had a "Acting Scavenger Hunt" for the kids who came through our rotation. In partners, they had to use clues to figure out the correct animal, and then take a picture of their partner acting out the animal. The animals were Zebra, Giraffe, Rhino, and Springbok (google it). Needless to say, they definitely had funny pictures. Then, for the groups that finished with a bunch of time left over, we did an animal version of Simon Says.
(Giraffes - with their long necks)
Then after about 2 more groups it was dinnertime.
Apparently English Camp = Eating Camp.
Dinner was a buffet dinner, and the most coveted item was CHICKEN WINGS!! We kept going back for more and more and more. Needless to say, we were STUFFED full of chicken!! MMM.
Then it was time for the NIGHT SAFARI!!! We took the Trams around the zoo to the Cat Area and made it in time for the show. We saw Hyenas, Lions, Tigers, etc. Even Tigers swimming!!
Then we played with some animals, finished the night safari, and headed back to turn in for the night.
The next morning, after breakfast (and catching the score of the Skins game - WOOO!!!) it was time for free time with the animals. Mere, Tim, and I explored the zoo, where we fed long beans to Giraffes, grass to Rhinos, and long beans to Deer. We could get right up to the animals and pet and feed them! Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to make it out of the "African Savannah" so we have already decided to go back!
After the zoo, it was BEACH TIME!! We bused down to the beach, where the teachers were treated to endless seafood (crab legs, breaded shrimp, bbq fish, baby crabs, oysters, and more). While we ate - the students played in the water. How relaxing for both groups :)
After the beach, we said Goodbye to Meredith and Chris, and made our trek home...getting in at 5am Sunday morning.
WHEW, What a weekend!!!
Sawasdee Kha,
Apes
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Sunday Brunch
So I've been missing Brunch something horrible lately. So Tim and I decided to have our own Western Brunch on Sunday. We bought the fixings for a GREAT brunch, and Sunday morning we got it ready!
We had a mimosa bar - Spy gold cocktail + Tangerine Juice = a better Mimosa than I've had in the states!
We also had a french toast bar that had a vast array of toppings: Nutella, Pecans, Bananas, Confectionary Sugar, Honey
I made a fruit salad, and Timmy made the bacon. I also had grabbed some "donut puffs" from the local bakery.
After it was set up, we played dress up where I did my hair and put on my "Sunday Best" and Tim did the same - even wearing his new White loafers.
We lit the candles, poured the mimosas, and BRUNCHED. We brunched until our hearts were content....ahhh the little things.
Sawasdee Kha!
Apes :)
We had a mimosa bar - Spy gold cocktail + Tangerine Juice = a better Mimosa than I've had in the states!
We also had a french toast bar that had a vast array of toppings: Nutella, Pecans, Bananas, Confectionary Sugar, Honey
I made a fruit salad, and Timmy made the bacon. I also had grabbed some "donut puffs" from the local bakery.
After it was set up, we played dress up where I did my hair and put on my "Sunday Best" and Tim did the same - even wearing his new White loafers.
We lit the candles, poured the mimosas, and BRUNCHED. We brunched until our hearts were content....ahhh the little things.
Sawasdee Kha!
Apes :)
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Productive Saturday
This morning Timmy headed into the city (Ubon) and I stayed in town. Mostly I wanted to sleep in and he wanted to go into town early, but I also had some errands of my own to run.
I woke up at a late 10:00am (ahhhhh, sleeping in!!) and watched the last half of The Adjustment Bureau (in english!!!). Then I geared myself up for a late morning run. I only ran about 15 minutes (with the last 10 being in rain) but then came back to my room and did the P90x Ab workout. So it wasn't too bad of a workout.
After wards, I treated myself to a mini self-mani/pedi and a steaming hot sauna-shower. Then it was errand time.
I headed to the market and collected all I needed. For a total of less than $20USD I got the following:
- new wallet
- necklace
- 2 pairs of sandals
- a pair of white loafers for Tim (he had already tried them on, but I knew he wouldn't buy them on his own)
- new dressy shirt (with a belt)
- shot glass that doubles as a measuring cup
- lunch (with a drink from my coffee shop)
- 2 champagne flutes (we are planning on big brunch for 2 tomorrow)
Needless to say - shopping in Thailand is pretty awesome. Back in the states you would have spent $20USD on just the lunch and coffee.
As I walked around the market alone I heard a lot of people saying how beautiful I was (in Thai) and it definitely helped my ego after the hair-massacre from earlier this week.
Tomorrow Tim and I decided to have a western brunch. We have a huge spread of ingredients and great recipes to try...let's hope it turns out tasty :)
Sawasdee Kha,
Apes :)
I woke up at a late 10:00am (ahhhhh, sleeping in!!) and watched the last half of The Adjustment Bureau (in english!!!). Then I geared myself up for a late morning run. I only ran about 15 minutes (with the last 10 being in rain) but then came back to my room and did the P90x Ab workout. So it wasn't too bad of a workout.
After wards, I treated myself to a mini self-mani/pedi and a steaming hot sauna-shower. Then it was errand time.
I headed to the market and collected all I needed. For a total of less than $20USD I got the following:
- new wallet
- necklace
- 2 pairs of sandals
- a pair of white loafers for Tim (he had already tried them on, but I knew he wouldn't buy them on his own)
- new dressy shirt (with a belt)
- shot glass that doubles as a measuring cup
- lunch (with a drink from my coffee shop)
- 2 champagne flutes (we are planning on big brunch for 2 tomorrow)
Needless to say - shopping in Thailand is pretty awesome. Back in the states you would have spent $20USD on just the lunch and coffee.
As I walked around the market alone I heard a lot of people saying how beautiful I was (in Thai) and it definitely helped my ego after the hair-massacre from earlier this week.
Tomorrow Tim and I decided to have a western brunch. We have a huge spread of ingredients and great recipes to try...let's hope it turns out tasty :)
Sawasdee Kha,
Apes :)
Friday, August 5, 2011
Thailand hosts the #1 most delicious food in the WORLD!!
Monday, August 1, 2011
NEVER GET A HAIRCUT IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY
Why you may ask? Let me tell you...
Tonight I decided it was time to cut my hair. It had already grown majorly long...see look (at me, not the horse):
My hair is SUPER LONG. Obviously that means it's super hot....and even hotter in Thailand. So i tend to wear my hair up. Like ALL the time. So there's no real point in having long hair if you never wear it down, right? Well that's exactly what I thought. So it was time to bite the bullet and get my haircut.
Ok, now if you know me (which you should, or why else would you be reading this) you know my hairstyle is pretty simple. I cut it a little above my shoulders, and that's it. Nothing else. NOTHING ELSE. No layers, no thinning, NOTHING but a cut.
So I went to the hair salon after work. I showed her the length I wanted my hair. I said HERE. And pointed. And pointed. And pointed. She repeatedly asked if I wanted it "this short" or "this short" and repeatedly I said "Here" and showed her the length. I even showed her "NO" and "NO" to the lengths I DIDN'T want. Finally she puts her hand the length of how I want it and I agree. So we now know how short/long I want my hair. Let's get started.
First, she ties it in a pony tail and chops off the ponytail. Ok, that will make things easier in the long run. Then she puts the scissors away. WHAT?!?! She then THINS my hair until it is the length that is COMPLETELY SHORTER than I what we had motioned. Then she moves onto my bangs....that took um, like, 6 months to FINALLY grow out. And she thins then...to shortness. WTF?!!?!? Then she acts like she's done cutting, and I have to show her that both sides are different lengths. She says "Yes, cut, cut" and then blow dries my hair (not sure why she pulled out a blow dryer - she didn't wet my hair to begin with) and then straightens it. OBV both sides are still NOT EVEN. She finally cuts them to the same length...
How short you ask? Well since I'm OBV not putting up a heinous picture of me, put your forefinger to the bottom of your earlobe. Got down to the middle knuckle, and that's the length of my hair. Now add the image of thinning hair. Do you see it? Yes, it's me.
Don't worry - I didn't spend a fortune on the haircut. A normal meal at a restaurant here is 30baht. A pizza in the city (a rare treat) is 200 baht. Oh don't worry, my haircut was 150baht. Yes, my haircut was the cost of 5 meals, or almost a whole pizza.
They say a bad haircut lasts 2 weeks....how long does a horrible one last?
Sawasdee Kha,
Apes
Tonight I decided it was time to cut my hair. It had already grown majorly long...see look (at me, not the horse):
My hair is SUPER LONG. Obviously that means it's super hot....and even hotter in Thailand. So i tend to wear my hair up. Like ALL the time. So there's no real point in having long hair if you never wear it down, right? Well that's exactly what I thought. So it was time to bite the bullet and get my haircut.Ok, now if you know me (which you should, or why else would you be reading this) you know my hairstyle is pretty simple. I cut it a little above my shoulders, and that's it. Nothing else. NOTHING ELSE. No layers, no thinning, NOTHING but a cut.
So I went to the hair salon after work. I showed her the length I wanted my hair. I said HERE. And pointed. And pointed. And pointed. She repeatedly asked if I wanted it "this short" or "this short" and repeatedly I said "Here" and showed her the length. I even showed her "NO" and "NO" to the lengths I DIDN'T want. Finally she puts her hand the length of how I want it and I agree. So we now know how short/long I want my hair. Let's get started.
First, she ties it in a pony tail and chops off the ponytail. Ok, that will make things easier in the long run. Then she puts the scissors away. WHAT?!?! She then THINS my hair until it is the length that is COMPLETELY SHORTER than I what we had motioned. Then she moves onto my bangs....that took um, like, 6 months to FINALLY grow out. And she thins then...to shortness. WTF?!!?!? Then she acts like she's done cutting, and I have to show her that both sides are different lengths. She says "Yes, cut, cut" and then blow dries my hair (not sure why she pulled out a blow dryer - she didn't wet my hair to begin with) and then straightens it. OBV both sides are still NOT EVEN. She finally cuts them to the same length...
How short you ask? Well since I'm OBV not putting up a heinous picture of me, put your forefinger to the bottom of your earlobe. Got down to the middle knuckle, and that's the length of my hair. Now add the image of thinning hair. Do you see it? Yes, it's me.
Don't worry - I didn't spend a fortune on the haircut. A normal meal at a restaurant here is 30baht. A pizza in the city (a rare treat) is 200 baht. Oh don't worry, my haircut was 150baht. Yes, my haircut was the cost of 5 meals, or almost a whole pizza.
They say a bad haircut lasts 2 weeks....how long does a horrible one last?
Sawasdee Kha,
Apes
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