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
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