I can see Malaysia from my backyard

(Like my Palin-ism right there!?)

Thank you baby Jesus this week is over! It has been one filled with learning (mostly on my part), stress (all mine), and lots of laughs (mainly AT me). Teaching English as a language in a school has proved to be the most difficult endeavor I think I’ve ever undertaken.

I was given loads of course books for the 11 different classes I see twice a week of both grammar and conversation, and told to “figure it out” in terms of their language abilities. Boy howdy did I figure it out. Some of my classes can’t speak a lick of English and nothing sticks, while others are so proficient, I feel like their grammar is better than mine! The spectrum of English is so varied that it can be hard for me to keep up and remember which class is as what level.

The English Program building at Puri is a Castle!

7:15 am, Monday

I arrived at Puripornchai bright and early, ready to start my career as a teacher! But instead, we had a “teacher in-service” day. Students came to school for camps and clubs, but I didn’t actually teach. I did however, introduce myself to the entire school and I’m pretty sure everyone was thinking “who the heck is this crazy falang” (falang=foreigner). Great. But I did get three weeks worth of lessons planned! So yay!

7:22 am, Tuesday

First day teaching! But I had the whole morning off, so what did I do? Nothing. I printed some stuff, drew some stuff, shuffled my papers a LOT, and trolled the internet for song ideas. Finally the time had come to teach! I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready!

…those kids ate me alive

All of my P3 (ages 8-9) were horrible. Low English proficiency, would not listen for anything, didn’t understand directions, and were so loud that talking over them only made me hoarse. I became mean teacher Bri and moved a few boys, mastered that death stare, and nixed games entirely. I’m sooooooooo excited for those classes next week (if you can’t tell, that sentence is oozing sarcasm).

But then, it’s a miracle! The English Program kids are amazing! They are so fun and respectful, not to mention that their English is very good and even those who struggle ask for help and want to get better! “This is what teaching really means!” I thought, “sticking through the bad to see those silver linings”. I know I can do this whole teaching thing! It’s just a matter of time before I really get a grip on my new role.

Yeah then you know the rest of the week went by in a flash and I pooped out pretty quickly!

Chillin' on the beach just admiring the view! It's raining in Malaysia, but sunny in Thailand!

Now in other news, let’s see what all happened this week…     

• I was called pregnant and fat (the first by a student and the second by some dude at a bar) IN THE SAME DAY! Great confidence booster there.
• I have been soaked to the bone from driving in the rain twice this week (and it has rained every day this week). I could literally wring out my clothes when I got home.
• I made some new friends, all of whom are very down to earth and fun to hang around. We did a BBQ on Saturday night and it was DELICIOUS! Best food I’ve had here in Satun so far!
• I went to the beach (or what passes for a beach here)! It was really cool though because from where we were on the western coast, you can see the islands of Langkawi, Malaysia on the left and the island of Koh Tarutao, Thailand on the right with just a small strip of water in between! How wild is that?!