7-Eleven

Hi. haha I've been having one of those weekends that I thought every average weekend here would be kinda like. It's nice when your expectations are met. Because it isn't like I've done anything too special or anything. Anyways, it's nice. haha

I don't know if you guys are aware, but 7-Eleven is an extremely big deal here. People are always popping in to 7-Eleven for something. I go at least once everyday. haha There is one every few meters. haha There are 96 in Pattaya to be exact. I read it in a brochure. You know how in western countries people stop off at starbucks on their way to work to grab a coffee? Well I stop my bike at 7-Eleven every morning to buy a diet coke. And every morning the same person rings up my diet coke and says to me "diet?" and looks at me like I'm insane, because -omg, my coke says light- and that is just not acceptable in Thailand, but I slap down my 14 baht, say kap koon ka and leave, eager to open my diet coke for energy to get me to school. It is, after all, quite a bike ride.

Anyways, I went to the market last night, the Khae Ha market, to wander around. After careful scrutiny and lots of market shopping, I've decided that this is definitely the best market in Pattaya and it's only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night and it requires me to get a taxi. While I was there I saw a pair of jean shorts with the 7-Eleven logo on the pockets and I thought it was hilarious and I really really wanted to buy them, but my money situation is also a little bit hilarious right now and therefore, I could not buy them. haha My first thought when seeing the shorts was "why would anybody want jean shorts with two giant 7-eleven logos on their butt?" and my second thought was "why would anybody not want those shorts? haha they are so funny!" haha

While I was at the market, I also decided to try to walk with the flow of traffic instead of zooming past everybody like I normally do here. Thai people walk at the speed of a snail. Do you know how slow a snail is? Other westerners who come here walk slightly faster, possibly the speed of a turtle. This is a very difficult thing for me to deal with seeing as I walk fast and I don't see any reason why anybody would walk any slower than me. Anyways, I tried to walk as slow as the other people and it was actually painful for me to move that slowly. I had to think way too hard of what to do with my legs when they weren't moving for such a long period of time. I have no idea how they do it. I know Thailand is all "stress free" and "slow pace of life" and stuff like that, but walking that slow stresses me out.

So my average weekend has included so far- dinner at a vientiane restaurant, walking street, a thai massage, khae ha market- I'm thinking I should probably go to the beach today to tie everything together.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!

I suppose it is more like, crocodiles, elephants, and tigers, but oh well, that's close enough. Today Rick and Mike took me to Million Years Stone Park and the Chinese Temple here in Pattaya. I've been wanting to go do these things so it was lots of fun. I really liked Million Years Stone Park. I got to feed crocodile's using a long bamboo stick with a chunk of raw chicken meat on it and dangle it in front of their faces until they eventually snapped it. We also fed these HUGE fish that were extremely ugly and scary. haha Then we saw elephants and they picked me up! Plus I got my picture taken with a big tiger and feeding a baby tiger! I loved the baby tiger! I wish they would stay that size and then you could have them as pets. haha Then we wandered off to the Chinese temple which was very cool and had all sorts of buddhas and statues and things covering it. Pictures do this this much better than words, so here you go!

Thai Cinema

This weekend has been quite a cultural experience. I have been immersed in Thai-ness.

My first immersion was because I was sick. I already knew that Thais were very honest about how they felt about your appearance- but seriously, this was ridiculous. These are the types of things people kept saying to me: "Miss Kat, you look very very sick, dark circles under the eyes, very pale, we are very very worried about", "Miss Kat, please go home, really, please go home now, do you you need me to take you to the hospital?" "Kat! you go home! understand??" "Katherine-hey!- are you okay? you look REALLY tired!" The constant worrying and telling me that I looked like crap continued for a full week. Mei and Eric were convinced that I needed to be rushed to Bangkok for injections. The reason I looked tired, was because I was tired! I mean, I run around after 4 year olds all day! I mean, seriously, it was just a sinus infection. I didn't think I looked that bad...

Because of the sickness, I thought the weekend was doomed. haha But I was wrong! On Friday I headed out to the streets and bought a pirated copy of "Get Smart" and got some take out. It was a lovely night of vegging on my bed / couch. Saturday came and I wandered out to the Big C where I found several clothing stalls. I bought a new skirt which I am very excited to wear to work tomorrow! That night I had a great idea for the next day...

Which led me to the cinema on Sunday! Going to the movies is actually very exciting in Thailand. When I first got here and heard people talking about it, I thought they were being stupid, I mean, it's the movies, it can't be that exciting or different from any other part of the world, right? Well, in Thailand, it is actually more different than you would think. Their are three different types of seats in the theatre with three different prices. Their is the normal seat, honeymoon seat, or the opera style seats. The theatre is set up more like a theatre for a play. You are assigned a seat with an aisle and number and everything. The seats are extremely comfortable. haha I got to the movies and chose the normal seat and was assigned seat F11. Then I went to get popcorn. They have different flavors of popcorn! haha The have regular popcorn, cheese flavored, and caramel corn! I was so excited about caramel corn! My mom used to help my sister and I make that from scratch when we were little. After the concessions you have to wait in the waiting area until they call your movie to go find your seats. haha So because I got there super early (unsure of how early to get to the very exciting Thai movie experience) I had to wait for a full 35 minutes before being able to sit down. This is because they don't let you in the theatre until the movie actually starts. haha After the previews, a short film about the king plays and everybody has to stand up while you watch it. If you don't... then well... I don't know.... It's a very bad idea not to stand for the king. hahahahaha Thai's respect the king deeply and I think you would prolly be kicked out of the theatre. hahaha

Anyways, that's why I went to the movies. Not for the actual movie, but for the stuff before the movie. hahahaha The ultimate Thai cinema experience.

Lizards

Monsoon season has arrived full swing. Unfortunately. (I despise rain.) I was talking to Jessica the other day at work. She's been here about 6 years and I was saying how I was surprised that it didn't rain as much as I thought it would and she was telling me how weird this rainy season has been... I totally jinxed myself.

It POURS everyday. This isn't just rain, this is a storm. A Texas style storm, with BIG thunder. hahaha Anyways, back to the title.

There are a lot of geckos and lizards in Thailand. I don't know what their proper name is, so we will refer to them by both. There is also a window in my bathroom that does not close. haha I suppose I should be bothered by this, but I never really thought about it before. It's just been partially open for the 4 weeks that I've lived here and a bug or lizard will occasionally wander it's way in. haha

My shower is Asian style. Meaning that when you walk into the bathroom their is a shower head on the wall and you shower in the bathroom without a stall and their is a drain on the floor in the middle of the bathroom. So you just shower, next to the toilet and next to the sink and everything...

For some reason, it seems very important that you have all this background information.

Anyways, to the point of this story. It is pouring right now and I decided to take a shower. I was in the shower and I looked up and there are 5 HUGE lizards on the wall! It totally freaked me out!! and I screamed!! hahaha I guess they were retreating from the rain. haha I just wasn't expecting a zoo in my bathroom! Especially while I was showering! Apparently these lizards did not get the memo that Thailand was a very conservative country (I don't think Pattaya got that memo either...).

Anyways, I'm over it now. haha The lizards are still hanging out in the bathroom and I'm making Thai flashcards about being sick. haha Because everybody is sick right now, including me and I feel like it will come in handy in the very near future. haha

It's a very good thing that I got a care package from mom today because some of that might have to be my dinner tonight! haha I don't think this storm is letting up anytime soon!

Krung Kat

I think Krung means teacher in Thai... if not, then I am very confused.

When I say I teach kindergarten, most people think 5 and 6 year olds. Wrong. Thai children start school at the age of 1... so begins the story of my job. haha

I teach the English Kindergarten 2 program in a traditional Thai school. My first day of "grown up" work was on Labor Day. I have 21 students in my class. My kindergarten students are 3 and 4 years old. Their parents chose to put them in the English program mostly because one of their parents is Thai and the other parent is a farang (foreigner). I teach them English, Math, Science, and General Knowledge. They also have a Thai class and Mandarin class. Many of them go home and speak another language, such as Russian or Hebrew or Cantonese. While a teacher comes in to teach them Thai or Mandarin, I go and teach English to the Thai program... My schedule changes everyday.

I am very confused.

I am convinced that they are all geniuses. haha How can they possibly speak at least 3 languages, most of them fluently?? Plus, they are ONLY 4!

Then I found out that they cannot count at all and now I now I am very concerned. Apparently none of their other teachers were concerned at all. It really bothers me. I have been on a chase around town trying to find math resources and nobody seems to understand why.

On Monday and Tuesday, my class was complete chaos, then I figured out that they thought they could take advantage of me because I was a farang... ha ha ha, I have quickly taught them that I do not put up with that kind of crap, like their previous two teachers. My assistant, her name is A (she is Thai and doesn't speak any English at all) thinks it is hilarious. haha Today was a much better day because of it and I have a feeling the kids and I will get along splendidly :)

The hardest part of my day is getting to school. The bike ride is a bit more difficult than I anticipated. Sukhavit is a very big and dangerous road. If you are from Waco- think Valley Mills. Now imagine riding your bike down it. It's terrifying. On Monday I crashed. I showed up to work with blood on my arms and legs and a huge hole in the knee of my pants. Tuesday I took a taxi. Wednesday was better because I found back roads. I think I just need to practice now.

I work with two other westerners. They are okay. One is Jessica, the other is Mark. They are both from the UK. Jessica is nice but likes to party a lot. Mark is extremely negative so I stay away from him. I don't actually know why he is here.

The kids leave at 2:30, but you are required to stay till 4, so a lot of teachers have extra jobs that you get paid for. I was asked to give private English lessons to the principal's son. He is 1 year and 3 months and his name is Plot. I think it is his hilarious that she wants me to teach him English. Basically I just sit around and play with him for an hour. I really like the principal and her husband. Mei and Eric. They are actually taking me to dinner tonight.

Anyways, that is my job. I like my kids a lot. I think it is a hard adjustment for them, having me be here. I am their third teacher this year and it is the middle of their school year for them. Luckily, I'll be here the longest out of the year, so they'll like me best! haha