Tree's Thai Travels

A change in events

katrina_curtis89 — Wed, 8 May 2013 13:40:00 GMT

Well I've moved from the hotel in Bangkok to my accommodation Chai Buri.

The journey was interesting, went on a sleeper train. Quite an experience although I didn't get a great deal of sleep. After a 12 hour journey by train and then a 5 hour bus journey we arrived at our school.

I was a little over whelmed as they took us straight into a meeting that all 52 of the other teachers were having and made us go on stage. Considering they had spoken so much about the importance of dressing smartly at school I felt terrible about being in shorts and a t shirt and looking a right state as I'd just done 17 hours worth of travelling. This was made worse by the fact that some of the teachers who could speak very limited English started telling me that I couldn't go to school dressed the way I was!! It was hard to make them understand that I didn't intend to come to the school like that.

We then travelled to our accommodation. I'm staying in a converted garage; I suppose is the best way to describe it. There are no windows and only a garage door, which we have to pull down and lock with a padlock at night. There was a huge wasp or bee not sure exactly nest in the bathroom. Literally hundreds of bees/wasps everywhere. The landlord asked through Ohm who speaks English, if we would mind it staying!! I almost cried there and then. There was no way I could live with a nest that size. Thankfully after about 5 hours the landlord came back and started sorting it out. We now have dead bees/ wasps all over the floors, as well as some which haven't died buzzing around.

Although I had only received 1 tiny bite for the 12 days that I stayed in Bangkok I now have 14 despite coating myself in insect repellent. There are also tiny little flea like things everywhere including on my bed. I have tried to do some cleaning but its making me feel ill. There are filthy tissues down the side of my bed and dirt everywhere. We can't even use the fridge, I opened it wanting to put some water in but it smells so bad and is full of dead flies!! I wasn't expecting to have 5 star accommodation but considering TTT are taking 27500THB (£600) out of my wages each month, leaving me with just 12500THB (£270) to live on I expected something a bit different to this.

It’s also very strange, we opened our garage door this morning and the landlord (who is also the deputy director of the school I'm meant to teach at) was just sitting right outside with some other guy. I was in my pjs and felt very embarrassed as I'm meant to be making a good impression on these people.

Our garage like thing seems to be in the middle of nowhere, not sure what I am going to do for food etc as there doesn't seem to be much around here, the nearest tescos is a 20 minute drive away.

Really not sure how I am going to cope with all this, at this moment in time I just want to come home :(

Learning Thai, Visiting Buddha and experiencing the start of monsoon season.

katrina_curtis89 — Sun, 5 May 2013 19:27:00 GMT

We had Thai lessons yesterday, Oh my goodness, I don't think I'm ever going to be able to learn it. Thai language is so complex, they have 5 different tones and each tone of voice can make a word mean something different.

A quick example

Depending on which tone of voice you say it in; Paa means

Either

To throw

Forest

Aunt

Father

Old rich man

Things are definitely going to get confusing!!

Had a lovely day out today, got taken to visit various different temples, I think I was most impressed with the reclining Buddha temple. It was actually an amazing sight. The Buddha statue inside the temple is huge (160ft long!!) and is made out of pure gold and its feet are decorated with Mother of Pearl. I felt in awe of it, I'm very glad that I got to experience it.

We also visited a couple of other temples, one of which we had to get to across a river by boat. They were also amazing to look at, and although they are tourist destinations it is really nice to see people using the temple as a place of worship.

Had the first, of what I expect will be many, downpour today. It rained like crazy hammering down from the sky and causing us all to get drenched through within a matter of seconds. It lasted around an hour and then the sun returned and the weather has been beautiful since. It's quite a weird sensation being so wet from such ferocious rain but still being hot.

Leaving the hotel tomorrow and being transferred to my accommodation in the south. Looking forward to starting teaching and getting settled into somewhere new!!

Classes, kids fighting with swords and a giant shopping mall.

katrina_curtis89 — Fri, 3 May 2013 19:09:00 GMT

The weather is still crazy hot; I think its 37oC here today. Still not managing to get a tan though :(

Started classes in the past couple of days to help us learn more about kids in Thailand, they have been very helpful and informative as the school structures are very different here than they are back home. For example: Although I've got to write exams for the kids I'm teaching; the general rule is that no one fails in Thai schools. Found that a little strange but I guess it will make me look like a good teacher when I pass all of my kids. The other rule is that no one gets 100% in exams so even if a student does get everything right I will have to find some way of making them lose marks. No one is Thailand is perfect and it is seen as an insult if you give a student 100%.

Also learnt several techniques for dealing with bad behaviour apparently the thing Thai students hate the most is being made to sit in front of the class so people can look at them. Easy way to stop them misbehaving is to threaten them with that.

We had a welcome dinner the other night and we were then entertained (or in my case terrified) by children performing various different forms of martial arts and fighting with one another, usually with wooden poles but on a couple of occasions kids no older than 10 were fighting with swords that were so sharp sparks were flying off them as they made contact. I was terrified that they were going to make a mistake and end up cutting one another but it was incredible to watch.

Decided to go to a shopping mall after classes yesterday, got on a sky train there, seriously cheap and quite nice way to travel. It’s a similar concept to the London Underground but as the name suggests it's higher up. The shopping mall was huge; I reckon you would need the entire day to be able to look around it all. It encompasses a mixture of high street shops and little stalls similar to that of a market. Everything is cheap and other than in "posh" designer stores you are encouraged to barter with the shop owners.

Whilst in the centre we went to the 5th floor which is solely for food. You walk past some barriers to get in and are given a swipe card. You can then go to any of the food places in there and order using this card. You pay when you leave for everything. I had a delicious orange shake thing and then got sweet and sour chicken and rice which is freshly cooked to order right in front of you and only cost around £4.

Have been feeling a little homesick but I'm looking forward to arriving at my accommodation and starting teaching. :)

Orientation

katrina_curtis89 — Wed, 1 May 2013 09:38:00 GMT

Left the hostel yesterday and came to another part of Bangkok for orientation. Staying in a quite nice hotel and finally found out where I am going to be teaching.

I'm going down south!! Lucky me!! :) I say lucky me but in reality I've no idea whether it’s lucky or not. A few people have told me I'm lucky though apparently there are lovely beaches and beautiful places to visit near to where I am going to be living.

For anyone who is interested and wants to Google, I've been placed in the Surathani Province and I'm going to be teaching secondary school kids in a place called Chaiburipittaya. I'm looking forward to finally being settled somewhere. I've started feeling a little homesick. Only natural I guess but it's a little difficult at times.

Weather is still so hot. Skies are vibrant blue and the food is delicious!! Why have I never been to a Thai restaurant in the UK!!

Luscious Beaches and Lady Boys

katrina_curtis89 — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:45:00 GMT

It’s been an interesting 24 hours. Decided to go to Pattaya for a night. Beach was lush, sea was like being in a warm bath, sun was shining, sky was blue :) Happy happy times.

The evening was very strange, went to a place called walking street in Pattaya. I have never seen so many lady boys!! Literally crazy, they are so beautiful. It is so hard to distinguish whether they are female or male. There is a mass sex culture there I had so many people trying to get me to go into ping pong shows!!

Strange but fun day and night :)

Tuk - Tuks and Temples

katrina_curtis89 — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:03:00 GMT

Had a relatively good night’s sleep last night considering I was in a hostel, didn't get woken that many times.

Had a bit of an explore today, went on a tuk tuk with some of the people from the hostel it cost 40THB or 88p between 7 of us. They took us to loads of places; saw some very pretty and inspiring temples. They really were beautiful and the atmosphere just felt so peaceful, it truly was lovely. We also had to go to various shops so the tuk tuk drivers could get their commission. Lots of pressure to buy from them!!

Then did a little bit of shopping and worked on my bartering skills, the zip on my bag broke but I managed to get a new one and shave 230TBH off the price :) Go me!!

Had some delicious chicken fried rice in a little restaurant for 35THB or 77p it was lush and so crazily cheap.

The weather has been very hot, even hotter than yesterday and the skies are so blue. The people here are so friendly I can understand why it is called the land of smiles :)

Arrival

katrina_curtis89 — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:17:00 GMT

Well I'm here; it’s been a long night/ day I'm a little disorientated because of the time difference. Trying to stay awake to avoid jetlag, no idea if that will actually work? Flights were brilliant had an empty seat next to me on the first flight although there were two teeny babies in front of me. I was the only person in my little row on the second so took full advantage and laid down for most of it. :) Little things :)

It is really hot here and there are amazing blue skies, no sign of monsoon season yet. Loving the weather already fingers crossed that somehow I'll manage to come back with some kind of tan?!?!

The local food looks and smells amazing but as I've no idea what any of it is I'm just sticking to eating fruit at the moment, must get a little more adventurous over the next few days. Food is literally everywhere. You walk down the street and there are stands and stands of people selling food!!

Trying to get my head around the currency being charged 40thb for water seems crazy expensive but in reality it is not.

I'm starting to feel apprehensive about the teaching aspect. Am having a few crises of confidence but need to try and put myself in a positive frame of mind. I think I will feel better once I know exactly where I am going to be teaching etc.

Right well enough waffling I haven't really got into this blogging thing as such, I'm unaware of the conventions. But it is going to be a nice record for me to look back on in the future.

1 Week to go!!!

katrina_curtis89 — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:33:00 GMT

Well I officially have 1 week until I leave for Thailand. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. I've finished work and went to my last football game last night, thanks for a brilliant 3 - 0 boys!! ITFC!!!

I've got my flights booked and my Visa arrived yesterday!!! I'm really looking forward to getting to Thailand. I'm incredibly apprehensive but I know that this experiences is going to be amazing and that I would always regret it if I didn't take this opportunity.

I'm kinda stressed, I like to have everything organised!! It's getting there slowly but surely just wish my body hadn't decided to give me a cold when I've so much left to do.

I'm going to miss everyone so much, in particular my niece. It's going to be strange talking to a 15 month old on Skype.

Looking forward to having a few drinks with whoever decides to turn up on Friday night.

Still don't think it’s actually sunk in that I'm leaving for over 6 months in a week’s time!!!