I hate Patong
I really have an addiction to that place. Why? Its ferral.. And I always end up spending too much money.. Even though its a cheaper night than what I would have had in Aus....
So ended up there after school on Friday after persuading everyone to go.. Ended up on the bar again and having a convo about god knows what with one of the dancers, who's name was Joanne. I think people on the course must think I am a total wierdo. haha
Ended up in Patong, AGAIN last night. Well that was after going to a beach party. It was really fun, but not as loose as it could have been. Went there with a guy from the hostel. Our names rhyme and where we come from rhyme.. haha, loosers- Finland and England. Met some other teachers there which was interesting, cos I was telling them how nervous I am all the time, and they were telling me they were exactly the same when they first started. It felt nice to speak to people who have been through it aswell. I know I'm going to be fine, eventually, but talking to them and hearing how they deal with it all was refreshing. Well, after this party finished we drove down to Patong, ended up in a bar where you got free shooters with every drink. Bad move. Ended up loosing my friend at a club, so i left him a note on his scooter and drove home. Got in at about 4:30 and everybody else in the room was back, and hanging. It was funny this morning, everybody was and some still are in bed nursing hangovers! LOOOOOOSE!!! The hostel is filling up and people are coming and going, but its definately more lively with backpackers coming through. More people to chat with, but bad because they can probably twist my arm into bad things during the week. But the Finnish guy and I are both here working here, so he'll be around for a bit longer. I've also noticed I'm spending far too much money. I have to buy food all the time, and gas for the bike and water etc... Its all adding up but its hell annoying! I thought the cash I had would last longer, and going to Patong definately isn't helping... Looking more forward to school tomorrow. But I do think its going to be a bit more full on. Feeling more relaxed in class, and having spent time after school with them was nice.
On Friday we were going into a school to sit in on an English class, or so we thought...
As we arrive at the school all the kids are waving at us and saying "Hello" with the biggest smiles on their faces. The school is really big, 2 stories and marble. When we park up we're told we have to get up to the office and wait for the class to begin. A Thai teacher (with a cane) tells us that he wants 2 groups of 4 and pairs in that group to teach a class. TEACH?! AY?? We were just there to sit in on a class, not actually get up and have a lesson! WTF! We all panic. None of us are ready for getting straight on in there.. After a major panic attack, my partner and I come up with a little lesson plan of games and a topic to teach. It is an English club, so its like extra teaching outside of normal class so it has to be a bit more fun.. so we come up with head, shoulders, knees and toes.. I'm still thinking, crap! We're going to look like total morons and we'll get laughed out the room. As it happens we didn't end up having a class, so we went in to our teachers lesson- I was kinda relieved at this point... As we walk in, its really formal. They're sitting infront of a massive desk in a line. Its all girls. Maybe 7-8 of them, and the scary Thai teacher there aswell.. As its a Muslim school I was suprised that men were in the room, as we've already been told that usually its girls teaching girls and the boys teaching the boys... Anyway, we end up taking over some of the class and it was fun! The girls were very sweet and really wanting the learn. i was impressed at how good some of them could speak, and you could definately see that the better students would prompt the girls that found it a bit harder. Its not like the type of school I remember where if you were struggling no-one would really help you out. It was interesting as we had no tools, nothing. Our teacher had made flashcards from scrap paper.. It shows you that sometimes you have to think on the spot.. Bad news for me though as I can't draw! haha.. I may make some and keep with me worksheets and flashcards and lamanate them so they can last.. So I can always pull someting out the bag- I'll probably end up having a bag full of equipment that i'll end up travelling with- Like a Mary Poppins bag full of tricks! We were cut short because there was a Monk who was there for some of the Buddhist children. Its funny because teachers are so well respected here they bow so that they're heads are lower that you when they walk past you and Wai you all the time. Looking back on it all I'm so happy we did it, and even a bit annoyed that we didn't get our own class. Some of the girls who had kindy seemed to have found it quite hard as the kids were running in and out of class all the time and not really paying attention. Made me re-think that maybe 10-14 would be better to handle? But we'll see, i've still got it in my head that I want to teach kindy.. It showed me what to expect and I'm a bit more exctited, but still a bit nervous about being totally incharge.
Gona start looking and applying for some jobs today- Seems likely that I'll be relocating to Bangkok.. There is a HIGH demand there and Phuket is quite expensive.. Maybe an area surrounding Bangkok would be good, so its a little cheaper.
I think today I may try get some school supplys- I need to organise myself a bit better and organise my heap of clothes that is taking over the room.. Its not beach day.. I think it could rain soon actually, so maybbbbbbe I should head out.
