In 5th grade English we've been reading short realistic fictional stories under the theme "Nature's Fury". I assigned the students a creative writing assignment where they had to write about volcanoes, storms, etc. And this....this is my favorite story. I cried in laughter when I was reading it aloud solely because this girl is a genius. This story is copied exactly how it was written- punctuation, grammar, spelling the whole deal. Enjoy.
“Charlie’s Adventures” (with Henry)
by: Yada Fishlock, grade 5
Charlie was a chatterbox. When he was in school he was always chatting with his friends. Do you know what he was chatting about? Right, he was always chatting about his adventures. Once he’s been in a snow storm. And he said that he couldn’t even open the door! And when he looked out of the window he only saw snow! He’s been in a thunder storm, hale storm, a tsunami, an earthquake, sand storm and a flood. You know why he’s been in all this breathtaking adventures? Because he liked traveling! And he liked reading books (he couldn’t read any books now because he’d read every book in this house!) He played computer very often. But his lastest adventure was a lightning storm. It was all very boring for him because he couldn’t play the computer. Why? Because the computer would crash! And the storm was so noisey, loud, windy, rainy (it was raining like crazy!,) scary, incredible, fantastic and breathtaking.
And now he was going to the old ruins of “The Volcano Place”. There had been lots of volcano eruption there, with all the red, blubbling, hot lava, that ruined all the houses and killed all of the people. Now he had to sleep in a tent. He was not ure that it was safe to sleep in a tent there. Oh! And I forgot to tell you that he was going by himself! So he would be the only on there.
But he was wrong.
When he got there he was so hungry, so he found something to eat. It was some mouthwatering chocolates.
After that he saw a little cave near where his tent was, so he stood in the front of the cave and asked “Is anyone there?”
He heard something moving so he went inside the cave and asked once again “Is anyone there?”
“Don’t come in!” someone said.
“I won’t harm you.” Charlie answered.
“Really?” The person asked.
“I promise.” Charlie reassured.
“Wait, don’t laugh at what I’m wearing, ok?” that person said.
“I promise.” Charlie promised again.
“Sure?” That person said.
“Sure! Wait, by the way I’m Charlie. What’s your name?” Charlie asked.
“My name is Henry, nice to meet you.” Said Henry walking out of the cave.
“Your clothes are cooler than my clothes!” Charlie told Henry.
“Really?” Henry asked.
“Really!” Charlie told Henry.
“You are the kindest person I’ve ever met” Henry told Charlie.
“Do you want to have a bath? I have some spare stuff I can share with you” Charlie asked going in his tent.
“You are too kind!” Henry said.
“Here you go. There is soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, a towel and some clothes for you to use. And go to the cave at the back of my tent so you can have a bath. And after you’ve had a bath you can have something to eat” Charlie told Henry.
“Thank you very much!” Henry thanked Charlie.
When Henry was having a bath, Charlie was thinking How did Henry get here? But he didn’t dare ask Henry.
After Henry finished having a bath, he could smell nice cooked food waiting for him and the smell made his tummy rumble.
Charlie told Henry “Here have this cooked food”.
“You’re being too kind!” Henry said starting to eat.
The next day the two boys woke up as early as they could just to make sure that the lava wasn’t coming out of the volcano. Luckly, they were safe.
Two days past now and still no lava.
Charlie asked Henry “Do you know when the lava is going to come?”
“I don’t know, why?” Henry asked.
“I just want to keep some lava and bring it back to London” said Charlie.
Later that day, the two boys heard some strange noise when they were packing their bags. The two boys finished packing their bags and put everything in Charlie’s private plane. They were getting on the plane when Henry shouted “LAVA!!”
Charlie looked at the lava and shouted “WHIRLPOOL LAVA!!”
Charlie quickly took a picture of it and got some lava. He put the hot lava in a metal bucket and the two boys quickly jumped into the plane and Charlie flied the plane all the way back to London.
From then on Charlie and Henry were best friends for ever. Charlie even taught Henry how to fly a plane. And the picture that Charlie took became famous, even Charlie and Henry became famous just because they survived from the lava. And the lava that Charlie got it was still hot and bubbling. Charlie was keeping it in his room.
One day the two boys were going to pay at their neighbor’s house. When Mrs. Watson opened the door she said “Henry!”
“Mom!” Henry said
“Thank you very much Charlie! Thank you!” Mrs. Watson said.
Eleven years later they were still best friends! And the lava was still there!”
THE END.
(This is why I love my job.)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
a ticket to the coast...and, a side of enlightenment, please.
Friday afternoon I was completely exhausted. Every Friday at 3:30 I realize why when I was going through grade school and I'd ask my teacher "so, what do you have planned for this exciting Friday night?!" they'd usually respond "going to bed and sleeping until I have to be here on Monday morning". It's one thing to be exhausted from demanding physical activity like working out, construction work, etc. however, teaching is mentally exhausting. Though I am not lifting weights or pouring conrete each day- rather, I am telling David for the hundreth time that he can't use the classroom mat as his own personal boxing ring, that John needs to complete is own work instead of having his tutor do it for him, that DG can't eat in class, and Peter, yes, yes you can get a drink of water and that the sentence "I'm going to shopping" doesn't make any sense- and, neither does "I'm going to running," and that "Can I have?" isn't a complete sentence all while managing the classroom cheats and breaking up arguments. phew. So, yes- Friday afternoon is always a tiring point of the teacher's life.
And, of course- I continue to use Friday afternoons as a planning period for my weekend adventures instead of hopping in bed until Monday morning arrives. This past Friday, Mike, Sarah and I decided it was time to get away from the pollution and find nature. So, after a 5 minute discussion on where we should go and what we would do, we threw on some shorts, packed an overnight bag and hopped a train to Hua Hin (thanks to our handy dandy Thailand books that suggested our destination spot). The train ride was about $6 and took about 4 hours and we stayed at a tiny guest house on the beach. Having arrived at around midnight we had NO idea what the beach would even look like and really had no clue where on earth we were. We slept in REAL beds with mattresses Friday night and woke up to birds chirping and NO SMOG. That in and of itself was worth the 4 hour train ride...but then- we walked down a sandy path which led to the softest, whitest sandy beach my toes have ever touched.. the water was beautiful (the first body of CLEAN water I've seen...clean meaning: it wasn't murky and grey like the river and didn't smell of sewage). On the beach were lounge chairs that you could rent for the day for the small price of a bottle of water. We bought a couple bottles of water and were led to a group of chairs complete with an umbrella right in the middle of the beach. I couldn't believe it.. I looked up at the sky and in my heart thanked God for creating such a spectacular place for us to enjoy. To say the least, that beach reminded me that all of the world isn't as disgustingly polluted by smoke and people as Bangkok. Blue skies..white sands..AND, OH MY WORD. GREEN TREES AND MOUNTAINS- yes, that's right. A beach, AND mountains. I wanted to cry. Never having been to the west coast USA, Hawaii or any beach with a moutainous backdrop, this was my first experience of enjoying the two best components of nature..beach and mountains. I'd say it was the "love-child" of two of my US homes- Florida and North Carolina...and it's name is Hua Hin. Fabulous town..rich in many cultures as it's the hub for many travellers visiting the Gulf of Thailand. We enjoyed our afternoon and early evening on Saturday riding motorbikes through the mountains for less than $5. (Sorry I'm always talking about prices of things..but, everytime we do something we're always blown away at how cheap everything is to the point that we feel like we must tell everyone how absurdly valuable the US dollar is here!) So, Saturday was a fantastic day and ended with a 3hr bus ride back to Bangkok and a near-death experience in the backseat of a NASCAR taxi (or so it seemed). And here, here I sit in little Latphrao at an Internet cafe telling you of God's wonderous creation...
The four hour train ride on Friday afternoon gave me a chance to read my Thailand travel book I've been so anxious to study. The majority of the book suggests travel hot-spots and interesting monuments and temples to see (ugh, temples...I'm sick of them); however, in the back there's about a 20 page section on Thai religion. I've mentioned Buddhism several times in these posts, and how the practice and belief of buddhism completely perplexes my mind and heart. I've seen people giving gifts to the golden statues, bowing to images and monks, but- I didn't really know what it was all about..
Well- Buddhism is all about... death.
There's a belief in this "ladder" that every man climbs during their life of reincarnation. The top of the ladder is the ultimate goal: Nirvana, which is the final escape from the evils of the world and the hellish state of being alive on earth in a fleshly state. By doing good deeds and living close to the "middle way," one can earn and receive good merit during one lifetime that is basically used as points to climb a little bit higher on the ladder of reincarnation (getting closer to Nirvana with each reincarnation). The "Middle Way," is a set of standards that describes being a "good" person having loyalty, trust, honor, kindess and aiming towards a life of self-detatchment. Any ordinary man is obviously incapable of naturally achieving a state of this Middle Way perfection, which is why monks are the role models for common-man Buddhists. Monks dedicate their lives to living in detatchment from material possessions, and everything they have is donated by the buddhist believers and in exchange, the monks instruct the Buddhist believers how to live a life in order to follow the Middle Way so that hopefully, when the believers die, they'll be a few steps higher on the ladder of reincarnation, so that one day, hopefully, they'll finally be freed into the state of Nirvana.
Buddha was believed to have been reincarnated hundreds of times and around the 500th time, laid on his side in a restful pose and while in meditation, died and entered the state of Nirvana. The fact that Buddha reached Nirvana is what all the Buddhist religion is about. Nirvana itself is what they all want. They want freedom from themselves and freedom from the miserable task of life; however, the irony is the fact that they all believe that they'll never actually come close to Nirvana, because they'll never be good enough or live close enough to the Middle Way, and never earn enough good merit during their reincarnations to reach the state of rest and peace of Nirvana. Monks are believed to lead a lifestyle closest to the Middle Way; therefore, they are closer to Nirvana than common man; therefore, that is why they are respected (I also found out that any man can be a monk, and most buddhist men practice the monk lifestyle and live in the temples for about 3 mo. during their lifetime).
The life of detachment and denial is what they all aim for, and making merit is the only way to achieve the denied life (this is what all the Buddhist holidays are about). Buddhist holidays (they seem like they're almost everyday) give Buddhist men and women a chance to earn merit and make up for any merit they haven't had the time to earn, by- going to temples and giving money/food to monks, praying to Buddha and giving him gifts, releasing birds at the temples (seen as showing mercy and kindness to animals).. it's all about earning merit, and giving and doing "good" things on some sort of point scale. From what I've read, when they pray, it's not like they're asking Buddha to help them in any way (like I do when I pray to God)- instead, it's praising Buddha out of respect because he reached what they all want- eternal release and a final death to escape the imprisonment of their fleshly, earthly bodies.
So, the basics- they want death. They want release. They praise Buddha...but they don't pray for guidance and help. It's their own duty to live a life as close to "perfection" as possible with the hope that in their next lives, they'll be that much closer to Nirvana...they want release and detatchment.
My prayer is that having this brief knowledge will somehow guide my path in how to direct a conversation with a Buddhist. Rather than simply taking them for a "walk down the ol' Roman's road," I know what it is they're looking for in life and also in death. All I would really have to do is say that come their time of death, they are really going to die and die only once, but that sadly, their "Nirvana" will be much worse than imprisonment of flesh and in fact they'll be imprisoned somewhere far worse.
I could'nt imagine hating life. I couldn't imagine HAVING to hate life. I can't believe they are in search of death and believe they'll never get there..when really, it's all much closer than we think..
gulp.
And, of course- I continue to use Friday afternoons as a planning period for my weekend adventures instead of hopping in bed until Monday morning arrives. This past Friday, Mike, Sarah and I decided it was time to get away from the pollution and find nature. So, after a 5 minute discussion on where we should go and what we would do, we threw on some shorts, packed an overnight bag and hopped a train to Hua Hin (thanks to our handy dandy Thailand books that suggested our destination spot). The train ride was about $6 and took about 4 hours and we stayed at a tiny guest house on the beach. Having arrived at around midnight we had NO idea what the beach would even look like and really had no clue where on earth we were. We slept in REAL beds with mattresses Friday night and woke up to birds chirping and NO SMOG. That in and of itself was worth the 4 hour train ride...but then- we walked down a sandy path which led to the softest, whitest sandy beach my toes have ever touched.. the water was beautiful (the first body of CLEAN water I've seen...clean meaning: it wasn't murky and grey like the river and didn't smell of sewage). On the beach were lounge chairs that you could rent for the day for the small price of a bottle of water. We bought a couple bottles of water and were led to a group of chairs complete with an umbrella right in the middle of the beach. I couldn't believe it.. I looked up at the sky and in my heart thanked God for creating such a spectacular place for us to enjoy. To say the least, that beach reminded me that all of the world isn't as disgustingly polluted by smoke and people as Bangkok. Blue skies..white sands..AND, OH MY WORD. GREEN TREES AND MOUNTAINS- yes, that's right. A beach, AND mountains. I wanted to cry. Never having been to the west coast USA, Hawaii or any beach with a moutainous backdrop, this was my first experience of enjoying the two best components of nature..beach and mountains. I'd say it was the "love-child" of two of my US homes- Florida and North Carolina...and it's name is Hua Hin. Fabulous town..rich in many cultures as it's the hub for many travellers visiting the Gulf of Thailand. We enjoyed our afternoon and early evening on Saturday riding motorbikes through the mountains for less than $5. (Sorry I'm always talking about prices of things..but, everytime we do something we're always blown away at how cheap everything is to the point that we feel like we must tell everyone how absurdly valuable the US dollar is here!) So, Saturday was a fantastic day and ended with a 3hr bus ride back to Bangkok and a near-death experience in the backseat of a NASCAR taxi (or so it seemed). And here, here I sit in little Latphrao at an Internet cafe telling you of God's wonderous creation...
The four hour train ride on Friday afternoon gave me a chance to read my Thailand travel book I've been so anxious to study. The majority of the book suggests travel hot-spots and interesting monuments and temples to see (ugh, temples...I'm sick of them); however, in the back there's about a 20 page section on Thai religion. I've mentioned Buddhism several times in these posts, and how the practice and belief of buddhism completely perplexes my mind and heart. I've seen people giving gifts to the golden statues, bowing to images and monks, but- I didn't really know what it was all about..
Well- Buddhism is all about... death.
There's a belief in this "ladder" that every man climbs during their life of reincarnation. The top of the ladder is the ultimate goal: Nirvana, which is the final escape from the evils of the world and the hellish state of being alive on earth in a fleshly state. By doing good deeds and living close to the "middle way," one can earn and receive good merit during one lifetime that is basically used as points to climb a little bit higher on the ladder of reincarnation (getting closer to Nirvana with each reincarnation). The "Middle Way," is a set of standards that describes being a "good" person having loyalty, trust, honor, kindess and aiming towards a life of self-detatchment. Any ordinary man is obviously incapable of naturally achieving a state of this Middle Way perfection, which is why monks are the role models for common-man Buddhists. Monks dedicate their lives to living in detatchment from material possessions, and everything they have is donated by the buddhist believers and in exchange, the monks instruct the Buddhist believers how to live a life in order to follow the Middle Way so that hopefully, when the believers die, they'll be a few steps higher on the ladder of reincarnation, so that one day, hopefully, they'll finally be freed into the state of Nirvana.
Buddha was believed to have been reincarnated hundreds of times and around the 500th time, laid on his side in a restful pose and while in meditation, died and entered the state of Nirvana. The fact that Buddha reached Nirvana is what all the Buddhist religion is about. Nirvana itself is what they all want. They want freedom from themselves and freedom from the miserable task of life; however, the irony is the fact that they all believe that they'll never actually come close to Nirvana, because they'll never be good enough or live close enough to the Middle Way, and never earn enough good merit during their reincarnations to reach the state of rest and peace of Nirvana. Monks are believed to lead a lifestyle closest to the Middle Way; therefore, they are closer to Nirvana than common man; therefore, that is why they are respected (I also found out that any man can be a monk, and most buddhist men practice the monk lifestyle and live in the temples for about 3 mo. during their lifetime).
The life of detachment and denial is what they all aim for, and making merit is the only way to achieve the denied life (this is what all the Buddhist holidays are about). Buddhist holidays (they seem like they're almost everyday) give Buddhist men and women a chance to earn merit and make up for any merit they haven't had the time to earn, by- going to temples and giving money/food to monks, praying to Buddha and giving him gifts, releasing birds at the temples (seen as showing mercy and kindness to animals).. it's all about earning merit, and giving and doing "good" things on some sort of point scale. From what I've read, when they pray, it's not like they're asking Buddha to help them in any way (like I do when I pray to God)- instead, it's praising Buddha out of respect because he reached what they all want- eternal release and a final death to escape the imprisonment of their fleshly, earthly bodies.
So, the basics- they want death. They want release. They praise Buddha...but they don't pray for guidance and help. It's their own duty to live a life as close to "perfection" as possible with the hope that in their next lives, they'll be that much closer to Nirvana...they want release and detatchment.
My prayer is that having this brief knowledge will somehow guide my path in how to direct a conversation with a Buddhist. Rather than simply taking them for a "walk down the ol' Roman's road," I know what it is they're looking for in life and also in death. All I would really have to do is say that come their time of death, they are really going to die and die only once, but that sadly, their "Nirvana" will be much worse than imprisonment of flesh and in fact they'll be imprisoned somewhere far worse.
I could'nt imagine hating life. I couldn't imagine HAVING to hate life. I can't believe they are in search of death and believe they'll never get there..when really, it's all much closer than we think..
gulp.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
ponder ponder
hi, friends.
i'm not dead.
Oh, September. What is September minus cooler weather, long pants and beautiful sunsets..without newly sharpened number two pencils and spiced apple scent skippng across the drops of early morning dew? This- this is September in Bangkok.
Heat, smog, and a month of school in the past. This is September.
Over the last week I've started and deleted two blog posts and I find that I'm not exactly why I didn't post them. They were well-written, well-thought posts...informatively interesting and encompassed the details of my rather adventurous weekend excursions-
But, that's just it. Why was I writing about those things? Ponder, ponder.
Last weekend on the train ride to Ayutthaya I slipped in the ol earbuds of my iPod watching the metropolitan scenery of Bangkok vanish with each passing track as the train entered the land of ruins. Ayutthaya, Thailand's old capitol city- the city of devastation. Ayutthaya- where deserted buildings and headless buddhas are hidden beneath the rubble of ancient battles and foreigners come with their digital motivation and teva sandals seeking insight on Thai culture. Last weekend I had the first feeling of feeling like "they," (the foreigners,) were...well..annoying. I felt like a native. I felt Thai. I felt what it's like to have a culture exploited and used for nothing other than a backdrop for a picture. I felt like it was MY culture and the tourists were here only for self-seeking pleasure, a discount at the gift shop and then they'd pile into their jets and head back to "life".
Needless to say, I did not like this feeling..the feeling that I was experiencing some sort of identity crisis in that I've become accustomed to the Thai culture and attitude and that all that is America seems so distant if not lost. I've come to realize that the Thai people are quite deceptive as a whole. They are always looking to take advantage of you in any way possible (unless that is that you can speak a little Thai, and you prove you're not a touristing idiot with no sense of proper pricing and/or the Thai culture). And still, while these people seek to take advantage of tourists and visitors- they live such routine, empty robotic lifestyles, never in search for something greater. The greatest example of this that I can think of is their religious practicse. Buddhism accounts for 95% of the country's religious preference while Muslim practices account for the secnod largest views.
Buddhism is fascinating to me. During my time at Liberty several discussions concerning non-Christian beliefs usually ended with "..I believe it actually takes more faith to believe in something as ridiculous as '________________________'". These people...these "gods"...these...routines. It's insane what they do for these golden statues and yet they look for nothing that gives anything back that will actually save their lost souls.
The deception of the Thai people does not only play into pricing games when a tourist wants to buy a cheap elephant figurine at the markets; rather, deception is the foundation for their religion. They deceive themselves into believing that consistent prayer, offering and sacrifice to these empty gods will actually change their lives...and still, as their god continues to give them nothing in return- no hope, no love, no compassion, no grace, no salvation- they deceive each other, and their own hearts that one day...someday...something might be better.
I don't want to be here for thrills and week trips. I must admit that working in a school filled with Christian teachers, staff and students isn't as challenging as it is facing those that are lost in foolish religion... but, I want to change them. I want t help them. It's overwhelming...but I'm looking for something that I can do..that we can do...to stop the deceit-
this culture can deceive us....
making us think there's nothing beyond the country borders..nothing outside of this intense heat...to just live life until death, doing nothing to make anything better.
It's a bit depressing to watch these people and to live with them and see them, and find motivation from a God that is so absent in this city..
please pray.
pray for all of us.
God is bigger than culture.
i'm not dead.
Oh, September. What is September minus cooler weather, long pants and beautiful sunsets..without newly sharpened number two pencils and spiced apple scent skippng across the drops of early morning dew? This- this is September in Bangkok.
Heat, smog, and a month of school in the past. This is September.
Over the last week I've started and deleted two blog posts and I find that I'm not exactly why I didn't post them. They were well-written, well-thought posts...informatively interesting and encompassed the details of my rather adventurous weekend excursions-
But, that's just it. Why was I writing about those things? Ponder, ponder.
Last weekend on the train ride to Ayutthaya I slipped in the ol earbuds of my iPod watching the metropolitan scenery of Bangkok vanish with each passing track as the train entered the land of ruins. Ayutthaya, Thailand's old capitol city- the city of devastation. Ayutthaya- where deserted buildings and headless buddhas are hidden beneath the rubble of ancient battles and foreigners come with their digital motivation and teva sandals seeking insight on Thai culture. Last weekend I had the first feeling of feeling like "they," (the foreigners,) were...well..annoying. I felt like a native. I felt Thai. I felt what it's like to have a culture exploited and used for nothing other than a backdrop for a picture. I felt like it was MY culture and the tourists were here only for self-seeking pleasure, a discount at the gift shop and then they'd pile into their jets and head back to "life".
Needless to say, I did not like this feeling..the feeling that I was experiencing some sort of identity crisis in that I've become accustomed to the Thai culture and attitude and that all that is America seems so distant if not lost. I've come to realize that the Thai people are quite deceptive as a whole. They are always looking to take advantage of you in any way possible (unless that is that you can speak a little Thai, and you prove you're not a touristing idiot with no sense of proper pricing and/or the Thai culture). And still, while these people seek to take advantage of tourists and visitors- they live such routine, empty robotic lifestyles, never in search for something greater. The greatest example of this that I can think of is their religious practicse. Buddhism accounts for 95% of the country's religious preference while Muslim practices account for the secnod largest views.
Buddhism is fascinating to me. During my time at Liberty several discussions concerning non-Christian beliefs usually ended with "..I believe it actually takes more faith to believe in something as ridiculous as '________________________'". These people...these "gods"...these...routines. It's insane what they do for these golden statues and yet they look for nothing that gives anything back that will actually save their lost souls.
The deception of the Thai people does not only play into pricing games when a tourist wants to buy a cheap elephant figurine at the markets; rather, deception is the foundation for their religion. They deceive themselves into believing that consistent prayer, offering and sacrifice to these empty gods will actually change their lives...and still, as their god continues to give them nothing in return- no hope, no love, no compassion, no grace, no salvation- they deceive each other, and their own hearts that one day...someday...something might be better.
I don't want to be here for thrills and week trips. I must admit that working in a school filled with Christian teachers, staff and students isn't as challenging as it is facing those that are lost in foolish religion... but, I want to change them. I want t help them. It's overwhelming...but I'm looking for something that I can do..that we can do...to stop the deceit-
this culture can deceive us....
making us think there's nothing beyond the country borders..nothing outside of this intense heat...to just live life until death, doing nothing to make anything better.
It's a bit depressing to watch these people and to live with them and see them, and find motivation from a God that is so absent in this city..
please pray.
pray for all of us.
God is bigger than culture.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
oh, happy day
hi friends.
good news- I'M GETTING PAID THIS WEEK! (clapping.)
(more clapping. hollar. more hollaring.clap. clap).
Yes, I am very excited about this payday. You see, I've heard of the concept- that is, the concept of getting paid for completed work; however, my needy little bank account has yet to actually experience the bliss of automatically deposited baht. Oh, what joy this Friday will bring! Joy, I tell you! Joy! And if not pure joy, then pure convenience and pure freedom. The convenience to take advantage of other means of transportation besides by blistered, rather swollen size 8's, and the freedom to splurge and buy myself a dinner priced at over a dollar.
Mike, Sarah and I plan on joining a few fellow paupers in running out of our classrooms on Friday, rolling in our baht while dancing in the middle of the streets screaming "WE'RE NOT POOR ANYMORE!" After this, we're going to hit up this amazing restaurant we've never been able to afford while being here, priced at 180/baht per meal (we spend 30/baht for dinner every night). This restaurant was something Mike and I accidentally found on our late night excursion through the Old City area of Bangkok. Basically, it's this real "emo" (as Mike says) coffee shop/restaurant that serves the widest variety of food we've seen yet (compared to the rice and noodles that suffocate our lives). The menu ranges from pork chops/baked potatoes, and waffles and pancakes, to fish and chips, and specialty coffees. Our path will then lead to the mall where I'll attempt to find some pants that fit my very American butt. This task, I do realize, may never actually be accomplished as every piece of clothing here appears to be sized starting at zero and working deep down into double-digit negatives.
Until then, it's school time! Classes are going well, and I'm in the process of making up my first tests! eek! My students have named me the "fun teacher," which I actually think is middle school code for "she's a joke of a teacher, way too easy, and I don't have to study for her class". Well, may the Lord be with them while they battle their way through my exams. I know that I always used the first test to gauge how hard the teacher was, and Lord willing, these students will see that I might be "fun," but that I most certainly don't take the quality of their education as a joke. 8th grade awarded me this morning with the compliment of "Ms. Lauren, you're the teacher that interacts with us the most..." Now, that's a superlative that I don't mind identifying myself as.
Back to making up the tests... oh, bother.
good news- I'M GETTING PAID THIS WEEK! (clapping.)
(more clapping. hollar. more hollaring.clap. clap).
Yes, I am very excited about this payday. You see, I've heard of the concept- that is, the concept of getting paid for completed work; however, my needy little bank account has yet to actually experience the bliss of automatically deposited baht. Oh, what joy this Friday will bring! Joy, I tell you! Joy! And if not pure joy, then pure convenience and pure freedom. The convenience to take advantage of other means of transportation besides by blistered, rather swollen size 8's, and the freedom to splurge and buy myself a dinner priced at over a dollar.
Mike, Sarah and I plan on joining a few fellow paupers in running out of our classrooms on Friday, rolling in our baht while dancing in the middle of the streets screaming "WE'RE NOT POOR ANYMORE!" After this, we're going to hit up this amazing restaurant we've never been able to afford while being here, priced at 180/baht per meal (we spend 30/baht for dinner every night). This restaurant was something Mike and I accidentally found on our late night excursion through the Old City area of Bangkok. Basically, it's this real "emo" (as Mike says) coffee shop/restaurant that serves the widest variety of food we've seen yet (compared to the rice and noodles that suffocate our lives). The menu ranges from pork chops/baked potatoes, and waffles and pancakes, to fish and chips, and specialty coffees. Our path will then lead to the mall where I'll attempt to find some pants that fit my very American butt. This task, I do realize, may never actually be accomplished as every piece of clothing here appears to be sized starting at zero and working deep down into double-digit negatives.
Until then, it's school time! Classes are going well, and I'm in the process of making up my first tests! eek! My students have named me the "fun teacher," which I actually think is middle school code for "she's a joke of a teacher, way too easy, and I don't have to study for her class". Well, may the Lord be with them while they battle their way through my exams. I know that I always used the first test to gauge how hard the teacher was, and Lord willing, these students will see that I might be "fun," but that I most certainly don't take the quality of their education as a joke. 8th grade awarded me this morning with the compliment of "Ms. Lauren, you're the teacher that interacts with us the most..." Now, that's a superlative that I don't mind identifying myself as.
Back to making up the tests... oh, bother.
Monday, August 20, 2007
votes for the little Asian cavemen
hooray! national holiday!
though far from Thai, today, my inner Thainess is rejoicing that there's no school all thanks to the fact that today the Thai's vote on whether or not they're going to accept the newly written constitution or not. Government savvy? I'm anything but-
BUT, Mike says "the new constitution is a bit less democratic which at first sounded like a really. Allowing the government to have more of a say in anything seems like a bad idea; BUT, it's a good constitution.... i'd say go for it."
so, umm... there's the news.
back to life-
so, here i sit in an internet cafe as the ONLY person actually using the Internet for anything "useful". Embarassingly enough, no- facebook is not necessarily "useful"..BUT, I am using it as a portal to communicate with all those back the great US.
So, I apologize for the lack of new blog entries for all of you who so faithfully read this scripted nonsense I post. However, if my business degree is worth anything..the laws of supply and demand tell me that the less i write, the more YOU will want to read.
so, sorry.. business first ;) heh.
(this also being a lame excuse for my laziness and recent lack of clever wording and ability to post anything of worth). Though teaching English I do believe there's been some sort of opposite impact, whereas the Asian choppy English/grammar skills are influencing me more than my proper execution of the English language is influencing them. I find myself looking for shortcuts around the English language.. cutting well-needed words such as "the" and "I" out of spoken sentences.
I believe this Asian English could also be called:..... caveman.
yes, little Asian cavemen... "teacher, go to store, get book need for school".
okay. sure.
i'll go to store, get book..and then, teacher make fire.
speaking of fire, since the day school started my classroom has been filled with smokey residue and ash floating throughout the air. why? well... just so happens (like in Virginia,) when there's stuff around that no one wants- BURN IT!
Though in VA it's usually piles of leaves (or maybe, that was just on MaryAnn Dr.) but here, it's piles of desks, chairs and books. What a lovely playground backdrop.
We're out on the field playing "American football" (they think i'm really good. haha!) and off to the side of a mountain of old school supplies and furniture on fire! I remember that recess would be cancelled if there was a slight chance of rain- and here, they're creating forest fires and still the kids just run around it!
crazy.
so... friday night there was yet another long journey. the single kids: mike, myself, sarah and jen, decided that a five day week of babysitting and correcting papers wasn't enough to tire us out- so, we went walking through the city looking for adventure. we met a man on the sidewalk when we had our faces buried in a map of lies (the American tourist map for Bangkok. DON'T BUY IT,) and he told us this tale of a grand fireworks display in honor of mother's day (which in Thailand is actually mother's month).. so, we took every means of transportation to find this firey wonder. after the taxi was the subway. after the subway, the tuk-tuk (the glorified speedy little golf cart complete with decorations and open sides).
walking. walking. a little more walking. a blister on my foot. walk. another blister.
walk walk walk walk walk walk.
and,
no fireworks.
we've found what when asking directions, or, any question really, the common answer of thai's ends with whatever you want to hear-
We asked for directions to fireworks..and here's how the converstaion went:
S= silly Americans asking a Thai for directions
T= them. the thai's.
S: "excuse me, are there or aren't there fireworks around here tonight?"
T: "no."
S: "there aren't?"
T: "no. there are".
S: "there are! great? where?"
T: "nowhere".
S: "what? I thought they were around here..?"
T: "yes! yes, they are! they're ALL night long!"
S: "wow! all night?!"
T: "umm... they were at 10 o'clock"
S: "oh, so..we're too late.." (it was 11pm)
T: "no. 1 am. they're at 1 am, but not here"
S: "okay. 1 am. not here. where are they?" (showed them the map)
they pointed to a place. we foolishly followed the directed path.
needless to say- no fireworks. none at all.
and why? well.. the next thai we met said they were "last night. last night at 9.." (showed them the map)"..over there".
yea yea yea. i bet. i bet there were fireworks over there, at 9..
i think those might have been the new color of fireworks..: INVISIBLE!
Anyway, while walking through the city we went through Chinatown. Chinatown is basically just a big temple surrounded by many places to eat meat on a stick.
I've seen so many temples since I've been here. All I keep thinking when I pass these temples and see people offering overflowing baskets of gifts- flowers, food and money..how they pray ALL the time- such dedication, ritual and routine..and still SO LOST.
So lost that they either cover their heads or uncover their feet to visit these so-called "gods". So much worship. So much lost, aimless worship. I stand with my camera in hand snapping a picture when possible, and everytime I do I'm lost at how dedicated these people are to these idols.. their gods..their gods of nothing.
the god of fertility? of passion? of peace? healing? And their faith?
I keep thinking, what good is faith apart from God? What good is faith in SOMETHING and not someone? something. some. thing. a thing that cannot give peace. a thing that cannot give rest.. these things that cannot give salvation.
Instead of neglecting their blind pursuits in disgust.. I am challenged. I believe and trust in the ONLY GOD..and ONLY Creator and ONLY Savior- and yet, here I am.
I pray when I feel like praying. I read His word when I "have the time" to. My faith is so dependent on convenience, and yet, these people blinded by golden idols are so inconvenienced by their religion. Praying several times a day, offering everything to something that will never give in return...
where is my spiritual offering? where are my buckets, my gifts and my flowers? where is my never-ceasing prayer? WHERE IS MY FAITH?
Though their faith is blind, their faith is strong.
strong in nothing.
My faith is rooted in grace and salvation through Jesus Christ.. and yet, at times, my life is just as much a blinded maze as theirs. An endless maze when it is I who puts on the blindfold to lead the way...
though far from Thai, today, my inner Thainess is rejoicing that there's no school all thanks to the fact that today the Thai's vote on whether or not they're going to accept the newly written constitution or not. Government savvy? I'm anything but-
BUT, Mike says "the new constitution is a bit less democratic which at first sounded like a really. Allowing the government to have more of a say in anything seems like a bad idea; BUT, it's a good constitution.... i'd say go for it."
so, umm... there's the news.
back to life-
so, here i sit in an internet cafe as the ONLY person actually using the Internet for anything "useful". Embarassingly enough, no- facebook is not necessarily "useful"..BUT, I am using it as a portal to communicate with all those back the great US.
So, I apologize for the lack of new blog entries for all of you who so faithfully read this scripted nonsense I post. However, if my business degree is worth anything..the laws of supply and demand tell me that the less i write, the more YOU will want to read.
so, sorry.. business first ;) heh.
(this also being a lame excuse for my laziness and recent lack of clever wording and ability to post anything of worth). Though teaching English I do believe there's been some sort of opposite impact, whereas the Asian choppy English/grammar skills are influencing me more than my proper execution of the English language is influencing them. I find myself looking for shortcuts around the English language.. cutting well-needed words such as "the" and "I" out of spoken sentences.
I believe this Asian English could also be called:..... caveman.
yes, little Asian cavemen... "teacher, go to store, get book need for school".
okay. sure.
i'll go to store, get book..and then, teacher make fire.
speaking of fire, since the day school started my classroom has been filled with smokey residue and ash floating throughout the air. why? well... just so happens (like in Virginia,) when there's stuff around that no one wants- BURN IT!
Though in VA it's usually piles of leaves (or maybe, that was just on MaryAnn Dr.) but here, it's piles of desks, chairs and books. What a lovely playground backdrop.
We're out on the field playing "American football" (they think i'm really good. haha!) and off to the side of a mountain of old school supplies and furniture on fire! I remember that recess would be cancelled if there was a slight chance of rain- and here, they're creating forest fires and still the kids just run around it!
crazy.
so... friday night there was yet another long journey. the single kids: mike, myself, sarah and jen, decided that a five day week of babysitting and correcting papers wasn't enough to tire us out- so, we went walking through the city looking for adventure. we met a man on the sidewalk when we had our faces buried in a map of lies (the American tourist map for Bangkok. DON'T BUY IT,) and he told us this tale of a grand fireworks display in honor of mother's day (which in Thailand is actually mother's month).. so, we took every means of transportation to find this firey wonder. after the taxi was the subway. after the subway, the tuk-tuk (the glorified speedy little golf cart complete with decorations and open sides).
walking. walking. a little more walking. a blister on my foot. walk. another blister.
walk walk walk walk walk walk.
and,
no fireworks.
we've found what when asking directions, or, any question really, the common answer of thai's ends with whatever you want to hear-
We asked for directions to fireworks..and here's how the converstaion went:
S= silly Americans asking a Thai for directions
T= them. the thai's.
S: "excuse me, are there or aren't there fireworks around here tonight?"
T: "no."
S: "there aren't?"
T: "no. there are".
S: "there are! great? where?"
T: "nowhere".
S: "what? I thought they were around here..?"
T: "yes! yes, they are! they're ALL night long!"
S: "wow! all night?!"
T: "umm... they were at 10 o'clock"
S: "oh, so..we're too late.." (it was 11pm)
T: "no. 1 am. they're at 1 am, but not here"
S: "okay. 1 am. not here. where are they?" (showed them the map)
they pointed to a place. we foolishly followed the directed path.
needless to say- no fireworks. none at all.
and why? well.. the next thai we met said they were "last night. last night at 9.." (showed them the map)"..over there".
yea yea yea. i bet. i bet there were fireworks over there, at 9..
i think those might have been the new color of fireworks..: INVISIBLE!
Anyway, while walking through the city we went through Chinatown. Chinatown is basically just a big temple surrounded by many places to eat meat on a stick.
I've seen so many temples since I've been here. All I keep thinking when I pass these temples and see people offering overflowing baskets of gifts- flowers, food and money..how they pray ALL the time- such dedication, ritual and routine..and still SO LOST.
So lost that they either cover their heads or uncover their feet to visit these so-called "gods". So much worship. So much lost, aimless worship. I stand with my camera in hand snapping a picture when possible, and everytime I do I'm lost at how dedicated these people are to these idols.. their gods..their gods of nothing.
the god of fertility? of passion? of peace? healing? And their faith?
I keep thinking, what good is faith apart from God? What good is faith in SOMETHING and not someone? something. some. thing. a thing that cannot give peace. a thing that cannot give rest.. these things that cannot give salvation.
Instead of neglecting their blind pursuits in disgust.. I am challenged. I believe and trust in the ONLY GOD..and ONLY Creator and ONLY Savior- and yet, here I am.
I pray when I feel like praying. I read His word when I "have the time" to. My faith is so dependent on convenience, and yet, these people blinded by golden idols are so inconvenienced by their religion. Praying several times a day, offering everything to something that will never give in return...
where is my spiritual offering? where are my buckets, my gifts and my flowers? where is my never-ceasing prayer? WHERE IS MY FAITH?
Though their faith is blind, their faith is strong.
strong in nothing.
My faith is rooted in grace and salvation through Jesus Christ.. and yet, at times, my life is just as much a blinded maze as theirs. An endless maze when it is I who puts on the blindfold to lead the way...
Monday, August 13, 2007
hello, my name is....
Ms. Lauren.
And now, I'm officially a teacher. After a small initiation ceremony and the completion of a four day lesson-planning session I'm apparently ready to go (i think). Can you feel my sense of doubt?
I must admit my doubt is such a strong competitor against my will. I've had a mountain of books dropped in front of me on a desk full of objects foreign to my everyday use-and now I must teach. i MUST teach, and teach well. i MUST TEACH WELL is what i keep circling throughout my clouded mind. hazed by uncertainties and unfamiliar routine, i will teach..and i will teach well.
in a blatent confession I must share with you that I have never had a desire to teach. ever. EVER. while the dizzy dance of college awarded my well-studied efforts with a business degree, i never imagined that my corporate tower would be built of construction paper and "super!" stickers rather than steel beams and tinted glass panels. vulnerably stepping out on a limb here- i don't really want to teach..still. my mother calls out: "Lauren, I don't understand you. Are you going to Thailand because you don't have anything else to do? ..to travel?... It makes no sense. You never had an interest in teaching..."
She's right. I never did have an interest in teaching. I still don't. I'll admit this proudly..because it's the truth. As an easily overwhelmed human (aka: a woman,) teaching seems to be the most stressful, time-consuming, exhausting, aggravating migrane I could ever encounter. If given the choice of a line-up of jobs, teaching would probably be my LAST choice. So last, that it'd be the last of the last. double last. super last. ULTIMATELY last.
I realized this past week that this is exactly why I'm here. I'm here in Bangkok because I didn't want to come and teach.
It makes no sense to me whatsoever that in less than two months I was hired, had completed the paperwork (the pages and pages of paperwork,) had various forms of employment to pay for the trip and still had time to create the most amazing memoir of laughs and cries with those I love before departing sweet, sweet America.
oh, America.
Of course, the idea of traveling to southeast Asia, integrating my American self into all that is foreign and the opportunitiy for 5 dollar massages was attractive- so, why not go to Thailand? Though these ideas of pampered pleasures are enough to wet my travel appetite- they're not great enough to make me want to leave my ridiculously pregnant sister, beautiful nephew, loving parents, comfort and sense of home.
oh, home.
nothing is greater than what brought me here to Bangkok... and this- this, is why I'm here::
God.
though the doubting words of my mother (sorry, mom) were at times partially convincing..words weighted heavy, carrying the message that I had an absurd idea to come half way across the world just to figure myself out and that I was commiting to a form of employment I've never been passionate about. Her words tickling my naturally indecisive nature.. "until you step on that plane, it's never to late to just stay here [charlotte]," she'd say.
oh, charlotte.
i WANTED to stay. oh, how i wanted to stay. I WANT to sit on my sister's porch tomorrow, grass-stained knees tucked under the table of gifts and cake- intently watching colsen celebrate life. I WANT to come...I WANT to go...I WANT to come and go as i please (in my OWN car).. I WANT to comfortably cross my feet on the weathered coffee table next to my favorite size 5's and watch reruns of The Office. Seven numbers. I WANT to dial only seven numbers on the phone and hear the sweet sound of a familiar voice on the other end, and oh..oh, how I WANT the sterile glare of florescent bulbs as i wait in anticipation for God to bring my new nephew into my life... I WANT all these things. who wouldn't?
oh, who wouldn't.
but, finally. I gave in. I give in.
The words of a daily friend, Oswald Chambers echo through my head: "the only right we have, is the right to ourselves..." and "We must give up the right to ourselves to Him completely in order to be completely His. We must understand and be living like we are no longer our own. We must allow our lives to be completely at His disposal".
the things I WANT are finally being replaced by the things HE WANTS.
Though difficult, I am flattered that God wants ME to be here doing all of this...
all of this that HE WANTS.
And now, I'm officially a teacher. After a small initiation ceremony and the completion of a four day lesson-planning session I'm apparently ready to go (i think). Can you feel my sense of doubt?
I must admit my doubt is such a strong competitor against my will. I've had a mountain of books dropped in front of me on a desk full of objects foreign to my everyday use-and now I must teach. i MUST teach, and teach well. i MUST TEACH WELL is what i keep circling throughout my clouded mind. hazed by uncertainties and unfamiliar routine, i will teach..and i will teach well.
in a blatent confession I must share with you that I have never had a desire to teach. ever. EVER. while the dizzy dance of college awarded my well-studied efforts with a business degree, i never imagined that my corporate tower would be built of construction paper and "super!" stickers rather than steel beams and tinted glass panels. vulnerably stepping out on a limb here- i don't really want to teach..still. my mother calls out: "Lauren, I don't understand you. Are you going to Thailand because you don't have anything else to do? ..to travel?... It makes no sense. You never had an interest in teaching..."
She's right. I never did have an interest in teaching. I still don't. I'll admit this proudly..because it's the truth. As an easily overwhelmed human (aka: a woman,) teaching seems to be the most stressful, time-consuming, exhausting, aggravating migrane I could ever encounter. If given the choice of a line-up of jobs, teaching would probably be my LAST choice. So last, that it'd be the last of the last. double last. super last. ULTIMATELY last.
I realized this past week that this is exactly why I'm here. I'm here in Bangkok because I didn't want to come and teach.
It makes no sense to me whatsoever that in less than two months I was hired, had completed the paperwork (the pages and pages of paperwork,) had various forms of employment to pay for the trip and still had time to create the most amazing memoir of laughs and cries with those I love before departing sweet, sweet America.
oh, America.
Of course, the idea of traveling to southeast Asia, integrating my American self into all that is foreign and the opportunitiy for 5 dollar massages was attractive- so, why not go to Thailand? Though these ideas of pampered pleasures are enough to wet my travel appetite- they're not great enough to make me want to leave my ridiculously pregnant sister, beautiful nephew, loving parents, comfort and sense of home.
oh, home.
nothing is greater than what brought me here to Bangkok... and this- this, is why I'm here::
God.
though the doubting words of my mother (sorry, mom) were at times partially convincing..words weighted heavy, carrying the message that I had an absurd idea to come half way across the world just to figure myself out and that I was commiting to a form of employment I've never been passionate about. Her words tickling my naturally indecisive nature.. "until you step on that plane, it's never to late to just stay here [charlotte]," she'd say.
oh, charlotte.
i WANTED to stay. oh, how i wanted to stay. I WANT to sit on my sister's porch tomorrow, grass-stained knees tucked under the table of gifts and cake- intently watching colsen celebrate life. I WANT to come...I WANT to go...I WANT to come and go as i please (in my OWN car).. I WANT to comfortably cross my feet on the weathered coffee table next to my favorite size 5's and watch reruns of The Office. Seven numbers. I WANT to dial only seven numbers on the phone and hear the sweet sound of a familiar voice on the other end, and oh..oh, how I WANT the sterile glare of florescent bulbs as i wait in anticipation for God to bring my new nephew into my life... I WANT all these things. who wouldn't?
oh, who wouldn't.
but, finally. I gave in. I give in.
The words of a daily friend, Oswald Chambers echo through my head: "the only right we have, is the right to ourselves..." and "We must give up the right to ourselves to Him completely in order to be completely His. We must understand and be living like we are no longer our own. We must allow our lives to be completely at His disposal".
the things I WANT are finally being replaced by the things HE WANTS.
Though difficult, I am flattered that God wants ME to be here doing all of this...
all of this that HE WANTS.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
la dee daa...
hi friends. hi family. hello, blog.
seems as though i've been dodging this white screen and blinking cursor, attempting to avoid remembering the things I've done thus far and recording them here for you.
for those of you who have been so anxiously awaiting these miraculous words of wisdom and life experience from me, i apologize. i apologize not for the wait, but for your lack of patience as the art of patience is the first character trait one must master in order to survive in Thailand.
Let this be your first lesson. ;)
All kidding aside, it's been great thus far. I've been assigned the homeroom teacher for grade 5 and so i can decorate the grade 5 room as "my own". I finished decorating and organizing things today and tomorrow I will spend the rest of the day organizing my lesson plans. (ugh). At this very moment I would like to personally honor all of the following::
Ms. June- for letting me play with shaving cream
Mrs. Oscarson- for reading Spot books
Mrs. Katcherowski (i never could spell your name)- for her patience with me
Mrs. Meisenzahl- for giving me my first after school detention (instilling fear)
Mrs. Golet- for giving me my second detention. and third. and fourth. and so on.
Mrs. Gorman- for having the coolest laugh, EVER.
Mrs. O'Malley- for being the sweetest being on the face of this earth.
Mr. Sczymkowitz- for being a "FUN-GI". hah.
Mrs. Booth- for expecting a lot from me.
Mr. Hyland- you're an inspiration and i admire your love for God and your family (AND, I have quotes you shared with us hanging in my classroom: "the most important thought that you will ever think, is what you think, when you think about God because it will determine every other aspect of your existence")
Miss Marks- for being a friend to me my first year of high school
Mrs. Velaustagui- for giving me a hard time while always pushing me to achieve more..i miss you!
Mrs. Stewart- for your dedication and hard work in everything (and giving me a passing grade in chemistry..)
Mrs. Potter- for your strength and teaching me that cat veins and arteries really can be cool
Professor Marybeth Davis: for deepening my love for literature (and for thoroughly assessing literary works..)AND for the encouraging little comments you'd always write on my papers
Professor George Young: you're the man. thank you for EVERYTHING YOU DO...
Professor Paul Young: for your friendship and conern for your students' future
Professor Edward Edmond: for being so critical of artwork and determined to mold great artists
Professor Timothy Van Voorhis: for somehow tricking me in to really loving Statistics.
Professor Edward Moore: for "WHY WHY WHY"-ing me to death and challenging me more than I've ever been challenged by picking my brain until it almost bled business sense.
These are all the teachers I believe have greatly influenced my life since preschool. If I've forgotten someone...I really do apologize.
So, back to business here. Ah, yes...to all of them- THANK YOU. And why? Because teaching seems to be the most time-consuming, exhausting process EVER..and somehow they all managed to do this job well (even with me, the "disruptive, doesn't listen and follow directions" girl).
My classroom has a nature theme..I've drawn tree branches, suns, moons, the sea- anything i could do to fill up bulletin boards. I've done all i could to avoid resulting to the "shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you'll land among the stars" deal. I've put up several quotes around the room and plan on addressing them during english lectures... words of wisdom from John Piper, the Bible and pastor Jon Dupin from Brentwood Church in Lynchburg, VA. I figure these kids could actually use some practical advice rather than advice everyone seems to be fed in classrooms these days.
it's weird to be the one with the "teacher's desk". i remember how off-limits this area always was growing up. it's never like i really was that interested in what liquid was floating around in the Big Gulp plastic mug, or what type of crackers were stored in the bottom drawer for secret teacher snacktime... i just wanted to touch things on the desk because i wasn't supposed to... i just wanted to stick my hands in the top drawers and mess up all the pens and pencils collecting the spare change that somehow found it's way into the rubber band collection and go buy myself a coke in the forbidden teacher's lounge. what were they doing in there? what was lounging?
can i lounge now? ....will there be coke?
such curosity i have.
..apparently i'm also part yoda.
honestly, i've been thinking of everything i could do until 3:30 when i get to leave this library, and well...the time is here. i believe i'm going to unstick my thighs from this vinyl chair and go find myself a cold drink.
first, i'll check the teacher's lounge.
maybe they give out free money there, too.
seems as though i've been dodging this white screen and blinking cursor, attempting to avoid remembering the things I've done thus far and recording them here for you.
for those of you who have been so anxiously awaiting these miraculous words of wisdom and life experience from me, i apologize. i apologize not for the wait, but for your lack of patience as the art of patience is the first character trait one must master in order to survive in Thailand.
Let this be your first lesson. ;)
All kidding aside, it's been great thus far. I've been assigned the homeroom teacher for grade 5 and so i can decorate the grade 5 room as "my own". I finished decorating and organizing things today and tomorrow I will spend the rest of the day organizing my lesson plans. (ugh). At this very moment I would like to personally honor all of the following::
Ms. June- for letting me play with shaving cream
Mrs. Oscarson- for reading Spot books
Mrs. Katcherowski (i never could spell your name)- for her patience with me
Mrs. Meisenzahl- for giving me my first after school detention (instilling fear)
Mrs. Golet- for giving me my second detention. and third. and fourth. and so on.
Mrs. Gorman- for having the coolest laugh, EVER.
Mrs. O'Malley- for being the sweetest being on the face of this earth.
Mr. Sczymkowitz- for being a "FUN-GI". hah.
Mrs. Booth- for expecting a lot from me.
Mr. Hyland- you're an inspiration and i admire your love for God and your family (AND, I have quotes you shared with us hanging in my classroom: "the most important thought that you will ever think, is what you think, when you think about God because it will determine every other aspect of your existence")
Miss Marks- for being a friend to me my first year of high school
Mrs. Velaustagui- for giving me a hard time while always pushing me to achieve more..i miss you!
Mrs. Stewart- for your dedication and hard work in everything (and giving me a passing grade in chemistry..)
Mrs. Potter- for your strength and teaching me that cat veins and arteries really can be cool
Professor Marybeth Davis: for deepening my love for literature (and for thoroughly assessing literary works..)AND for the encouraging little comments you'd always write on my papers
Professor George Young: you're the man. thank you for EVERYTHING YOU DO...
Professor Paul Young: for your friendship and conern for your students' future
Professor Edward Edmond: for being so critical of artwork and determined to mold great artists
Professor Timothy Van Voorhis: for somehow tricking me in to really loving Statistics.
Professor Edward Moore: for "WHY WHY WHY"-ing me to death and challenging me more than I've ever been challenged by picking my brain until it almost bled business sense.
These are all the teachers I believe have greatly influenced my life since preschool. If I've forgotten someone...I really do apologize.
So, back to business here. Ah, yes...to all of them- THANK YOU. And why? Because teaching seems to be the most time-consuming, exhausting process EVER..and somehow they all managed to do this job well (even with me, the "disruptive, doesn't listen and follow directions" girl).
My classroom has a nature theme..I've drawn tree branches, suns, moons, the sea- anything i could do to fill up bulletin boards. I've done all i could to avoid resulting to the "shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you'll land among the stars" deal. I've put up several quotes around the room and plan on addressing them during english lectures... words of wisdom from John Piper, the Bible and pastor Jon Dupin from Brentwood Church in Lynchburg, VA. I figure these kids could actually use some practical advice rather than advice everyone seems to be fed in classrooms these days.
it's weird to be the one with the "teacher's desk". i remember how off-limits this area always was growing up. it's never like i really was that interested in what liquid was floating around in the Big Gulp plastic mug, or what type of crackers were stored in the bottom drawer for secret teacher snacktime... i just wanted to touch things on the desk because i wasn't supposed to... i just wanted to stick my hands in the top drawers and mess up all the pens and pencils collecting the spare change that somehow found it's way into the rubber band collection and go buy myself a coke in the forbidden teacher's lounge. what were they doing in there? what was lounging?
can i lounge now? ....will there be coke?
such curosity i have.
..apparently i'm also part yoda.
honestly, i've been thinking of everything i could do until 3:30 when i get to leave this library, and well...the time is here. i believe i'm going to unstick my thighs from this vinyl chair and go find myself a cold drink.
first, i'll check the teacher's lounge.
maybe they give out free money there, too.
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