She's Home!

   Monday morning the curmudgeonette had her 7th back surgery, this time to remove some errant hardware  from a prior fusion. She went to surgery at 7:30 and at 9:00 the surgeon was finished and reporting to me.
"Good news, the hardware was removed using an electric drill, the fusion looks great and all her vitals were strong."  An hour later she was in her room looking perky.
  There is much good news.  For the first time in months she can get in and out of bed without pain.  She is also standing/walking much straighter.  Today, Wednesday, she came home with minimal restrictions on what she can do.  Yippee!
   Now comes the really hard part.  Being the flaming extrovert that she is, it's painful to be confined to the condo with a monosyllabic introvert,  i.e., me.  We can only hope that her peeps will take pity on her and visit/call.  We'll both be grateful!

Next Time!

    "Total Physical Response" (TPR) the technique for teaching a foreign language, to which Kathy W. introduced me, has made my teaching in Thailand more effective.  Because it does not presume that the teacher is fluent in the learner's language, i.e., I don't need to know Thai to teach English to my Thai students, it works well for me. The essence of  TPR is giving commands in the language being taught to the students.  For example I say "raise your right arm" and the students raise their right arm.
    There are 4 enhancements to teaching that I'm keen to try when I return.  Two I've mentioned previously. One is having the students verbally repeat the command even as they perform the action commanded.  So they would not only raise their right arm but even as they do it say 'raise your right arm'.  The second idea is to have regular demonstrations, perhaps weekly, of what the students have learned.  This would accomplish two goals; demonstrating to others the learning and provide incentive for the students to learn the command for public display.
   Another plan is to have students practice giving the commands.  So I might call on a student and give her/him a command.  When that command has been obeyed then ask the student to give me a command which I would then obey.  This should significantly deepen the student's learning.
   Saying goodbye when I leave the school is always difficult.  It is particularly difficult to say goodbye to the 6th graders because I will not see them again.  They will have moved on to junior high school when I return the following year.  The language barrier has made it very difficult to express the feelings around this farewell.    This is my plan for next year.  I'm going to ask them to draw a "farewell picture" for me.  They love to draw and have had effective art education that gives them ability to express themselves through this medium. It's my hope that this will be a better closure process.

I do seem to be taller than the other teachers.

6th grader whose name is O.

Flowers for sale on the street used in family shrines.

Sweets wrapped in banana leaf; unwrapped in front and wrapped in the background.

Terk and Toon, 5th graders.

Meena, Hawa and Ussma waiting for school to begin.

6th grader whose name is M.

Thailand Pictures.

5th grade at their desks, left side.

5th grade at their desks, right side.

Chinese orchestra at New Year's.

Students watering flowers.  All students are assigned to work teams.

Students sweeping the lot.

Pictures from Thailand.

Neighbor's house.

Statuary in a temple.

Bamboo scaffolding, not OSHA approved.

Reclining Buddha.

Animated skeleton in a temple. 

Workers enclosing the soffit.

Happy Valentines Day!

    Valentines Day is huge in Thailand.  They are nuts over anything "hearts and flowery".  They also love a party so Valentines Day is ready made for Thailand.  Last year I came home on Valentines day (foolishly thinking winter was over) and missed it entirely again this year.  Two years ago I was there and got to experience it first hand.  Flower sales were big as were cute toys and things.

Usually busy Silom Rd., Bkk, turned into a shopping street by the protest.

The official name of my school. 

The newly weds, Poe and Tong.

Tony's the happy hour hangout.

Another view of Tony's.

Met ready to take me to school.

Poe taking my picture.

Get Out of Jail Free...sort of.....

    American citizens with a valid passport arriving in Thailand are granted a free visa that is good for 30 days.  Monday morning while I was checking in for my flight out of Bangkok a Delta employee looked at my passport and visa.  He said "You've overstayed your visa two days you'll be charged 1000B ($30.)"  He said "Yes, it must be paid in Thai Baht."  I reached into my pocket to check my supply of Baht and counted 950B.  An American in line ahead of me asked how much I had and when I told him he gave 50B.
   After checking in I went to passport control and the officer looked at my passport and visa, stamped it and sent me on my way without diverting me to the desk to pay an overstay fine. It was like a "get our jail free" card saving me $30.  I never saw the American again to give him back his 50B ($1.50).

Students showing me proper respect.

5th grade on the floor.

Met and Poe eating on the floor.  Thai are as comfortable on the floor as at a table.

6th grade.

Students gathering for morning assembly.

5th graders Hawaa and Milk.

The View From Home.

      The inspiration that struck me when I was standing in front of the farewell assembly to ask the students to show some of what they learned  has sparked some thoughts about next year.  Perhaps there should be weekly demonstrations during assemblies where students show something they've learned. This could serve two purposes.  First, it could demonstrate to everyone what the students are learning.  Second, it would motivate the students learning if they knew they would be publicly accountable.   Another change I plan is to have the students verbally repeat the command even as they act it out.
       This year I worked very consciously on my Thai vocabulary.  There is no realistic expectation of ever speaking Thai. But, with an increased vocabulary it helps both in teaching and in general communication. During my two half hour free periods while at school I would study my Thai vocabulary and phrase book. Then I would check pronunciations with students or teachers.  Also, I'd bring my English/Thai dictionary to class and while I was teaching English I would sometimes check the Thai version of the word being taught, e.g., monkey is ling in Thai.
        The trip home seemed shorter this time.  Much depends on a state of mind.  I've found that if I don't concentrate on the discomfort of the trip the hours quickly slip by. There's a huge difference between "4 more hours!" and "wow, only 4 hours left.
   I'll be posting more reflections and pictures for awhile.

Student presenting me with gifts from the school at the farewell.

Holding one of the gifts.

I'm presenting a gift to the principal.

4th grade boys taking it easy while I work with the girls.

4th grade girls taking it easy while I work with the boys.

Finally...

   Thirteen hours until I start for home.  Now I'm trying to absorb some last Bangkok heat. Too bad I can't bring it with me.
   It's taken awhile but it feels like I've finally hit my stride teaching English with limited Thai language skills. There are some new ideas hatching that I'm eager to try out next year.  It was gratifying to hear that the students anticipate my return. The teachers have been very vocal about my returning for years but it was news to learn that the students also look forward to my coming.
  Over the years relationships deepen and that makes it hard to say goodbye.  Being the bearer of gifts from friends and congregation at home is a great privilege.  Typically when I reveal that gifts are from church and friends at home recipients cry. It's been another good adventure.
   Thanks everyone!  I'll blog more from home and have more pictures to share.  "Pope gone my, krup"  See you next time.

Wake up, Thailand | Bangkok Post: news

Wake up, Thailand | Bangkok Post: news   Very insightful article about the current political impasse in Thailand.

A Grand Farewell!

    From my seat in the office I could tell something was up when I saw all of the classes dismissed early for lunch. Told to wait until I was summoned I wondered what was planned.  When I was called to the lunch/meeting room I was ushered to the front of a student assembly...all the students were seated on the floor in rows by grade and gender for my farewell.
   The principal thanked me for my teaching.  The student body president, 6th grader, Mata, made a nice 'thank you' speech and presented me with a gift from the school.  Then I was invited to address the students.  I decided to show off a bit.  At the conclusion of my remarks I told the students that I was going to give them a test (all the speaking was translated). Then without translation I said "Students raise  your right arm" 60 right arms shot  up.  Then I called on 3 or 4 students individually and gave them English commands which they did.  I was so proud.
   The teaching method I use is called Total Physical Response  ( thanks Kathy W.).   It consists of verbal commands which students follow, e.g.,  "give me a green pen"  "go outside and touch the flag"  "show me your right thumb" etc.  The beauty of it I can use it even though my Thai language skills are minimal.
   During the last two days of teaching as I finished final teaching for that class students were giving me gifts; plastic roses, stuffed animals, etc and real roses.  The most touching was from some 4th grade girls who gave me a bouquet of flowers they had picked.  It was also touching to learn the students ask the teachers when I'm coming back.
  I'm  now in the Christian Guesthouse in Bangkok and the computer is too slow to upload pictures.  Pictures will be uploaded after I return home Monday 2/10.

The Final Farewell for the Third time.

   Gai talks a mile a minute, pigeon English with a speech impediment.  Some say that my hearing is suspect.  This means I understand about 10% of what Gai says.  Yesterday she asked me if I could do something after school today I said, yes, thinking it may have something to do with Mai's school situation.  If I have a general idea of what is happening I just make the assumption that "all will be revealed." and don't worry about my lack of understanding.
   When all was revealed today it turned out that I was taking the family, and especially the girls, out for ice cream at Swensen's. It was delightful but it meant that I have now had three final farewells with them.  On the way we stopped for fuel for the tuk tuk where Ompa is working.  At age 14 he has a job fueling vehicles with natural gas...no OSHA rules in Thailand.
   In the family we have many laughs over language, mispronunciations, misunderstandings, attempts to say foreign words, etc.  There are some men working on the outside of the house.  We were going for pizza and I asked when we would go?   Met thought I was asking about food so she said "no mangoes" because she had bought fresh mangoes.. I said, "O we go when man goes home."  So goes our communication accompanied with much laughter.
  The pizza was good, Bangkok's is better, and we also had a  first class Caesar salad.  Mini-wieners were baked into the outside crust of the pizza (see picture).  For my last evening with the family, tonight, we'll go to Tony's which they love.  Besides it's kind of morbid around the house.

6th grade.

Paper recyclers came to school today.

3rd grade.

14 year old Ompa fueling the tuk-tuk.

Ice cream at Swensen's.

Random Pictures From Thailand

I always draw a crowd on the playground.

Younger students.

Woman making egg rolls by her food stall in Bangkok.

Mai and Poy at KFC,

Meena and Milk doing dishes.

Met and Poe eating on the floor.  Thai are as comfortable on the floor as at the table.

There Aren't Words...

   A couple of months ago a student from my Alma mater, Augustana, Sioux Falls, SD, called to thank for a recent gift.  Her English was excellent but I could tell she wasn't from SD.  When asked she said she was from Ghana.  It was her second year at Augie so I asked her how she liked winter. She said "There aren't words to tell..."
   'There aren't words to tell' is a bit how I feel about the Chinese New Year's celebration here which we attended last night.  However, in spite of the difficulty I'll give it a try.  A half hour narrated video would be much better.
   Think about the state fair, an Asian market, a street fair, neighbor's night out, a carnival, a polka fest and an outdoor trade fair all rolled into one. It occupies the main street for 10 or twelve blocks spreading into side streets. There are Chinese lanterns and decorations everywhere. On the stages are Chinese plays, orchestras, musical groups and other entertainment.  The street is lined with booths selling...well if they don't sell it you don't need it.  There are food stalls and food courts selling about everything except Lutefisk on a stick. Troupes of actors dressed as dragons move through the crowd.
  Then there is the sound or sounds. The assumption in Thailand that loud is good but louder is better.  I was walking by a major stage as they sent up some fireworks.  These were cannon type bangers that rose about 50 feet and exploded with a deafening sound...again, if 1 is good, 10 is better but hundreds would be best of all.  Competing with the fireworks are the loudspeakers from the booths touting their wares full power.
  The street was shoulder to shoulder people and in typical Thai fashion quite a few cars and motorbikes were also  moving on the street.  It reminded me of Kim, our foster son from Cambodia, who loved to be in places where there were crowds of people.

20 piece Chinese orchestra on stage.

My driver, Met, ready to take me to school.  I tell her she looks like a bandit.

Hawaa and Dam serving rice.

Chicken curry on rice was the school lunch menu...and they told me it wasn't spicy!

Poy is wearing the jeans and shirt I bought.

A shirt sewn by Met for which she's paid 29 cents.