Journal entry by Al Negstad — a minute ago
.Thailand is renown, both for its cuisine, and the presentation of the food. Many Thai don't cook very much. They either eat in food stalls, inexpensive restaurants or bring prepared food home from the stands, which are ubiquitous. As I was on the way to school this morning I saw a father and daughter, she was in her school uniform, dismount their motorbike and go to a food stall for breakfast. Many such meals cost less than a dollar. Here at the house, Met, will sometimes cook breakfast and other times take her motorbike to a food stand to buy it. I love her omelettes and they tease me about my willingness to eat them everyday. Then I remind them that they are happy to eat rice three times a day. The rice cooker is on 24/7 so there is always hot rice available. Enter a Thai grocery store and you will find a huge section of many different kinds of rice and a tiny shelf of bread.
Much Thai food as served is very bland and the flavor is supplied by the condiments on the table. Thai have a high tolerance for spice and much of the food is incredibly spicy. Nice, the two and half year old boy in the house, likes very spicy food. Nature or nurture? It seems the hotter the climate the spicier the food.
Go, the nickname of the school principal, is very interested in conservation. When she first came to Wat Klang School two years ago she had a sizable compost structure built. Now it is producing, good black soil. Often the 6th grade boys are working on the compost during opening exercises. The school yard was mowed yesterday and the boys raked up the grass, with brooms, and put it on the compost pile. The compost soil is used it improve the flower beds and other plantings.
During my break today the 5th grade teacher was in the break room. When I asked who was with her students the principal replied that they were working on compost. It's not at all unusual to see students moving around the building during classes. Teachers often leave their rooms unattended for significant periods of time. One day when I was teaching the 4th grade as a group the teacher walked over to one of the students an engaged them in some project. When teachers are present with me and I ask the students a question the teacher will blurt out the answer. Now I have enough credibility to ask them not to do it.
So goes life in Thailand. Tonight I was able to present the gift to the man whose mother was hospitalized and since has died. We caught up with him at the temple where her mother is memorialized.
Blessings,
Al
Pictures are with grade 3.
Much Thai food as served is very bland and the flavor is supplied by the condiments on the table. Thai have a high tolerance for spice and much of the food is incredibly spicy. Nice, the two and half year old boy in the house, likes very spicy food. Nature or nurture? It seems the hotter the climate the spicier the food.
Go, the nickname of the school principal, is very interested in conservation. When she first came to Wat Klang School two years ago she had a sizable compost structure built. Now it is producing, good black soil. Often the 6th grade boys are working on the compost during opening exercises. The school yard was mowed yesterday and the boys raked up the grass, with brooms, and put it on the compost pile. The compost soil is used it improve the flower beds and other plantings.
During my break today the 5th grade teacher was in the break room. When I asked who was with her students the principal replied that they were working on compost. It's not at all unusual to see students moving around the building during classes. Teachers often leave their rooms unattended for significant periods of time. One day when I was teaching the 4th grade as a group the teacher walked over to one of the students an engaged them in some project. When teachers are present with me and I ask the students a question the teacher will blurt out the answer. Now I have enough credibility to ask them not to do it.
So goes life in Thailand. Tonight I was able to present the gift to the man whose mother was hospitalized and since has died. We caught up with him at the temple where her mother is memorialized.
Blessings,
Al
Pictures are with grade 3.
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