Let's Wrap This Up

So this is going to sound like one big cliché but here we go...

 

On reflection, this trip has got to be the hardest, most amazing thing I have ever experienced. It really was no easy ride, and I had my fair share of highs and lows, but definitely more highs.

 

It was difficult, challenging in every way and emotionally testing at times but I will be able to take so much from this. Again, it may sound like this is cliché but I have learnt so much from living in rural Thailand for 2 months!

• Firstly, now that I have done this, I can do anything. I have been chased by wild dogs, I have been lost in the suburbs of Bangkok in the middle of the night in monsoon rain, I have kept a class of fifty twelve year olds under control, I have eaten chicken blood soup, I have killed more spiders than I count (and I am the biggest spider wuss), I have stayed in a house with mice and tarantulas, I have taught in 40c heat and the list goes on... The idea of going back to Norwich seems slightly to tame after this summer.
• Go for it. You really need to take every opportunity you can - if I hadn't have been offered this placement, I probably would have spent my summer with a mundane job, bored out of my nut - what is the point. I'm definitely going to try and do something like this again next summer. If you are lucky enough to have a successful application to the TET scheme, don't hesitate - you will make amazing friends in your colleagues and also in the other ETA's.

 

I am grateful to the University of East Anglia, Property Care Services PCS and DLA Piper for supporting this English Teaching Assistants programme. 

End of week 8 - Bangkok

I can't quite believe it is the last week in Thailand already. I thought I would keep things light and fun, with regards to lessons, this week. I decided to teach seasons in England for the main of the lesson and then give the students some tongue twisters to occupy them for the rest of the class. In a way, I wish I had introduced tongue twisters weeks earlier; they are a great way of practising pronunciation and they are a hilarious activity for both the students and I!

 

I am genuinely sad to be finishing teaching in Prasong school. Seeing students learning and engaging with you when you are teaching is one of the most satisfying feelings, to know that you are making a difference (no matter how cheesy it sounds). They really do make my day by smiling at me in the corridor, and shouting out "grus morning holly teacher".

 

Saying goodbyes this week was sad, I have made a great friends here in Na Kae. Considering the language barrier, I didn't think this was possible at the start, but it has been great (with the help of Google translate, charades and a lot of laughs). Despite leaving, pretty much everyone and their dog in Na Kae has added me on Facebook so keeping in touch shouldn't be too difficult!

On Thursday, I had a leaving assembly which was the sweetest thing. I sat on stage and had to say a speech (in broken thai and English!) and each student came up to me one by one and gave me a happiness bracelet. It was such a kind gesture, although it kind of cut off my blood circulation a bit wearing 600 bracelets! They also gave me gifts of teddies, flowers and tshirts which I was not expecting at all. I am so overwhelmed by the kindness of both the students and teachers!

 



To the ETA's of 2014

There are a lot of things that I wish I had a 'heads up' on before I came on this trip so I thought I would write a little list of tips for the ETA's of 2014...

 

1. You will never know what is going on. This is the first, and most important unwritten rule of being an ETA here in Thailand. No matter how hard you try to communicate and work out what is happening, you will never be in the loop. (From experience) You may think you are going straight to school, but no, it is never that simple. Every day we stop off multiple times at the side of the road to run errands; drop off banana leafs, pick up computers, cook hotdogs. You may think you have a class, but no. You are going to go and watch a fire show where they set parts of the school on fire and then put the fires out... In a nutshell, don't try and find out what is going on, just go with the flow and embrace the randomness.
2. Hand sanitizer is your best friend. Don't ever leave the house without it.
3. Thai people are overwhelmingly generous and kind. They will go out of your way to make you comfortable and will always ask you 'are you happy?' and 'do you have good dreams?'
4. Bring clothes to cover up. If you want to visit temples, wherever you are, you need to wear clothes that cover your shoulders, arms and legs. It is handy to keep a scarf with you when you're out and about, just in case.
5. Don't think the teaching aspect of the trip will be as easy as it sounds. There is a lot of work involved in lesson planning and homework marking and the hours are often long (I worked 7.30am-5pm). The classrooms are hot and uncomfortable the majority of the time, but you will soon get used to the working environment as time goes on.
6. Culture shock is like one big slap around the face. The heat, the food, the people - but you will get used to it, even if it takes you a few weeks.

Lastly, you will have the most challenging, cultural, exciting experience of your life! It is an opportunity that allows you to explore a gorgeous country with incredible people and it can't be passed up on!

End of week 7 - Ubon Ratchathani

I can't believe it is the end of week 7 - I never thought I would make it this far! I have enjoyed teaching so much this week, it has been a real pleasure to work with the students. I have been teaching them all about school; school actions (sit down, stand up etc), school equipment and school activities. It seems to have really helped with communication in the classroom, even though my classes are just like a long, enthusiastic game of charades!

 

One thing I will miss about my time in Prasong school is definitely how great the students are. I have never had a class that I have not laughed in; even when I have had a bad day, the students cheer me up just by being their crazy selves, usually shouting out in the corridor "I love you Holly teacher!" They show so much respect and admiration for their teachers, and, at the same time, they are cheeky and chat to you like they are your friends. I never thought I would connect so much with the students; I will miss them all...even the ones who crawl around the classroom pretending to be buffalos and the ones who make paper glasses out of my worksheets.

This weekend, I went to Ubon Ratchathani. It was a really relaxed weekend; we went looking around the malls in the city, we went to a market, out for dinner, did more shopping in a huge night market and then for drinks later that night. It felt strange being my last weekend Thailand, I have been here so long!

 

6/1 students

Playing games with my 6/1 students

My lovely 6/2 class

 

My cheeky 1/1 students