Laney – Part VI of volunteering in Thailand
Thurs 24th Dec
You’ll notice that I’m missing a few days – wont go in to detail but suffice to say I haven’t been very well – nothing serious – and everyone has been very helpful and the staff at Thai Mueang hospital were great.
Fri 25th Dec
Happy Christmas! Back to school as feeling much better – how else would I want to spend Christmas Day but teaching! Had a lovely lunch, pork noodle soup, my favourite and something that I have every day. I must have been wished a Merry Christmas at least 100 times and the students knew a little bit of Jingle Bells and so we had a sing song.
I went to the beach just so I could say “I went to the beach on Christmas Day”! It was lovely and peaceful with hazy sunshine – but I can’t complain as there is snow in England and Germany. Just Anders and I having dinner as Net was busy at school, quiet meal, then I went home and Net was there with a young German volunteer, Christin from Baluga school. She stayed the night as we are all going to Phuket tomorrow.
Sat 26th Dec
Net picked us up at 08.00 and off we went to Phuket, her cousin and a friend were with us and once we arrived, we split up as we had different things to do. Christin and I went shopping, eating, booked in to the Crystal hotel. We did more shopping and then met up with Fon – my English teacher from school – with her husband Nae and son, Noney. We went to look at the sunset from a very popular place, Phrom Thep Cape. It was lovely but unfortunately cloudy and so not the greatest sunset but a lovely idea all the same. We all went to dinner and arranged to meet the next day.
Sun 27th Dec
Following an unusual American breakfast – we went to meet Andoo at the market, did some more shopping and waited for Fon. We went to Kata Karon beach and then to Patong beach for lunch. It was wonderful sitting there people watching and what amazing people. All foreigners – the only Thais on the beach were those working. I was fascinated by the ‘Lady-boys’. It’s quite difficult to tell with some of them, some of course are very obvious but others not so. Fantastic legs – no cellulite there! Apparently I have to be in Patong at night-time to really see them at their best, can’t wait. Christin and I caught the bus back to Thai Mueang and met Anders, Net and some of their friends at a restaurant on the beach, we had dinner then back to the house. Christin and I sat and chatted and talked girlie stuff, it was great.
Mon 28th Dec
I took two classes for Fon this morning as she was in a meeting. Went well and I back-tracked a little and was pleasantly surprised when the students remembered a fair amount of the work. We had a good time and I think they enjoyed themselves. Strange to think of students enjoying themselves in class but you have to understand that the Thai way is totally different to ours. Some students turn up 20 – 30 minutes late for class – but that’s okay, they were having breakfast! Some would ask to be excused – to nip to the toilets for a quick ciggie! Right – can you imagine this in the UK!
I went to the beach again but only for a little while and then back home to catch up on my blog. Met Anders and Net for dinner – had pork noodle soup! I’m going to look like a noodle soon! Back home to watch a film then bed. It’s absolutely pouring tonight but I guess I shouldn’t complain as it’s still about 28 degrees and its 20.30!
Tags: Laney Parker, Our Volunteers, Phuket, volunteering in thailand