tmvolunteers.org

Fri 13th Nov
Took my first load of laundry to the lady in Thai Muang, travelling with a laundry basket shoved between your legs, very ladylike! Anders collected it for me and brought it to the house which was great as it was much heavier wet, I hadn’t thought about that!! One large load cost 30 baht – 50 pence! Had a young Thai girl, Andoo come to stay with her cat, called Beak. Beak decided to go outside and disappeared for a while!! I went to a birthday meal with ‘Doon’ a student of Anders. She was 25 and her present from her parents was their blessing for her happiness. Can you imagine what a 25 yr old in UK would say to that? Beak came back and Andoo and I sat outside for a while chatting. Very pleasant evening.

Sat 14th Nov
Up at 6.00 to get an early bus to Phuket with Andoo. The bus took an hour and a half and cost 60 Baht – just over £1.00! Wow was Phuket busy and hot? We wandered round and Andoo was looking for a flat to rent, she found one, amazing she just walked up to sales people in shops and asked around. It may well not be what she wants for the duration but certainly will suffice for the present. We went shopping, had lunch and went to Central shopping plaza. There were so many white people! I then went to Tescos. A little disappointed, couldn’t find any cereal although I’ve been told its there! Better luck next time. Back to Thai Muang on a very smart bus and then early night.

Sun 15th Nov
Up at 7.00 as Andoo was leaving for Phuket at 8.00, Anders had arranged a lift for her. I was sorry to say goodbye to Andoo and Beakie! It was nice to have some company. Lazy day, a little cleaning, washing and reading. Went to a funeral in the evening with Net. Anyone that knows the deceased goes along to, I guess what we’d call a wake, makes a donation for the food and listens to 8 Buddist monks chanting. Not a bad experience, just a word of advice, do not sit in front of the speakers!

Mon 16th Nov
Am with Fon’s students this week, mechanics and computer students first up. Not too bad. Had lunch with Fon in the canteen, tasty but I was concerned by what Fon was eating but didn’t say anything, however I was to find out what it was the next day!! We arranged to have a meeting with Sunisa and Anders later to discuss how we are going to do these English lessons. They are not getting the best from me and I’m incredibly frustrated with the student’s lack of English. They can read and repeat, parrot fashion but the minute you ask them the same question but in a different order, they’re lost, completely. They write beautifully, probably because they’ve been doing it for 6 years, copying down what has been written on the board. They have little to no understanding of what they have written. It’s so sad.
Did I forget to mention the rain? Seriously when I say rain I mean the heaviest and wettest rain that you could imagine. One minute blazing sunshine, then the wind starts and low and behold the heavens open! The thunder is to say the least thunderous! And the lightening, a sight to be seen. Having said that, it doesn’t stop anyone from getting out and about and when in Rome etc….. and so there I was in flip flops, ¾ length trousers, shirt, very thin jacket all covered by a very fetching purple plastic rain mac with the hood held in to place by my baseball cap! Anders had threatened to take a photo and so you guys may get the last laugh yet! However, travelling in the wind and rain on a motor cycle has two drawbacks – firstly the mac wouldn’t stay over my knees and so was soaked and secondly, my glasses steamed up! Great fun but once inside I was dry within ¼ of an hour! The track outside the house is a challenge though as the puddles just grow and grow until its totally covered in water and you just hope for the best that you don’t hit a pot hole on your way through!

Tues 17th Nov.
Great class with Fon, computer and accounting students, we managed to get beyond the introductions, my name is and where I live to what they do during the day and at what time! Satisfaction. Short lived as I then had 6 mechanics and it was back to square one with my asking the question “What is your name”? answer “I live in…….”! Trying to get them to understand ‘to have’ was almost an impossibility but I think in the end we made it with the help of lots of Thai translation! I went to the canteen again with Fon and this time she ordered me a special treat – yes, you’ve guessed -what she had been eating the previous day. When I looked at it, I thought “they look just like chicken’s feet”! Guess what they were! I had to say something to Fon and explained that we English didn’t really go in for chicken’s feet but thanks all the same. Fortunately she saw the funny side and took them back to the kitchen! The whole school could have heard my sigh of relief!! Meal with Anders and Doon in the evening as Net had gone to another funeral. Again, I witnessed another culinary delight (apparently) this time Ander’s ate it……. a duck’s beak! Have you ever heard the like? Good lord whatever next…….(Actually, I don’t even want to think about it, I find not thinking too much about things is by far the very best way!!) Rode my bike in the pouring rain, covered head to toe in plastic and carrying my laundry basket – what an experience!

Tues 17th Nov
Accounting and computer students were first for today. Very good class, their English was more advanced than any other group that I’ve been with. I was able to go a little further with them, their names, where they live, where they go to college and the times of the day and what they did at those times. It felt really good to actually get somewhere! Wham, into the next class, mechanics and it took me right back to day one. When I asked “where do you live”? the answer I got was “My name is……” It took me ages to help them understand the word where and its meaning. I then moved on to the alphabet and its sounds. Went back to ‘where is something’ and they had no reply! It’s totally demoralising. The basics need to be taught to these students but there isn’t any time. Can you imagine, they have big exams in February, which includes English, and what their chances might be of getting good results!

Wed 18th Nov
Only one lesson today and so I had a late start, actually I had an even later start as my bike wouldn’t start. Rang Anders who came and collected me and took me to school, wasn’t too late. Good lesson with accounting and marketing students, it makes such a difference when it goes well. Got a lift from the Asst Director in his brand new very smart 4 wheel drive thingy and he dropped me at George’s Pizza. I have become addicted to Veronica’s cold coffee, absolutely delicious! Anders picked me up and I went back to the house to wait for Tin (owner of bike) and his mechanic. Apparently, I had a flat battery – (the bike has….) easily remedied and I’m out and about again. Dinner in town with Anders and Net, it’s so nice to know that I have company every evening and I’m always home by 8.30pm!

Thurs 19th Nov
Two classes today, first Mechanics. They were really quite good and we managed to talk about the family and who lives where so all in all a good lesson and they seemed to enjoy it especially when we did the alphabet and I asked for a word for each letter, amazing how many makes of car and bike they know! Then I had a tourism class, these students were excellent (in comparison to some of the others!) and they really got involved in the lesson. It feels so great when you know they have learnt something new, mind you, am not sure how long they will remember it for. My weeks are split between two teachers and their students and so I don’t see this week’s students until the week after next and that’s way too long. Did I mention that each lesson is two hours long but the time doesn’t seem to drag!
Just figured that I haven’t really described the house. It’s out of town going towards Ban Kownoi and you get to it via dirt track. It has its own front garden with a huge pair of sliding gates (left open though) and a covered front porch. You enter straight into the living area, lounge, open plan area (call it what you will) its L shaped. Off this are two bedrooms. At the end are the kitchen and the bathroom. The kitchen is large with a tiled work top, sink and fridge. There are no cupboards and now I understand why (well for food really) because you must keep nearly everything in the fridge. The heat destroys things at an amazing speed. Speaking of the heat you must regularly air your clothes otherwise they start to smell! Odd but true. There is a covered back porch and back garden, have to add, not a single flower in sight! Every window has a built in metal window guard so windows can be left open but no-one can get in. Both front and back doors have the same metal gate. Each morning I leave both doors open and several windows, happy in the knowledge that it’s safe. Must confess it took me at least a week to feel comfortable about doing it! The house is relatively cool because of the air and it may mean that someone can’t get in but it doesn’t mean that something can’t get in! Every time I come home I call “Anyone home”? Just in the hope that if I have an unwanted visitor, mouse, very large spider, rat or snake, they hear me and think “That’s it I’m off she’s back”! I can forever live in hope. Actually it’s not been too bad but I still jump 6ft if something moves and I haven’t seen it beforehand! I may well still be doing that at the end of my time here. There are three electric fans in the house, an absolute necessity. Your fresh water comes in 20 litre containers which Anders kindly brings up. No way could I handle that and the motor cycle. There is water from the well (in the kitchen) apparently there is an abundance of water and every house (and new ones being built) have their own wells, a machine just comes along and drills into the natural water supply. Good water pressure too. There is a small house immediately next door but it’s empty at the moment. On the other side is a larger house, with flowers in their garden, and loads of dogs. Can’t figure whether all the dogs belong to people around here or whether they are mostly strays, I think after having talked to Anders, it’s the latter. Noisy lot is all I can say but you do get used to them. Just don’t plan on having a lay-in! No chance. I have now been here two weeks and have settled really well despite the total difference to our way of life. That was partly what this was all about, seeing a different culture, experiencing, learning and living it.

…to be continued.