Stateside (For Almost Three Months)

They say that your first class stays with you. I spent three months student teaching high school English to sixty-six teenagers from over six countries. It was incredible and I wouldn't trade it for anything. My only regrets are that I didn't travel within Asia and that I struggled with forming good relationships with my older students.

Living and working overseas is incredibly challenging, and I saw this firsthand while living in Chiang Mai for three months. I think that student teaching overseas gave me the skills and confidence to embark on future expeditions, such as full-time teaching in a public school in the states, living on my own, forming professional working relationships with others, potentially moving overseas longer term in the future, and other life adventures.

I have been offered and accepted a position teaching Elementary English as a Second Language with a public school district, and I am excited for this next challenge. I would not be here if it weren't for Chiang Mai.

Thank you, Thailand, my students, my friends, my roommates, my cooperating teachers, and the school staff for everything. I'm so blessed to have known you.

The relationships truly were worth the goodbyes. And the hellos.

--



"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Stateside Again & Re-Entry

As of today, I have been back in the states for almost two weeks. It has been a crazy two weeks, that's for sure! Thank you so much for all of you who are already (and still) praying for me and keeping me in your thoughts, as I need them for my upcoming major student teaching assignments. In the mean time, let's talk about re-entry shock.

The number one thing that has frustrated me about re-entry (i.e. returning back to the states) is this question:

So, how was China?!?

I want to be gracious and understanding towards people who inadvertently ask me this question. At least they're asking, right? On the other hand, having to find a way to answer this tactfully makes me feel as if the person asking doesn't really care about my experience. I have to determine how much to share with them, how much to entrust them with.

Let me clear up a couple things: It's Thailand. Chiang Mai, Thailand. And it is. Not was. The country hasn't fallen off the edge of the earth. And it is not just a country, it's a culture. A way of life. It's people with goals for the future and a rich heritage in their past. It's where half of my heart lives. Sixty-six beloved teenagers and a host of colleagues and friends whom I love call Chiang Mai home, at least for a time. God was working there before I went and He is working there still. He is working in the lives of missionary kids whose families are stationed there and He is using them to show love to his Thai, Hmong, Lao, Karen, Lisu, Lahu, and expatriate children, as well as those who live in various other Southeast Asian countries. Chiang Mai is just a three hour plane flight from roughly one third of the world's population. It is not only a relatively safe location for international workers, but also a hub of many missions organizations. So much is (not was) happening in a place as seemingly dark as Asia.

My overseas student teaching experience is technically over, with just paperwork to complete before I can graduate, but God's work in Chiang Mai, Thailand is not. My encouragement to people asking is to make the was question about the trip and the is question about the country, people, and work God is doing. The trip is over, but the country and God's work there, the people, memories, desires, cravings for local food, and relationships are not.

At this point in the re-entry process, I am reflecting on this experience and learning from it as I compile everything I did during student teaching into a portfolio that demonstrates what I have learned about teaching. Processing the past three and a half months have been difficult, but rewarding, and I am so blessed to have enjoyed that time in Chiang Mai.

Trying to give and receive plenty of grace during the re-entry process,
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Sunset in Bangkok

As I write this, the sun is setting in front of me on the landing strip at Bangkok International Airport. I found one of those "free internet" kiosks - the ones where you don't look up your bank account information, but you do check your Facebook. Go figure. Anyway, I've been here since 3 or 4pm Bangkok time, and my flight leaves at 10:40pm Bangkok time, which is in less than four hours. I have four currencies in my wallet (but not much of any of them) and I've been awake since 5am. This will be flight number three out of four. It's a bit bewildering.

As I sit here, I find myself feeling like I've crossed over into the "Stateside" side of this trip again. If you've followed my blog for long, you know that before I arrived in Chiang Mai, I titled my posts "Stateside Update" and a number. At this point (hours but not countries removed from Chiang Mai), I feel like I've somehow ended up back at "Stateside." The irony of this is that almost everything in my life comes full circle again. However, the truth is that even though I feel like I've returned to the beginning, I am definitely not the same person I was when I began.

For one, I am intimately more aware of (even if I don't understand completely) the norms of Thai culture. I noticed this significantly when I arrived in Hong Kong for a five-day mini-vacation with my friend Michelle. Let's just say that Thai people are friendly, accomodating, and try not to walk in front of other people. Hong Kong people? Not so much. Even though I had been to Hong Kong in 2012, it was a different experience visiting after three months in Thailand.

In addition, I gained the mentorship and friendship of many amazing people from all over the US and the world while I was serving in Chiang Mai. I also fell in love with 66+ teenagers, who just happen to be some of the greatest kids ever. I don't have favorites, but if I did, they would top my list.

There are many more realizations soon to be made regarding this trip, but I think time is needed to process them. I may feel as if I have already made it back to "Stateside," but I am actually over twelve hours from arriving back in the states. It's okay, though, because God is good, and he gives us time and jet lag and airplane flights in order to begin to grieve the loss of one culture and role while we come to accept another culture and role.

One thing I learned while I was in Chiang Mai is that physical and emotional distance provides clarity and objectivity. I prayed that distance from the states would provide clarity, and now I pray that distance from my three months in Chiang Mai would provide clarity. By this, I mean that I desire to look back and see God at work in my life during that time. I want to be able to trace, even minutely, growth and changes and memorable moments. God is good, and He is working all things together for good.

More to come,


--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Love and Lose (And Do it Well)

I think it hit me today that I did not come to Chiang Mai for my benefit. Yes, I have benefitted greatly from this experience. I have grown so much professionally and personally. I have been challenged and encouraged every single day, but coming here was not for me. It was for the students with whom I have had the privilege of working.

One of my fears in signing up for the program for overseas student teaching (POST) was that my students wouldn't like me. Even writing that makes me cringe. I have had more notes, hugs, compliments, and "thank you"s (in multiple languages) than I can count. Most recently, a ninth grader asked me to the school dance and a twelfth grader joked about getting my phone number. No matter how many times they annoy me, these kids have stolen my heart. And from their responses to my impending departure, I believe many of them have a place in their hearts for me.

It is this "impending departure," however, that has me worried. Leaving and being left are common occurances in the lives of Third Culture Kids (all of my students are TCKs in some way or another), and I feared that my much-too-short time with them was perpetuating the painful reality of the transient world in which they live. Has it even been worth it? I asked my housemate and friend Becky today. I was afraid I had made their already tangled lives more difficult.

Becky quickly countered my fear. They are richer for having known you and having been taught by you. She said. And you are richer for having known them and taught them. You know what? She is right.

I used to despise the saying "It is better to have loved and lost than never loved at all." I got so upset when people would say it because I felt like it wasn't true. For all of its perks, love is incredibly painful. Why woud I go through all of that knowing it would all end in disaster?

Yet, here I am, loving these kids and being willing to let them go. Sure, we'll be friends on Facebook when I officially finish student teaching, and we'll like each other's status about Thailand and jet lag, and we might see each other again because this world is a very small place, but my work here is done. That moment in time when I stood before 23 juniors and seniors and asked them to watch what they say because their words have power will never come again. That split second when I realized I had fallen in love with my 43 freshmen as they loved on Thai elementary school children is not going to happen the same way again. I could never get back those moments again, even though I will teach hundreds of teenagers in my lifetime.

Am I depressed that I will never get this back again? No. I'm blessed. I'm rich with the experience and the memories and the lessons learned. Third Culture Kids who are able to process their experiences (with the help of parents, teachers, counselors, etc) are able to love and lose. It happens. It hurts. They know it because they've experienced it. They often struggle to deal with the grief (many TCKs often unheathily build up unresolved grief), but with help, they work through it. They are richer for having had the Third Culture Kid experience, and most are very proud of it. Losing hurts, but they loved and invested; they unpacked and planted trees. It is the relationships that make the experience worth it. TCKs lose much, but they gain so much more.

I hope and pray that the too-short months I've spent with these precious students have somehow encouraged them. May they find God and his grace right where they struggle most. May they be motivated to keep on keeping on. May God's name be lifted and praised before mine is even remembered. He has great plans for them.

In Him,
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

TCKs and Me

Before I came to Thailand, I asked God to show me what the Third Culture Kid (TCK) life is like. I had explored websites and articles, been to training, read books, and even conducted an online survey, but I still didn't know much about TCKs. The more time I spent with my students (all of whom are Third Culture Kids or Cross-Cultural Kids in one way or another), the more I realized how little I know about them and how underprepared I was to work with them. I posted about this frustration on Facebook, and a friend encouraged me to listen to my students. Ask questions and listen. That's really all I can do.

A bit about questions: When I first arrived here, I met both student TCKs and staff member A[dult]TCKs that asked me some amazing questions. Third Culture Kids literally ask the best questions. With some of their questions, I felt energized to talk forever (we all love talking about ourselves, right?). Other questions stumped me and left me feeling like I couldn't think straight. I also felt like anything I could ask in return was just not good enough. So even though I have spent some time asking questions and listening, there is still so much I feel like I could be doing. Part of me is thankful I have two weeks left in the school so that I can be a listening ear and a good presence (and answer more inspiring questions!) without the requirements of teaching full time.

Anyway, before I came, I asked God to show me what TCK life is like, with my expectations being that I would move here, come into the school, and immediately have heart-to-hearts with teenage girls. That's not exactly what happened. One reason for that is because teenagers don't naturally spill their life stories to people they have just met. In addition, I wanted to treat my students as people and as students before I treated them as TCKs, so I came into it with that primary focus. While I have not learned the ins and outs of the entire TCK lifestyle so far nor I have any heart to hearts with teenagers recently, I have heard from my students in conversations and in their journal entries about their experiences. One Thai student shared with me her struggles about growing up in a Thai family but attending our international school, which has a westernized schooling system. In her family's Thai culture, stoicism and not showing off your emotions is praised, whereas in our school, expressing yourself is highly praised. What an interesting concept.

The one aspect of this experience that has helped me understand the TCK journey the most, however, is my own experience. God has given me a tiny glimpse of a Third Culture Kid's life. In no way do I claim the TCK life as my own. I may have had a moderately mobile upbringing but not an international one. In fact, I have not experienced most of what my students have experienced. Their lives are, as I expressed one day, a tangled mess of life. Beautiful and very much alive, but also tangled.

For example, I have realized the innate sense of loneliness of many of my students, because I have felt it myself. I have felt the feelings of no one else gets me that many of my students feel on a regular basis. I can identify with feeling inadequate one day and on top of the world the next. I understand questioning God's provision and direction. I understand feeling so wrapped up in community that you are left feeling essentially alone. I know how it feels to not be able to find the right words in a situation, or to have to sift through multiple languages to find the right words. I identify with the pervasive need many of my students feel to not only act but to be perfect. I am not a TCK (and I am only a moderately Mobile Kid), but I can identify with those feelings and attitudes. I can read all the books on TCKs, but until I resonate with their experiences, even if only a little bit, I will not understand them.

I hope that I continue to have experiences to be able to work with Third Culture Kids. I see such joy in their lives, even the ones who struggle sometimes. I see such potential in them to do incredible things politically, culturally, spiritually, relationally, and personally. TCKs, CCKs, and HMKs are blessed with incredible experiences that both help and hinder them. By that, I mean that these lives (which have often been chosen for them) are both amazing and difficult. Like all kids, they need someone to help them process their experiences, maybe more often or sooner than monocultural kids. It's time parents, teachers, school staff, church members and leadership, government workers, and everyone else are aware of how best to work with these kids, so that these kids are able to utilize their experiences in healthy ways.

Step number one to working with TCKs: Ask and Listen. The best way to validate someone is to listen to them.

--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Kuhn phuut pasaa Thai dai mai khaa?

(Do you speak Thai?) And the answer to that would be "Mai chai khaa" (No), but I am learning!

Other than basic "hello" and "how are you" and my numbers, I know some words to describe food (for example, "tawt" means "fried" and "gai" means "chicken") and to buy things ("tao ri" means "how much [money]").

And even though school is taught entirely in English, with the exception of Thai and Spanish classes, I'm learning a lot about pasaa Thai (Thai language) and other languages while I'm here. So, story time!

When I asked a group of senior boys if they were going to read Frankenstein (as opposed to working on another assignment) during their work day today, one of them immediately responded "Miss W, mai ow" (which means "don't want").  I had to laugh at that one! I usually hear "mai ow" in situations where you are thinking about buying something (or someone is asking if you would like to buy something), and you tell them "no thanks" (Mai ow, kawp kuhn khaa).   

A group of my Korean students taught me "thank you" in Korean today. When sounded out it is like: "Kham-sa-ham-nii-da," but they say it fast to me. I hope I can use khamsahamniida8 when I fly back through Korea to get home.

One of my half-Thai students was sharing about a surgery he had when he was younger. He said that leading up to the surgery, he was afraid he would lose his leg, and I was like "wow, I didn't know that!" I wanted to talk with him his leg problems. Then he said that it was a surgery on his kidney, and that the Thai word for kidney is "Thigh," so he thought it was his leg, not his kidney, because he was still learning both languages. I thought that was very funny.

Most of my students are, in some way or another,, bilingual or trilingual. I am consistently impressed by them, and encouraged to keep going and keep pressing on when I see them. When one of my Korean students gives directions to the Thai children in Thai on ministry day, when one of my students shares his testimony, when one of my ELL students finally finds a book he loves, when one of my Thai students nurses my dying plant to life, when six of my students effectively lead their class and represent their class to student council... I am so impressed and so blessed.

The Most Challenging Part

Upon reading my blog posts and thoughts from earlier this semester, I have become aware that I worried about all of the wrong things. I worried about finances, but I received a refund from the college. I worried about safety, but Thailand is probably the safest country in all of Asia. I worried about getting to the grocery store and buying food and stuff, but we do that every week.

In fact, my biggest struggle is not the language barrier, as I once thought it'd be. Although Thai is a tonal language (which makes it incredibly difficult to speak), I can get by with a few simple phrases, numbers, and lots of pointing and nodding and wai-ing (bowing). Also, adding "khaa" to the end of anything makes it more polite. Don't get me started on reading and writing Thai, however. That's not going to happen in 13 weeks! :)

My biggest struggle is not even the cultural differences. As my roommate Cara says, when you start to understand a culture or people group anthropologically, you can understand why they do (and don't do) certain things. For example, Thai people don't wear their shoes in homes, especially someone else's home. For one, the ground is dirty and many Thai people walk or ride songtaos or motorbikes. In addition, most people here who have pretty good jobs hire a mae baan (may BAHN), like a housekeeper, to sweep, mop, clean bathrooms, etc. Our mae baan visits once a week for half a day. Mae baans may also be asked to watch after children, do laundry, cook meals, etc. Wealthier people may hire a mae baan to live in their homes full time. Anyway, one reason Thai people don't walk in someone's house with their shoes on is because it shows disrespect to the mae baan or whoever cleaned the house. Thais (and Asians in general) are very focused on respect. I have observed and experienced, however, that Thai people are very forgiving. Believe me, I have made many mistakes, like pointing at something with my foot, dropping baht (currency), giving and taking baht with my left hand, saying thank you in English instead of Thai (and once saying hello instead of thank you because I forgot which was which), and eating with my fork (and probably more I'm not aware of!). While most people don't mind it, is culturally incorrect to lift your fork to your mouth. Instead, the fork is used to push food onto the spoon, which you then eat from. (With the spoon in your right hand.) For a long time, I didn't understand why this was the way things were done. And then I tried eating a rice-based dish with a fork while having a conversation. Impossible. It is so much easier to scoop your rice and pork into a spoon than to try to balance rice on your fork! Now that I've learned how to use my fork and spoon, even something so small, I feel more able to handle the culture.

My biggest struggle is not even homesickness. I know, I know. Hearing me say this may make you think that I don't miss you all. Believe me, I do. Tremendously. I think of you guys a lot. I miss the funny things you do and say. I miss not having to explain funny memories. I miss your companionship. I miss hanging out with guys my own age. I also miss a lot of things from the states, like Chick-Fil-A (although this cute little restaurant near my neighborhood can whip up some awesome khao mun gai - rice with chicken). I miss being able to drive myself, because I have to depend on songtaos and generous friends and my own bicycle to get places. Also, not being able to communicate effectively with most people at markets, stores, and restaurants is challenging. It's a challenge, but I'm learning to rise to it and seek help when I need it. That's not my biggest struggle.

For a long time, my biggest struggle here was that I was the only person with my unique experience. I was the only student teacher from TFC at GIS. I felt very alone. And then I met Amy, who just graduated from a teacher education program in Colorado (she did her student teaching in the Fall). Amy has been a safe person for me to talk to, and we can share our student teaching experiences and our mutual worries over our futures. With someone who understands a little more than most people by my side, my biggest struggle most recently has been lesson planning. I know, it sounds really pathetic. I mean, yeah, I have spent the last three years learning how to write and teach lesson plans. But when you're actually sitting down to do it day in and day out, it is extremely difficult. I'm taking my teacher's plans from previous years and what their students need this year (and in the case of one class, two teachers' plans and needs), combining that with my unit plans that I've developed to include all my resources, mixing that with the college wants me to do, developing materials and resources where I don't already have them, and filling out the lesson plan format according to what the college requires. I am overwhelmed with all that is required (for all the different people) and how I am supposed to finish all of my lesson plans by Thursday night when I've spent all my free time (and after school until 5 or 6) gading papers, tests, and finding resources. Okay, so I know it sounds like I'm complaining, and I appreciate the high standard I'm being held to, but it is very difficult being responsible for so much and investing into these kids at the same time.

But you know what I've realized? I'm not an excellent teacher if my lesson plans are perfect but my students don't know they are loved. Granted, I have to know what I'm doing each class period, especially because I'm being evaluated practically every day. However, if I am here just to teach, I am failing at life. To paraphrase Paul's letter to the Corinthians:

If I could speak all the first languages of my ELL students, but didn't love them, I would only be a noisy gong or clanging symbol. If had the gift of differentiation, and if I understood all literature and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such alignment to the standards that my students not only aced all tests but could apply their learning to the real world, but I didn't love them, I would be nothing. If I gave my afternoons and weekends to working with students and even if, God forbid, I died in the line of protecting my students, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love them, I would have gained nothing.

(Paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

So this is what I'm left with. I only have two more weeks of intense student teaching lesson plans, so I'm going to make the most of it even though it is hard, and I'm going to continue to love on my kids.

Please be praying that I would have opportunities to encourage my students. I have 43 ninth graders in three classes and 23 seniors in one class. Please pray that conversations and lessons would be edifying and God would be the center. Please also pray for my students' families, many of whom are involved directly in international missions. Ask God for safety and direction for their ministries.

Amen.

--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Two Weeks Full-Time and SEW

I have had a wonderful past couple of weeks with my amazing ninth and twelfth graders. On most days, I have a first period study hall, second and third period planning, fourth period English 9, fifth period British Literature, sixth period English 9, lunch, English 9 again, and then planning eighth period. Wednesdays and Thursdays, we have block scheduling, in which I see all of my classes over those two days for a longer period.

As of today, I have finished two weeks of full-time teaching, with four to go. I'm also halfway through my 13 weeks here. Professionally, the lesson I have learned most significantly so far is to connect what we're reading to my students' lives. They probably do not care a lick about The Odyssey, but they do have ideas about leadership, heroes, foretelling and changing the future, and the meaning of home. So, instead of reading the text because it is in the curriculum, we are reading the text for the themes and important issues.

In my personal life, I have learned that these kids have my heart. I have completely fallen in love with my students. They are so intelligent, funny, and caring. They are brave, wise, and willing. There's something about Third Culture Kids that melts my heart, and these kids have shown me what being a TCK is all about. They have shown me both the joys and pains of their often very transient lifestyles. They have welcomed me in to their lives in a way I could never expect them to. I am grateful and blessed.

One of the reasons I am so emotional about this is because we just finished Spiritual Emphasis Week at GIS. This week, we had chapels Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings and evenings, with Wednesday night chapel being fireside worship and testimony time. Two of my students shared very powerful and God-honoring testimonies. Thursday (today), we spent the day in ministry across Chiang Mai. I went with most of the ninth graders to Srisuphan Elementary School, a very small school that serves mostly children from the hill villages of Nothern Thailand. There were three classrooms and little wooden chairs and desks in each classroom. We had groups for English teaching, games, and crafts. I was blessed to be able to sneak a peek into all three groups as the day went on. I got lots of pictures, some of which I'll be able to post to my Facebook soon (see here).

One funny story from the day: The English group taught the kids to play "Simon Says" with English vocabulary they had just learned. The kids were having trouble understanding the concept, even though one of my students  (Joseph) was explaining the directions in Thai, so Joseph took another approach to explaining it, still in Thai, and everyone laughed. When one of my students realized I hadn't caught the joke, he leaned over and explained that Joseph had just said, "We'll call it 'Joseph Says.' My name is Joseph, but you can call me the Handsome One. So, when 'The Handsome One says....'" I laughed so much today, just soaking in the joy of my students as they interacted with these young Thai kids. My students impress and encourage me every day. They are also so very gracious. What a blessing.

When news about the court case between GIS and the people who own the property reached me last year, I was very worried that I would end up teaching in a basement somewhere with no technology. However, that is not the case. We have a simply gorgeous property, and all the rooms have air conditioning units. I am so amazed by how God provides for these teachers and families, many of whom are missionaries or other kinds of international workers. God is good.

Until next time,
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Let Full Time Begin! And other joys.

Tomorrow begins my first day of full time teaching. Student teaching is divided into sectiions, with a period of observations at the beginning and end, and six weeks of teaching in the middle. In addition, tomorrow marks one month since I have left the States.  All I have to say about both of the revelations is: How did it get here so fast?!?

During POST (Program for Overseas Student Teaching) training, we were encouraged to set small goals for ourselves on a regular basis. It is much easier to enjoy your time in a new place with new responsibilities if you set goals that are relatively easy to meet but which are still challenging. My goal for my first week was to survive, so that was not too difficult. My goal for week two was to learn my students' names (all 43 of my ninth graders'), which I accomplished by Thursday. Week three was to say "Sawadee Khaa" (Hello) to the guards on my way into school and to call my students by their names outside of the classroom. This past week, my goal was to learn my numbers in Thai: Nuung, song, sahm, see, ha, hok, jet, bpet, gao, sip. That was one through ten: success! I think my goal for week five will be to survive my first week of teaching, and maybe to learn my senior students' names.

One thing I wanted to share with you all was that my roommate Cara and I have found a church that we enjoy, and today was our second time going there. We are really enjoyinng being in community with many missionary families who attend the church. Today, however, the message wasn't quite working for me. It turns out God and I needed to talk. Instead of focusing on the sermon, I was drawn to a conversation with a God who already knows everything I have done and everything I will do (and yet loves me anyway). In a moment of shame, I cried out to God and he reminded me that my sin is as far as the east is from the west. My guilt has already been paid for by his Son's death and my freedom has already been declared by his Son's resurrection. He told me that he has given me grace. We took communion at the end of the service, which is symbolic both in a Christian sense and to me personally as a gift of second chances. Our God is so good. You don't have to fly around the world to hear from God, but sometimes being out of your comfort zone makes you more willing to hear him. It definitely does for me.

Until next time,
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

"Water" we Drinking in Thailand?

A cultural note about Thailand: we don't drink the tap water. Actually, most of Asia doesn't drink the tap water, actually. In order to consume water from the faucet, the water must be boiled for at least for a minute. Interestingly, we wash dishes, fruit, and ourselves in the faucet water, but it's not drinkable.

Drinking water is available from the convenience and grocery stores in large 6-liter containers, but we also get water delivered to our house once a week



Our water delivery service uses glass bottles in a plastic crate (above). Every Wednesday, we put the empty bottles in the crate right inside our front gate with 50 baht (about $1.50).

 When we come home from school, the delivery company has brought us all refilled bottles of water! Even though we can't drink the water, this is really a neat system for delivering drinking water. 

Until next time,

--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Teach and Be Taught

Good morning, world! It is currently 11am on Saturday the 18th here in Chiang Mai.

Since I last wrote, I have moved into my Chiang Mai home! My housemates Cara and Becky and I are renting a duplex in a muu baan (neighborhood) called World Club Land, which is right next to our school. I have a five minute walk to school every morning, which is a lovely commute!

This past Thursday night, Cara's friend Sera took us to a place called Documentary Arts Asia. It is a house in a neighborhood closer to the center of Chiang Mai (near the moat) that they have converted into a library/museum and a theater, with seating on the floor or balcony. It is a very eclectic and hipster-y place. We watched a neat documentary on human connection and emotions. It was in English, and there were a lot of farangs (foreigners) there. Before going to see the documentary, we went to an outdoor market and ordered dinner from the food vendors there. I had pork leg rice and a passionfruit smoothie, which were both really good! I got back a bit late, but I really enjoyed the experience. Documentary Arts Asia shows documentaries on Thursday nights and independent movies on Monday nights.

When I got to Chiang Mai, I thought that laundry would be difficult, but it is really simple. We have a washing machine on our back porch area, which is a screened-in room connected to the back of our house. No one has dryers here, but we have a large drying rack. (And the washer setttings are in English!) Speaking of laundry, I am currently waiting on my clothes to dry. In the cool season (December through March), temperatures are usually between 60 and 80 fahrenheit, and clothes take a while to dry. In the hot season (March through late summer), they dry faster. People are telling me that during the hot season, it gets up to and above 100 degrees. When I first got here, I thought that 80 was really hot, but now I'm used to wearing 3/4-sleeved shirts or little cardigans to school, because it is only going to get hotter!

Teaching has been going very well! This is my second week and I have been teaching half-periods, reviewing homework, leading group activities, and grading classwork and journals this week. Yesterday (Friday), my cooperating teacher was sick, so I subbed for all of his classes. Usually I only work with his ninth grade classes, but I subbed for the 12th grade Advanced Placement class and it went well. I have found that I really enjoy teaching. Perhaps it is because these students are easy to work with, but I have felt very successful this week. I think Monday was a tad bit rocky, but as the week went on, I began to feel more and more comfortable with the students.

The reason I titled this post "Teach and Be Taught" is because while I am teaching my ninth graders (and eventually my twelfth grade British Literature class), I am also learning. I am "being taught" by my cooperating teacher, who has many years of experience and works very well with the students. I am learning from his example, and I am compiling his comments and making adjustments based on what he says. I am also "being taught" everytime I explore the city or take a ride on a songtaew or visit someplace new. Student teaching, as I said in a previous post, is as much (or more) being a student as it is being a teacher. I am learning so much! I have been journaling quite a bit about that experience and I hope to share some "snippets from my Chiang Mai journal" sometime.

I have some pictures on Facebook of my latest adventures. Feel free to add me as a friend if you aren't already or click here to see my photo album if you do not have a Facebook account.

In terms of prayer requests, please pray for continued safety for all the teachers, families, and residents of Thailand as there are still protests and demonstrations in Bangkok. Please pray that my refund check from my college would come through in a timely manner. I also ask that you would pray for the school I'm at (Grace International School), as they continue with the court case I mentioned earlier. Finally, pray for one of my students whose parents have separated.

With Love,
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

About Student Teaching

Dear Friends,

I have finished my first week of student teaching! This week was full of making schedules, talking with teachers, observing classes, and meeting my students. I have nailed down my daily schedule: I have three planning periods, three 9th grade classes, one tutorial (study hall), and one 12th grade British Literature class. This allows me to work both with the freshmen and the seniors, which is really going to stretch me, but I am excited for it! I start full-time teaching in February, but I will be teaching all three 9th grade classes on Monday and Friday this coming week, and reviewing homework on Tuesday. Most of student teaching is not the actual teaching. Most of my time, at least right now, is spent planning. I'm planning an overview of the quarter, my lesson plans for next week, my bulletin board idea, fun games and activities I can do in the classroom, and more. Already, hours have been spent with my cooperating teacher to nail down things like expectations, standards, classroom management, and schedules. The good news is that I feel very involved. I feel as if my cooperating teacher and I are partners, working to bring about the common goal of knowledgable and disciplined and compassionate students. And that is really exciting.

In terms of what is going on personally, I am still adjusting to the time change and jet lag (Thailand is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time). I have been blessed to be hosted this first week by three sweet teachers who live across the main road from the school. They have been super sweet in caring for me. They have all raised support to serve at GIS, which is really a testament to their hearts for students.

On Tuesday, I went out with these ladies to eat Italian food. From left: Leslie, Zoe, Christine, and me. Zoe is the high school librarian and my ride to school each morning. Such a lovely bunch! My plans for this weekend include brunch with Christine and Zoe and shopping with Leslie.

I will be renting a townhome/duplex place with a social studies teacher named Becky and an elementary teacher's aide named Cara for the remainder of my three months here. This place is in the same neighborhood as the school and just a short walk away. The girl who currently lives with Becky is getting married this weekend, so I will move in once she has moved. Cara arrives late Sunday night from Texas, and she will move in shortly after that.

Speaking of Cara's arrival, I am reminded of the current political situation in Thailand. I am in the northern part of Thailand where it is calm, but there have been political demonstrations in Bangkok. I would ask you to lift up that we would remain protected in Chiang Mai and that, if there are demonstrations, they would be peaceful. We are taking precautions, and most people at the school believe we will not have any trouble.

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement! I have been really blessed by the opportunity to make friends, meet students, get to know people, and learn from some awesome teachers and staff. I already feel like GIS is a family and I am blessed to be here for my student teaching.

There is always much more to write about and I appreciate your patience in giving me time to write some more of it! Until then,
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

I'm Here!!

This morning at about 8am, I arrived in the Chiang Mai airport after a 15 hour flight, a 4 hour layover, a 6 hour flight, a 6 hour layover, and a one hour flight. Basically, I've been awake for a very long time. Granted, I napped in the Bangkok airport, but it just isn't the same as an actual night's rest.

I'm spending my first week in Thailand with three ladies who all teach at Grace. Christine, a fifth grade teacher, picked me up from the airport this morning with her roommate Zoe's car and, after I showered, took me grocery shopping at the Big C Supermarket. And let me tell you, that place is huge. I had quite a bit of trouble navigating the aisles (even though Christine was pushing the cart), figuring out prices (even though I know 30 Baht is 1 USD), and speaking with the guy working the cash register (I had no confidence when it came to counting out baht or saying "Kope Khun Khaa" = "Thank You").

When my roommates Cara and Becky arrive and our duplex is ready, we'll move into our home for the next 3-4 months. Already, I'm having difficulty in Christine's house with the water heater box and air conditioning box, both on the walls, the sliding gate in the front yard, and the undrinkable water that comes out of the faucets. Oh, and did I mention they drive on the other side of the road? I consistently try to get into Zoe's car on the wrong side every time.

Welcome to culture shock. It kindof hit me in the face that things are done differently here all of a sudden. I feel like I had not done enough research on Chiang Mai before coming here. All I know how to say is "Thank you" and "Hello," and I haven't actually said those to real Thai people yet out of nervousness and the feeling that I'm going to pronounce every letter wrong.

And you know what? Maybe it's okay to be knocked a bit helter-skelter sometimes, to face difficulties and to have to rely on other people, to not have it all together. Maybe that's okay. It will take time, just like everything else does, to adjust to bahts and motorbikes and the weather.

Speaking of which, it is currently in the 70s, and I'm wearing shorts, a short sleeved shirt, and Chacos. I just rode on the back of Christine's motorcycle from her house to this cute little outdoor open-air coffeeshop with water fountains, antique-looking chairs, and wifi. I'm sipping a mango smoothie and making comments about how cute this place is.

Deep thought for the day: Not all new things are difficult, and not all difficulties are new.
I'm looking forward to meeting my students tomorrow!
Stay tuned for pictures of the adventures.

Alex

Stateside Update 16: Final Preparations

Soon my posts to this blog will not read "Stateside Updates" or "Preparation," because my first flight leaves tomorrow at lunch time. Starting tomorrow morning, I will spend over 30 hours in airplanes and airports. I will arrive in Chiang Mai at 8am Sunday local time, which is 8pm Eastern Standard Time (for those of you interested in Skyping me, Chiang Mai is 12 hours ahead of EST.)

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to my arrival in Thailand and I am blessed beyond measure because someone is picking me up from the airport and taking me shopping when I get there, and a sweet girl named Cara is going to be my roommate! We are coordinating housing right now and there's a possiblity we'll be living with another lady, so I would ask your prayer for that process to be completed.

My mom and I are spending the night in Atlanta so I'll be ready for the flight tomorrow. As I sit here in our hotel room, I'm reminded of the time one of my friends told me to make my preparation worship.  As I'm finishing preparation for the travel, I am called, even now, to make my preparation worship. Even in the suitcase packing and restroom stops, long lines and immigration, cramped legs and "different" meal options, my preparation should still be worship.

A good attitude can change a difficult 30+ hours in the air into an opportunity for growth and worship, and I'm actually looking forward to the adventure a bit! Wish me well! Until next time,