"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,