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.

Stateside Update 11: Someone's Been Prayin'

Dear Friends,

For the past few days, I have been extremely nervous and anxious about heading to Thailand in approximately 53 days. I have been so worried about plane tickets, visa applications, finances... And I can't even speak a word of Thai. (Well, I take that back. I know how to say one word: Sa-was-dee-kah, which is "hello.")

I'm especially anxious because I am nearing the end of a busy semester and I still have so much more to do: lesson plans, papers, recitations, work duties, classes, observation hours, chapels, etc.

However, I have good news tonight! First, I received emails back from staff members at the school where I will be student teaching and they requested information and provided information that I needed, specifically a letter for my Thai visa application! I have been waiting for this letter for a very long time and I am blessed beyond blessed to receive it today. As the title of this post says, someone must have been praying for me during this time, because my fears about receiving and resubmitting the visa letter have been assuaged.

Second in the realm of good news is that this afternoon I finished my big lesson plan that I will be teaching this coming Wednesday to a class of 9th graders. This is extremely exciting and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to work with these students hands-on and in person as extra practice and preparation for my future teaching career. The lesson is a tiered lesson, which means I'm dividing the class into groups for the purpose of differentiation. I am placing class members into four teams, each honing in on one of the three learning styles: auditory, visual, and, for two groups, kinesthetic. It's finished as of this afternoon and I am so grateful to have it completed.

Speaking of differentiation, which is a popular buzz-word in the educational field nowadays, I want to talk for a brief minute about student teaching overseas versus in the states. Someone asked me recently to consider what it would be like if I had decided to stay in the states for my student teaching. "Wouldn't it be so much easier?" they asked. Well, yes, probably easier, I thought, but also not as rewarding.
I was a little bit taken aback at their question. I mean, humans typically don't choose to do something challenging because they feel like it. We do difficult things because we believe they are best, because the end result is worth it. If you put more work into something, you usually receive more out of it.
Anyway, I am reminded tonight as I thank the Lord for his provision that the more difficult work I am putting into student teaching overseas (versus the work I would put in if I were student teaching in the states) will produce a greater reward in the end. I will have the opportunity to love on precious students, like Third Culture Kids. I will have the opportunity of a horizon-broadening travel experience. I will see what education looks like in another country. I will meet a lot of new people and see a lot of exciting places. I will see God's hand at work in Asia.

The cool part about choosing to complete my student teaching overseas is that it is a form of differentiation. I have friends who are putting their whole hearts into student teaching at the public school in this town. We need people to do that. But we also need people willing and planning to go overseas, even if just for a semester, even if for several years. No choice is arbitrarily better than any other, but I know I am called to go to Asia for this experience. Differentiation is good, my friends: God doesn't want all his sheep in one pasture... Or all the learners only learning visually, for example.


Thank you for reading. Have any thoughts to share? Comment below.
If you are interested in giving financially or in kind towards my student teaching trip, please check out my support page.
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Stateside Update 10: Housing and Plane Tickets

Dear Friends,

Most of the preparation for overseas student teaching occurs in spurts. Complete the application... Wait... Hear back about acceptance... Wait... Hear back about potential placement... Wait... Receive finalized placement... Contact school... Wait...  There's been a lot of waiting, because there is a lot of unknown in the process.

However, today I received really great news!

I got an email from the recruiter at Grace International School regarding housing and airplane tickets. GIS uses an outside organization to locate housing for their teachers. Today, I began communication with that organization by way of an intake survey to help determine my housing needs.
I also began the intensive research needed to locate plane tickets. This is the first time I have had to coordinate my entire international airfare on my own, and I have already requested advice from the GIS recruiter. Please pray that I would not be anxious about airfare or finances but that God would provide exactly what I need.

My trip to Thailand is becoming more and more real as it becomes closer, and I am reminded that I am so blessed to have this opportunity. As always, I covet your prayers, and I am indebted to you for your encouragement and support. If you would like to support me financially or otherwise, please visit my support page or send me an email. In addition, if you did not receive one of my prayer cards via snail mail, but would like one, please let me know and I can get that out to you.

Entirely dependent upon Him,
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."

Stateside Update 8: Tuesdays for Thailand

As I write this, I am entering the second week of my last on-campus semester at Toccoa Falls College. This means that I have about four more months until I leave for Chiang Mai, Thailand!

There is much to be done in these next four months before student teaching begins. During this semester, I am taking my final five classes as well as observing 100 hours at the local schools. I am currently working out details with Grace International's recruiter on dates, housing, etc. I also just heard from my cooperating teacher, who indicated that I will be working with the ninth grade in the spring. This is extremely exciting news!

Also in terms of preparation, I will be heading to Indiana at the end of this month to complete required overseas student teacher training with CCTECC, the department of Interaction International that coordinates student teachers. I am flying to Indiana with two friends, Michelle and Priscilla, who are also student teaching in Asia. Please keep the three of us in your prayers for safety and peace regarding travel.

Speaking of prayer, a number of people have already contacted me about supporting me through prayer, and you can join the prayer support team, too. I have been really blessed just knowing that people are engaged in prayer not only for me, but also for the people I will meet and the country in which I will live. Current prayer needs include finances for my airplane ticket to Thailand, safety during traveling, strength and endurance to complete the schoolwork required this semester, and peace for my family.

In addition, Grace International, the school where I will be student teaching, is experiencing legal difficulties regarding their buildings. The school's Facebook page details days of prayer and court decisions regarding the case (and it also features cute pictures of students).

With this great need for prayer, I would like to extend an invitation for you to join me in remembering these prayer needs on a consistent basis. I'm informally calling it "Tuesdays for Thailand," which just means that Tuesday is a reminder to lift up GIS, my student teaching, and the country and people of Thailand. I feel that God has laid on my heart the importance of setting aside specific times and setting up certain reminders to bring things before Him; otherwise, I often forget to give Him my worries.

Would you join me in remembering Thailand on Tuesdays? In addition, there are more details about prayer and financial support on my support page.

Thank you!

--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."
"‎It is the people who endear the city to our heart." - Chandler

Stateside Update #2: Thailand!

Dear Friends,
I am writing to let you know that my placement for Spring 2014 has been secured! I have received a notification of acceptance from the placement coordinator, and an official confirmation is on its way.

I will be completing my student teaching at Grace International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand! 

I will be posting more information as I receive it, but for now, I could not wait to share this exciting news!
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."
"‎It is the people who endear the city to our heart." - Chandler

Stateside Update #1

Good News!

I received an e-mail this past Thursday from Interaction International, the organization my college works with to place overseas student teachers. The man coordinating the placements let me know that the first school he contacted for me is interested! He went ahead and sent them my application, so we should know sometime after the New Year whether or not I will be accepted there.

Waiting to hear back from the International schools may be a long process, but it is definitely exciting. The plan is for final placements to made before May 2013 so I can began making arrangements with the school.

I'm keeping it a secret for now, but I can't wait to share with you all about the location where I will be serving!

--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."
"‎It is the people who endear the city to our heart." - Chandler