Alright to make it easy I'm just going to go by each day starting with the day I left.
Wednesday, 10/17 - Thursday, 10/18
I flew out of Atlanta at around 1 pm so my parents and I had to leave our house at 8 that morning. I mostly slept the whole way there because I didn't sleep much the night before. I mean I was moving to Thailand for a whole year the next day so I had a lot running through my mind. I was completely fine and composed until my parents walked me to the gate and started hugging me getting all teary eyed saying, "You're so brave, you're so so brave, we're going to miss you so much, we love you so so much!" Then I cracked and started to tear up as well. Then I completely lost it sitting at the gate only to discover a this little gem of a note in my purse.
Awwww mush I know:)
So anyway back to the flight....the first one was 14 hrs 45min and out of those 14 hrs 45 min, I slept a solid 2...whomp whomp whaaa! I would have taken ambien but ever since the whole Bridesmaids movie plane scene (paaaarty) I've been reluctant to dope myself up before flight. Just saying! I arrived in Seoul, South Korea and boarded my next flight to Bangkok and passed out for the entire 4 hr flight. Finally I arrived in Bangkok! I was able to meet up with my roommate during orientation and we shared a cab together to our hotel, The Louis Tavern, which is right outside the city. Arrived at the hotel around midnight and went straight to bed.
Friday, 10/19
Didn't do too much on Friday mostly explored around the small neighborhood where the hotel was located. Still getting over the jet lag so sleeping was my main hobby this day and night.
Saturday, 10/20-Sunday, 10/21
The first couple days of orientation week was basically a 'teaching in Thailand 101' seminar. We took teacher training classes, Thai language classes, have discussion panels with former participants as well as some interesting activities that one would do at a summer camp when trying to get to know other campers or in this case English teachers.
Monday, 10/22
On Monday, we got to visit the Grand Palace where the King Rama IX lived.....
Funny Note: When you visit the Grand Palace you are not allowed to wear sleeveless shirts so when people wearing tank tops were walking in, the guards would yell, "No Sexy! No Sexy! No Sexy here!"
That night we went into Bangkok and had dinner and saw a really cool show called 'Siam Niramit'. It was on this really cool stage that had water falling down from the ceiling, crazy oriental costumes, dancing, acrobatics. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take pictures during the show but I would basically describe the show as 'Circus SoThai'.
Tuesday, 10/23
Had teacher training classes in the morning then after dinner we departed for Kanchanaburi which was about 2hrs outside of Bangkok. It wasn't until the next morning that we realized it wasn't just a regular hotel, it was a straight up resort! Now I know where my program fee payment went to.
Wednesday, 10/24
This day will go down in history as one of the best days everrrrrrr! That morning after a short teacher lesson we got on our big bus and drove to a.....wait for it.....ELEPHANT CAMP! I was literally bouncing in my seat on the bus with excitement! The camp was called Taweechai Elephant Camp and oh man was it awesome! First we went bamboo river rafting and got to jump in and swim in the river. Then we rode the elephants. I sat with my friend Katie and our elephant was on the smaller side so our ride was extra bumpy. Our elephant "driver" kept singing 'Happy Birthday' because I'm guessing that's the only thing he knew in English. After elephant trail riding we watched the elephants put on a little show and do a bunch of tricks. Here are a few pictures from the day....
After the elephant camp, we went the famous Bridge Over the River Kwai.
Next was a surprise dinner on a floating restaurant. We basically had two huge rafts being pulled by a tiny tugboat. It was so nice and peaceful until....a DJ busted out and we had a techno dance party. Then, it started to rain like crazy and we all just continued to dance in the rain. They didn't serve any alcohol but I have to say it was hands down the best sober rave I've ever been to! After the rain rave, we went back to the resort hotel and all hung out one last time as a whole group singing karaoke til 2am. Perfect way to end orientation week.
Thursday, 10/25
We got picked up by our school coordinators that morning and were taken to our apartments in Suphanburi, Suphan Buri. Weird I know, I live in the town Suphanburi which is in the province Suphan Buri. There are a bunch of other English teachers in my apartment building as well a couple who will be teaching at my same school. I mostly unpacked for the rest of the day and passed out around 9pm still exhausted from orientation week.
**I have so much more to talk about but I'm gonna stop here so I can finish up my lesson plans and my next blog will be about my first week in Suphanburi teaching at Kanchanapisek school.
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience"
Friday, 10/19
Didn't do too much on Friday mostly explored around the small neighborhood where the hotel was located. Still getting over the jet lag so sleeping was my main hobby this day and night.
Saturday, 10/20-Sunday, 10/21
The first couple days of orientation week was basically a 'teaching in Thailand 101' seminar. We took teacher training classes, Thai language classes, have discussion panels with former participants as well as some interesting activities that one would do at a summer camp when trying to get to know other campers or in this case English teachers.
Monday, 10/22
On Monday, we got to visit the Grand Palace where the King Rama IX lived.....
That night we went into Bangkok and had dinner and saw a really cool show called 'Siam Niramit'. It was on this really cool stage that had water falling down from the ceiling, crazy oriental costumes, dancing, acrobatics. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take pictures during the show but I would basically describe the show as 'Circus SoThai'.
Tuesday, 10/23
Had teacher training classes in the morning then after dinner we departed for Kanchanaburi which was about 2hrs outside of Bangkok. It wasn't until the next morning that we realized it wasn't just a regular hotel, it was a straight up resort! Now I know where my program fee payment went to.
Wednesday, 10/24
This day will go down in history as one of the best days everrrrrrr! That morning after a short teacher lesson we got on our big bus and drove to a.....wait for it.....ELEPHANT CAMP! I was literally bouncing in my seat on the bus with excitement! The camp was called Taweechai Elephant Camp and oh man was it awesome! First we went bamboo river rafting and got to jump in and swim in the river. Then we rode the elephants. I sat with my friend Katie and our elephant was on the smaller side so our ride was extra bumpy. Our elephant "driver" kept singing 'Happy Birthday' because I'm guessing that's the only thing he knew in English. After elephant trail riding we watched the elephants put on a little show and do a bunch of tricks. Here are a few pictures from the day....
After the elephant camp, we went the famous Bridge Over the River Kwai.
Next was a surprise dinner on a floating restaurant. We basically had two huge rafts being pulled by a tiny tugboat. It was so nice and peaceful until....a DJ busted out and we had a techno dance party. Then, it started to rain like crazy and we all just continued to dance in the rain. They didn't serve any alcohol but I have to say it was hands down the best sober rave I've ever been to! After the rain rave, we went back to the resort hotel and all hung out one last time as a whole group singing karaoke til 2am. Perfect way to end orientation week.
Thursday, 10/25
We got picked up by our school coordinators that morning and were taken to our apartments in Suphanburi, Suphan Buri. Weird I know, I live in the town Suphanburi which is in the province Suphan Buri. There are a bunch of other English teachers in my apartment building as well a couple who will be teaching at my same school. I mostly unpacked for the rest of the day and passed out around 9pm still exhausted from orientation week.
**I have so much more to talk about but I'm gonna stop here so I can finish up my lesson plans and my next blog will be about my first week in Suphanburi teaching at Kanchanapisek school.
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience"
Wow, Anna! Incredible stuff here. I am sure it will be an unbelievable experience. Your new name is "Adventure Girl". Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are having a great time already! Good call skipping the ambien on the plane ;) Skype date soon please
ReplyDeleteAnna ......SO glad you get to have all these experiences! I went to Thailand when I was about your age (won't say how long ago that was!) and I still remember vividly the people and the countryside. Keep up with the blog, even though I know you will be exhausted form your new job teaching.
ReplyDeleteHere's my quote of the day:The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose.
Anna, so excited for you! What a great way to kick off your year. Keep posting pics!
ReplyDelete