Last Week of 1st Semester

Currently writing this in my journal, sitting on a bus to Lopburi. It's my 1st solo overnight trip here. My Thai sucks monkey butt and my "farang" status sticks out like a sore thumb so this trip should be an interesting one to say the least. I think traveling by yourself in a foreign country is so important but can still be somewhat nerve racking even if you've been living in the country for almost 4 months.

So at this point in the semester, I'm just totally over school and am counting down the days/hours/minutes til I am free to roam this side of the world for 2 months! I like teaching but I'm definitely in need of a break! The week was relatively boring due to the fact that I was giving finals in all my classes.

 Me last week of semester =

In some/most of my classes, no matter how much I iterated that this is a test, NO TALKING, NO COPYING, students still tried to cheat and talk. I swear I gave more death stares than a girl seeing a cheating ex boyfriend for the first time since a breakup. And these kids could still not comprehend! I even motioned a cut throat sign if they copied or talked. They of course would laugh at me. Take note that threatening violence to students probably wouldn't fly in the United States but not here...this is Thailand! So it was a week of testing and grading and trying to figure out how to put grades into a computer system that was all in Thai. Had to be walked through that one more times that I'm willing to admit.

Some highlights include the oral finals I made my upper level classes do. For my M.4.4 class (15/16 year olds), I made each of them have a one-on-one conversation with me for 3 minutes. I told them we could talk about anything they wanted just as long as it was a two-way conversation. Most of these convos consisted of the same subjects: Thailand, final exams, food, traveling, and music(if someone told me they didn't like Gangnam Style, they a received a high five from me and a bonus point for having taste). Overall I'm glad I made that the final because even though it was really time consuming and lots of talking, I could tell each student became more comfortable and confident talking to me. Snaps for Teacher Anna!

 

For my M.1.1 class (12/13 year olds), I made them do a presentation on their favorite music artist just to say a few facts about them, why they like them, and show a picture. The variety of artists included a bunch of Asian ones who I have no idea about and probably never will because well no offense but the music over here is one that is never going to snyc to my itunes. Others included One Direction(as if it was even a question they were going to be among the favs), Justin Biebs, Maroon 5, Lady Gaga, etc. My favorite presentation that I would barely keep a straight face for was by this sweet little girl named Fern. She got up in front of class as cute and sweet as could be and preceded to unveil that her favorite artist was non other than the rapper FLO RIDA! Haha! I nearly choked on my gum when she said his name. I expected the general Biebs, Gaga, Asian artists but not the hip/hop singer from America whose biggest hit was the Apple Bottom Jeans song! These kids continue to surprise me and at times I totally dig it:)

Below are pics of some of the projects:

On Friday, the whole Language Department went out to dinner at this a-maz-ing Chinese/Thai restaurant. My cashew chicken was served in a edible bird's nest!

Sorry but beautifully decorated food is just one of life's little things that brings me joy!
If the restaurant had wifi, you better believe I would have instagramed!

One of the Chinese teachers, Jesse, who had been teaching at Kanchanapisek for 3 years gave such a beautiful goodbye speech. Or at least I think it was beautiful...she said in Thai but she had the other teachers  tearing up. I had no idea what she said but she brought tears to my eyes too!

Now, I'm on a mini 2 week break before Bridget, Eric and I have to come back to teach the non-English teachers English for a couple days...should be fun/interesting/err...I have no idea what to expect. Going to do a little traveling until then through the Northeast of Thailand. Below are pics that I took on my solo trip to Lopburi aka "Planet of the Apes!". No pics of monkeys though...because I hate them and they're awful disgusting creatures.

Side note: So I was walking down the street in Lopburi with a bag of freshly cut juicy mangoes and a random monkey came up behind me and snatched the bag from my hands! I know! The nerve right?! I was so startled and was all, "LEGGO MY MANGO!", but I was scared he/she was going to bite me and I didn't get a rabies shot before I came so I reluctantly backed down. But in the future...no one comes between my mangoes and me...no one! Anyway here are some pics of famous buildings, Wats, museum relics, etc.

Going to BKK this weekend with some loverly ladies to get a tattoo (not me...my friend Liz). However I have always wanted a tattoo. I can just never decide what to get, where to get it, and even talking about stresses me out! But who knows maybe I'll end up getting one too....hehe!

Until then...sincerely yours,

~The Girl With No Tattoo~

Me the next two months =