Mr. Ray

Oh my students.

For the most part, my students really try. Some have better skills than others. In every class, there are a few students I rely on to explain something if the others don't understand. And, in every class there are some students who do not have the best grammar or the widest vocabulary, but they try so, so, so hard to express themselves in English... and I end up feeling a little like this.

Having learned a second language myself, I know how annoying, frustrating and disheartening it is to have ideas in your head and be unable to find the words you need to express them.

So students, I commend you. You go school for what seems to me like 12 hours a day, and then you take music lessons and/ or sports practice, and then you go home and do more homework, and then you sleep and do it again the next day, even if that day is Saturday, and (most of) you are still able to be energetic and personable in my (sometimes boring... I know- I'm working on it) class. And as Mr. Ray said, really- don't hurt yourself, because you, my friends, are doin' just fine.

Let's Go on a Walk!

So the end of Thai recaps are coming- I promise. But for some reason they are not flowing as freely as I would like- so I decided to change tracks and try a 'day in the life' type thang. Here we go.

Most normal days, my world revolves around the 5 minute radius that is my apartment, work, and the dumpling man. So, here is what I see on my walk to work in the morning:

Right outside the door to my building

The extremely picturesque dump I pass. Jealous?

Seafood with the cooler outside that holds the live fish-
 here, some sort of shellfish

Then, I turn a corner

Then, the pedestrian walkway lined, mostly, with restaurants

Then, I cross the street and I've made it!
The building on the left with the green stripe?
Home sweet work.

When I get to work, I always have something to do- grade review tests, speaking homework, writing homework, and usually- all of the above. I sit at my (newly organized) desk and look at the tissue cover I have just purchased (now I have girl tissues) and then make the difficult decision of what color I want to correct in that day. Sometimes green, sometimes blue, if I am feeling super cool- I go for orange.

Then, it's time for lunch, and, more often than not, I make a pilgrimage to the dumpling man.

The dumplings are called mandu and they only cost 1,000 won (so less than 1 dollar) and they are one of the best things ever.

I go back to work, eat my dumpling, and then the kiddos start to arrive. 

When classes are done, I spend some more time putting grades into the computer and chatting with with coworkers, and then I make my way home.

A constant reminder of many of the places still on the list

This was put in just recently, but the smoked meat smells SO good- it's on
the list to try

Dog friend I pass every morning, and every evening. 

And there you have it. A day in the life!

The Elephant Day

Tuesday was a day to remember. It started with a guided trip to a local market.

Then, we moved on to the ox driven carriage ride.

Also, please be impressed that I successfully managed to get this video in here, but do not be mad that this video is boring.

After the carriage ride, we went for a walk in a national park a few hours north (I think) of Bangkok- Khao Yai National Park. We were walking to see a very, very beautiful waterfall, however it required climbing down the steepest stairs I have ever seen.

The waterfall really was magnificent.

But then... I had to climb back up the stairs. That was hard.

After my legs no longer felt like jello- we moved onto lunch. It was a DELICIOUS chicken soup with coconut milk, and dragon fruit for desert. It was perfect.

Then- we got a peek of the best, best part.

I rode on an elephant and it was fantastic. We made friends. He splashed us with water, it was AMAZING. Certainly, a day to remember.

Hello friend. It sure was nice to meet you.

Palaces, Smoothies and Silk- Oh my!

I woke up Monday morning refreshed and ready to see the sights. First on the list? The Grand Palace in Bangkok. This palace was the home to centuries of Thai royalty. Even today, even though the modern kings don't live there, on coronation night, the new king spends one night in the palace to symbolize taking on the same duties as the kings of the past.

Attached to the Palace is the, perhaps even more spectacular, Wat Phra Kaew- The Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This is still a working Buddhist temple and OH MY GOSH. I have never seen anything like this place. I don't even know how to describe it- but here are some adjectives: amazing, ornate, gilded, intricate, impressive, unbelievable, expensive.

I walked around, completely in awe, for a few hours- all in the hot sun. (I got pretty sunburned- totally by accident) But then, right when I thought I might pass out from the heat- I happened upon the a cafe and Thailand's best Hagen Daaz smoothie mixer. I didn't think to take a picture of it of the time because it was too delicious, but let me just say that it was orange juice, mango sorbet, and ice blended into a heavenly drink. If I had the same thing right now, I don't know if I would feel the same, but it was the perfect thing for that moment. 

After my smoothie, I walked around the outside of the palace for a while. I perused the souvenirs, and found a nice spot by the river to sit and rest a while.

Next, I went to tour the Jim Thompson House. Jim Thompson was an American man who fell in love with Thailand while stationed there with the Army. After he got out, he made Bangkok his home and completely revolutionized the Thai Silk industry. He built a traditional Thai home, and lived there for many years until he mysteriously disappeared in the Jungles of Malaysia in the early 60's.

The home is absolutely beautiful- a complete oasis. There are trees all around, flowers, and a fish pond. The house is all made of that dark red wood and has such a serene atmosphere. I wonder how much the rent is....

So after that, I was completely wiped and made my way back to the hotel for an evening swim and some street pad thai. It was a lovely first day exploring my vacationland!

I promise that I will pick up the pace on these recaps! Still have lots of fun to go:)