This post is a bit delayed in its submission; however,
“settling-in” to Sansai was an extended process, totaling about a month.
Not yet my first day of teaching and I was put up on stage
in front of the entire school to introduce myself- in both English and Thai. I
wai-ed the student body by taking a prayer stance with my hands together at my
chest and bowing my head and said “sa-waa-dii-ka”, they all replied with an
approving giggle, then I said “good-morning” which a disappointingly few repeated.
So I said it again and made them repeat. The message was clear from the very
first words out of my mouth: you will speak English.
I stumbled through the rest of my speech telling the
students and staff where I’m from, what I study and how much I love mango
sticky rice. I retrieved my beautiful bouquet of roses and lilies and then was
instructed through a photo shoot with the students sitting as my backdrop. And
just like that, a star was born. Everywhere I go, students and teachers know
who I am and are eager to take a picture with me.
The next day, I began teaching. It’s been almost a month and
I learn something new from every lesson I teach, even if it is the exact same
introductory lesson I’ve taught over a dozen times already as I see every class
in the school. Other posts will have to be devoted entirely to the game of
teaching English as a foreign language when you speak two words of Thai. Think
of a 50-minute long game of charades where you’re really the only one playing…
This turn abroad I am not living with a host family but
rather independently (for the first time ever!). For the past month, however, I
have been crashing at my host teacher’s house as the “teacher house” on campus
was not quite ready for me. I learned the lesson about Thai time very quickly: two
days turned into four, which stretched out to two weeks, oh wait did I say two
weeks I meant 3... Honestly, I am extremely grateful for the delay. I had the
unique opportunity to get to know my host in a way that most teachers in
Fulbright won’t have. I moved into the teacher house the week before Thanksgiving and have slowly made it feel like home; it is complete with a garden and fish so that I don't get lonely...
Even though I’m living in a house by myself, I’m far from
independent. This time I’m hosted by the entire community. Everyone takes their
turn keeping an eye out for me: including a stranger who pulled over and asked
if I was lost on my way to 7-11 because it’s not a common occurrence to see a
foreigner walking down the streets of Sansai. Well, they’ll all know my face
soon enough!
