Krabi

I am now in Krabi (pronounced craw-BEE) with my friend Harmony!  Today we had a really relaxing day.  Therefore, I don't have any huge stories to tell or activities to write about... but, I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

This place is beautiful!!!!!!

Saying Good-bye

I am not usually one for big good-byes.  In fact, I often try to sneak out a party without saying good-bye at all, just to avoid the to-do.

That was not possible today... I got a bit emotional when I realized how many people showed up on a Saturday to see me off.

I will miss all of the people so much and I hope they keep in touch!!!

My last walk

It was my last day at Ban Suan College today-- and, of course, I had to go for one last (steamy) walk before left.

I cannot believe how fast the time went!!!!!

Going away party

My going away party on Friday night--- what a blast!!!

Lunch at the school canteen my last Friday - yum!!!

A snack

Planting a tree

I "planted" four trees at the school with the students-one with each class.

However, I should admit that this was pretty ceremonial... I thought I wold be digging or something, but I only had to touch the tree while it was being planted.

Durian--take two

I was told that I would like durian with sticky rice, because it is so much better that way.  However, the smell still got to me and I couldn't really enjoy it...sorry!!!

Bingo

One of our favorite night time activities was Bingo... it helped with number :)

Evening activity time

Every night, from about 8:00-9:00 or 9:30, we have an evening activity session with the boarding students at the new house.  The students who are currently boarding here are the oldest students, those completing the 4th or 5th year.

I have learned a great deal about the Thai education system while here, including how different it is from the system in the US.  You should know that the college has two types of certificate programs, and many of the students who meet in the evening are finishing the second program.

We do a variety of activities at night-- we sing songs, read from books and perform skits.  Recently, I added bingo to the mix-- which is a great way to learn numbers.  Plus, I bring prizes (candy) to make it more interesting.

Last night, Dr. Tony had us finish with a little karaoke, which was fun!

The orange PE uniform is only worn on Wednesdays.  This seems to be very common in Thailand, to have a separate uniform worn only one day a week.  Other days, the uniform is a white button down shirt and either a navy skirt or pants.

Where your rice comes from....

Pak Yam Village

After visiting the school in Pak Yam we visited the Wat (temple), which was very close.  During his youth, while an apprentice monk for two years, he spend time time studying at this temple.  It is across the Yam River from his village, but he would take a boat across (it was before the current bridge was built).

At the temple, Dr. Tony spoke with an important Monk to the local community.  He has been working hard to help modernize the village and surrounding area.  This has resulted in several positive changes over time.

This Monk said they they (him and another monk) would come with us to show me the important sites in Pak Yam.

We got into the car (me in front with the driver and Dr. Tony with the two monks in the back), and we drove down the road about 50 meters.  Maybe 75 meters-- top.

We got out at an overview of the river-- actually, it was where the Yam River came to the Kram River-- so it was an overview of the rivers. 

You can see a flat house-like structure on the river, which is used to take people down the river-mostly tourists from as far away as Bangkok.  It is new and still being built.

You can also see a man in a boat near two tall bamboo poles.  Attached to the bottom of the poles, in the water, is a type of fish trap.  When the fish go in, they cannot get out because of the water current.

There is also a large tree, which is important because it was planted when the village was established about 70-80 years ago.

Next, we took the Monks back to the Wat, because the tour of the village was complete.  I hope you can find some humor to this... I was holding in the giggles.

On the way back to the college, we stopped at the bridge to take a few pictures-- it was beautiful!

Pak Yam School

Sometimes  in the afternoons, I visit other schools in the area.  Today, I had a chance to visit Pak Yam Rong Raen. The village, Pak Yam, is on the mouth of the Yam Nam (river).  Pak, meaning mouth, and Yam being the river.

The village has about 100 households, many including extended families.  Most of the houses are elevated, as well as the school, since the town in on the river.  The rainy season in northeast Thailand begins in July and goes until September... near the end of the season, everything floods.

The school goes to year 6.  After, students have to travel a longer distance to get to the nearest secondary school.  Another option would be for them to attend the Ban Suan College of Technology when they are a bit older, if they do not finish at the secondary school.

One of the teacher's from this school had visited me a few times during some of the evening sessions I do at the college, and I was excited to see her school.

At the school, we were greeted by a swarm of really, really excited students.  Dr. Tony told me that they had never seen a farang (foreigner, specifically white) at their school before.  There was a lot of energetic jumping around.

We did some introductions, they impressed with with their ABCs, they learned Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and we practiced counting 1-20.

I really enjoyed my visit to the school, appreciated the students' energy and willingness to try English and I believe the teacher is doing a great job.

The Lion and the Tiger

Yesterday the forth year students were planning to perform the a skit, The Lion and the Tiger during my good-bye performance.  However, due to the rain, they were not able to use the stage.

So, during the year 1 and 4 class today, Dr. Tony and I had the 4th year students act as trainers and teach the English lines to the 1st year students.  In the pictures, you can see Dr. Tony working with the students to help them understand the meaning of the skit in order to perfect their acting.

  Then, they performed on the stage.  

At the end of class, we returned to the classroom to play a little Simon Says.

Do you speak any Thai?

I do not speak Thai.  Although, I am planning to continue to learn this year.  In fact, Bam and I promised to change some vocabulary words in the future.

Here is the list of words I have moved to the "know it" category... I try to add at least one word or phrase a day.  About half the words I know in Thai are animals :)

Aroy - delicious

Sap - yummy

Suay - beautiful

Lili - really

Sawadee ka - hello

Kob khun ka - thank you

Narack - cute

Seua - tiger

Kwai - water buffalo

Sanook - to have fun

Dee - good

Nu - girl

Ka - yes

Ru - no

Mae - mom

Por - dad

Wat - temple

Rong Raen - school

Tao lia ka? - how much does it cost?

Mai pen rai - no problem/worries

Chang - elephant

Kokhun - type of beef cow

Arjun - professor

Nam - water

Naga - water dragon

Gkai - chicken

Hung nam - bathroom

Nok yoon - peacock

Nok - bird

La gone - bye

Ling - monkey

Pak Bung - water spinach (what I eat for breakfast with my boiled rice)

Bye-bye,Bam!

My teaching assistant Bam is heading back to Bangkok today!  I don't know how I am going to manage the next three days without her, as she has been my constant assistance the past three weeks.

Luckily, it was not a real good-bye, because Bam is going to spend the day with Harmony and I in Bangkok in about a week and a half.  We are going to see a few wat, get foot massages, eat a yummy lunch and go to Bam's favorite mall... sounds like a good day to me! 

See you soon my assistant, my friend, my younger sister.