So, after being run around most of last week, today is a nice relaxing one for me because most of my host family has gone to go to a private vilage thing. I am just fine with that, because so far I have been to a wedding and a funeral.. and I have only been here less than 3 days!
Awkward moments:
1) Going to the funeral where EVERYONE was staring at me instead of paying attention to the ceremony.
2) Going to a wedding and the same thing happens.
3) Women squeezing my armflab. I don't know why they do that, and I know they mean well, but seriously people! I know it is there, no need to remind me.
4) Trying to Thai dance with some of my students. I always turned the wrong way for some reason. It was fun though!
5) One of my students making a very rude joke in class (asking me if I like to eat "the papaya" and makeing a really crass gesture). The worst part is the teacher thought it was serious and repeated it, which caused the class to roar with laughter again. I kept smiling, but I had no idea how to handle that. Ah well.
All that being said, I have been having fun too!
On Thursday, it was a holiday, so only the teachers were at the school. It was a nice time to relax and chat with the ones that know a tiny bit of english, naturally with my dictionary at the ready. All of them seemed excited to learn more, and we may throw together a weekly english dinner for fun.
In the late afternoon (just as I was melting in the heat), we had a celebration to welcome a new teacher to the school. In Thailand, when that happens the original school's teachers all come to the new school to show support for the teacher who is leaving. It was really touching to see. I was sat at the front table, and was embarassed to find that to start, no one wanted to sit with me. I think it was because they are shy. Luckily the other school has five young english teachers, and they came and started happily chatting with me. All of them wanted 'their own farang' at their school to speak with the kids. I may go spend two days with them, in a village about 30 mins north. They want Shannon to come to their school to teach in the fall!
After speaches and flowers were given to both myself and the new teacher (I got a lovely bracelet of jasmine and sunfire flowers), I was convinced to get up and try dancing with the rest of the young teachers. It was great fun, and I hope I have another chance to learn some more so I can show the students I am not completely hopeless!
Everything is so different here, but in a good way. Time for me to go hang up my laundry, and pick some green and yellow mangos from their backyard.
Love to all!
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