"All the BANANAS in the world.....UNITE!"
"Peel! Banana! Peel! Peel! Banana! Shake! Banana! Shake, shake! Banana! Go! Banana! Go, go! Banana! GO!"
I have to teach everyone this song when I come back to Singapore...been singing, dancing n twisting to this song for the last 3 days at the English Camp for Teachers. It is even more catchy n action packed than the Ketchup Song! Can u beat that? *wink* Yes, I survived teaching 25 teachers on how to improve their English, pronouncing their "R" instead of saying it as "L"(Suz / Bui, remember Conrad / Conlad?), explaining every english word slowly and painstakingly, AND....smiling, smiling and more smiling! =) Some of them are even older than my parents! There is 58 yr old P'Lek who looks more grandmotherly than my own grandmother(complete with granny glasses), and lovely 40 yr old P'Aow who almost wanted to adopt me as her foreign daughter after I said I wanted to learn cooking from her(she's a Home Econs teacher) and a male teacher who looks like Harry Potter 50 yrs down the road.
Doing cheers, singing camp cheer songs and playing acting skits reminded me so much of my school days! Feels good to be young again! I was quite happy when I found out that I wasn't the oldest Volunthai teacher that weekend...Cory from the US is 2 yrs older than me! His father is the founder of the Gallipeau Harris Foundation who sponsored the english camp. It was interesting how his father started the foundation 3 yrs ago with a US$2000 donation and how it has evolved to helping more than 200 poor students to continue with their education. A little money does go a long way... P'Amara was also another source of great philanthropic inspiration. Having retired from working in the World Bank in Washington for the last 30yrs, she's returned home to Thailand to help her people and contribute to her community. Running the foundation's operation full-time now, she dedicates her time to ensuring the children of today will have a better future tomorrow. It makes me think about retirement in another perspective...how some "old folks" back home only retired to raise "luohan" fish in the living room and grow mouldy day by day. What will YOUR retirement be like?
After the camp, I had to go shopping for new clothes. Not because I want to, BUT because I had to! The clothes I packed were too casual for teaching...RULES : no sleeveless, no low-cuts(a bit also CANNOT) and not too transparent. *groan* I didn't expect that I had to pack my office clothes in! Ok, Im exaggerating but seeing the other Volunthai teachers....they do look so much more professional than me. *Sigh* And these 2 Dutch teachers are fresh graduates...i.e. haven't even started work yet and already look more professional than china girl me. Mai dai...mai dai...
Oh! Oh! We had a crazy karaoke session last nite! The Thai people are so animated when it comes to singing their fave thai song - dancing and shaking their bunbuns at the top of their lungs...gee...they make me look so mild next to them! Haha... ;) Karaoke is such big business here -they have tiny 2-3 persons sound-proof booths everywhere in the malls complete with microphones, TV screens and song book! If I am a teenager here, I think I will be at the malls every day after school - to SING!!! (I miss my chinese songs n MTVs...)
Everyone, pls go to the cinema to catch Thai's BIG blockbuster movie after Ong Bak, called "Tom Yum Goong", by the same director n actor as Ong Bak. It was simply DEE MAK!!!!(damn good!) Even better than Ong Bak! We went to catch the movie even tho' there no english subtitles but it was so action packed(think Jackie Chan), based in Sydney(English!!!) and there is Chinese mafia involved(Mandarin!!!), so I had no problem understanding the story totally! Before the movie started, a sorta nationalistic commercial came on with the words "Please pay respects to the King" and everyone stood up from their seats in utter respect while the 10minutes flashback of the revered Thai King's life flashed past us on the big screen. Bizarre! I almost teared watching the King grow up....he loves photography too!!! Wise man indeed.... =) More on the king next time...Thailand must be the only country who loves n respect their King so so so much, in this modern time n day. Look at England. *Yeah, it's Ms Horse face n Prince Wasshisname*
1.34am. Exhausted! I have no idea if there is any PC in my school or if there is any internet connection at all. So this may be my last chance to write my grandmother long story...and I'm making full use of it! Hehe...
Till the next time, folks!
Jo (who can't wait to start terrorising kids with English in Chaiyaphum)
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