Insanity Loves Company

The beginning of last week, the school started an after school phonics class for some of the students in the two EP first grade classes. The majority of my students came from the kindergarten at Varee, and as such, they have a pretty good understanding of letters, sounds and phonics. But there is a small contingent (maybe a fourth of them) who have little-to-no previous experience with English. And since what I'm teaching assumes the students know the alphabet and sounds, the school set up a class to get these kids up to speed. The class is being taught by one of the 2nd grade teachers, Ms. Kim. She is getting paid to do it, but I have been trying to stay after school and help out, partly because they are my students in my subject, and partly because the the mix of kids she has is a nice combination of the hyperactive, non responsive, over (or under) medicated, and never-been-exposed-to-English-before-3-weeks-ago kids from both of the classes. Basically we took all the children from each class who require the most attention and combined them into a class at the end of the day, when they haven't eaten in 5 hours and just want to go home (and after a 45 min homeroom consisting mostly of them running around the classroom.) Basically what I'm trying to say is that Kim is a saint for teaching this class, and I'm just trying to be there as an extra set of eyes, ears and hands to help her out.

Anyways, the other day, after we finished dealing with our most-in-need-of-special-ed-student, Peter (don't think I wont get into him later on in the year), I was chatting with Kim as we cleaned up her room. She was asking questions, and she is very good listener, so I just kept going on and on about why I came to Thailand, what my mindset was, my plans later in life, etc. And naturally I started asking her the same questions. She is married, middle age (I won't even guess in case she ever reads this :) ) with 2 teenage kids, I want to say 15 and 16. She is Australian, and her and her husband had done a little traveling a while back, came to Thailand, loved it, and just decided to move their whole family here. Took them 2 and half years to sell their house, they were from a small Australian town that she had lived in her whole life. They finally sold, packed up, and have been here for a year and a half. Her kids both love it here, her daughter says that its the best present she has ever gotten. And they aren't really sure when they are going back. They paid off their debts, are just living month to month, with no mortgage or any other bills to worry about.

And as we are sitting there chatting, I started to realize that it was nice to talk to someone who is doing what I'm doing. I mean, I know this seems like common sense, but its still nice to be able to commiserate with someone that has a lot of the same ideas and views on moving to a whole new country. I still sometimes get the sense that people back home think I'm a little crazy for coming here. And don't get me wrong, I'm agree with that. But along the same sense, when you think about growing up in the suburbs, going to a school 2 hours away in the same state, graduating, moving back up the Chicago, getting a job, falling in love and getting married, and moving back out to the suburbs...well maybe its the pot calling the kettle black, but that sounds a little crazy to me! Your whole life, you never live more than like 3 hours away from where you were born. I love it here, but I certainly don't plan on staying here the rest of my life. And I love Chicago, and I would be ecstatic if I ended back up there in years to come. Hearing all my friends talk about summer in the city makes me miss it every time I think about it. But at the same time, its not going anywhere.

People ask me all the time, when are you coming home? And since I have no idea, I jokingly tell them next week. My contract is up in March, so I know I'll be here till at least then. (And realistically for at least a month after, I would like to do some traveling after the long school year.) Honestly, one of the things that I really like is that I don't know when I'm coming home. (I mean, where even is home?) (And don't misunderstand me, I miss everyone back in the States a ton. The fact that everyone always asks when I'm coming back and works hard to keep in touch...it means more to me than all of you will ever know. So thank you.) Maybe I head back to the States next May. Maybe I go to Europe. Maybe I join the Navy. I don't know, and I really like not knowing. And I think the coolest thing about talking to Kim was being able to share that with someone. Hearing about friends from back in Australia ask her when she is coming home, and hearing how she tells them she will figure it out when the time comes. Hearing about the skepticism of her friends and family, asking her if it was really a good idea. ('Think about the kids, Kim!') And just hearing how someone with a husband and two kids to boot can just pick up and leave for a completely alien place...well its pretty cool. And to put it in perspective, if someone in her position can do it, well then a recently graduated 23 year old should have no problem. (And realistically what I'm doing now is wayyy easier than having two teenagers and trying to tell them we were moving Asia. Sheesh, no thanks. But hats off to you Kim.)

Anyways, time for bed, lights off by 10 so I make sure I get my 8 hours. And I'm assuming this is true for all jobs, but I've quickly noticed it's very true for mine: the difference between my energy on Monday and Thurs/Fri is remarkable. Chasing around 6 year olds all week wears....me....out! Take care everyone. And enjoy the nice weather...I biked home in 108 degree weather today. Woo Asia!

TPWWLT - New Found Glory - 'Hit or Miss'