Exceptional

Hello blog...
I love you and the way you let me write in your window of composition.  I like the fact that you have three options on the bottom of the composition screen that allow me the choice to "publish post", "save now" and "preview".  But does anyone really "preview" because the writer has already "viewed".  Technically you cannot preview because that would mean you were predicting the future.  Only T9 on your 1999 Nokia cellular telephonic device can predict the future.

I have settled into my new house and I knew that if history were to repeat itself (and in fact, it does...sometimes...but not exactly because nothing can be EXACTLY replicated...and other philosophical thoughts...but in this case history proved to kind of repeat itself, I mean the historical events and prior knowledge gave me a hint as to what was to come) I was going to be in for a few more adjustments in my journey.  The house that I was given the option to live in is close to one of the schools that I work at but it had not been lived in in over two years.  Of course it smelled, looked and had everything living in it that you can imagine a house that had not been lived in for two years would have.  The first few nights were a ferocious battle of man vs. insect, reptile and mammal.  The man brought out some of his favorite fighting weapons in the form of rat bait, shoes, brooms, aerosol cans containing any kind of liquid that might be deadly to insects, bathroom cleaners that might kill things and ect.  The fact is the king of the other animals sent too many troops and they have unlimited supplies.  It is a battle that cannot be won by either side.  Unless of course the king of the animals sends some sort of poisonous beetle or another dangerous weapon that gets to man while he is sleeping, doubtful.  Man has set up a fortress in the form of a net, nothing can touch him!

So all literary genius aside, (because I am obviously such a talent) I am living in a house that has a lot of bugs and stuff.  I have decided I cannot win and that living with them in a non-social but interactive manner is best for me and my living partners.  So when Thai people ask me if I am living on my own I am no longer going to answer yes.  I am going to tell them that I live with ants, beetles, lizards, mice and cats to name a few.  Then they are going to respond, "why are you living with all of that food in your house".  Then I will respond "where I am from it is not considered food".  Then they will respond "oh...".  Then they will ask me how I can live on my own without going crazy from all of the ghosts that must be living in the confines of my household.  Above anything else, Thai people are the most afraid of ghosts.  You could throw some kind of poisonous snake at their face and they would not flinch, but ghosts, yes ghosts exist everywhere and they are obviously very harmful as they have caused several deaths in the last few days (this is what we call in the English language "sarcasm").

Anyways....School has started up at one of my two schools.  It feels great to be back in the classroom and around kids and students again.  There are a lot of things that are different in Thai schools than that of America.  There is obviously a very different structure, there are different activities as well as social norms and language.  The language barrier is one that is hard to hurdle.  I cannot get a feel for how kids are, their personality ect. and they cannot read me either.  This is a challenge that is immediately recognizable but I have faith and hope that with time we will reach mutual knowledge of each other.  I am just observing for now, getting a feel for how the classroom operates, what is expected of Thai students and what is expected of Thai teachers.  It is tough because obvious general school rules in America may or may not exist in Thailand.  For example one of the teachers bought a new car. He wanted to treat the local government officials as well as the principal and his co-teachers to lunch in order to create merit and a blessing for his new car.  So, in true Thai fashion, he ordered in the raw meat (side note, the raw meat seems to be a regularly occurring thing for special events, you know the ones they always invite me to; lucky me), the whiskey, the rice whiskey and the beer and some vegetables and other stuff.  Wouldn't you know they had lunch right there in the school cafeteria...the preschoolers, the kindergardners, the first graders and of course the adults pouring each other shots of bourbon.  I found myself in a rather odd social and cultural situation.  Drinking in front of children and especially at school is not something I condone nor would I usually participate in but when offered adult beverages especially from local officials it is culturally insensitive not to accept.  And now you may or may not have interest in what my decision was but I am not going to tell you either way....it was just an odd situation to deal with and I thought you might be interested.

Another thing I found different about Thai culture that is different from what I am used to is that everyone shares what would be very confidential information in the U.S.  I have a the very least three instances.

1.  Teachers at the school share and laugh at each other about the amount of debt they have accrued.
2.  Teachers know everyone's salary that works at the school.
3.  Students' names, grades and test scores are posted publicly for the whole community to see.

The list potentially goes on but these are a few.  I also have realized that exceptional students are often treated very differently from the other students.  It has been pointed out to me that at least three students are mentally disabled which is something that usually isn't directly pointed out in the states.  There is also one little boy that I myself, without being able to speak the language, could diagnose as autistic.  I am not sure if people here have studied or know about how to assist the students that have these differences.

All in all life is good!  I have now eaten 10-15 fruits I have never seen nor tasted, I meet at least three new people everyday and I learn a new aspect of beautiful Thai culture everyday.  My host family here has invited me to be a part of there family and help on the farm on a daily basis.  The community has started to accept me more an more which is very exciting and helps me to feel like a normal person, not just the only American.  I also have the opportunity to see my host family in Ayuthaya in a couple of days which should be exciting.  They have planned a party in advance for my return...Thai people; too generous!

Pom Yak Ja Hai Kwam Suk Mak Mak,

Luke