I would like to point out at this moment that its crazy I have been here 3 weeks already! It does not seem like that long at all, yet it also feels like a life time.
Monday: Work was fine, we just did lesson planning and stuff which was good. We also got our time tables which mean we now know who we are teaching and when. I am teaching teenagers which obviously makes me happy, and apparently I have a load of good schools. On a Wednesday I am teaching 6 classes so I now get an extra 1000 in my pay very month which is nice. In the evening I just hung out with some of the people in my building. Not a whole lot really happened today. I think I am starting to get used to everything that I see-which is odd because only a few days ago I was still super shocked...at everything.
Tuesday: Today was a Thai bank holiday. It seems strange as these guys just keep the date so rather than just having a long weekend you will get a random day off...like a Tuesday. Not to worry though as I enjoy having time off. :) So today I went to the trusty local pool and did a spot of sunbathing...spoke to my Mum which was really nice, although I think I will say that I have been feeling a little homesick this week. It's always going to happen so I would much rather get it out of the way. I think the heat and the food and just not being able to speak the language make it so much harder, plus I have met lots of nice people but as we are with each other all the time and yet really we know nothing about each other...it's a strange situation.
Wednesday: Staff Training-BIG DAY TRAINING! It was amazing. The company put the whole of the staff team in one big conference room, removed all the chairs and tables and let us play. Basically it was one bit day of fun, we sang songs, we played games, we designed lessons, we talked to new people and we even got lunch for free! It was an amazing day! The best news of the day was that I get to do it all again tomorrow! However because the day was so fun filled I was shattered by the time I got home so it was an early night with my book!
Thursday: Yet another amazing day. Because I had met people yesterday I felt myself becoming more confident so I was becoming more involved with the games. It reminded me of being a teenager and going to Youth Theater. I loved it, I guess it reassured me that I had come to do something fun and that I was going to enjoy it. Because there has been so much training I have got side tracked with thinking about home and lesson planning and getting myself in a huge pickle...but all they are trying to do really is prepare us so we as new teachers don't fall flat on your face. I was obviously shattered after work again, but me and a girl called Amanda had a beer and a bit of a chat. Was really nice as I found out she came from a similar background to me with theater arts so we have LOTS to talk about. I think 80% of the staff at fun language come from some kind of artistic background which is great.
Friday: I spent most of the day lesson planning which is LONG! The lessons are already written for us, but we have to write them out and plan exactly as each group can be very different. This took AGES and I have only done 3, I have about 19 left to do before Thursday next week.. :( At lunch time me and a girl called Rhian went out to find something to eat. We sat outside the building after and were speaking to some of the older staff members, two of the lads advised us to go up on the roof as they have AMAZING views. So obviously we did...in the elevator, 42 floors, through a fire exit, up a few more, on to the roof, up some steps onto the heli pad...and then there we are with this amazing Bangkok sky line. Being a little afraid of heights I was feeling quite sick because there were no railings or anything to stop you falling, but it really was an amazing view. I took pics, I even got some of the drop by lying on the roof holding my camera out...I didn't want to fall, these can be found on my facebook. The only downside was that I was being really careful and then i slipped in a pile of Bangkok**** on the roof which in turn made the fire door close on my heal and took off all the skin so now I am walking with a limp. I got it cleaned up by one of the Thai teachers and have been told that if it goes red in weird places I have to go to a and e, apparently things get infected crazy quick here. Anyway it didn't stop bleeding till Sunday morning so I'm hoping its all ok... After work I went down to the bar by my work and had a couple of drinks. It was really nice to get to know some more people and things are slowly starting to feel better. I was speaking to one guy who knows a group of people who work with the prostitutes in the Khao San Road area over December. I was speaking to him about my previous jobs at the Rape Crisis Center and the Refuge and he has promised to introduce me to them when they get here. I'm kinda excited about learning more about how it works this end as I am very aware of the Trafficking business and it would be fascinating to see this side of things and to maybe see if I can offer some of my time to helping these women.
Saturday: Had a well deserved lie in before heading to the pool for some swimming and rays. The heat has been scary. Its been 35 degrees and its supposed to be coming into winter. I am so glad that we found the pool near us. I hung out there on my own for a bit and read my book-I am getting through them like nothing else! Was nice just relaxing though. In the evening we went out to eat (at the amazing place I told you about last week) and then went out for a few drinks in celebration of my birthday in a place called Cheap Charlies for my birthday drinks. The bar was amazing, it was down a little side street and it was basically a little outdoor bar with lots of little trinkets, almost like a themed pub but it wasn't indoors. There was a sign on the wall that indicated that the 'ladies toilet is now open, pee only, no s***'. I do have a picture of it but its on my phone so once I have figured out how to down load it I shall send it on, outside the actual bathroom there was a toilet sign that said-toilet pee only! It was so funny because I have always seen signs that say it nicely. I have noticed something in the last few e-mails and that is the re-occurring theme of toilets- so maybe I should write a book called Bangkok-Diary of a toilet. While we were sitting having out drinks a load of VW campers pulled up near us. I got a picture of one that was painted with the USA flag, best bit was the guy started unloading stuff...speakers...chairs...and then we realised, the campers were bars. There were a good few of them all parked along the road, with their tops pushed up high shaking cocktails. It was amazing and oh so cool! I think once I have had my first pay I will spend a little time getting a cocktail and a photo with one of these vans as it was most defiantly a sight to see.
Sunday (Today) I had to do all my boring chores today-like food shopping and stuff. I still find it weird when I have to hand over 1000bht, It takes me a while to realize that I am really only handing over £20. I also bleached everything- the floors here get really dirty so quick. I am starting to miss carpet...today was the hottest day since I have been here so even with the aircon on my flat was scorching.
I don't think much really happened this week, I'm going to make the assumption it is because I have a routine of work work work and I don't really have any money until early December- but I guess that works out well as December is meant to be winter so a much nicer time to be walking around and seeing things. Although if the heat from today is anything to measure it by there will not be much relief from scorching hot heat and humidity.