Beat the students Raaaaaaaaaaaaaar!

So they say step one is admitting you have a problem so here I go.
I'm sorry that I haven't typed anything on my blog. Perhaps now that I've admitted a problem things will improve.
But wait..I still have a problem unrelated to blogging. Today at school a teacher who we will call Teacher Fish Sauce (name changed) got angry with his/her students because the plants outside their class had not been watered. So instead of asking students to water the plants, he/she simply beat everyone in the class 2 times with a heavy, wooden, bamboo rod. While I understand that students sometimes need to be disciplined I have to express my opinion in this matter. That's some fucked up shit. This exact same teacher was seen beating the entire class 12 minutes into my own class making extremely difficult for me to get through everything I needed to cover- not just because of time, but also because the kids were visibly upset by what had happened. I guess part of the reason that I have so much trouble with this classroom management strategy (if you can call it that..I can't) is that in my 7 years of teaching in some of the toughest neighborhoods in America I never once had to punish the entire class- meaning not once in that time was it clearly visible that EVERY single student had broken a rule. And if that was the case in Oakland CA where my classroom would smell like pot smoking every morning when I arrived at work, then it must be even more true in Thailand where students are taught pre-utero to respect their teachers. I just don't see the logic in beating everybody in a class over some dry plants. How is that a good use of teaching time. Now everyone in class is more likely going to kill the plant from overwatering. Wouldn't it make more sense to put a group of students from the class in charge and then have them rotate throughout the school year, ensuring that each student was eventually in charge of that particular task. And does it really take someone with a masters degree in education to ask these questions? Not all of the teachers at school beat students ALL the time but this teacher is completely out of control and it needs to be stopped. Unfortunately as it is condoned by my boss I do not know exactly what role I can play in ensuring that the amount of beatings do in fact stop. Perhaps letting blog readers know will hep raise awareness. I hope so.

food for thought

So wandering the grocery stores and markets in Thailand can be a wonderful experience. The sights, the sounds, the fucking little old ladies who scamper past you as fast as possible and then come to a screeching halt right in front of you and proceed to whip out the cane and walk Jurassically down the center of the aisle- these are the things that make shopping special in Thailand...Or at least I thought until today. However, while walking down the aisle today I became a Jurassic old lady whilst approaching the meat aisle. Something caught my eye. You see, even though Thailand has a "thorough" supply meat types for sale- congealed pigs blood, cow intestines, chicken feet and hands today I was so entranced I simply had to take out my camera and snap a picture right in front of Carre Four. I held in my tiny little hands for the very first time pork uteris. No that's not a typo.. UTERIS!!! I imagine cooking this in a pot at home. Maybe add a little garlic, some spinich and you've got dinner. Yikes! Welcome to Thailand

Photos from Singapore and the Orchid Garden.

Couchsurfing in Melaka and Singapore

So it's Christmas time here in Thailand. So naturally I decide to take a seven day hiatus and go to Malaysia and Singapore. I had an amazing time. You should check out the videos. Wink Wink nudge nudge. Anyway the two highlights were in Melaka.
Highlight number one: Melaka fish spa. Basically, the idea is that fish are utilized in a unique massage process in which your feet and legs are bitten, rubbed, by, and sucked by tiny fish allowing smoother, more relaxed looking skin. You walk in, sit on a comfy pillow, stick your feet in a cool pool, and wait. Within 2.5 seconds, fish are literally swarming at your feet. The whole experience was absolutely bizarre. The first five minutes, I'm giggling histerically and can barely keep my feet in the water. However, after awhile, you don't notice the tickling sensation anymore and begin to relax. I felt so relaxed after walking all around Melaka and getting reenergized thanks to the wonders of fish.
Highlight number two: Couchsurfing. So prior to leaving for my trip, I discover this website called couchsurfing.com. The premise is basically that you meet new people on a "facebook" type utility and then crash on their couch for a night for free. I did this three times, once in Melaka and twice in Singapore. I enjoyed all three experiences immensly. In Melaka, I stayed with a university student named Jimmy. He truly was super cool. He took me all over Melaka, out with one of his friends to this cool Indian restaurant near the college at 1 am and helped me discover the best parts of Melaka. Even though I was initially apprehensive about couchsurfing, by the time it was over, I realized this is my favorite way to travel, but not really for the free couch. Sure that is nice, but what I really enjoyed was meeting and hanging out with local people. I think one of the toughest parts about traveling alone is the lack of human interaction you find. Couchsurfing allowed me to simultaneously mingle with local people and broaden my scope of friends around the world. It was "G"-reat!
Ok in Singapore, I also had two highlights- The Borders Bookstore, and the Orchid garden.
What can I say, I love Singapore. It was bar-none the most efficiently run city I have ever seen. This time I couchsurfed with two different people. On night one, I slept on a cool, marble floor in a guy named Jeff's apartment. We didn't hang out too much because I didn't get to Singapore until midnight, and I was tired. But, sleeping on the marble floor was actually pretty comfortable. The only funny experience was that he lived with his parents who he failed to mention to that I was visiting. So at like 5 am these two people come into the livingroom and stare at me for awhile. I pretend to sleep while waiting for them to pull out a baseball bat or something. I mean, there's a complete stranger sleeping on their floor. To make it worse, they only speak Chinese. However, they soon realize that I am harmless and the mom even invites me to brush my teeth in the sink..a very nice gesture indeed. That day I have the most amazing time in a Borders bookstore. I know it souns silly but finding English books in Nakhon srithammarat is not the easiest task. I think I stayed there for like three hours. Then I went to the Orchid Garden, another fun part of my trip. I've never seen so many beautiful orchids in my life. That night, I stayed with a guy named Matt Tay. We went to a park, watched a french video, and had a great time. His house was awesome because I actually got to sleep in a bed. His family was great and made sure I was comfortable the whole time I was there..a whopping two days.

Thais love their motorcycles...and dogs too

Aerobics...Thai style

so I think one of my favorite and most entertaining work out regimens is aerobics. In Thailand, aerobics is quite the event. There is nothing quite like the rush of thai music choreographed against the beating breasts of little old ladies..and one white guy.

KFC

Motivating students to study content in English outside of school can be a challenge. Furthermore, many students have not acquired study skills necessary to succeed in subjects taught by Falang teachers, who often put greater emphasis on critical thinking than what many Thai students are used to. However, one strategy I have found very helpful is study jam sessions outside of school. Before each unit test, I schedule a review session with my students at the local KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) within one of the department stores in town. We complete a study guide, answer any questions students may have, and then enjoy a wonderful meal together. Students receive bonus points and an extra study guide for the test. More importantly, we build community within the class and experience learning in a meaningful way outside of school.

Enjoy a video of my school. Srithammarat Suksa School.

Trouble in Thailand..Resolved

So you may be thinking I am going to comment on the troubles in Bangkok. That has afterall, drawn world recognition from a variety of reputable? news media. Instead however, I wish to discuss a recent robbery at my house. This guy named Yod is a motorcycle taxi. I befriended him for awhile because being carless is not always easy in Nakhon. Over a period of time, I call him and have him come and drive me to certain places not always easy to get too. One day, he stops by unannounced with a friend. Now had this occurred in Oakland I would have been extremely apprehensive, but this being Thailand, I tend to worry less primarily because random people I barely know seem to enjoy showing up at my house all the time. Usually it's no problem. I invite them in, give them some beer, or water, and we shoot the shit for a while. So this time I think nothing out of the ordinary. It is not until the next day I even notice my camera and track phone are missing. Later that week, Yod shows up again, this time at midnight and wants to borrow some money. I don't give him any and eventually am able to get him to leave, as I was by happenstance talking to my father, so it only took 32 minutes to get him to leave. Now fast forward one month. I get back from China, and my Mom comes to visit. Yod returns again, this time to a much less hospitable visit. Mom opens the door a smidgen and begins yelling "You go home, you get out of here" over and over. Yod's eyes grow to the size of a pumpkin and then leaves. The following day we file a police report. Now this is where things get interesting. The police bring Yod to my house and we reinact the entire episode..this time with photos...yeah that's right..photos. We take pictures of Yod banging on the door, we take pictures of Yod and myself sitting on the floor together chatting, of Yod going to the bathroom, going inside my room and pointing at the camera on my bed which he is about to take, and then once again on the rug where we were chatting. The entire time this is taking place, I am thinking to myself..Imagine this happening in the U.S. A poor rape victim reinacting the traumatic experience of the attack.
"OK now who was on top. Now freeze while I take a picture." On a positive note, I was impressed with how quickly the police got a confession. Again imagine reporting a theft in Oakland. Absolutely nothing would happen. It's nice to know that with a robbery, at least in Thailand, the police attempt to do something. Another bonus is that since the harrassment ensued, a large number of friends, farang and Thai alike have been coming to check up on things on a regular basis. It's reassuring to know that people care enough in this region to come on a regular basis to talk to me and check up on things.

Photos from Loi Kratong

This is a photo of the bridge
The City Wall

My students after they finished
making their Loi Kratongs.

Group of students I
met for the 2nd time

The river

My Kratong floating away my troubles.

Going down the river

So it's rainy season here in Thailand. With the exception of aerobic class cancellations and one day without school, life goes on as normal. Earlier this month, I got to experience the wonderful Buddhist festival of Loi Kratong. In this festival, people build beautiful boats out of bananna leaves. The boat's interior is circular and holds many items including, but not limited to: several incense burners, candles, hair from your head, nails, newt blood ( just kidding) and sometimes some money. The idea is to take this boat down to a river, light the candle inside, and then think of troubles plaguing your life. You then put the boat in the water, and your troubles float away. It was beautiful getting to see all the boats lit up at night. Even though the act itself was quite spiritual, I think in many ways the journey there was just as memorable. My entire street had flooded from the torrential downpours occuring that day. As I leave my mother and house behind in my plastic body condom (A.K.A. poncho) I quickly realize that Thailand rain is serious business. I wade through kneedeep water to the end of my road. I then wait for a ride on a blue truck taxi (Sawngthaew) for many minutes quickly becoming drenchingly wet. Finally one comes. Just as I arrive at my destination twenty minutes later, the rain begins to subside. As I approach the river, I discover an awning where Thais are waiting and chatting. I enter the awning and low and behold I discover people I've met before. Students from a nearby school who recognized me from speaking English with me at a local department store. We talk for a while, take some pictures, and laugh at the fact that the shirt I am wearing is the exact same one they saw me in two months ago at the mall. Finally the rain completely stops. Thais swarm to the river bank to light their Kratong boat and shew away their troubles. The river is simply glowing with scintillating, radiant light and I am once again reminded of why I came to Thailand in the first place. The light from the river coincides with the light in the people's eyes, with the light in our hearts and I know that finally I am home.

Home Sweet Home..Now with a phone.. and an Internet Zone.

So it may have taken awhile, but by chance of the rain clearing up for 7 hours, I now have a phone line, and Eeen-tuh-net as said in Thai. Many other changes have taken place at the "Pink Palace" as well. For instance, the front is no longer pink- but orange. So the new name of my home is the "Peach Palace." Thank heavens for the continued availablity of alliteration. Whew. Thanks to the dreadfully sad departing of my good friends Joey and Sommer (names not changed) I also have some plants, a hammock, a wash bin, rugs, numerous dvd's of Thai fighters or action movies- not sure which, a kick ass Thai tattoo art work, bedding, tables, and lest I forget to mention, so I mention twice...Plants. That's right.. Plants. So without further ado, here are pictures of the brank spankin new Peach Palace- post flooding.

It’s Here Folks...Rain Season

It’s Rainy Season. It’s Rainy Season.
At least I hope that’s the Reason.
For all the water
Gushing up through the banana leaves
Crushing through papaya trees.
As I sit here I can’t help but think..
Of all the places I have lived. I think this place
Would be ..The best
place for a lawnfish..

Coming to Thailand

Why Thailand- why now? As my friend, Mary Bolton stated in one preflight jitter, "Mac, someone will stuff drugs in your suitcase on the way to the airport, then you'll go to jail for the rest of your life." With such scary notions as drug stuffings, you too may wonder if going to Thailand is the best idea. For me, it absolutely was. Prior to coming to Thailand, I worked for five years as an educator in inner city schools within Los Angeles and Oakland, California. Bridging the educational gap existing in today's schools in the US between the rich and poor, was- and still is- an important component of my overall educational philosophy. But, make no bones about it, it is grueling work much of the time. Teachers all over the world are generally exceptionally hard workers, but those working within inncr-city schools have the added challenge of working with children who have fallen through the cracks in the school system, and know it. Many, though not all, are a minimum of two years behind grade level. To make matters worse, as a consequence of being allowed to fall through the cracks, most students develop a "fixed intelligence" mentality that can plague them for the rest of their remaining academic career. I sought out schools serving children of low income families that had track records of success- who taught children using a malleable intelligence model. Schools that were composed of networks of teachers committed to raising the bar for these students and propelling them onto a different track in life. This was a very rewarding experience. I learned so much from extremely competent teachers who not only thoroughly understood the plight of these children, but also refused to accept this as an excuse for low academic achievement. Over that five year period, I saw many examples of students that when given a structured classroom following a malleable intelligence framework for teaching, combined with an overall "Big Goal" make remarkable academic gains. While this was very rewarding to see overall, the path to get there every year was very draining. I was typically at school until at least 6 at night- many times 8 or 9 pm. There was just so much to do to prepare my students for my expectations for them. After five years, I wanted a break. I began researching teaching around the world. I saw loads of examples of English learning schools, but few where teachers were expected to make high academic gains with their students, or where teachers worked together in collaborative learning communities to bring change to their students. I finally hit the jackpot with Thailand. I am working at a relatively large school, in a small city in southern Thailand. I absolutely love it. My students are amazing. I have virtually zero classroom management issues. As a teacher in the states, I was prepared at the beginning of the year with interest inventories, various procedures outlined and ready to practice, and of course, community building activities. But none of it was needed. From day one, my students have been wonderful. Thai students virtually ooze community spirit in the classroom. The struggle for me is to get them to become more individualistic- the complete opposite from teaching in "the states." While my school is not perfect, having a break from the daily grind of teaching in an inner city school is a much needed relief..for the moment.

Totallly Thai- one fish sauce fry at at time

Ok so I absolutely abhor fish sauce so I don't really ever eat it on purpose. So fish sauce french fries are one adventure I do not plan on having in Thailand. Sorry to mislead your first impressions. My name is Mac and you have entered my blog. Muahahahaha.