I didn't mention it in my last post, but my bike was stolen from the school two weeks ago. It was shocking. Stolen? In Nong Chang? But how could this be?
Nonetheless, it was gone and I was hoofing it everywhere. The walks were nice, and I was even able to notice a few new things about Nong Chang. One of which was a bike identical to mine with a new home in front of a mobile phone shop. I noticed this specimen while walking to the Sunday night rehearsal for my Monday night modeling debut.
I was running a little late, so didn't have time to do much about it. I, quite visibly, inspected the little green sticker on the back fender, the light attached to the front wheel, and the strongest evidence, the broken bell installed backwards on the right handle bar (perhaps the only one of it's kind in the world). The man working out front saw me examine these things as our dialogue commenced in my broken Thai:
"My bicycle... who did it?"
the man simply looked exacerbated and pointed downward, as if to say "here"
"who? who?"
pointing here, pointing here
after a minute or so a woman came out, relatively irate, and made it clear that I was to leave. I tried to contact a Thai friend of mine to come and speak on my behalf, but to no avail.
When I got to the rehearsal I explained to my director and fellow teachers what happened. They didn't seem interested at the time, but the next morning my director went with me to get my bicycle back.
I eventually found the shop again, but, alas, no bicycle. He questioned them and apparently they had taken it to get fixed. Somewhere through the course of the conversation I was asked if my bicycle had a basket "like this one" and the director pointed to a new, black basket. "Yes... well, not like that one, but it had a basket."
Eventually we left the scene, with me very much in a state of confusion. Apparently someone stole her bicycle and replaced it with mine (right), and we were going to the shop to see if it was really my bicycle.
When we arrived, I saw the light that I had pointed out the night before sitting in the basket. The bell had been removed, and the sticker on the back fender covered with another sticker. I got emphatic, "Yes! I am sure this is my bicycle! Look what she's having done!" and I explained the three signs of "mineness" that she was having removed.
From there we proceeded to our third destination, to speak to her "cousil." What he meant by cousil I have no idea. Perhaps "cousin" (which can generally mean any relative outside of immediate family) or "council" (but having a lawyer seemed unlikely).
He sat and talked to the "cousil" for a time and the woman showed up seeming very angry and shooting me daggers. Eventually we left to retrieve the bike, only to find the final insult. She was having the old rusty (and bigger and better in my opinion) basket replaced with a brand new black one!
I was shocked when my director paid for the chop job, but I have learned better than to argue with anyone, especially my boss, over his willingness to spend money (trying to get out of paying for it would have lost him terrible face and it was not my place to interfere, it was his money and his bike).
At some point during this process the woman drove up, furious, and began talking to the bike shop owner about me. I'm not sure exactly what was said, but apparently I had wronged her some how in the process of getting my bike back.
Now, whenever I see her in town, she is either on a motorcycle or another bicycle (while I was obviously confined to walking by her theft) and she gives me the nastiest look the human face can muster without being obviously hostel and losing face.
I had noted that a pink (obviously a lady's) bike had appeared near my bike the day it was stolen (though it had been hidden behind cars on that particular day). I thought perhaps this was her bike that she believed stolen. Although this didn't justify her taking my bike, I saw no reason why she shouldn't have her bike back. I attempted to explain, and she became irate, and rude, and shooed me away, unwilling to hear what such a villainous farang would have to say to her.
What shocks me is not that she stole my bike. That was obvious from day one. But that she resented me for getting it back. That she felt that I had wronged her by attempting to retrieve my bicycle from the thief who just happened to be her. It baffles me still, and goes against everything I have violently held onto of my naivete about human nature.
I had convinced myself that everyone does things because they think they are good, and now I have found a woman who is simply a ball of malice and selfishness and refutes everything I held on to.
Perhaps I'll have to rethink politicians now as well...
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
International Super Modeling and other adventures...
When they asked me to "model some thai clothes" at the festival on Monday I had no idea what I was getting into. I had thought that I would simply wear some thai clothes and walk in a parade, or something equally similar and mundane.
Oh no. As it turns out, I was to play the part of a model to the full. Walking a catwalk to trendy music while done up in clothes far too tight, with far too much makeup, sashaying, turning, and otherwise being a model. What I thought was going to be a little festival turned out to be a huge 9 day extravaganza, with our show being the opening nights main event.
Preparations occured in the school music room, and I was fully done up in a horribly uncomfortable costume by 5:30... the show wasn't until 8, my particular walk wasn't until around 9:30... Which means sitting around for over 5 hours (with the curtain call and time until changing) factored in) in my finery.
It was definately worth it. How many people can say they've seen a small town Thai festival, let alone been in one? However, it was this experience that showed me that my days on the stage are over. Although I'm still very interested in working in theater (either as a drama teacher and/or director) life on stage has lost its luster.
In other news, my director has now squashed any and all hopes of a mini-english program next year. That leaves me with what seem to be two options. About 20 minutes after talking to Daniel about how I would like to live in Chiang Mai, I found that I had recieved an email expressing interest in hiring me at a school there. Nothing is definite yet, but it's still a possibility.
Even less definite is the prospect of working at PK Yonge, the University of Florida's research school. Essentially, it's a specially designed school that is technically a part of the Gainesville public school system, but also part of the UF campus and is used to conduct educational research.
This seems like a dream job because it would in the same town as Trevor and I would be working close to educational research, a field that I may one day find myself working in. Still, they haven't even posted their openings for the next school year yet, let alone expressed interest in hiring me... so, who knows if it will pan out.
Both jobs sound like they would be great... If I definately had offers at the two, I would probably jump at PK Yonge in Gainesville, although I did have a dream last night where I went back to America to live and instantly regretted it... so who knows.
Finally, my long anticipated intestinal illness has struck. I still managed to get to work today, and even ate twice, but those have been small blessings that I have not taken for granted.
Anno (my fellow farang teacher) is sitting next to me and touching up the photos he took of my modeling debut (he's also a professional photographer and director). whenever he finishes and sends them to me (maybe tonight, maybe not) I will post them.
Here are some photos, by Anno:
Oh no. As it turns out, I was to play the part of a model to the full. Walking a catwalk to trendy music while done up in clothes far too tight, with far too much makeup, sashaying, turning, and otherwise being a model. What I thought was going to be a little festival turned out to be a huge 9 day extravaganza, with our show being the opening nights main event.
Preparations occured in the school music room, and I was fully done up in a horribly uncomfortable costume by 5:30... the show wasn't until 8, my particular walk wasn't until around 9:30... Which means sitting around for over 5 hours (with the curtain call and time until changing) factored in) in my finery.
It was definately worth it. How many people can say they've seen a small town Thai festival, let alone been in one? However, it was this experience that showed me that my days on the stage are over. Although I'm still very interested in working in theater (either as a drama teacher and/or director) life on stage has lost its luster.
In other news, my director has now squashed any and all hopes of a mini-english program next year. That leaves me with what seem to be two options. About 20 minutes after talking to Daniel about how I would like to live in Chiang Mai, I found that I had recieved an email expressing interest in hiring me at a school there. Nothing is definite yet, but it's still a possibility.
Even less definite is the prospect of working at PK Yonge, the University of Florida's research school. Essentially, it's a specially designed school that is technically a part of the Gainesville public school system, but also part of the UF campus and is used to conduct educational research.
This seems like a dream job because it would in the same town as Trevor and I would be working close to educational research, a field that I may one day find myself working in. Still, they haven't even posted their openings for the next school year yet, let alone expressed interest in hiring me... so, who knows if it will pan out.
Both jobs sound like they would be great... If I definately had offers at the two, I would probably jump at PK Yonge in Gainesville, although I did have a dream last night where I went back to America to live and instantly regretted it... so who knows.
Finally, my long anticipated intestinal illness has struck. I still managed to get to work today, and even ate twice, but those have been small blessings that I have not taken for granted.
Anno (my fellow farang teacher) is sitting next to me and touching up the photos he took of my modeling debut (he's also a professional photographer and director). whenever he finishes and sends them to me (maybe tonight, maybe not) I will post them.
Here are some photos, by Anno:
Me with my modeling entorage
Me on the catwalk, yeah, on the catwalk.
Never has my director been more accurately depicted.
Somran and Noom, two high ranking soldiers for His Majesty, the Director.
Friday, February 1, 2008
The Life and Times of a Nong Changer
So, I've been here in Thailand, "land of the free," for 5 and a half months. I often find I could write about this, or that, or the other thing, but all in all it just boils down to a relatively humdrum existence so I don't bother. Occasionally I go on a trip for a weekend or more, but usually it's either mostly business related (now I am in Bangkok to put in a deposit for my CELTA course which will beef up my resume nicely) or just like everything else in Thailand which I'm finding doesn't have quite the zest and variety of India.
I went to Chiang Mai last weekend, to apply for the CELTA course. Chiang Mai is like the Asheville of Thailand... lot's of coffee shops, international restaurants (i.e. Mexican, Indian, American) and white people... but all in all pretty much like the rest of Thailand. One experience of note was seeing a group of Novice monks (probably all around 10-12) jumping over the wall of their temple for a day out on the town... one by one a bald head poked up, looked around, and down came a little monk landing with the resounding clap of sandals on pavement.
So, what have I been doing with my humdrum existence? What fills my days with meaning? I've picked up a couple new hobbies, revived a couple old ones, and have been reading tremendously...
I've taken up basketball... or rather, the guys who play basketball down the street from my house are nice enough to let me on the court - and even pass me the ball - without making fun of me. I don't ask to be passed the ball... and I certainly don't deserve it, but I enjoy playing very much and have even showed improvement. I don't expect to ever become a "good" player, or even not the worst player, but I hope to get worthy of the game.
I feel like it's good for me to be doing something totally outside of my experience, I have never played a team sport... at least not worth mentioning, and also that I am totally inept at. It takes no small degree of willpower to go back every day, and an awful lot of personal fortitude to enjoy the game... but all in all I think it's building character.
Online courses? UF has several online courses that I have been looking at. They have several certification programs for teachers, and even an Ed.S. (Educational Specialist) and Ed.D. (Educational Doctorate) program available via the internet. I would have never considered going for an EdD in Technology in Education... but as something to fill up my time in a small town it seems like a worthwhile endeavor. I could take courses as diverse as web design, digital photography, psychology of technology, and gaming and education... and probably tack on some computer programing courses...
I do love technology, and if I can take a wide variety of interesting courses that just happen to also give me an Ed. D... why not? If one day I had loftier goals I could still go and get a PhD... and probably have a stronger application at that (assuming I do well)... This is of course all in the fictional planning stage in my mind as of yet. I will sign up for a certification in... something, and if I like it transfer to the Ed.D. track and keep my delicious credits.
And of course, books. My god I've had access to some wonderful books, fiction and non-fiction, and would suggest all of the ones I had the inspiration to finish:
Poisonwood Bible: A family of 5 missionaries from the south move to Africa. This book is amazing and beyond description and gives a fascinating account of America's involvement in the Congo... If you've ever wondered why everyone hates Americans, this book will make at least some of it vividly justified.
Sacred Games: Set in India... a small time cop goes after an international mobster... the plot is amazingly more complex, as it's a book significantly wider than my forearm, but anything else would give too much away. If you want to really feel like what India is "like" with none of the glitz and glamour of a "far away place" this book has it. Also, the writing is brilliant and the plot thrilling.
Acacia: The best fantasy novel ever written, ever. Written by a historian who usually focuses on historical fiction, this book accurately creates a kingdom with small traces of magic and a lot of political intrigue.
Trilogy: His Dark Materials - Golden Compass, Subtle Knife, & Amber Spy Glass - This is mainly a children's book, about half way through you begin to wonder whether any novel, for any age, could be so lofty as to take on the theme it attempts... and then find your self astounded at how well it was done.
Robertson Davies: This is, quite possibly, my favorite author of late. I first read the Cornish Trilogy and couldn't get enough and immediately after finishing it had to find the willpower not to immediately re-read it. For Christmas, Trevor scored a copy of his Deptford Trilogy, which I am now consuming with a deep, almost unfitting for literature, euphoria.
The Moral Animal: An account of evolutionary psychology that is well written, educational, and very insightful. If you've ever wondered why we do what we do, this lays out some pretty decent theories... considering it 's psychology.
I went to Chiang Mai last weekend, to apply for the CELTA course. Chiang Mai is like the Asheville of Thailand... lot's of coffee shops, international restaurants (i.e. Mexican, Indian, American) and white people... but all in all pretty much like the rest of Thailand. One experience of note was seeing a group of Novice monks (probably all around 10-12) jumping over the wall of their temple for a day out on the town... one by one a bald head poked up, looked around, and down came a little monk landing with the resounding clap of sandals on pavement.
So, what have I been doing with my humdrum existence? What fills my days with meaning? I've picked up a couple new hobbies, revived a couple old ones, and have been reading tremendously...
I've taken up basketball... or rather, the guys who play basketball down the street from my house are nice enough to let me on the court - and even pass me the ball - without making fun of me. I don't ask to be passed the ball... and I certainly don't deserve it, but I enjoy playing very much and have even showed improvement. I don't expect to ever become a "good" player, or even not the worst player, but I hope to get worthy of the game.
I feel like it's good for me to be doing something totally outside of my experience, I have never played a team sport... at least not worth mentioning, and also that I am totally inept at. It takes no small degree of willpower to go back every day, and an awful lot of personal fortitude to enjoy the game... but all in all I think it's building character.
Online courses? UF has several online courses that I have been looking at. They have several certification programs for teachers, and even an Ed.S. (Educational Specialist) and Ed.D. (Educational Doctorate) program available via the internet. I would have never considered going for an EdD in Technology in Education... but as something to fill up my time in a small town it seems like a worthwhile endeavor. I could take courses as diverse as web design, digital photography, psychology of technology, and gaming and education... and probably tack on some computer programing courses...
I do love technology, and if I can take a wide variety of interesting courses that just happen to also give me an Ed. D... why not? If one day I had loftier goals I could still go and get a PhD... and probably have a stronger application at that (assuming I do well)... This is of course all in the fictional planning stage in my mind as of yet. I will sign up for a certification in... something, and if I like it transfer to the Ed.D. track and keep my delicious credits.
And of course, books. My god I've had access to some wonderful books, fiction and non-fiction, and would suggest all of the ones I had the inspiration to finish:
Poisonwood Bible: A family of 5 missionaries from the south move to Africa. This book is amazing and beyond description and gives a fascinating account of America's involvement in the Congo... If you've ever wondered why everyone hates Americans, this book will make at least some of it vividly justified.
Sacred Games: Set in India... a small time cop goes after an international mobster... the plot is amazingly more complex, as it's a book significantly wider than my forearm, but anything else would give too much away. If you want to really feel like what India is "like" with none of the glitz and glamour of a "far away place" this book has it. Also, the writing is brilliant and the plot thrilling.
Acacia: The best fantasy novel ever written, ever. Written by a historian who usually focuses on historical fiction, this book accurately creates a kingdom with small traces of magic and a lot of political intrigue.
Trilogy: His Dark Materials - Golden Compass, Subtle Knife, & Amber Spy Glass - This is mainly a children's book, about half way through you begin to wonder whether any novel, for any age, could be so lofty as to take on the theme it attempts... and then find your self astounded at how well it was done.
Robertson Davies: This is, quite possibly, my favorite author of late. I first read the Cornish Trilogy and couldn't get enough and immediately after finishing it had to find the willpower not to immediately re-read it. For Christmas, Trevor scored a copy of his Deptford Trilogy, which I am now consuming with a deep, almost unfitting for literature, euphoria.
The Moral Animal: An account of evolutionary psychology that is well written, educational, and very insightful. If you've ever wondered why we do what we do, this lays out some pretty decent theories... considering it 's psychology.
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