I had an amazing week though. I loved my kids, even the classes I don't normally love. I found out who my real friends were, or at least which Nong Changers would miss me enough to make a show of it. The week was just great.
First, the kids. It turns out, fourth grade is my favorite again. After many struggles, I finally figured out my job. The truth of the matter is, I am not "The English Teacher,'' I am one step in a long (and horrendously flawed) assembly line of English instruction. My hour a week will not move mountains, will not flood little minds with a sudden realization of past progressive tense (or even the names of body parts), it is one of many hours a week they spend learning English, and, I hope, the one they care about and enjoy the most.
I know this is true of my fourth graders, who have grown to love me in a way that would be suffocating if they weren't under 4 feet tall (literally). When I enter the fourth grade floor it's an explosion of children. I become a great comet of English instruction, with a long tail of children glittering behind me in the distance.
Many attempt a coveted show of manhood: the "Shake Hand stand off," where we shake hands in an attempt to squeeze the other's hand so hard that their knees buckle. A few kids actually get the better of me (thanks to a trick they've passed around about moving their hand in such a way to make my knuckles rub one another, very painful).
The rest simply walk beside me and hold my hand, even the boys, a show of affection far beyond the coolness of American fourth graders. (Indeed, grown men are very affectionate in Thailand and also India, and I have heard the same of the Middle East and Africa.) Those that have completed their shake hand test, or who have failed to score the coveted hand, or arm around the shoulder, simply trail behind me, screaming, poking, and prodding me playfully, sometimes painfully, but always in good humor.
Outside of school, Anno and I had a series of goodbye dinners, all of which were lovely. One was a little telling, however. Anno will not be coming back, and was very much looking forward to having a dinner with Somran and Noom, two of our friends from the office. Both were informed and seemed enthusiastic.... neither showed up. They had their excuses the next day but still, it was disheartening.
Two of my friends were very sad to see me go, however, even for only two months. One, a Dr. who plays basketball with me, was shocked and disappointed (admittedly, I broke the news to them rather late, the day before I left). His English is excellent, he's educated and youngish (probably not too much older than me) and an excellent candidate for a good friend when I return.
Another is "Nes" who runs the new internet shop in town which has quickly become my favorite. He's supposedly working on a degree in communication technology, but mostly he drinks and plays video games. He's invited me to share a beer on several occasions, and I less occasionally agree. Always it's been nice, and he insisted that I stay my last night and drink with him and his friends. I'm not sure if I'll have many opportunities to interact with Nes outside of video games or drinking, two activities I don't hope to spend a lot of time on, but it's nice to be liked.
So, here I am, already in Chiang Mai, waiting for Trevor to come (appallingly late). I don't miss Nong Chang, but I'm happy that I am going back, even if only for a month or two before heading to the states.
Pictures Galore... First, several pictures of my students:
And two of me in Uthai Thani, at the Temple on the hill...
1 comment:
Your experiences sound so rewarding... I know how much fun it is to do a job and really feel appreciated by your patrons (or students, in your case).
I learned that ol' handshake/knuckle crunch move as a child, getting hurt by my older brother. :) What you say about men and boys being more comfortable with physical touch interests me.... I've read that in many cultures of non-European descent, the norm is an acceptance of friendly physical touch, without the accompanying discomfort that Westerners associate with it. Sounds nice... people touching is important, I think. If a baby isn't touched within so many hours of being born, it has been known to die. The culture I live within is so non-embracing of casual touch between non-intimate people, that I find it a treat to get a haircut, just because it's novel to have someone I don't know touching my neck and ears and such.
Those kids look damn cute. Before you go, you should get them to fill up a sketchbook with drawings and signatures, that could be a nice thing to hold onto.
So you will be going to PK Yonge in Gainesville? North Florida is so pretty, you should really enjoy the woodsy parks, springs, and rivers in that area.
Cheers-
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