Well, after an intense month of school in Ban Phe, Ira and I are now certified to teach English as a foreign language with TEFL/TESOL certification. (Please, no snide remarks from the peanut gallery about Southern accents. There are lots of interesting accents — our class had 7 Americans, 2 Australians and 6 Brits. ) As some folks have pointed out, there have not been any journal entries or major photo updates from us since we arrived in Thailand back in April. This is true and the reason is that we have worked really hard and full-time as students. Our course was very rigorous, with classes from 9 – 5 every day and then with homework!! And, of course, there was a student hangout across the street that needed visiting on a regular basis in the evening, after hours.
We also went to a Thai high school in Rayong 8 different days for 7 sessions of practice teaching along with one day of observation. During that time, every morning at 7:15 am, we headed out in a Songtaew, a pickup with a cover and bench seats in the bed, for our 50 minute ride to the High School. Our classes there were over at 12:00 so our trip back was usually quite warm. But with no sides you can catch a breeze — which is a good thing as temperatures were in the 90s. That was a trip to say the least!!
We will write up all our experiences to date; we had a very interesting group and enjoyed our classes and classmates enormously. And, there are lots of pictures.
Our course was over May 23 and we have been in Bangkok, getting squared away and touring around ever since.
Bangkok is great. We have taken a serviced apartment for a month while we decide what to do and where to go next.
Our NEW address (until the end of June) is:
Admiral Suites
38, 38/14 Sukhumvit Soi 22
Apt. 304
Bangkok 10110
Thailand
The apartment building’s phone is 66-2-663-4000 and we have voice mail on that line I believe. Also, our cell phone is 66-9-025-5723 and we definitely have voice mail on that.
We are going to Chiang Mai to look around up there for a few days. One of our fellow students, who is half Thai and half American, is in Chiang Mai and we met her parents when they came to Ban Phe. They have retired from Florida to Thailand and really like it in Chiang Mai and are encouraging us to consider working up there instead of in Bangkok. So, we thought that we would check it out. It’s in the mountains and is supposed to be beautiful. So, we’re excited. We are going by express train in the morning and are looking forward to seeing some of the countryside (it’s a 12 hour trip).
When we get more info and pictures up on the web, we will let everyone know.
Hope all is well with all of you.
Judy and Ira
Tags: Thailand