I made it through the week

So today marks the end of my first week as a teacher here at Satrisrinan School.  It has been an adventure!  As luck would have it Kru Mam returned from Chiang Mai last night so I only had to teach one class today--my M.5 group.  Since it was my first session with them we just went over class rules, played some games, and got used to each other.  I need them to adjust to my accent, since most English they have heard in the past is either from Thai of Filipino teachers.  If today is any indication, I think I will really enjoy this group--they were really willing to interact with me.  Plus I got a whole new list of great nicknames!  Note: I finally discovered where to get class rosters so I had them all write their English nicknames on it for me--that way I can grade based on participation.  Some of my favorite names from the class: S.M., Milk, Oil, Jubjib, Cat, Fifa, Piano, Guitar, and Yaya.  There are a bunch that I don't know how to say, but those are some good ones.  Now I just need to get my list filled out for every class section!

I also broached the subject of the Minecraft "ecology" handout with Kru Mam.  I don't know that she fully understood what I was saying, but she understood that it was a bad idea to use it.  I told her I would come up with an alternative handout to use for next week and she was very pleased, so that should work out.  I am a bit sad not to be seeing that class today to be honest.  Yes, it is work to teach them for a few hours, but they are pretty fun.  Now I will only see them for 1 hour most weeks (3 hours on the weeks Kru Mam wants some extra help).  Ahh well, it does lighten my load a bit.  If I had kept the current schedule I would have had over 20 classes a week--now I only have 12 most weeks.  Pretty similar to Reah's schedule this year (I think she has 14?).

This weekend will be a bit busy with lesson planning, but I am glad to have some downtime--no getting up at 6:15 for me!! I have found that I am waking up before the roosters are crowing.  That is unsettling.  Then again, I never get a good night's sleep because I wake up multiple times each night with my arms fast asleep from having rolled onto my side.  I think there should be some law against beds so hard they cut off circulation when you roll on your side.  <_<

I also considered going to a movie this weekend since the new Star Trek movie just came out.  Well, don't think that is going to happen.  From what I can tell the nearest movie theater is a 6 hour bus ride away in Chiang Mai.  I feel pretty humiliated admitting to this, but I even looked into flights to Chiang Mai--most expensive movie EVER!  But alas, I will save a trip to Chiang Mai for another weekend.

Anyway, I am a bit hungry now so I think a trip to the canteen is in order.  I am adjusting to the Thai method of eating--i.e. eating at every single opportunity!  How they stay so thin I have no idea...