Letters From A Pubesent Cluster Pluck

So in the past two weeks I have literally gone from living out of a backpack to being responsible for the education of 900 teenagers, not to mention I had 24 hours to physically get my body across a vast land mass to do so.

Long story short I (finally!) got placed with a job teaching English at a high school in Trat, where I teach 21 classes packed full of 50+ oh-sooo-emo Thai teenagers.
( and if you thought the kids at your school where hipsters, you haven't been to Asia.)



A LOT of suppressed creativity. And that's about all I have to say on that.






My job is slightly challenging being that oh, I don't know, I don't speak Thai, and my students don't understand a word that comes out of my mouth. The fact that I am disaster- zone with an uncanny ability to embarrasses myself in NORMAL situations, does not help.

The term flaming train wreck does not begin to describe my first week.

Ridiculous video footage insert here.

I particularly enjoy it when they talk about me in Thai in front of me-- fully aware that they can say whatever they want, about me or to me, and get away with it.


My schools version of Richard the Third. Ben directed. Korean pop star hair cut rocks my world.


The boys spent the first week learning how to ever-so lyrically scream in english, "TEEE-CHAAAAA WHAT YOU PHONE NUM-BAA?" Which they still randomly belt out at any given time: in class, from across campus, 6 inches from my ear while I'm teaching...whenever.

At least they are learning.. something. ?

But don't fret, this week seems to be going much MUCH smoother as I am learning cruel and unusual punishments from my Thai co-workers. (Really.)


Anywho, I have a two story house with an extra bedroom (flighty hippy friends you better take me up on this!) I live with my friend Ben, who I did teacher training with in monk school in Ban Phe. He also teaches at my school, as we are the only two native english teachers. I have been so blessed to have him to tell me when I have marker on my face and to find me when I am driving around lost in circles on my motorbike. He also assists steering me into the appropriate gender-specific bathroom. (The skirt sign people! It's universal, lets use it!!)

Teaching, language barriers and vast cultural differences can be challanging to say the least. But thats what I came here to do. I am certainly finding everything to be exceptionally entertaining.

Did someone say teenage- ladyboy-spongebobsquarepants dragon dance?

I think yes.

Twilight Train

I'm a poet and didn't know it! (I know, I am so clever.)

Some Haiku-ish junk I wrote on an overnight train to Chaing Mai from Bangkok. Yes, I am a nerd, but reciting poetry on the train with Elle and Emily was an A+ experience- so I had to type it up....

Twisted steal
Metal grinding
Reflection in the window paralyzing.

Skinny chickens
Make great Tum Kha Gai
Peaking out with Buddha eyes.

Tangerine robes
Monks whiz by
Steam engine belts a sigh.

Mountain temples
Speck and glitter
Twine around rice paddy litter.

**snap snap snap**

**