It's been so nice to speak to people from home and hear things about everyone. I can't believe everyone's starting university so soon! It's gonna be so different when I come back. It makes me really happy to know that people are still reading even though their lives are so busy with getting ready to leave home too!
Also, now if you type 'I love mae sot' into google, my blog comes up!
I just have to sneak in this photo of GA filling up on petrol! Isn't it so strange & different compared to how we do it? hahaha. I couldn't stop gawping at this method.
Yesterday was my first ever day as a teacher. I have no idea how you do it! I had a rough timetable to stick to and see how it went. But after working with Grades 1, 2, 3 & 4. I feel like the younger children who know hardly any English are the most fun to teach. Grade 4 were fantastic with their English, it just shows what a great teacher they have. I can't spell his name..but it sounds like 'Thang le Aung'. He gets the children excited to learn and they have such a fun time in class with him. It felt almost a waste for me to be teaching them when they have such a brilliant teacher already. So I may stick to Grades 1, 2 & 3 for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. 1 hour each.
We did some basic, 'Getting to know you' stuff in circle time & played a few games. The teachers even joined in! The children drew themselves and their families. What is funny about the kids here is that they love to show off their work, even the most timid ones. They all come up and say "Sama!" = "Teacher!". They ask you to mark their work with "VERY GOOD ***" and to sign my name hahaha. I felt so famous! It was such a busy day & I was glad to have today - wednesday - off. I've prepared for my lesson tomorrow & I hope it all goes well. I'll try to take some photos of the work.
For now, this is teacher Katie. She is a very kind, friendly, fun teacher. She and 2 other teachers have recently moved into a new building beside the school. The building is lovely, but it is made of concrete. So it is very hard to sleep on the groud. All their belongings are kept in the corner in a few boxes.
Sometimes I feel very embarrased about my way of living back home, and also here in the homestay, when I see these people living like this. These people are so much more deserving than I am of the good life, but they have no choice.
Goodnight sleepy ones. Oh, that's just me..
x
I'm glad you're keeping in touch with your pals. They miss you. I also know how much a comment on the blog means when you are so far away so hope lots of people write you comments.
ReplyDeleteI cannae believe this is my laid back, sleeping daughter. You are so switched on, stuck in and working! I'm amazed at what you have worked out about how to teach. And how insightful you are when you say it's a waste for me to teach Grade 4 when Thang Lay Aung is so good at it. He is a really cool guy and the children adore him.
Everybody who meets Kathy loves her. She is an outstanding teacher. Irvine felt it was a great honour to work alongside her when he was in Grade 5 & 6. So it's lovely to see her in her new house. And you are so right, look at that amazing woman with such talent and dedication and that is her home and belongings. It makes me ashamed too of how much I have. It's a sad, divided world we live in.
It was great to hear you so settled tonight too. As always I miss you and am astounded at the way you are managing.
We went to see John tonight in his lovely new flat. I tried to take photos of his amazing cupboard that he is so happy about but my batteries ran out. It's a beautiful cupboard but the most amazing thing about it is that it's so exceptionally organised and tidy. He's got a lift to his flat and everything is brand new and gorgeous. He's landed on his feet there, Louise. I'll take photos next time. Then we went to Papa's and gave him a printout of your blog. He says to tell you he loves you and he misses you and he's glad you're doing OK. Night night. Mum x
Can you believe he was wanting to stay in Port Seton?!
ReplyDeleteAwwww pups :)
x
It's total raining here today! So i'm having a jammies day and you should be here with covers, bbq shredded chicken from ivy's, some undercooked, hard noodles then good movies from blockbuster! I'm glad you're enjoying it though. The teaching sounds really fun and must be amazing to interact with people with such a different lifestyle. Makes me, even sitting here, realise how lucky i am. Keep up the good work lousey! Missing your wee face! :) xxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteHello Louise! I'm the 'very blond' teacher Tessa that you met in Campie just before you left.
ReplyDeleteBeen reading your blog today and it sounds like you are starting to relax a little and have a good attitude to the challenges of your new, if temporary, life out there.
This summer's trip was the first for me beyond the boundaries of the EU... so the way of life and the basic existence shocked me too. We only stayed in a homestay one night.. you are going WAY further than that!!!
On another note, I know a bit about how homesick and unsure you probably have been feeling. I moved to Belfast when I was 17 to start Uni by myself (parents were in US) and I knew no-one there. OK, there weren't any random geckos, but back then there were still helicopters overhead and riot wagons for police cars, so every bang in the night, or day, made me panic. There was no-one else in my dorms there for over a week... it was pretty grim.
I spent a year in Spain for my degree and I remember too how just the way that all the everyday things around you, the furniture, the decor, the lights, the floors, the kitchen, everything looked so different, smelt different.... it made you feel a bit of an alien, unnerved by the way nothing felt 'safe'.
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is 'stick with it' because my year abroad turned out to be the best year ever and I know that you're already making friends and gathering memories that will last you a long, long time.
And remember, the weather here is RUBBISH and the geckos aren't as much fun!