I forgot two things from last week…
1. Haylee keeps finding the biggest coachroaches in her room! We think they’re pushing the shower cover away and coming up through the shower!! Eww!!
2. The most embarrassing moment of my life so far I would say…
I was walking to class after lunch with Nicole, just chatting away. We get to the last crossing having past street vendors, 3 separate lines of traffic and I walk in front of her. At this point she shouts and starts pulling my skirt. I thought it was a bug on me..no..much worse. My skirt as been tucked in my pants the whole walk!!! Everyone has seen my bum and underwear!!! In the UK you might get hooted at but here noone said a word! We just stood there dying with laughter!! Awkward!
Back to week 3…
Monday
More grammar today. We have a test next Monday so just got to get all the information into my head!
After the course, a few of us decided to head to a local massage parlour. We sat down and immediately they brought out bowls with warm water and limes in it and nd washed our feet. Then the 3 of us headed upstairs wheRe there were a line of mattresses separated by curtains. We all opted for a traditional Thai massage. I could keep my trousers on as they were thin and I just put one of their thin tops on. Then the massage began. It was different to any I’ve had before..a lot of prodding and pushing and there are no oils involved but it was great. My legs were aching from the waterfalls so it helped them! All was very relaxing when suddenly there was are huge bang and the lights went out! They came back on but a few minutes later it happened again. Slightly ruined the peaceful atmosphere! Nearing the end, I was asked if I wanted to be stretched! I was a little nervous but said yes. She held my arms then twisted my back to each side which caused it to pop. She then pulled my back upwards. It was odd but seemed to work as I felt great afterwards! It was 200 baht (£5) for an hour! Worth it!!
Tuesday
Tuesday was a great day! I managed to get my lesson planned quickly..this week “Should and should not” in the context of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch being at the mall. What should/shouldn’t he do there?!
Nicole and and I also finally took our clothes to the launderette next to our course building. They have huge machines so we shared and for 50 baht it was washed.
At lunch (fried rice with spicy sausage), Abby began to feel really ill so I walked with her back to the hotel, hung up my washing to dry and returned to the course. I managed to plan and sort Abby’s lesson quickly for her so she could sleep.
Then Evan, Nicole and I began to plan our drama for Friday. It’s about buying fruit at a stall and must be in Thai. Mam, who works at the course, helped us with the pronounciation and then just laughed at us as we tried. It was so hard! In English we put tones into our voices to emphasises the word but if you change the pitch or tone in a thai, you end up saying the wrong word!
Mam was very patient with us as we tried to write down what we were hearing but it was hard! We have until Friday to learn it off by heart which should be alright. We were going to go and use our new “skills” to ask a real vendor for some fruit but as we left for the hotel, it began to pour down! I was drenched (a denim dress absorbs water quite quickly!) even though I had an umbrella!
At 5, Nicole and I went and got takeaway basil pork and rice and then I headed on my first solo adventure on a red truck! I was going back to a building next to the church for a bible study. I managed to get a truck quite quickly and then spent 40 minutes travelling around the old city which was good as I could see where lots of the temples and bars are. I arrived and was welcomed warmly into the group of 4 guys and Kelsey, the girl I had messaged before coming to Thailand. After the group, the others all left on their motor/push bikes and I went off to find another red truck. There weren’t any for ages so I walked towards the old town. Finally one stopped. The driver couldn’t speak English at all and didn’t really understand my map. I ended up using his phone on Google translate for ‘Dunkin Donuts” and then he called someone to help. He agreed to take me and tried asking for 40 baht but I used my new thai and said “saam-sib” which means 30. He agreed but asked me to sit in the front. It was the first time I’ve worn a seat belt since being here..it felt natural when I saw it to put it on hah! We tried having a half conversation on the way back; we said Dunkin donuts a lot and tutted at the bad drivers cutting up our path. When we turned off the main road, he said “china”then used thai and actions to explain we were dropping the chinese passengers (sat in the back) off first. I used my GPS the whole way and soon we were next to Dunkin Donuts! I had been a little worried at first going out by myself but as I walked the streets and rode the trucks, I was fine and actually felt quite at home! It’s just been a really productive and successful day so I’m feeling great!!
Wednesday
We planned and prepped for our next lesson on Thursday. This week we’ve been hit by illness which I thought might start happening as we’ve now been here 3 weeks. I’ve been okay but a couple of the group had to take the day off and stay in bed and sleep it off!
This week there has been a pop up stand on the street outside the hotel selling rotti’s which are a bit like British pancakes but folded and fried. I had my first one with just cheese in it. The man asked if I wanted condensed milk and sugar on it…with cheese?! I thought but I had a little condensed milk on the side. It was amazing! Really unhealthy but tasted good and the condensed milk was a great bonus! I had another one on Friday with banana, chocolate sauce, condensed milk and sugar on it! Wow! Just amazing!!
After the course, a few of us decided to head to the old town to explore a bit. We entered the ‘Tha Phae’ gate but our exploring was hindered by our need for food! We ended up in an Italian restaurant and gorged on pizza. So
Today for lunch I had crispy pork (bacon) with veg and rice. It was so garlicy!! Then my pizza was also covered in huge bits of garlic! All I can taste is garlic now!
After food, we wandered down to the night bazaar and found a cool seating area which was surrounded by food stalls including a cowboy grill, French crepes and a bar in a VW camper van. We sat and chatted and listened to a varied mix of music as well as a live performer. Joe and Cecelia joined us just as we were about to leave so Haylee, Nicole and I stayed with them and ended up back at Ram bar to see the cabaret show which was Spanish themed this time. We were only going to stay for the first half but ended up staying for the whole show. It’s such a vibrant and fun atmosphere!
Thursday
After the day in class and more grammar, Nicole and I tried to study a bit and then practised our Thai drama sketch with Evan. He told us he was heading to Central Festival to see a movie in 4D and we decided to join. It was such a cool experience. It cost 300 baht but that’s similar to a normal film in the UK. We then sat on the chairs which have foot rests and feel a little like you’re on a ride. We had gone to see ‘Geostorm’ which turned out to be perfect for 4D as it’s about space and the weather so all of the effects could be used! Not only was it in 3D but the chair moved with the action and movement in the film; it felt like we were on a roller coaster and as if you were flying through space! Then there would be a big gust of wind and you’d get squirted with water! It was brilliant! I’d highly recommend it!
Friday
Today we performed our drama which went well although once I stood up, all the pronunciation I had practiced disappeared and I found it hard to remember my lines. It really showed how embarrassing, frustrating and daunting learning a new language and speaking it in front of others is! I need to keep this in mind when I’m teaching and asking children to stand up and speak!
We finished class early but had the grammar test looming over us – it’s on Monday. Nicole and I did a bit of revision (studying if you’re American) but we also wanted to chill out a bit so we headed to the local cat cafe. It’s called Catmosphere and all the cats are named after Star Wars characters! There were 23 cats in there! A couple of them had been shaved and were wearing cute knitted jumpers! We enjoyed an iced chocolate with them before heading back to the hotel to study.
Earlier in the day, we had agreed to have a Thai lesson with someone from the Thai Language school in our hotel. It was a free lesson so we jumped at the chance to learn a bit more Thai as none of us are very good at the moment. The lady teaching was really friendly and informative but Thai is so hard!!
For example: the word that sounds like ‘My’ means 5 different things depending how you say it. There are 5 different tones so you might try to say horse but say dog or no! It was funny but confusing as our ears just aren’t hearing the differences in the sounds! We’re hoping to have another lesson next week where the lady will take us to a temple where we can practise our Thai.
Saturday
We hired another red truck and headed 30 minutes up to the mountains to Mae Sa Waterfalls. As foreigners we had to pay 100 baht to get in but it was worth it. There were 10 stages of the waterfalls and several where you could jump in and swim. It really was paradise with the amazing scenery surrounding us.
After several hours there, we headed home and continued our studies.
Sunday
We didn’t do much this Sunday other than study and eat! It was great to have each other to revise with as we could ask each other when we were stuck. I headed to church and nearly had another underwear incident! As I was walking to grab a red truck, it began to pour with rain. Today I’d thought I’d wear a skirt which apparently goes a little see through when wet! During the drive, I was desperately trying to dry it out and luckily by the time it had to get out 1. The rain had stopped
2. My skirt had dried!
Church was good and I was able to speak to some of the small group people. I also managed to catch one of the first red trucks I saw which was great!
Oddly on the way to church I had seen one of the boys from the course in old town and then on the way back I saw some other people in McDonald’s! Just strange to see them when the route is random and it’s across the whole city!
We continued to study as a group before calling it a night ready for the big day tomorrow!
Monday
The day of the grammar test…
I haven’t taken a test since uni and I wasn’t nervous until I sat down but the studying helped and I was done after an hour.
Nicole and I headed to the shopping centre May’s where I finally sorted out my Thai phone so now I have unlimited data for a month for 300 baht £7. Then we had a huge celebratory lunch (celebrating just doing the test) at Duke’s where Nicole had mash potato which she’s been craving before heading back for the results..
It was a great day as everybody passed so with just 2 lessons left to teach, we’re nearly ready to head to our schools!! That’s going to be a shock to the system…work…everyday!?!?!
My treat for passing…chocolate cake!!
Tonight, there was talk of seeing a boxing match but it was really expensive so we’re heading to Ram bar to celebrate passing the test instead!!
Just 1 week left in Chiang Mai! Then I head south…