November in Thailand

I honestly don't have much time to write (what else is new), but for those of you who faithfully keep checking my blog in the hopes that there will be, here is a quick update.

Fall break was awesome! I loved Japan. Check out the pictures I put on facebook if you want a better idea about the trip, because it's been 2 or 3 weeks now, and I can't remember that much under pressure. We were planning a trip to India the first weekend in December, but that fell through today. Ah well.

Soccer is over. The girls did awesome at their last tournament, with a great fourth place finish that could've been first, if the tournament hadn't come down to goal differential. One of my girls was MVP of the tournament, and the guys finished second. It was a fun trip being out of school with the students; I'm glad I went.

Now that soccer's over, however, things have not lightened up the way I thought they would. My schedule is busier than ever, especially with progress reports needing to be ready by tomorrow. School's really been very up and down lately, and I am more than ready for a break. I did finally make it to a couple different parks to go running, of which the second one became my new favorite place in Bangkok. It's pretty, with a long peninsula jutting out into a "lake." Nothing like running in Cambodia, and getting out there makes me actually feel like I'm in Thailand instead of cloistered in a giant school bubble.

It's hard to believe November is half over...there really isn't that long to go before Christmas break with all that I have to get accomplished by then. I am very tired, though. Adam finally finished at basic, and he's at tech school right, still in Texas. Eventually he'll get stationed in Colorado...fortunately for me, he's got some time off for Christmas, and I'm looking forward to seeing his handsome face again in person.

Well, time to do something productive again. Hope you're all having a good month; have a happy Thanksgiving, when we get there:)

Insert Witty Title Here

I don't remember how long it's been since the last time I posted. It feels like it was long ago, yet every time I sit down to do this, I feel like there hasn't been that much that's happened to report. Well, I'll try.

I'm rather on top of things with school. I mean, it's still a lot of work, and I always seem to have something to grade or plan...the planning especially can get lengthy when I realize what I want to do and what I have to create to do it can lead to some very late, time-consuming nights at the school. I don't like to be at the school late; it's creepy when it's dark, I'm not gonna lie. The other night I heard someone humming in the dark stairwell...don't really want to relive that again, ha ha. Of course, part of my ingenious plan to be on top of things included not trying to squeeze everything I collected first quarter into first quarter report card grades...now, however, I'm discovering that in order to put those assignments on 2nd quarter, I'll have to change their due dates, because otherwise the system won't allow them to be added. Fabulous. The best laid plans of mice and men, right?

Soccer's been up and down. It goes from being my fun stress relief to a frustration and back again almost daily. Today was the faculty vs. varsity game; we lost 1-0. I didn't really care if we won or not, since the girls usually beat the teachers, and I knew it would be good if the girls could get up to play this game...however, I really wanted to put a ball in the back of the net and I missed about 10 shots trying to get one there. Blah. Major source of disappointment, as usual, comes from myself. The girls really enjoyed themselves and played well against the old fogey teachers...one of my players has nicknamed me "Long Legs," which does fit and almost has a Native American ring to it - cracks me up every time I hear it.

Add to this the ongoing saga with the book issue, and I really need this vacation coming up in about a week. We have a meeting tomorrow that I'm dreading. Looking forward to the Philippines and Japan, though:)

On the bright side, the unexpected happened yesterday. One of my seniors asked me to write her a letter of recommendation for her college, something I've never done before. As a first year teacher, I wasn't really expecting to be asked either. Of course, I agreed, and the more I thought about it, the more I thought that it wouldn't be that hard to recommend this girl. She's a hard worker and extremely persevering. She's really impressed me since last year when I was student teaching with the way she goes after understanding and overcomes all the obstacles that she's had. So, that was an honor.

Last Saturday, I got out and went to immigration with a few other girls to get my re-entry permit. Afterwards, Krista and I went to the Central mall, got some coffee, did some shopping, and just chilled. Even though it was earlier than I wanted to wake up, I realized later that the outing had relaxed me. I'd gotten away from school and did some small, fun things. I need to find time to do that more often...and not let my overactive creativity keep me locked in my classroom.

Anyway, Adam's supposed to graduate from basic a week from today. Please keep praying for him as he finishes and pray about the job he'll get. It'll be so nice to talk to him again. I've really missed him....never want to do 2 months like this again, that's for sure.

Stop the Madness!

Ok, well, obviously I've been busy since it's now October. Thought I would let you all know I'm still alive and my head's still above water, at least for now. But in the ongoing saga of work to be done, I'm going to keep this short and snappy.

1. Teaching is good. I really enjoy my students. The seniors are starting some Greek literature, and after last year, I finally have some background and experience there. They seem to be enjoying it. The sophomores are going to make Medieval newspapers. Woohoo!

2. Soccer is good-ish. I feel bad that the girls are mostly having a losing season, but they are playing some really hard schools with mostly European girls. Rather intimidating. The Varsity got their first win today, but it was in a tournament, so there were losses at the same time...which was sad. But I do enjoy playing with them. Turns out I will be going with them to the tournament in Phuket the first weekend in November. JV has a winning record, so that's nice. One of the girls got injured kind of badly again today, but she's fine now.

3. Today, Lissa and I took moto-taxis to meet up with Andrew's family to get to the tournament, and my moto ended up crossing behind a truck that was stuck in the mud. It spun its wheels and sent chunks of muddy rocks flying, one of which hit me in the foot and bruised it pretty good. It's sore. I guess I should be thankful that it hit me in the foot, though.

4. Other things at school are still hard.

5. For fall break, I'm going to spend a few days in Manila (the first place I ever went in Asia) and then go to Kyoto, Japan for the rest of the week with a couple friends from here. Very excited for a fun vacation away, especially to Japan, where I've never been before.

6. Adam is 3 weeks from the end of basic. Please keep praying for him, especially that he would get one of the jobs he's interested in. I think he's getting nervous about that, and so am I. He just finished gas chamber training and is moving on to something called the Beast. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to being able to talk to him again. I miss him a lot. As of this Monday, we will have been together officially for a year.

Okay, I think that should last a while. Happy October:) Man, I miss fall!

Hanging...in there

These past couple of weeks have been rough. The book issue has gotten worse and more stressful, which has taken up a lot of my time and concentration...so now I'm swamped with grading and lesson plans. I'm so thankful that it's the weekend, and I can sleep in and hopefully get things done. I miss running, though. Wish I had time to run...maybe I'll make time tomorrow and try to find the nearest park everyone keeps telling me about.

We got our work permits this week, so it looks like we'll be able to travel out of the country after all. Most of us are already planning where we want to go. I can't wait to get some distance between me and this madhouse. People always told me the first year was the hardest; nobody ever told me it would be quite like this, though. Of course, I'm guessing most first years don't get attacked in the same ways I've been.

Hmmm...don't know what else to say. Last weekend I went downtown with some friends and had really good Indian food for the first time in a really touristy section of Bangkok I'd never been to before. I came back early to try to get some work done, but it was already dark as I rode in the taxi by myself. And it struck me again, as it always does at night, that I'm in a huge city...and a city on the other side of the world. I'm not a city girl by any means, and there definitely was a little thrill at the thought that I could get around in this huge place by myself. Of course, it doesn't always seem so big when I rarely get out of Bangna. I don't know; I'm kind of disappointed that my time here has been so consumed by teaching that I really haven't been able to go out and appreciate the being in Thailand part.

Teaching's going well, I think...I'm just exhausted. This past week, I did a lesson with my seniors that I really enjoyed. We were talking about the faith of the Ibo people in Things Fall Apart, so I took a moment to do a demonstration of faith vs. blind faith by blindfolding one of the kids, having another spin him around, and then having him decide where the door was and start walking toward it. Then, I asked him where the door was again after he'd taken the blindfold off. The point was to show that faith has evidences and experiences to back it up, whereas blind faith does not...in blind faith, you don't know why you believe what you believe, but you're determined to believe it anyway. I can give you more of the metaphor I used if you're interested, but it was fun to do with the seniors.

Adam's still at basic...I've heard from him a couple times via his dad or mom, and his mom posted a couple of his letters on his blog. I miss him. Part of what's made these last weeks so weird is not being able to talk to him about all this stuff. *sigh.

Well, I should go try to accomplish something before I completely crash. Later.

View from an Ambulance

Well...even after living here for a month, Thailand continues to surprise me. For instance, I have no idea why ambulances here are even equipped with sirens at all, since they accomplish nothing. No one pulls over; no one stops; no one gets out of the way. And what truly left me speechless was getting onto a toll road...the ambulance actually had to stop and fill out paperwork to get out of the toll, taking twice as long to get through there. Lissa and I wondered how many people died in ambulances in Bangkok each year just trying to get to the hospital.

Let me start over. Today was our first soccer tournament. The girls played hard and definitely figured out some things we have to work on (wished we weren't having a tournament this early in the season, but maybe this was the best time to figure these things out). Then, near the end of the third game, one of our players got hit and fell to the ground...and didn't get up. By the time I got there, her eyes were slits and her body was shaking from shock. It took a good ten minutes to get her off the field, and at least 30 minutes for an ambulance to get there. She did get her eyes open more, started breathing more normally, and was able to say a couple of things before we wheeled her out onto the ambulance stretcher.

We determined that Lissa and I would go with her in the ambulance, but we found out that we weren't allowed to ride in the back with her, which made me mad because she looked really scared. So, we sat up front...our speechlessness growing at the speed bumps, the uselessness of the siren, and the toll booth fiasco. But it should be fine now. Her parents were there when we showed up, and the doctor told us she had a muscle spasm in her neck from the collision. She was sitting up, looking better, and heading for x-rays when we left.

Teaching continues to be up and down...depends on the day and the class. I feel like it's going well, but there are always random factors that influence it. I wish I didn't feel so tired all the time....but, ah well. Not talking to Adam is still weird, particularly on the weekends. Hard to believe that on Tuesday he will have been gone two weeks. How is it that time can seem to move so much more slowly when you're waiting for something? In the meantime, I'm definitely keeping busy with school stuff and trying to reward myself in small ways. I could definitely use a fun trip somewhere, though. Right now, my breaks look like a bowl of chocolate cereal, playing with Larisa's puppy Chang (Thai for elephant), and wondering why there's a bunny hopping around the floor of a nearby restaurant.

Oh, Thailand...what will you think of next?

First Full Week

...And nothing much new to report. I feel like I should keep you posted on what's going on with me, but it's not like I've constantly been doing new, fun, cultural things. Mostly, I've been living in my classroom, still trying to find my rhythm and get everything done -- and it would be great if I could do that without burning out. But you know me: task oriented. Let me tell you, sleep shortages, caffeine on an empty stomach, and my already corny sense of humor have made for some interesting class periods.

Actually, my classes are going really well...it's the work outside of them that's got me going and going more than the Energizer Bunny. I'll figure it out; it's just hard when it's all from scratch. I mean, I've got some great resources, but I definitely believe in making everything I get into my own because that's the only way I get to be myself when I teach...and one thing I learned during student teaching is this is the only way I can teach. My kids are great; each class definitely has its own personality and I like that. Makes it feel like I get to teach things not exactly the same all day. Yesterday, I had a couple shorter guys carry a larger guy, who was pretending to be in severe pain, into the classroom as if he'd broken his ankle...because they were already tardy. I started laughing at them from the moment I saw them, and when the "injured" kid said, "I don't think I can take the vocab. quiz," I told him that I bet a tardy would cure him. High school kids will surprise you, and that's one of my favorite parts of teaching them.

Last weekend, I stuck around to get some things done instead of heading to the beach with some other people. My new friend Lissa and I decided to explore Chinatown, but it turned into more of a traveling adventure. We got off at the wrong place on the sky train and got on another going the wrong way. We got directions, figured out the subway, got a little lost trying to walk to a location Lissa'd suggested, and finally ended up on a tuk-tuk to get to a market that didn't look any more Chinese to me than the rest of Bangkok. I ate some cart food I never identified and basically enjoyed just being out. It really was the journey, though, that made the trip worthwhile.

Soccer is going really well. I worried at first that I wouldn't have time to do it all, but I've found that it's my stress relief. I can run around with a lot of the girls I teach and get to know them in a completely different setting, working with them on something that I really love and have a lot of experience in. It was really exciting earlier this week when I introduced the game, "World Cup," and watched their aggressiveness and motivation finally come out.

Please keep praying for me. I'm dealing with some issues at school regarding curriculum that I didn't expect, and it looks like there's a bit of a battle coming. I won't go into it much more, but I am pretty upset and disappointed about the way this is going. Other than that, though, teaching has been going well, I think. My boyfriend Adam is also leaving for basic training in the Air Force this coming Tuesday, so be praying for him too...and us. I have to go 8-9 weeks without talking to him at all, and it's really depressing to think about.

Thanks, all!

Moment of Impact

My first two days of teaching are under my belt, and I must say, they went well. Sure, there were some things I wish I'd done differently, but all in all, I met my goals...and that's saying something.

It was hard, though, especially at the start of this week. With all the meetings, exhaustion, and whatnot, there were a lot of doubts and questions racing through my mind. I started praying that I would get through, be able to start strong. Kind of lost the focus of the whole teaching thing. So, there I was the day before parent-teacher conferences, madly scrambling, and there's a knock on my door. No idea who I expected it to be, but in walks one of my students from last year, who's now graduated and is on his way to college in California. We talked for a bit about his plans and my being back; I tried to encourage him because he's a very hard worker and really smart.

And that's the moment when it hit me: I CAN do this...because I've already done it. Standing there in front of me was a kid that I had the chance to influence, someone that another teacher had told me responded better to my teaching style than theirs, and it had mattered. It reminded me that for a string of moments I had impacted him, and now in return, he was impacting me by coming back. I've run into 3 other former students who graduated last year, and it's been even more a blessing than I could've imagined. They've expressed excitement that I'm back at ICS and shared their accomplishments with me. It's like God knew I needed that to push me through these packed first couple of days.

So, yes, I'm wiped out. Yes, I have a lot of work to do. Yes, I still wonder sometimes about the whole teaching avenue. But there's nothing quite like that sense you get when you know you've helped another person, made a difference. And when it comes down to it, I think that's the reason most people teach.

Here we go...

School officially starts Thursday...kind of a scary thought. But I've accomplished a lot over the last week. I've gotten organized, decorated my classroom, gathered my books, asked a zillion questions, made plans, played with the computer system, outwitted the printer and copier, and did cultural activities as well. How is it that I can be more ready than ever and still feel like I'm not?

Cultural orientation is finished. We went to the floating market at Amphawa on Friday, and that was fun. I watched a woman help me make a fish out of palm leaves, and we all joined in the process of making sticky rice with bananas. We also ate pad thai down by the river, which was an interesting experience to say the least. I really liked getting somewhat out of Bangkok; I like rural Thailand a little better, probably from my time in Cambodia. Spent a lot of time in the classroom this weekend, and then I got some help shopping for things for my apartment from my new friends Jes and Lissa. Spending money, especially overseas, is a struggle for me, but I really do like that my apartment is looking a tad more like a home instead of vacant space.

Today, whole staff orientation started, so we all had to introduce ourselves, and it was good to see old friends again. I also got to talk some with the girls' soccer coach, which was nice. Then, I got a lot of help from Jonathan, Robin, and Win as I continued to set up camp.

But this week was hard for me in other ways. I learned that a good friend of mine went home to be with Jesus after a year's battle with breast cancer. At first, it was shocking, but then, not so much. I watched the flood of encouragement pour in for her family, and all anyone could talk about was her passion, her love for Jesus, and how she was an inspiration. It's the kind of thing that really makes you examine your own life. She will be missed, but I know she's a lot happier now than she could ever be here.

Keep praying, guys. Here we go...

Just Trust

In the past few days, I have run into a stool that looked and felt like a tree stump, nearly pulled off my toenail playing indoor soccer, and worn myself out with the headache of preparing and organizing in ways that never occurred to me in my worst nightmares. In a nutshell, I am stressed out, overwhelmed, and exhausted.

This week, we've been doing orientation on Thai culture in the mornings and early afternoons, which has been interesting and sometimes even fun. Today, they taught us different hand positions for Thai dances and then took us to the cafeteria to make a Thai dish. My group ended up experimenting on several different versions. This past weekend, I ended up on a spontaneous trip to Chatachuck, or the weekend market, which is probably the largest market in the city. I had a good time getting to know the other new teachers, ate Thai stall food (meat on a stick), and walked around in circles getting lost. I did find some cool maps for my classroom, but mostly, it was a social outing for me...I need to remember to do that more. Often, when I get stressed out, I hole myself away until I feel on top of things, which doesn't always happen.

As far as school stuff goes, my classroom has finally been rid of algebra books, I've received the desk and shelves I asked for, got some good resources from previous teachers, put up simple bulletin boards, and started work on more specific preparations. I had a meeting with the high school principal today, and that was fairly overwhelming. It's like syllabus shock for teachers. Imagine getting informed of everything that you'll have to be doing simultaneously that you haven't even set up yet and knowing that you only have about a week and a half to get that in order along with all the other stuff that you already knew about. And we turn around and do this to students? Anyway, it's a start. One step at a time, right?

I think the biggest thing that's helped is knowing my problems all come down to trust. Do I believe God wants me here? Yes. Do I believe He loves me? Yes. Do I believe He'll help me get through all of this if I ask? Yes. Even if that means I have to fall on my face somewhere in this process? Most definitely yes. And that's the part I have to accept. It's not going to be perfect. I'm going to make lots of mistakes, but I'll get through and learn from them. This is the attitude I'm striving for...living like I actually believe everything I just adhered to is probably another animal entirely.

Day One

I'm in Bangkok! What a crazy trip here...although I was exhausted from not sleeping much the night before I left, it turned out to be a good plan for sleeping on the planes. I slept most of the way, but I was still able to find the humor around me in my seat-mates: the alcoholic, the woman who chewed on a stick, and the Vietnamese nun from Louisiana who's teaching at a Catholic international school in Bangkok. Apparently, we play her school in sports, so I might actually see her again someday. She was hilarious.

In Tokyo, I met a couple of the other new ICS teachers, and I helped one of them get through the airport in Bangkok when we landed. Mostly, traveling was uneventful. I found some familiar faces in Bangkok, and everyone was really glad to see me. That was nice. And I had so much sleep on the planes that I was able to stay up till 2:30 a.m. Bangkok time to Skype people back home.

Today, day one, I got unpacked and went over to the school to get my ID, see my classroom, and get my keys. I missed the van over to the mall because I took everybody literally who said that they weren't doing anything at any set time. So, I grabbed a taxi, did my shopping, and got a taxi back, thankful that I could remember just enough to Thai to get that far on my own. Of course, I did accidentally answer one of my drivers in Khmer first. Oops. I'm sure that won't be the last time. I met another new teacher when I got back, so that means there are still about 5 I haven't met. All in good time.

Days like today, when I miss the group, make me thankful that I've been here before, have connections, and can get around on my own without it being a big deal. So, that's my big praise for the day...that, and looking forward to seeing some of my friends from last year. As far as prayer requests, please be praying that I'll be able to get my room and lessons prepared in the next couple of weeks without missing out too much on the social activities and that I'll be able to start with confidence. Please also be praying for me spiritually, that my relationship with Christ will grow again and be refreshed while I'm here. I'm sure the spiritual dryness hasn't helped my settling in process.

Well, that's the scoop for now. Thanks again for following me on this journey:)

Something Original

Okay, so after a lot of agony, it looks like I finally have this blog up and running. With a history of technological impairment, I may be speaking too soon, but if that's the case, I'll figure it out.

This is the first post on my blog that will be dedicated entirely to my upcoming adventure, living and working in Bangkok, Thailand! As a first year teacher, I can say that I'm very nervous and not feeling adequately prepared yet...but I'll get there. As a traveler, I'm excited for the new adventures ahead and the opportunity to serve God by working with international teens. It's hands on, and I haven't really had that kind of a ministry since I left Cambodia 2 years ago.

So, what's with the title? Well, mostly I wanted an original title for my first post...not "First Post." Actually putting "Something Original" made me laugh, so I kept it. But after that, I realized that it really does fit. Two years ago, I had no idea I'd be doing this, and yet, it fits me. It's out-of-the-box...it's not the usual ending. Taking a teaching job overseas, while many other people do pursue that of course, is something a little more on the original side. It's that "road less traveled." And I have found that path to make all the difference.

Right now, as I'm still in the States, it really feels like a crossroads in my life, where all the different sides of me intersect. Feel free to follow my adventure on this blog! It all begins July 22.