Nong Khai



Jes, Heather, Rita, Peter, Ben



This past weekend I went with three of my closest World Teach buddies to Nong Khai. It is a city about 6.5 hours north of NKP that sits on the Mekhong River just as NKP. Although the city is still in Isan it is a bit more of a tourist trap NKP. It is a beautiful city that is well taken care of and much cleaner than NKP. It not only was nice to be away for the long weekend (Friday was constitution day)to spend some quality time with Heather, Ben and Peter but it was nice to escape from the burning that NKP people LOVE to keep smoldering 24/7. Although Nong Khai is no Colorado air it was a least a little fresher and not as smoky.

My friends and I spent the night at Jes’ house before, what we thought was going to be an early departure, leaving the next morning at 11:00. The long bus ride, that had only one bathroom break where Heather almost got left behind, landed us at our destination around 6:30 with full bladders, hungry bellies and no place to stay for the night. We met a wonderful French couple to suggested a place to stay and how to get there, thanks to Peter and his French! I craved to talk but between English and learning Thai I am ashamed to say my French slipped my mind. Long story short the place was full and we frantically went to 4 other places, one looking almost like a brothel before we found our most perfect room. . . thanks to Heather who kept us calm and Ben who had the Lonely Planet book out. After not finding a room the first two stops (it was a holiday weekend) Peter had a minor freak out and practically ran from place to place in a scramble. I somehow kept my mouth shut and let the other three take the reins because I was too tired and hungry to even think (a quality I got from my dad when food hasn’t been consumed in a number of hours). Needless to say we practically had our own little apartment for the weekend that was 500 bhat a night (roughly $4) and came with an amazing balcony that overlooked the Mekhong River into Laos.



The balcony overlooking Laos



Saturday we enjoyed some time on our balcony before making our way to eat the famous Banana pancakes our Lonely Planet raved about. When the plates came out they had one small pancake. A huge disappointment for our gurgling bellies. To our surprise though they were AMAZING and one just about hit the sport, that is after a stop at 7-11 and a yoghurt and juice box were consumed. We made our way to the sculpture park that took all 4 of us by surprise. We all had our own expectations and thoughts of what it would look like but none of us pictured being as massive and majestic as it was. The sculptures toppled over us they were large in number. There wasn’t just five or six there were more than I could keep count of. Many of them had stories inscribed on their bases and unfortunately we were unable to read the Thai script to help us understand their meaning so the four of us decided to put our own meaning to the sculptures by acting them out ourselves. It lead to many laughs by us and the other tourists- which, I should mention, for a change were not all Fralangs!!!! We met a wonderful Thai woman who told us how to give a blessing to our mother, father and ancestors and when finished with our “prayers” she invited us back to the park again and wished us Choke Dii (Good Luck). The day was also enjoyed by some shopping in the market that snaked along like a train behind the first row of buildings that lined the river boardwalk, a rest on the balcony and a long walk on the river. The walk took us past many Wats (Temples), Korean BBQ restaurants, and gardens that terraced down the bank of the river. We also had a spectacular view of the sunset and saw an ancient Wat that now sits in the middle of the river and can only be seen during the dry season- and is marked with many colored flags.



Rita on Chang (Elephant is his nickname)- aka Ben



Heather (Warrior), Rita (Dog), Ben (Snake)



Well wishes Mother and family, Father and family, ancestors



That evening we enjoyed some “street” food, yet another amazing meal. Side note I don’t believe I have mentioned how much I love the food here!!!! I was terrified of coming to Thailand afraid I would starve during my year but have probably put on a few pounds much to my surprise. We had a roasted chicken, soam tham (papaya salad or Papaya pok pok as the Thais translate it to us) and sticky rice. During dinner we saw a man with a genuine smile who watched the cooks and had a huge water bottle full of some sort of whisky and a cigarette. His smile most likely came from his bottle of alcohol but it reminded me that I truly am in “the land of smiles”. An oil truck also broke down in the middle of the street and the men cooking our meal, about 6, stopped and helped to push the truck out of the way.

The return home began at 6:00 when we got to the bus station hoping to get on the 6:30 bus that never showed. Mai Bpen Rai (no worries)- that’s Thailand for ya!!! The ride was painful, literally. About 2 hours in we all started talking about having to maybe soon go to the bathroom. We were talking about how we could ask the driver when we would be stopping but thought we overheard another passenger who had been sitting near us say hang naam (bathroom) to the driver as he got off the bus so we never asked. Which . . . lead to never having a bathroom stop. Returning home was wonderful, despite the smoke, and the little weekend away made me see how much I love my Chok Amnuay village and the little community of people I am surrounded by what out here in the boonies all by my lonesome.



Snowflake making students



As for seeing my students Monday morning I was delighted. Not teaching or having to plan lessons for 2 weeks was a true delight but also being back in the classroom saying “good morning Students” and having them reply “goot morning tee-cha Wee-dah” brought a huge smile to my day as I said “Teacher Rita kit-tung nak rian” (I missed you students). Teaching my lesson on seasons also brought me pure joy as the students made snowflakes and we hung them around the room!!! Thailand feels a little more like home now. I do have those few stinkers that make my job difficult though which lead me to finally implementing a behavior plan. I kept pushing it off because of my wild teaching schedule the past few weeks but I cracked this week and had to introduce it on the spot with nothing truly planned out. Thank goodness it worked because now even the most challenging students are focused on me as I teach!

A little birthday celebration was had on Tuesday during lunch for teachers with December birthdays and it wouldn’t be a celebration without beer and whisky. Yep, that’s right. . . the teachers drank while at school, in the classroom and with students watching. Phee Noke, the 5^th grade teacher, asked me “do teachers do this in America?” “NO!!! We would never be caught drinking in front of students especially during school hours!!” (Of course it was stated politely) The rest of the afternoon the teachers proceeded to drink and let the students roam about the school as they pleased except for my students.  That wasn’t the only day drinking took place. Thursday two teachers were back at the bottle again during lunch. I must say they are a hoot when they are drinking and a lot more engaging with me because they become less shy – I know this because they told me so. “Rita, I no speak to you , I afraid. But I drink I not afraid.”

Students looking at my computer and singing songs

Thursday was a fun day. After my last class of the day, 3^rd grade, the students stuck around and helped me pick up my materials and bring them to my office. I played some children’s songs for them and we sang and danced around my office for about an hour. They sang Thai songs to me and even made me pizza (out of paper that is). It was really a joy to “hang out” with my little kiddos and share many giggles.

Tuesday I craved a little exercise, maybe to make up for my teachers unhealthy behavior during lunch. So I came home and changed and took a run around the school field next to my house. On my second lap around 2 boys came out and followed me on their bikes. As I finished my third and final lap running, 3 little girls, Eew, Shampoo and Shalee, came running up to me and we walked around the field one last time giggling and even skipping as I sang Skip to My Lou. They followed me home too where I stretched on my front step and they joined me in stretching as we chit chatted about colors. As the thermometer read it was one of the hotter days I have lived through here in Thailand but I still got out there and worked up the biggest sweat I think I have ever had. Refreshing!! The other afternoons I didn’t make it out to run because the student teacher Ning came to my house and she taught me some Thai. Today I didn’t dare go out because it is freezing!!! The beginning of the week was in the 90’s nearing 100 and yesterday and today it is bitter cold and I couldn’t think about having to come home and shower in the cold water and dealing with a chill the rest of the night.

As for next week. . . may the Christmas celebration begin on Monday and last through the weekend!!! Any thought as to what I should do for the school Christmas party I am planning- send them my way.