Necessities of life; beer, water, air conditioning
Hey everyone! Found an internet cafe (somewhat) near my apartment, so I don't have to go all the way to the ECC office for internet. The office is about 10 minutes away by motorcycle taxi, which is the main way of getting around Rayong. Scary, but it gets you where you're going with a minimum of sweat.
Got over my homesickness of the other day with some nice 7% alcohol Thai beer. Feeling much better. Taught my second class last night, which was considerably easier than the first one. I'll just have this one class, which is three very low-level grown men 6-8 every night, until the school year starts which is in ten days or two weeks. Nobody seems very sure, and so I just go with the flow. Then I'll be teaching in a school from 8:30 to 3:30 every weekday, with weekends off. I'm feeling okay about teaching. Nobody seems to have very high expectations, and there are lots of people to ask for help. It's kind of fun, even, to know stuff that other people are so desperate to learn. This area is very, very poor, so I feel like I'm doing some good, as well. Nearly all of the residents of Rayong are Thai- a farang, or foreigner, attracts some attention. It's an industrial and service kind of area, with a lot of residents commuting to Pattaya or Ko Samet or Ban Phe to work in the big resorts with lots of westerners. Opens your eyes.
And it is bloody hot, as my new English friend Graeme would say.
I live in a hotel/apartment complex thing, arranged by ECC. It's basically just a bed and a bathroom with a fridge and a closet and a tiny balcony, but it'll do. It's only 5000 baht a month, which is about $115. And it's clean and centrally located and has air conditioning, so I've got everything I need.
Culture shock seems like an understatement. Thai customs and culture, especially once you get out of Bangkok, are EXTREMELY foreign. They avoid confrontation or disagreement at all costs. I mean, ALL COSTS. An ECC advisor called Tely told me she's heard of people being fired but not being told about it. Nobody wants to cause anyone else to lose face, so they'll go out of their way to agree with you. Sounds nice, but really it can cause problems to have a taxi driver smile and nod when you tell him where you want to go, but not really know how to get there. You get the idea. I've picked up a few words as well, thank you and hello obviously, but also delicious and the name of this yummy spicy soup I had for lunch the other day, etc. Food is a big hurdle because everything is fucking spicy, pardon my bad language but that's really the only word to use. I'm adjusting, though, and that is what's important.
Miss everyone very much, but I'm making friends and it's not so bad.
Got over my homesickness of the other day with some nice 7% alcohol Thai beer. Feeling much better. Taught my second class last night, which was considerably easier than the first one. I'll just have this one class, which is three very low-level grown men 6-8 every night, until the school year starts which is in ten days or two weeks. Nobody seems very sure, and so I just go with the flow. Then I'll be teaching in a school from 8:30 to 3:30 every weekday, with weekends off. I'm feeling okay about teaching. Nobody seems to have very high expectations, and there are lots of people to ask for help. It's kind of fun, even, to know stuff that other people are so desperate to learn. This area is very, very poor, so I feel like I'm doing some good, as well. Nearly all of the residents of Rayong are Thai- a farang, or foreigner, attracts some attention. It's an industrial and service kind of area, with a lot of residents commuting to Pattaya or Ko Samet or Ban Phe to work in the big resorts with lots of westerners. Opens your eyes.
And it is bloody hot, as my new English friend Graeme would say.
I live in a hotel/apartment complex thing, arranged by ECC. It's basically just a bed and a bathroom with a fridge and a closet and a tiny balcony, but it'll do. It's only 5000 baht a month, which is about $115. And it's clean and centrally located and has air conditioning, so I've got everything I need.
Culture shock seems like an understatement. Thai customs and culture, especially once you get out of Bangkok, are EXTREMELY foreign. They avoid confrontation or disagreement at all costs. I mean, ALL COSTS. An ECC advisor called Tely told me she's heard of people being fired but not being told about it. Nobody wants to cause anyone else to lose face, so they'll go out of their way to agree with you. Sounds nice, but really it can cause problems to have a taxi driver smile and nod when you tell him where you want to go, but not really know how to get there. You get the idea. I've picked up a few words as well, thank you and hello obviously, but also delicious and the name of this yummy spicy soup I had for lunch the other day, etc. Food is a big hurdle because everything is fucking spicy, pardon my bad language but that's really the only word to use. I'm adjusting, though, and that is what's important.
Miss everyone very much, but I'm making friends and it's not so bad.
posted by Laura at
11:08 PM
3 Comments:
I'm so glad to hear how things are going!!! I just can't wrap my brain around the fact that a week or so ago, you and I were driving in the Range Rover, singing "Tony Danza," and now you're in a completely, completely foreign place that I can't even envision...what a trip. I miss you already, but I'm so happy that you're adjusting...write again soon. You have a rapt audience back home!!! Love you, Jules
Yeah! You found internet! I check in everyday to see how your life in a real-live foreign country is going. I am so happy to hear you have a companion. Send me you paparazzi pics when you find your camera cord. I miss you and look forward to more posts.
Love you!
I want to know how to make international calls from multiple registered numbers without using lengthy pin, password and calling cards numbers, Just SimpleCall Direct . It would be help full for me.
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