Well, I'm back in Thailand but I have
moved positions. Previously, I was
working and living at a children's home called Bamboo School. Now I am living about fifteen minutes down
the road with some local Karen. Even though I have moved places some of my work
is still similar. I am still teaching
English classes, but to a new set of students.
I teach five evenings a week. The
first day of class was quite a surprise. Word had evidently spread that there
was a new, white English teacher in the area and I think everyone who could,
came. It was a full house of new
students bent over their notebooks, excitingly but shyly copying the ABC's down
and learning new words. Boy, they were everywhere I tell ya. Spread out over the concrete floor, sitting
on the few plastic chairs, and standing around. Mothers came, grandfathers
came, children came... It was such fun and learning all of their names in one night, impossible! I am very excited to see so many eager students,
but it makes me more aware of my lack of training and ability to teach
well. But, every time I look at their
eager faces I just have to give it my best shot for them.
Another experience I have had recently
was attending the local Baptist Church here. They asked me to teach an English
verse to one of the Sunday School classes. I went and taught my verse, which was the
only thing said in English, and three hours later class was finally finished.
Man, I had no idea a Sunday School class could be so long and boring. : ) I
really did try, but couldn't follow along very well. Then, it was time for the actual service to
begin which I sat through and understood maybe a total of 3 words. : ) The
woman who arranged/invited me to come to stay in this village brought me in front of the
congregation, and said a whole lot of something that I couldn't understand as
it was in Karen, and then asked me to say something. I had no idea what to say. So I just told them, "Thank you for
welcoming me to your home. I am very young and sometimes do not know what I am
doing. But I came because I believe God told me to come here anyways. I will do
my best to teach English and help you, but sometimes you might have to help me
too." They seemed to like that...
or something I said at least, because they all laughed, so I considered my
little speech successful. Sweet
oblivion?
There is a little shop just beside my new
home. Its matron is a funny, fat
Karen woman who loves cats. You can find her poking out her window making
cat noises, and leaving little plates of scrap food around to feed her precious
animals. Sometimes, she walks around with a little kitten perched on her
shoulders. Another thing you will find her doing is making sure everyone is
well fed. She is very proud of her fat stomach and seems to think everyone
would like to have one just as nice as hers, as she rubs her tummy and smiles, proudly
showing me her well earned bulge as she offers me even more food.
I
was told when I arrived that a girl named Susanna will come to live with
me. This girl turned out to be 42 year
old, Karen woman from near Rangoon. Don't you just love cross-cultural/language
communication? My new friend is always chewing beetle nut and drinking hot
"Myanmar Tea". She is a
teacher and a paster at the church here. She has gone to Bible school in Burma,
and is very thoughtful. She loves to
make condescending faces as she speaks to emphasis her points. I am very thankful for my new companion whom I
can have thoughtful, intellectual conversations with, although we don't always understand
each other. When she wants me to go with
her she asks, "Will you follow me?" Instead of, "Do you want to
go with me?" Or she says, "Can
you carry for me? What will you carry?" which means, "Can you help me?"
So, its taking some time. Or, "How many spelling?" equals "How
do you spell that word?"
Fun times! Really, the only truly
frustrating thing so far has been not being able to leave the house where I am
staying. The individuals who invited me to come teach here are very worried and
concerned about my safety. Since I have previously lived in the area, I have
met many people and I know lay of the land well. I am not concerned and want to go visit my
old friends. They think I will practically get kidnapped if I step out the
door. They are very distrustful of the local Thais and police. Rightly so for minority Karen at times, but not for a white foreigner. I am trying to be very
respectful and considerate of their concerns, but I have a strong, fearless independent streak in me that rebels against
such oppression. : )
I think that's all I got for now. I will
try to get some new pictures up for you all. I don't have regular internet
access right now so that puts real damper on things. Take care!
