rabid attack dogs on the prowl

Things I used to take for granted: sinks and normal toilets. We have a “western” toilet in our bathroom, but the downstairs bathroom has a typical Asian squat toilet as are any toilets available for use in a public place. After using this “facility” which is awkward enough in the first place, you have to take a bucket of water to flush. Even more awkward. No sinks means we wash our dishes in a bucket on the porch and brush our teeth in the shower which is technically not a shower at all save the nozzle coming out of the bathroom wall. I’ve seen/used worse amenities when I was in Africa (holes dug in the ground for a bathroom and bone-numbingly cold showers), but this Thailand stint is going to last about 17 times as long. When Peter (our boss) dropped us off at the house, he told us it has its good and bad sides. The plusses are that our house has never been broken into (the other teachers’ electronics have been kidnapped four or five times). The other bonus is that our house never runs out of water. Hot water? I asked. No, any kind of water. Apparently this phenomenon happens to the other teachers on quite a regular basis with the longest drought lasting five days. The downsides are that we’re farther away from all the other teachers’ houses and that we live in the “slummy area” with rabid attack dogs. I’m not kidding. Our roommate was bitten twice when he was riding his bike. Last night, our second night in good ol’ Surat, Mitch got chased by two dogs. We had been out with everyone else celebrating a birthday, so I may have been a little tipsy, and I may have thought it would be a good idea to try to soothe the dogs that were chasing Mitch. Although it actually worked (the dogs ran over to me and started whining and pawing and licking me), I think it may have been one of the worst ideas I’ve ever had. I named the more aggressive one Sunny. Maybe all of these ferocious dogs in the neighborhood are actually just vying for the attention they never get. I am going to try to befriend as many of these mangy mutts as I can. 

There are lots of creepy animals in our house: cockroaches (blech!), mosquitoes (with a penchant for my legs), rats and mice (haven’t seen these yet and hopefully never will), and geckos (which besides being really cool are helpful because they eat the creepy-crawly bugs). 

Today we had our first day of teaching. Tuesday we observed a few classes and today we were thrown in to teaching a class of 55 extremely rambunctious students. We still haven’t gone through our training yet. All these kids eat on their three snack breaks and lunch period, and all the cafeteria serves I’d like to add, is sugar in its multifariousness. Side note: The only snacks I really like are the fish meatballs and the pork-filled doughnuts. Don’t judge me. They’re are actually really good, and good for you too I’m sure. But back to the kids - these kids are on a never-ending sugar high. And they don’t play outside because their parents don’t want their skin getting dark in the sun. So when they’re in the room, they’re full of energy which has to be harnessed into learning games. I broke them into teams and let them choose their names. I’ve gotten: Team Dream World, Team Mickey Mouse, and Team Banana among others. My first class was a little difficult, but I ironed out the problems over lunch, so my next class ran much more smoothly. I think I’m really going to enjoy the teaching aspect of this trip. Especially next semester (May) when I have the same students every day. Right now, Mitch and I are just filling in for a teacher who had to leave early. 

This weekend is an end-of-the-year beach retreat for all the teachers who have worked so hard, including Mitchell and myself with our two and a half week year. Room, food, and booze included! 

Below are some more pictures from Bangkok. 

baby on a sidewalk 

one of the first things I learned to say in Thai was "no spicy." Their version of no spice still burns your mouth off, but man is it tasty. i miss burritos something fierce though. 

it'll kill ya. or give you sinewy muscles.