Just go, C!
I'm Charity, a proud auntie, wine lover, semi-nerd, and dreamer who can't stay in one place for too long.
I stopped by the noodle stand near my apartment tonight for dinner. Though I'd not been there in a while, one of the owners remembered my "usual" choice of noodles and served me up a hot bowl of deliciousness along with a big, warm smile and a "sawadee krap." This was the very same noodle stand where I had my first meal in Tak back in April. To be honest, I haven't really thought too much about the last few months recently just because everything has been so hectic with finals at school and finding a new job, making arrangements to move, etc. But tonight, I took the time to reflect on how much my experience in Tak has meant to me. When I first moved here, I had a hunch that I was going to have an incredible experience. How could I not, really? But I could never anticipate just how incredible it has been for me. I have a lifetime of memories just from the 5 months I've been living here. There are so many things and people that I will miss. I'll miss the neighborhood kids shouting, "HELLO! HELLO!" whenever I ride past them. I'll miss the Ping River and all the magnificent sunsets that have danced upon it. I'll miss the markets I frequented, where the people at the food stands would smile and say hello once they saw and recognized me. I'll miss the man at the Thai dessert stand who would always sneak me a free dessert whenever I purchased one from him. (I think somehow I make it obvious that I love desserts?) I'll miss the smell of smoke from monks burning leaves and branches when they clean up the temple grounds. I'll miss the gorgeous view from my classroom at school. And most of all, without question, I'll miss my students and teacher friends. F*****ck, man. This is where it gets difficult for me. My students - I can't believe how much those critters took over my entire heart. I can honestly say this has been one of the few times in my life that I've actually felt like I wasn't working even though technically I was. My "job" was to have fun with these kids; I really believe that. Teaching was secondary. I don't have any idea how much they've actually learned from me, but let me tell you, I've learned a helluva lot from them. They're among the few people who have actually made me feel beautiful. And not just because they would constantly call me beautiful (and I'm not going to argue with them!), but because of how they made me feel about myself. When I was with them in the classroom, I felt like I could do anything. I was my best self. I loved to make them laugh. They always made me laugh. Every day someone would do or say something that would just make me stop teaching and have a hearty guffaw. Every single one of them had an unmistakable personality. I would smile as soon as they would walk into my classroom. And it was a real, genuine smile. I was happy to see them. It doesn't get any more beautiful than that. Sure, there were the moments where the kids were kids and I wanted to go medieval on them, but even then, I still cared about them and wanted to be a better teacher for them. I'm going to miss them yelling "TEACHER!!" and waving frantically whenever they would see me walking across campus. Definitely a big change from the beginning of the school year where they would practically run away screaming whenever I'd ask them how they were. (because of the language barrier, I think...?) I'll miss them greeting me during lunch in the canteen and asking me what I was eating. Most of the time I had no idea, ha. And yes, I'll miss hearing, "Teacher beautiful!" I love them so much. Tak will always have a special place in my heart. I am a much better person for having spent time here. It's another home for me, as far as I'm concerned. I want to visit at least a couple more times before I leave Thailand. And even after I leave, I wouldn't be surprised if I talked myself into coming back again for more visits. Thank you, Tak, and Phadungpanya School, for helping me realize some of my own potential and for loving me exactly as I am. The feeling is very mutual. I'll never forget you.
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The weather here has been unpredictable lately, alternating between hot, muggy sunshine and torrential downpours. I'm thankful that I'm nowhere near a hurricane right now, though, and it's been difficult to watch coverage of all the natural disasters happening in the States at the moment. I'm sincerely hopeful that your friends and families will come out of all this safe and sound, and that these events will inspire more stories of generosity, hope, and perseverance. Life has been about as unpredictable as the weather for me, lately. There was some uncertainty as to whether I could continue working here as a teacher or if I'd need to work somewhere else, or if I'd even be able to stay in Thailand, period. I'd been told that as long as the school was willing to work with me, there would be no issue with me staying, but that changed to not being able to stay even though the school definitely wanted me to. It's a longer story than that but the details are irrelevant at this point. I'm very disappointed, as I definitely would have preferred to stay at the same school and teach another semester before going back home to visit. But, as we all know by now, things are always subject to change here in Thailand! When I learned that I wouldn't be able to stay here, I got to work immediately on finding another position in Thailand. I just wasn't ready to throw in the towel and leave the country just yet. I put feelers out to a few places and posted a couple inquiries on Facebook. About 2 weeks and 2 interviews later, I have signed a contract with a school in the Phayao province. Phayao is further north of Tak, and it's about halfway between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai - cha-ching! Two cities that I have absolutely loved to visit and plan to return again once I'm settled in my new home. The town is nestled along Kwan Phayao (Lake Phayao) which is absolutely beautiful especially with the mountains as a backdrop. I visited the school and was impressed with the friendliness of the staff and their approach to education. The students will mainly be younger, like preschool/kindergarten age up to about 2nd or 3rd grade, with a few adult classes sprinkled in. I'll be starting toward the end of October, because in mid-October, I have a trip planned to (drumroll please...) SINGAPORE! And Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur and Penang to be more specific. So the next month is going to be pretty crazy. My students have their finals next week, then the following week I have to do all the grading. I plan to go to Phayao the last weekend of September to find an apartment and move in my things, then I have to return to Tak to judge again in an English competition the first weekend in October, then head back to Phayao for a few short days before my trip. Whew! I have to admit that my inner nomad is excited to live in a new place for a while, but I will deeply miss the friends I've made here, as well as my students, of course. I had a hunch that I would enjoy teaching before I started, but I didn't realize how much fun I would have with my students and how much I would bond with them. It's going to be very difficult and emotional for me to leave them behind. I can only hope I can make it back for a visit when my M6 students graduate next spring. The other possible drawback is that my return to the U.S. could be delayed another couple of months or possibly another six months if I decide to stay longer. Football season has brought on a fresh dose of homesickness so I'm definitely missing some of the comforts of home right now. Absence will certainly make the heart grow even fonder, rest assured! So, that's the latest and greatest with me. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and I can't wait to show you more of Thailand and Southeast Asia! |
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AuthorHi! I'm Charity. I'm from Omaha, Nebraska, USA. I quit my job in October 2016 to travel the world. Archives
June 2022
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