Life Nearly Back to Normal, Isaan Thailand.

Well as I briefly said, doing a complete clean out of your computer is a bigger job than many of us probably think. It has been a lot harder than I thought. But I am now enjoying a computer that is fast and uncluttered. I am going to be way more diligent now with what I download and install from now on.

Work has been a little hectic, we are approaching what I call the silly season where we have a huge night for the kids to dance there feet off, and also a parent meeting day where we don’t really met the parents but organise a show for a class that involves them using English they have learnt. I really dislike this day because the kids are brainwashed if you like into remembering a few words or a basic sentence.

I have two classes to prepare and haven’t even thought about what they might do, yet. Some teachers use many teaching periods practising the kids where I worry about the syllabus and them actually learning. I am actually going to let them come up with an idea. The classes are primary 5 and 6 or 11 and 12 year olds. I think they are big enough and ugly enough to work out a short English show.

I have been helping Miss Noot a lot of late as she is into her last few weeks of university. Helping set out PowerPoint displays properly, organise final papers in correct order and set out. Proof reading work she has done and then pointing out mistakes or things I don’t understand.

I don’t do her work, never have which at times has annoyed her, but she knows she has to always try and do the work herself, so she understands what she is learning and when she does have mistakes they are circled and she attempts to correct them.

Miss Noot will do another degree; I have convinced her finally well I think I have. Her English degree which she has worked hard for is a flash in the pan as they are given out like hotcakes here in Thailand, seriously.

Ask many foreigners who have lived here in Thailand for a while. You meet an English major student who is in their 4th and final year and they cannot communicate past the most basic of greeting. I am being truthful.

I have had lecturers from universities tell me, and this is widely known that the students cannot be failed, they must be passed. One lecturer enquired with his chancellor about failing some students and was told this could not happen. They must be passed.

Miss Noot will pass on her merits thankfully. She is one of the top students in her faculty and has excelled in Japanese. She really took to this language as the teacher was so nice. I am also hoping she furthers her Japanese studies.

Miss Noot is going to do a computer degree, and also management in business. This will accompany the English degree and open more doors for her, I am sure.

Apart from all this, we have been looking after our amazing niece Nong Ja each weekend. Friday afternoons we drive out to the village and collect her and then return her Sunday evening. She is growing up so fast and time seems to be flying by.

Nong Ja and I still have to feed Cola and the fish each morning, walk down and see the chickens and cows, then across to the market to buy some breakfast or just for the walk.

It is a routine I really enjoy and actually look forward to each weekend. Anyway, that is about it. Starting next week the regular pictures and boring details of my life in Isaan Thailand should be again being posted regularly.

Sorry for some, and to others see you soon.

Brunty