My Family, My Salvation, My Sanity from a World of Torture, Isaan Thailand.

Before going into my rant, this is what is keeping me sane of late, well not vegemite but it is sort of related here. And it does help sooth the odd pang of home pains.

At the moment one thing that is keeping me sane is my family, especially my niece Nong Ja.

Arriving home from a many a frustrating day of late, she really helps turn my day around. Usually she meets me at the door and we are off in minutes for a walk to look at the chickens, off to the park, market or just play in the front yard. It just helps me forget all the irritations of the day

And moments like this are gold. Ja loves vegemite. She eats it a lot with me. And her other favourite are jaffles or toasted sandwiches. She often turns her nose up at the Thai food and ends up eating with me. Here Ja has managed to smear more vegemite on her face than she seems to have eaten. This is known as the vegemite smile, or grin.

This is the vegemite song, and any real Australian would know it off by heart. Actually any person claiming to be an Australian but cannot sing this song should be deported out of the country. Sadly this brand is now owned by a Seppo company. This was a criminal offence letting this national icon be sold into such hands.

As I type this I have been bombarded with, watch cartoon, Jay (Jason) “Baby” referring to Justin Bieber (an internet sensation turned into superstar) and the song Baby, Baby (played at least 10 times tonight). Now if you are saying, “who” I was like this as well not so long ago. But now I know this song and others of his off by heart. Yes, this is sad but Ja loves bouncing around on the bed singing along. She drags Noot and Ben into the room and makes them hold onto the TV remote, air conditioner remote, mobile phone as a microphone and sing.

Update: In the last 5 minutes I was dragged out to make some toast as Ja had seen the vegemite picture on the computer screen and decided she wanted some. We then had to put Waka Waka the theme song of the just completed World Cup for Soccer/Football sung by Shakira as this was on the TV out in the lounge room. And now she is watching Bugs Bunny on TV. And I am as happy as a pig in shit. She lightens up my day.

Well, I have been quiet again of late. We have exams this week so it means a lot of revision sheets for the students and marking. I am still trying to catch up on work after making lesson plans for a terrible book that took 60 odd hours. It put me way behind the 8ball.

I am probably the most frustrated I have ever been at the school. For some reason the running of the department and the expectations of teachers have all gone to shit. The school seems to think they own you, the continued bit by bit of more and more responsibilities, that just keep eating up time that you don’t have has hit its peak.

I have had enough, and have stood firm the last few days. I have tried to be as Thai as can be, be polite as I can be while expressing my concerns and views but today I was so very close to going into a rant that would have mouths agape on the floor.

I seriously cannot see myself keeping a lid on it all. I am trying so hard but this week could finally see fireworks go off, and it will be known to the highest of the school’s hierarchy as I will go straight to them and express what I need to get off my chest.

I am so close to just walking out. I have at times thought about this before but at this present moment I could just grab my stuff and walk out on the spot, I am that sick of the school’s crap and demands. The sad thing is that many teachers are frustrated; I don’t know about wanting to walk out but are seriously thinking about their futures next year for sure.

It is disappointing, and I have gone along with all the steady work increases of late just being able to keep on top of it all, but doing this by giving around an extra 30hrs of unpaid work each month. Today I told the boss that this wasn’t going to happen anymore.

I informed that I will stop arriving 90 odd minutes early everyday, and would leave at 4pm on the dot (usually do this anyway) and whatever is completed is completed and what isn’t will wait. I won’t give my time for free anymore.

This was met with, ‘but you have to, it’s a teacher’s duty.’ But I quickly informed that may be so but if all this cannot be completed in the allotted time then it can wait and build up and build up as this little black duck isn’t working his ass off anymore.

Many of the teachers live for the school; it seems to be their life. They will do anything at the drop of a hat; do anything that is asked of them no matter what. Give up weekends, free time, and time with family or friends.

It seems hard for the Thais to comprehend that others actually have a life, and that work comes a distant number after family, loved ones and personal time. They look upon us outsiders (foreigners) in shock or disgust when we say, ‘no’ to a request (compulsory to them) to do something in our own time.

So this week is going to be long, very long. A am going to try my best to keep my head down and just fly under the radar, but if I have any stupid requests, or someone pushes my buttons the wrong way it could end in an explosion.

But we will see, see what the week brings, as in Thailand a day is a long time. I am sure having teeth pulled at the dentist without any sort of pain relief would seem a much shorter time, and probably much more pleasant.

Brunty