Community:
I live in a village called Baan Thai Samakee, which is about 25-30 kilometers west of Nakhon Phanom’s downtown. Flat plains of rice fields, the occasional river (depending on the amount of rainfall) and creeks surround our neighborhood. There is a sizeable military base closeby, as well as a couple of markets. There is one that we usually frequent for fresh produce and one reserved for a weekend affair. I believe the majority of the members of our community are farmers; their main concerns, agrarian, and the landscape, rural. The houses here are very modest.
Schools:
My regular school week is divided into two elementary public schools: Thai Samakee and Na Bpong, both of which are in close proximity to each other. I teach first grade through sixth grade, but because of the inconsistent and inadequate system present for learning English, all my students are relatively in the same level of English language skills. Both schools are very small with less than a hundred students total each, and are both supplied with a small staff of teachers, usually around 4-5 teachers per school. There is usually a classroom per grade, although in some cases, certain grades share a classroom. The amenities of both schools are minimum and very basic. Both have kitchens where students prepare food, sitting areas, basic classrooms, fields for outdoor activities, libraries in need of patrons, computer labs, and basic squat toilets. There is internet available, but it can be unreliable and the speed has not proven fast enough to use for lessons and activities. Extra resources for classroom activities are scarce- usually students are armed only with their writing materials.
Teaching Assignment:
I teach a total of 20 hours a week, 12 hours at Thai Samakee and 8 at Na Bpong. I see my fourth, fifth, and sixth graders at Thai Samakee three times a week, and the other three are dedicated to introduction lessons to the first through third grade. At Na Bpong, the first and second graders, third and fourth, fifth and sixth graders are combined together and I see them for twice a week. I usually start in the morning and teach for about 4 hours a day, with a break for lunch at noon.
The first semester starts mid-May and ends in September, and the second semester picks up in November and ends in March. There are various holidays, both government-related and religious, and are observed by free-days off school. The semesters are also peppered with various sports events and inter-school competitions.
As aforementioned, because of the inadequate tools and support provided for learning English, the abilities of students in various dimensions of speaking, reading, and writing English are very inconsistent and below where they ought to be. I find that I teach the same material, but I do adapt the lessons to a particular skill set of an age group. The older students certainly grasp the material a lot faster, and can engage in more complex lessons and activities.
As far as supervision goes, the students are very used to minimal and inconsistent adult supervision and often perform chores for the school. In the classroom, students, I believe, are used to negative reinforcement and at times disintegrate into anarchy and chaos whenever a teacher leaves the room. These issues were a bit challenging to manage at first, especially with a language barrier, but creating and enforcing a particular learning environment with rules in my classes help manage regular behavioral problems. At times, anarchy rules anyway, and those are the days when you just have to see the bigger picture. As long as the students are challenged and are learning, then the most important part of my job is accomplished, paper planes and scribbled notes aside.
Living arrangements:
I live in a teacher housing with another WorldTeach volunteer. Aside from our persistent battles with ever-enclosing invertebrates, giant geckos, a month and a half of no running water, a troublesome toilet, our house is somewhat palatial! We each have our own room on the second floor, there is a balcony, and a great living area/ kitchen/ dining room on the first floor. My roommate is vegetarian, so we prepare vegetarian meals together as well as split food and housing costs. My room is furnished with a bed, a mosquito net, a wardrobe, a fan, and a bookshelf I had to procure for myself. I have such a large room, and therefore, a large wall canvas to fill with pictures and art prints from home. My roommate and I did have to purchase a fridge, and cajole my principal into installing a shower and a sink for us. Our house has been large enough to accommodate frequent reunions with other volunteers, which has been tremendously helpful in terms of deriving support from each other and having a great time.
We are both very close to our schools—usually less than 15 minutes drive for me. We are a twenty minute bike ride from the market selling produce, housing wares, and some clothing, and a fifteen minute walk to the nearest 24-hour convenience store. Other establishments, such as the nearest hospital, the government education office, and a Tesco Lotus (a Thai version of Walmart, and thus our occasional weekend Disneyland) are accessed in the city, which is about a convenient 25 minute songthaew ride away from our house.
Language Issues
I had very minimal Thai language skills upon arriving. Very, very minimal. I could barely hold a “hello.” Needless to say, the lessons during Orientation helped, and honestly, teaching English to Thai students (necessitating Thai translations), interacting with the locals and my teachers have been tremendous instruments to my learning. Right now, I’m comfortable speaking Thai and I am still constantly learning every day. My only other obstacle, besides vocabulary, is the inability to read the characters.
Greatest Challenges:
My greatest challenges so far have been entirely involved in the education sphere. There are institutionalized practices that I do not agree with, such as the presence of alcohol in school grounds. At times I believe that the students do not get enough support from their teachers, which can be very disheartening. School and classes can be abruptly dismissed or cancelled on a whim and without prior notice. The students do not receive educational tools and resources—sometimes they have to fight over pens and crayons. I understand that the schools have tight financial budgets, but with proper and responsible allocation, I know the schools can provide for their students.
My only other cultural concerns have been constantly disrupting notions of a homogenous Caucasian America, and discovering Thai hierarchical beliefs stemming from skin color. Because I am of Asian descent, I am often mistaken as Thai and always resorted to when I am traveling with other volunteers, with the fair assumption that I would understand. More often than not, these situations are trifle, but at times they can be really frustrating.
I realize that aesthetic fixations are not endemic to Thai culture, but never before have I been bombarded with such importance on remaining fair skinned, which is so impractical given the country’s climate, and also to me, philosophically offensive. I’ve had to tell students that they are beautiful the way they naturally are, but at times I feel like I’m waging a helpless war on an entire cultural norm, only challenged every now and then by thoughtful interactions.
Greatest Rewards:
My students have definitely been the greatest rewards of my experience! They are so grateful that I have been here, and have showered me with letters, drawings, paper maches, origami hearts, plastic flowers, candy, and even beloved stuffed animals! The privilege I have to reach out to this under-resourced community, to learn about their ways of living, their simple sources of happiness and to witness their generous acts of kindness have floored me every time. I feel that I am learning, growing, and hopefully becoming a worldly citizen each day, embraced by a community that may have limited resources, but have limitless amounts of generosity.
WorldTeach History at the Side:
I am the first WorldTeach volunteer to teach in both of my schools, and the first foreign teacher for both.
