You know when you have something you should be doing...but instead you do everything else. That's me right now. I am supposed to be applying for summer jobs and starting my final evaluations this weekend. I have listened to new music, read the news, swept the floor, listened to old music, looked at jobs in California (why?), stared at the wall, taken out the trash twice and now writing in my blog. When I write things on my resume or cover letter like "I am a motivated hard worker who is up for any challenge" I feel like I am lying. In a job I am like that, most of the time, but not so much in my personal life. I am being hard on myself though because I have applied for two jobs this morning and written a few other important emails. This is not the reason for writing this entry....
The reason is IT RAINED LAST NIGHT! WHAT! The last two nights it has been heat lightning but rain was not expected. I drove home in a downpour and got thoroughly soaked since my rain jacket is neatly stored away until the rainy season (when it is then kept in my motorbike at all times). Crazy weather. Today it is so pleasant and actually overcast which is rare. And just a measly 30 degrees outside.
Last night was also my official Goodbye Party at Patanadek. I still have 2 more weeks of teaching so it was a little bit awkward but our student teachers have to go back to graduate so we celebrated early in order to include them. I ate spaghetti and my friend Rachel made a delicious chocolate dessert! Nice things were said and I received a picture -- of me. Hmmm, what to do with a beautifully framed picture of myself? As it was given to me someone said it was beautiful and they re-touched it. How you can say someone looks beautiful and also tell them you re-touched the picture in the same sentence is beyond my understanding. I figured my skin was probably made whiter but on closer examination we realized some of the freckles on my face disappeared. I guess they weren't beautiful enough! Silly things.
I'm not feeling too sad about leaving but I did get a little teary talking to my co-teacher Nooch. I love working with her and I will truly miss her in the classroom. It's a special bond when someone sees you at your worst and your best. She's been there from the beginning and seen lessons go horribly and lessons go wonderfully. She's been so helpful and she is not afraid to give me a look that means I need to do something better. I appreciate her way of constructive criticism since most Thais refuse to say anything remotely bad-to your face that is-and I relish in criticism so it's difficult to always hear you're excellent when it's probably not true. Also, as a teacher you can ALWAYS improve. Anyways, Nooch is fantastic and she is someone I feel awkwardly close to because we have shared so much although I would never think to call her on the weekends or hang out outside of work. It is the best co-teacher I could've asked for.
The highlight of last night was having a great conversation with a fellow teacher. To think we've been teaching at the same school for 10 months and just last night we connected and easily talked for a few hours. You know when just one question just opens the floodgates with someone and you just can't help but share your ideas/thoughts/life concepts with them? That was last night and it was fantastic. Why do these things always happen when you're about to leave a place?! But it was the perfect conversation for me to have because it made me remember that I don't have these deep and probing conversations often anymore. I miss that.
Alison moves into the house in 20 minutes. 10 more days of teaching. Sarah arrives in Thailand in 14 days. 2 more weekends in KK. 5 days to finish my 20 evaluations. But now I'll just go and eat some lunch.
Thank you for reading this blog and giving me a reason to not to all the things on my to do list :)
