More Bangkok Madness!!!

Simple plan... take package to post office... not very far away. Mail it to England. Come home. Sounds easy, right? Apparently not.

First.... Bangkok traffic lights like to stay on red for ages. 5 minutes... sometimes more... and then when it finally hits green it stays green for maybe 10 seconds. My taxi driver today actually reclined his seat and closed his eyes at a traffic light.

Then... he had this brilliant plan to get me to where I wanted to go. We went through an alley way... a two way street barely wide enough to fit one car down, then add the street vendors, the motorcycles, the stray dogs, the children running around.... I'm surprised we made it through.

On the way home... I gave lovely directions to the taxi driver. In Thai... he understood. It's an easy place to find. But... of course, he missed my street and while I was shouting at him in Thai to turn he ignored me. So... scenic route it was. Then... traffic light problem again. I should have gotten out and walked. Then when we arrived at my place... I gave him ample warning to turn and he ignored me until I shouted STOP! (in English for added effect)

I'm staying away from taxis for awhile.

Get me out of here!!!!

Whistles blowing. Cars honking. Motorcycles zooming. Pedestrians pushing. People begging. Darting in and out of traffic. Opening your window to not so fresh air. Sweating everytime you leave the house. Parts of animals being cooked on the street. Buildings. Skytrains. Subways. Foreign languages. Near death experiences just to get to the 7-11. All I want is water. Thieves. Trust not a soul. Smiles everywhere, but are they sincere? Pay rent here. Pay some more rent here. Pay for someone else to live in your flat. Elephants... seen them... been there, done that.

I need out of Bangkok! There are things to love and things to hate... and right now I'm about to burst. A beach stretching for miles with the sea a few steps away. No noise. Just peace. Just quiet. Just relaxation.

Singer? Teacher? Both?

I know I want to sing. I want to be a performer on the stage. I can see myself doing it. It is what I want more than anything. It's what I want to be when I grow up. Music, unlike anything else I have encountered, has the ability to touch your soul. Music is the same in any language, in any country, in any continent. Musicians are the same too. Musicians are all in it for the love of it.

I saw a fantastic performance of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra the other night. Huge orchestra, predominantly Thai, but some farangs. They played, I listened, and it made me smile. It touched a part of me that has been sleeping for a long time. It was incredible.

Yesterday, I had the absolute pleasure of seeing "We Will Rock You" live in Bangkok. It was a touring group - I believe from Australia or New Zealand. But it was a fantastic show. By the end I was in tears. I couldn't cheer for the amazing performances, because I was crying. It was so amazing... but those people are who I want to be.

Sooooo... back to the real world. Two weeks of summer holidays - GONE!! I'm starting to look at planning for the start of a new school year; I'm about to sign a new contract for a new apartment; I'm taking on a voice student (which I hope will lead to more voice students); I'm giving up another year's worth of performance opportunities.

But not all is lost. I am in the crowd with Bangkok Opera. Bangkok Community Theatre is doing a G&S production after Christmas. I will find the opportunites wherever they may be. I will hunt them out.

Music is where it is at. That's where I want to be. I am masquerading as a teacher. But this won't be forever. This won't be all. There will be so much more to add to my resume. I will find a way.

Life begins again

So.... school is over... for 6 weeks anyway... and I am free - at last. The last week flew by... I was $given some lovely gifts including a lovely bottle of red wine and the kids put on a terrific show. Parents were happy, the children were happy, and the director of our school was happy.... so.. it went off without a hitch. I have had to include some images. The kids were adorable. The first picture has the Year Two Class in the background dressed up as dalmations - singing Cruella De Vil. In front of them are the Reception Class. They sang the Bare Necessities. The second pictures features the kindgergarten class (3 year olds) dressed as bugs, and fairies etc... dream like creatures singing "A dream is a wish your heart makes." In the background is the year 3/4 class, singing a song from Grease. It was all fun and games... but it had to end - and then the parties began.

There was a goodbye party that night for one of the teachers who was leaving. The following night we had a goodbye party for the same person, but it included our staff as well as other friends in the city. The next day was a leaving/goodbye brunch for another girl at a posh hotel... where if you don't drink wine - it's not worth it. Last week was basically just a fun week at school which culminated with a lunch for the staff which included a farewell to three teachers. Two of them we weren't allowed to say farewell to before hand for political reasons but they have left as well. They were both good friends.... as was the third who is my best friend in Bangkok. It will be different next year, that's for sure.

I had an incredibly busy day on Saturday which forced me to ride around on a motorcycle. Weaving in and out of traffic... cars surrounding me... grazing side view mirrors as we drove along. (sorry dad, I should have warned you not to read this). I got everywhere safely though. That's the most imporant part. Saturday night, as a leaving present to my flatmate, and very good friend we went for dinner at a restaurant on the 61st floor of a hotel. It has an amazing view and despite some intense wind, which came with complimentary hair ties, we had a lovely time. The first photo is a view of one side of Bangkok... and the second is of a "complimentary" fireworks show in the distance.

So... today was my first day of not getting up on a Monday morning for school. What a lovely feeling. I started the day off with a swim in our pool and relaxed reading books, watching movies... I plan on being more active in the days to come.

I must say that I see pictures of places like Hawaii (thanks Dawn) and Vancouver (thanks Louis) and I do get jeaouls. Even though I am in a beautiful country with beautiful people with amazing things to do, I still miss what seems ordinary. Okay, maybe Hawaii isn't ordinary, but...

I do miss home - and if all goes according to plan, I should be in Vancouver on December 14th or thereabouts. Not sure exactly.

I'll keep you all updated over the summer. Enjoy your summer wherever you may be.

One year almost done...

I can't believe I have almost lived here for a whole year. Well... 10 months but as we have just a week left of school... it feels like an end - only to start all over again 6 weeks later. Doesn't look like Canada is in the cards for the summer... but c'est la vie. ( I should learn how to say that in Thai)

I had a wonderful trip to the North of Thailand a few weeks ago. Went bamboo rafting...sat in some hot springs took a foot reflexology course, and a thai cooking course. All so much fun and all things I have been wanting to do since coming to Thailand. Well, the bamboo rafting wasn't exactly something I had been dying to do... but when opportunity comes your way... why not take it. And well, in 35 degree heat, who really wants to sit in a hot spring. But I did... it was hot. Not what one would call refreshing. Before anybody gets too excited... no that is not a tattoo on my arm... just the remnants of a night out at the Ting Tong bar. And I included the second picture because I thought everyone should take notice at how beautiful my carrots are.

So... a week left of school including a production tomorrow night. Stress Stress Stress... but that will soon be over. I haven't made any plans for the summer, but I am considering taking some diving lessons. Could be a lot of fun.

Anyway... that is life on this side of the globe. I will try to post more frequently, and with the exception of bragging about how cute the kids are going to be in their production... my next few posts will have nothing to do with school/teaching/children as I plan to think nothing of it for 6 weeks.

This is my life

Twinkle twinkle traffic light
On the corner shining bright.
Red means stop.
Grean means go
Amber means go very slow
Twinkle twinkle traffic light
On the corner shining bright.

Decisions, decision...

There is nothing like having to walk by the head teacher of your school several times in one day, whilst trying to avert her gaze in order to avoid making a decision. That was me until last week. The decision... to stay or not to stay? Pros, cons... lists were made. Many lists were made. I thought about every possible scenario. But how does one really make a decision to stay in a foreign land for a full year? Then again, I did it once, why not do it again. It's not so bad.
So... with much trepidation, fear and anxiety, I approached my head teacher and announced that, yes... I would stay on teaching for another year. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off of my shoulders. So... I made a decision and although I haven't signed my name to any piece of paper yet, it looks like I will be here for another year. Sure, I miss home. Who wouldn't? But, there is something about this place that has been good for me. I know that home is only a plane ride away. Not a big deal. Life in Thailand will be good. I will be teaching, brace yourselves now, Year 4, (grade 3) EAL, (what I am currently teaching) and music. Sounds like a lot, I know; but I made sure it wouldn't be too much. I will do what it takes. I hope to finally start a choir in the school. Something I had hoped to do this year, but it didn't seem to work out. Things are moving along. I am learning a lot. I work with a great staff who will all help me in this crazy year ahead.

I hope to be home in the summer. By home I could mean several things. I would like to go to Terrace, Vancouver, Toronto, maybe even Montreal. Toronto and Montreal may be difficult, but we shall see.

So that's the scoop from my part of the world. I am heading on vacation tonight to the north of Thailand. Then there are about 4 weeks left of school... and then 6 weeks of summer. Counting down the days.