Many teachers pool money each month with those who contribute being able to take loans out of the pool of money. As far as I understand there is no interest. A pure grassroots helping of one another, and insurance.
In the social studies class Thai culture is taught. In teaching this students are taught the appropriate manner to address the King. How to sit, how to bow, etc. In the education, I think that there is a general emphasis on the physical, on behavior, on respect, and on appearance. To the contrary, I find little to no time spent on this in my school. Maybe behavior, but in a different way, a more punitive manner.
The students line up many times throughout the day. In the morning before going to first period. At this time they lineup in the courtyard. After a 15 minute morning break, music plays which signals it is time to go to class and students lineup outside their classroom and are instructed by their teacher to walk into the room in a very orderly way (well that actually depends on the teacher). At the end of lunch, again the music is the prompt, students line up in the courtyard. They may be spoken to by a teacher for awhile or quickly go off to class. Students then line up one last time, after a 15 minute afternoon break, outside the classroom. From a Western perspective it seems startling how much time, maybe 5-15 minutes, is taken out of a 50 minute class. Western teachers would through an uproar over such a thing. But time is really different.
I am someone who is often a slave to time. I am unable to be late places. Even when I try to be late I end up there on time. It is incredibly refreshing, although antithetical to my own upbringing and thinking. I have often wanted to be more relaxed and not so engrossed by time. In my first year teaching, 10 years ago, I broke my watch and refused to by another (except I use one when I travel). I thought this would help wean myself off of my time dependence. I was wrong.
Let me again try to explain the most incredible weather we are having in Ubon. Oh man, it is downright chilly at night, it is the 60s with a killer wind. If all I am wearing is a short sleeve button down and pants, then I am cold. Since I visited Thailand four years ago, I have been yearning to live in a warm climate. I do miss the Vermont Fall, but, maybe I am acclimating a little because this feels chilly, and I absolutely love it. This is what cold should be. I didn’t bring anything warm. The weather is beautiful with no humidity, sunny, high in the low 80s and windy. When the sun is out, which has been the last several days, it is fine wearing shorts and t shirt, no sweating, but this is my first time out in evening with this weather. It is like warm, beautiful Vermont, September days, everyday.
In the social studies class Thai culture is taught. In teaching this students are taught the appropriate manner to address the King. How to sit, how to bow, etc. In the education, I think that there is a general emphasis on the physical, on behavior, on respect, and on appearance. To the contrary, I find little to no time spent on this in my school. Maybe behavior, but in a different way, a more punitive manner.
The students line up many times throughout the day. In the morning before going to first period. At this time they lineup in the courtyard. After a 15 minute morning break, music plays which signals it is time to go to class and students lineup outside their classroom and are instructed by their teacher to walk into the room in a very orderly way (well that actually depends on the teacher). At the end of lunch, again the music is the prompt, students line up in the courtyard. They may be spoken to by a teacher for awhile or quickly go off to class. Students then line up one last time, after a 15 minute afternoon break, outside the classroom. From a Western perspective it seems startling how much time, maybe 5-15 minutes, is taken out of a 50 minute class. Western teachers would through an uproar over such a thing. But time is really different.
I am someone who is often a slave to time. I am unable to be late places. Even when I try to be late I end up there on time. It is incredibly refreshing, although antithetical to my own upbringing and thinking. I have often wanted to be more relaxed and not so engrossed by time. In my first year teaching, 10 years ago, I broke my watch and refused to by another (except I use one when I travel). I thought this would help wean myself off of my time dependence. I was wrong.
Let me again try to explain the most incredible weather we are having in Ubon. Oh man, it is downright chilly at night, it is the 60s with a killer wind. If all I am wearing is a short sleeve button down and pants, then I am cold. Since I visited Thailand four years ago, I have been yearning to live in a warm climate. I do miss the Vermont Fall, but, maybe I am acclimating a little because this feels chilly, and I absolutely love it. This is what cold should be. I didn’t bring anything warm. The weather is beautiful with no humidity, sunny, high in the low 80s and windy. When the sun is out, which has been the last several days, it is fine wearing shorts and t shirt, no sweating, but this is my first time out in evening with this weather. It is like warm, beautiful Vermont, September days, everyday.