Week 5 The Settling
in turns to settling down
I have to work all weekend due to an inservice put on by the British Council. Some of the sessions were good but I think their audience was those new to the profession and local people. I felt extremely underdressed and overqualified- underdressed because in Myanmar the locals were beautiful outfits called longyi. For the men it is a piece of cloth wrapped around and then tied in a knot in the front (often times they have to retie it because it comes loose and for the first few weeks I though everyone was trying to flash me). The women spend money on beautiful cloth (some can be expensive/ some cheap) and have it made into gorgeous skirts with tops that are not patterned but match the bottom. I found some material I was in love with- pure silk- out of which I wanted a shirt made and of course it was 70,000 kyat ($70.00 a yard- I need two). I actually went back to buy it later but the shop was closed. I figured my sister bought me some great linen tops in the states that are now being copied by a tailor and I am ordering four made with different linens. For all four shirts, I spent $40 on material and will probably be charged under $20 on labor. So—that means I will still be ahead. Damn we ladies can justify spending some money-- right? I digress- how did I get on shopping when I was talking about in-service?? I know how- no one wants to hear about in-service. To make along weekend short- the council did a great job organizing over 500 people at a fancy hotel- they fed us a spectacular lunch and had coffee and tea breaks. I felt quite pampered. I heard one man who runs one of the international schools over here speak on project-based learning. He had a whole year in South Korea to plan the curriculum with 25 paid teachers. They did not open the school as expected because they did not get their license so all they did was plan. Could you imagine?? It was fascinating. Here’s a link to the TED talk he showed us on how schools kill creativity :(www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity)
Saturday night a birthday party was held in one of the rooftop apartments. It was great getting to chat with the teachers in a nonacademic setting. I did my first hookah- watermelon- and felt very daring. My kids would have died to see me around the water-pipe contraption. At least I did not have to worry about driving home.
This was my first weekend with no Internet. It was a good excuse to grade papers for four hours.
Monday, Aug 26th- What’s in a name?
It is the third week of school and I still do not have everyone’s name down. I see my 8th graders every day so I do have those committed to memory, but the others are a little more difficult. It becomes a vicious cycle because I know I should, so I just end up calling them honey, which in turn perpetuates the problem. I think nameplates are in order. In Myanmar, people do not have last names; they have what looks like last names, but it is really just a long first name- so I can’t even cut the name short. We were both really confused the first week because I kept saying- “ok- but what’s your first name? The name you want me to call you?” I felt defeated when they would resort to, “ You can just call me Steven.”
Tuesday, Aug 27 A common bridge builder- books
A wonderful group of fascinating people met for what will be my new book club. Since I did not read the book, I mainly sat and listened (I know- strange as that may be- it happened). They were discussing Where China Meets India: Burma and the New Crossroads of Asia; some had only been in Myanmar for a few years; others had been here forever. It was great to hear the different perspectives on the news changes that were occurring in this country and sad to hear that the fast pace of it all oftentimes is at the expense of the rich artifacts and the beautiful landscape. Upon leaving I had two revelations: “Why in the world did Jolene leave the kettle corn she brought!!!” And upon one of the ladies getting in our car for a ride to the main road, “Is that a slug on your leg or a letch? Well, whatever it is STOP THE CAR AND GET IT OFF! Footnote: It was a slug and we have no idea how it got on her leg from the door to the car. Yes, I got a little freaked out.
Wednesday Aug 28 Modern conveniences- Oh how I love you!
Our phone finally works. We have asked the maid not to cook on Wednesday so we order in (because the leftovers were not appetizing) and I am so surprised that the deliver boy actually finds my house. It is your basic Chinese fare that is delivered.
Bank issue fixed! When I first arrived, getting into my credit union account was no problem but then they went and changed the website up and I have had nothing but problems. I will not bore you with the details but basically I could see my account but every time I clicked on a function, it would send me back to the sign in menus. Really frustrating when my bills are about due and when Dylan needs money for textbooks. So, we get our new IT guy (who is amazing, smart and the builder of the website Agoda) and right after he is introduced I ask him about my issue. I do not know if he fixed it or if he gave me the right verbiage to get my bank to fix the problem, but I am into the system now- catastrophe obverted.
Thursday, Aug 29 The Young’un Know Where to get a Bargain
First, let me say that those who have been here awhile know how to play this game. I join them for dinner tonight. First, we let three taxis go before we get the price they know is the going rate- after walking a block to the corner where all the taxis wait (mind you we are talking about a .50 difference, but they say it is important because if some of us agree to the higher rate, it will affect all of us in the long run). We go to Onyx (a place ran by a Korean man who takes pride in the fact that he serves a nice meal) for steak-yummo. So I have blue cheese topped steak, potatoes, vegetables and two glasses of wine for $10. Quite a deal and it was delicious. Afterwards, we walk a couple blocks against traffic to the big grocery store for supplies. Besides walking through the floodwaters, and my James Bond taxi ride-this is the scariest thing I have endured. First, the sidewalks are uneven and at any moment you could come to a place where there is not a concrete block- but rather a whole in the sidewalk and the sewer beneath. Needless to say, I chose to walk in the street until we reach a bend in the rode- I choose walking looking down to getting run over by oncoming traffic.
Friday, Aug 30 Cheerleading- Yes- I must be from Texas
I work at a school that requires the students to wear uniforms. On game day, the athletes get to dress up. The girls wear beautiful longyis and the boys wear dress clothes and ties. They are precious. Funny that during our student council elections, the kids asked if the could wear suits for the speeches- how funny! The kids would rather wear a suit than their uniform. So, I’m at the volleyball game and two of my eighth graders come up to me and say, “Ms. Smith, you need to teach us some cheers.” OMG- you do not have to ask me twice. I am still a little bitter I did not make mascot in junior high. Not really, but if I remember that as a disappointment in life I guess it is kind of a big deal- right? So, we get the crowd going (the Spanish teacher and her, “Vamoose chickas/chickos” and my “Go, Go Get’m Get’m oosh, awww”. Fun times.
Later, I went with two other teachers and about ten Korean students to a Korean BBQ place. It was an interesting evening to see the kids out of the academic arena and relaxing and cutting up.
Payday!! Still have not spent any of my check from last month. Debt free here I come!
Saturday, Aug. 31st Shopping, shopping and more shopping
I wake up at about 2:00am dying to scratch. Some little shit mosquito has managed to get under my igloo of sheets and bites me right where I cannot reach. I search, I scramble to find some tool long enough to use to reach the spot. Unlike my assortment of scratching devices at home- this is not as easy as it sounds. Finally relief! Back to sleep. I get up (after receiving two calls before 9:00am- there was a benefit for not having a phone- I must educate my new friends as to my morning no talking for an hour policy) and go to Bojo Market in search of material for curtains but instead buy fancy umbrellas.
I join a group of teachers later that evening at local beer station around the corner from my house and finally feel comfortable to take in the local color. The manager comes over to take a picture of us and makes sure we are well cared for. We have two waiters assigned to us and the rounds keep coming. Four hours later, I am $5.00 down. A friend walks me home safely, which is silly because I feel so safe walking these streets. The only problem I have had is with the guard for the neighborhood who thinks it is funny to comment on how fat I am every time I walk by. I have resorted to sticking my tongue at him or cut through the school so I do not have to walk by him. This cultural mores is not one I will ever get use to- my self-esteem is really taken a beating.
Sunday, Sept. 1st “And rain falls angry on the tin roof”
I wake up, take a couple aspirin and go back to bed. The rain starts pouring down and it is music to my ears. I love sleeping in when it is raining and up until today, I have had to get up and get going. It was so nice just to sleep (until 11:00!). I get up and check email but I cannot reply to anything (I will have to ask our new IT guy what the deal is) so I miss shopping at a new place where we get a 50% discount. I guess I have two years to explore all the offerings.
Today so far- an American breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon (yes, we found bacon at the wine store- imagine that!) and potatoes, writing, a massage at 4:00 and then grading/lesson planning all night. Many of you asked about the hair- I have an appointment on Tuesday- we shall see how that goes.
Reflections so far:
1. It does not matter where you are in the world, things revolve around food. Social events, gatherings and friendships are strengthened when that commonality is introduced. I expected to come over here and get away from having a life that was so food centered. In any culture- it brings people together.
2. I am not use to people being so open with their feelings about body image. I know they do not mean to offend, but it is hard to ignore. The other teachers- the lady with red hair, the tall young men say they are also the center of much attention- but for a person who has avoided mirrors and selfie pictures- this tendency of the local citizens is quite hurtful. I will either get over it, or get skinny- it is my hope that I do not begin to avoid going out in the world.
3. Kids are just kids- No matter where you are. I received a message from one of my ex-students. She said she missed my habit of bursting out in song- This week I starting singing, Lean on Me and it was the cutest thing- my whole class started singing along with me. It was an awesome moment- I am going to get along fine with these kids.
4. Some things are not things I want to know. When walking around Bangkok and someone says “Pingpong, pingpong” they are not asking you to take part in a friendly competition of table tennis. Nuff said. I do not need to know that the brown, bark-like things in the flooded streets are not wood. I also do not want to know how to pump my own water and flip on the generator- I will leave that to those who need to know. I do not want to know what the guy on the tall ladder thinks as he is messing with the city’s electricity- I am scared for him. I guess Labor Day is not celebrated here.
Da boys
you see people carrying things like this all the time
construction? OSHA needed.
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