The family I am living with

 I am still adjusting to the heat (and to the cold inside of the rooms). It's going, but it's going really slow and hard. It's hard when I try to be on three different continents too at the same time but I start to like Thailand more and more. 

I get tired in the evenings. That's why it's cool that we have a swimming pool at school. (Not intended rhymes lol. :-) ). So today - for the first time, but seriously, why have I waited with this so long? - I swam here: 

About teaching see my previous posts (I will share more of my projects later as they are coming), but here are some data: I have to be at the school from 7:45 am till 4:15 pm. It's long, but it's not that long if you consider that I teach 4 classes a day (on Wednesdays 5 and on Fridays sport days, which is basically observation in P5 and Period 6 while students play.) Normally, I would have 1-2 hours of free time where I have time to grade, ask my questions, run to the White house (that's its name for real) to sign or hand in some documents, or just chill. I really like my homeroom (we don't have a teacher's room, everyone has a full room only for him/herself and subject, so I can organize all my stuff there. It's very nice.) In the remaining hour, sometimes, we have a meeting, too! So it's all sorted and no one is really angry that have to stay overtime because the +1 hour staying in the school is anyway calculated in the working hours. In my free time, I also write lesson plans (unit plans, really) but in my case, I'm still getting to know the system we use here and I also use this time to create new activities or thinking of creative tasks for my classes.

Then I normally come home (or go to the 7-11 real quick before I come home). Honestly, that's the downside of living at the school, that the gate closes early so everything has to be done quickly and also there is only a gas station nearby. I wish there was a shopping mall here or something! Or a market place! I miss the market so much! 

Of course, we're in the midst of a pandemic, so we have to be aware of that, as well. Here are some thoughts about how Thailand deals with that (or at least this part of Thailand, Saraburi & its environment.) First, there is an application that you have to download on your phone and it will register you whenever you enter a shop and download its QR code. With this system, if someone turns out to be infected, you can also be tracked down, put into quarantine and of course, immediately tested. In every shop, in every place, in big shops even before different shelves, there are plenty of plastic bags to protect yourself or desinfectant to use so it's great. (Tell me that I'm living in a third world country. ;-) ). And not to mention that everyone (literally everyone) who enters the country is put into a 14-day quarantine and checked upon arrival and upon leave as well, (but I've already written about my own experience so you know that). I think that's why cases are really really reduced here. That's why (because of these applications and such), when about 2 weeks ago a DJ (infected) was discovered in Bangkok, some districts of the capital could be automatically shut down and about 600 people went into quarantine. (Even self-quarantine is not a problem because Grab or Foodpanda applications literally deliver food to your doorstep from anywhere, payment is done online and delivery is without touch, of course). So answering your question, I feel safe. 

(Now the question rises what about the poor people who don't own a smart phone to take QR-code in? They just simply register and sign a big book in front of the shop what they attend and they can be tracked down by their ID number.)

At the school there is a desinfectant in front of EVERY classroom and also at the entrance of the school. :-) It's good. Maybe, maybe it gives a false sense of safetiness, but I'm good so far. (Actually, I think that sometimes, I would go to get tested for the virus just to be sure, but I also do believe that masks help.)

So anyway, in the evenings there are not so many things to do and I normally just hang out with my new family! I'm talking about geckos, yes!!!! They are so so cute! :-) Let me show some pictures. The other day, I even found an egg on my balcony and that was such a marvellous thing to witness! (I even met its previous owner... :-) an about 3 -cm-long geckino, literally his body is 1,5 cms long and his tail is 1,5 cms. They are cute (although a bit noisy), but very loyal pets. They don't need to be fed and they eat the mosquitos and spiders around. I think I told you before that I hated reptiles. Now I am living with them and it's actually really cool. Of course, I wouldn't like to live with a water monitor that I saw last week at the botanical garden, but geckos are fun to hang out with. :-D (They talk like Brazilians laugh: kkkkkkkkkk). 

Here are some pictures of my new, adopted family: 

Just to get an idea of the heat and humidity here: this picture was taken today as I walked back from the swimming pool to the dorm. It took me only 10 minutes (dinner included - which is actually provided by the school for free!! - again: why didn't I use this option before?? :-D ), AAAND my hair was already dry by the time I reached the dorm room. 

And here are the frangepani trees I'm walking nearby / under: 

I'm very tired now so I'm going to finish this entry and listen to my gecko family talking and climbing. But just one word about my teaching experience here. You know, I've been a teacher since 2013. I know I've always loved kids and schools, but I think it's not only about this. I believe that after 7 years, I've gained the sufficient confidence to teach any age groups (thanks to Ecuador actually!) and I've got some good methods and also creative techniques. Of course, there is always place for more improvement, but I'm not tired of what I'm doing yet, but also I'm getting to my peak as it comes for career, as I have been very fortunate to try different things out. More on teaching coming soon! :-) 

Till then: have a good night. (I wish I could also send the scent of frangepani in this entry!)