Being in the same level meant this academic year, I have to go for the school trip. To me, it's a painful trip based on my first experience last year. It was lots of the same-old, slight variations.
First day: 3hrs sleep, temple and dinner with performance and the Kong Ram lanterns
I skipped KM this week in view of the work trip plus my shoulder just healed up and still had some earlier injuries like a bump on the head, sore spots on my jaw. Used the rest time to massage and rub down the bumps. Still feeling irritation at the shoulder injury. When I resume KM, I am not going for the Mon lesson for a while. During to the shoulder injury, u resolutely decided not to go for grading. Skipping KM practice next week. It's the exam week. Will do conditioning exercise at home.
The same-ole, assembled, waited, lots of speech, depart. The good point was a professional photographer was engaged so I didn't feel compelled to take much photos. Only for the May Thai session, then I did. This time at the transit shopping part, I bought a pack of dehydrated strawberries to munch. Also just 2 Krispy Creme doughnuts, a dark chocolate *very nice* and a cookies and cream one, that was rather sweet. I didn't eat themin the waiting area. But after the plane took off, I was munching one and a student turned and saw me. She said something like I wasn't supposed to. Like the teacher have to follow the rules that applies to students. "Huh? Really not supposed to?" Then I put the doughnut aside like a guilty person, in a sort of role-reversal. But refreshments came later and I continued eating the doughnuts.
Arrived and I gotta sit in the bus along with students, unlike a private van previously. The Head of the level sat in our bus so it was surprisingly peaceful. I closed my eyes and try to rest up as and when I could. No real sleep but just to catch a quick mental recharge.
The temple was about the same except I followed my class around and they attended a prayer part where the monk sprayed holy water and all of us tio some droplets.the class photo was taken later and my hair was messy cos have to take off the cap. Dun care. Didn't do much except I saw the Auzzie colleague sitting down and just sat down too. Helped a couple of groups to take pics on their own personal cameras. I didn't go around taking pics so it was not as tiring.
The dinner place was the same but since it didn't rain, we sat at the outdoor part and there was a series of cultural performance in the outdoor seating area. U are seated on the floor with the triangular cushions and eat the same dishes as last year. The sky was beautiful and one could see some stars including Orion and some Kong Ram lanterns were released that looked surreal. This was refreshing for me. The bus ride there I recovered enough mental zest to look out at the shops that we passed by. There were really lots of international food and cafes and stuff. Very vibrant with lots of variety. Definitely better than Malaysia.
After dinner was giving keys and going to their rooms later to check. This time they didn't screw up the phone SIM cards and we had a list with all teachers contacts. I finisheda hot shower and my phone rang. Had to do room check with the Head. But cos he's a guy so he waited outside. No master card key given so I had to knock and ask to open. Earlier on, they were instructed not to open up unless someone calls out in Japanese. So had 2 amusing incidents. Went to one, I knocked and said "Open up, Ms Y here. Room check" twice and no one open the door though there was an initial "Hai" when I knocked. 3rd time I switched to Japanese then opened. Another one, after several tries still no response until I spoke louder and they opened up. They told me that they didn't recognise my low voice (all the rushing made my voice lower cos didn't drink so much water) and both were too short to look into the peephole. They were trying to carry a chair over. Told them it would be weird if I called out to them in a high pitched voice cos that ain't me... Collected their booklets, told them to lock all locks once I leave. Then the Head did something straight out of medevial times. He took a piece of tape and pasted it over the door & the frame so that if they open the door, it would break the seal and teacherswwould know and students theoretically couldn't reseal their own rooms... I looked on in amusement. The meeting I didn't pay attention so it kinda went by. I remembered the time for breakfast. Pitied the Japanese for who had to check those booklets, put it outside their students room n check that the seals weren't broken.
I went back, packed my day bag with the stuff I needed and slept.
Day 2: Double Muay That, meals, Night market.
This time, I was assigned to stay at one of the That experience venues the entire duration except for meals. Breakfast this time, I just ate a slice of bread, a chicken, a pork hotdog, a single bacon slice. A plate of salad that I picked out with a few slices of chicken ham and salad sauce. The salad combination I made was really good. Coffee and it's back to work. Though I arrived there just to see most finish up and go off. So left me and the Auzzie eating.
Didn't have much to do so I sat down and stoned at the chair. Was talking with the Auzzie a lot cos while students were eating, we just hang around like how Japanese do a lot. So we kinda make it more comfortable by sitting and later chatting. He shared with me his experience of previous trips years ago and I shared about how things went last year. Got to know some interesting stuff about him. He had a more outstanding range of things going then I did, except the Japanese didn't find that out from talking to him.
So I set off with the first group for Muay Thai. I only realised it this year that we went to a Thai Sports University of sort but cos I opened my eyes and saw the name and much later on asked a staff about the age of students. The dojo was better than previously, having shifted. So again I stayed by the girls. They were enthusiastic and did nicely. A couple wanted to see me in action but I didn't get to do it. Actually I didn't want to cos with 1.5yrs of KM undermy belt, the basic Muay Thai that they did weren't things I haven't done before except for some atks that are unique to Muay Thai. Helped take pics and 2 videos using mySSamsung. More reliable than that stupid sch camera that refused to work on the chargeable and even brand new Ever ready batteries. It only works on Energizer... waste to bring all these useless stuff...
Lunch was at the same place as before. Very Chinese style. Don't see much of real authentic Thai food cos of the spiciness, I am guessing. The papaya salad sucked. There was ice cream cos one of the main let slipped and made a mistake in his speech so had to deliver on the words. I put ice cream in hot coffee so I could drink it still.
After lunch was another round of Muay Thai with a different batch of students. The girls this time were very reluctant and weak willed to try. Even with the main instructor and I trying to coax, I wondered why did they even choose this. But the boys did an excellent job. Took pics and again didn't try. A cheeky boy kept asking if I would do the practice cos they were curious but I didn't.
It was kinda amusing cos a few boys kept joking around and parroting my phrase "No violence", so when I found out thru chatting that the Auzzie who's their sub teacher had done Muay Thai for several years, of a higher level, and another Auzzie PE teacher was a boxer, I told that and the boy replied,"I had better be nice to Mr K." Then proceeded to ask me why the non Japanese teachers are so violent (cos we learn fighting arts) LOL.
Back to the hotel and had an hour. Bathed and I also set up the bath tub for a soak. But 5 minutes into, I got bored. How do people sit in it for so long? There wasn't much to do or look at. Went to lie on the bed. The pillows were super soft and comfortable. Changed and headed out. Dinner was Chinese steamboat. I ate 2 bowls of fried rice, some meat, liver. It wasn't as nice as other hotpots I had. But I ate my fill.
Onwards to the night market. Walked over behind the class and they dispersed. I walked through quickly til the Starbucks at one end, bought a Grande Green Tea Latte, 2 gums and a mint. Just when I was leaving, encountered a group of boys. Saw my drink and asked for a treat. I asked,"don't u have $$$" and one cheekily replied no. Then his friend said liar... guess just wanna play with me. Told them I got to stand at my assigned spot near the BK. Later on, I encountered them when they walked over to take a peek to see if it was true.
Just when I thought all was peaceful n routine at my spot, cos it's the same as last year, I spotted 2 girls walking at the area past my station which they weren't supposed to. I stopped them n got them to my spot. They were looking for a teacher. Wanted to speak to their form. Could tell visibly unwell, got them to sit on the stools of a table for customers at a street hawker. Took out my phone and the list to call. But cos their form is a typical no English, so I just say in mixed Eng-Jap; Miss Y here. Ur students want to talk. Passed the phone over and both talked to their form. Not well and they had to make their way back to the initial dinner spot. At least their form knows and would inform the Head who was stationed along the route back. I brought them to the crossing and told the guide we used, stationed there to help them cross over. Can't leave my spot but there were tour agents, guides and teachers stationed along the route. They made it back safely and we're very ill. This I saw later on when I returned. The nurse looked after them when we returned to our hotel and into the next day. They sat in wheelchairs and were wheeled about until Singapore. Then their parents.collected them and would bring them to the hospital the next day with accompanying Jap teachers, tour agents.
Didn't meet many groups, most didn't try to go beyond my spot, they just crossed over the road before reaching. Just a couple of groups from my form class. Tod them not to go beyond, either cross or turn and walk back. My legs didn't enjoy the standing about for an hour plus but the Green Tea Latte helped. I also chewed the gum and people watched. At the allocated time, I tried to walk to one end to usher students back. Midway through, encountered another colleague ushering them so I made my way back. Behind the last few stragglers who were shopping until the last minute. I made it back to board the bus and zipped back to the hotel.
I showered again and laid on the bed. Still had half an hour before the assigned time to repeat the room check at 11pm. I didn't realise I fell asleep. I woke up with a jolt at 11.20pm, thinking I missed the room check and headed out to the meeting to find out if I was late, missed stuff cos though I had the itenary, it's entirely in Japanand they add stuff to it. Especially just the day before during the meeting or even decide without telling u.
So I went there and apologise for being late for the meeting?? Missing out on the room check which I was ready to go do, then I noticed my main forum had the booklets. Apparently another female main forum went. Huh? Then there were students in the meeting room cos aapparently they did not stick to their assigned groups of 5 but combined with another group, split up into smaller groups of 2s-3s which kinda compromised their safety in numbers and the group-buddy system. The Japanese would deal with them then have a meeting after. Told us we didn't have to attend. On, went back and packed my bags. Fell asleep about 1am.
Final day; Passport duty, returning
I woke up with a jolt again, at 6.30am. Where was the bloody wake-up call. Went down hurriedly cos by the time I brushed, changed and headed down, teacher's allocated breakfast time was over. Went down, saw students trickling down for theirs and I headed for breakfast by myself. Ate the same stuff as yesterday. Really enjoyed the salad I made. Generous scoops of french dressing helped.Surprised at myself too. An example of the changed eating habits and taste.
Went up and saw the Auzzie colleague and we just stayed out of the way and chatted. I didn't have to follow for the sch exchange cos I tio the passport duty. I was to go to the airport with the tour agents. I had to carry the 2 bags of passports, luckily I wasn't a small, frail and weak woman. Just carry lor. Then one of the senior tour agent said I would be bored cos it will be boring. I told him it's fine cos I had books, music.
He would eat his own words later with the drama. Apparently the teachers didn't take the suitcases they needed with them to the school. They were still with the tour agents at the front desk. So I was in the van and they had to deliver to them before heading to the airport.Then at the airport counter, doing the massive check-in, the aagents weren't sure where the P's passport was. So I looked thru each classes bag and realised 2 teachers didn't hand over their passports for check-in so u see the agents calling.
As the first class was processed, the agents had to separate the boarding passes, highlight on a paper the seats allocated so that they can reassign seats by class and gender as per our demands. So u see like 4 agents all in suit. The lady rookie was highlighting while another was reading off the seat numbers based on the sorted boarding passes. One was sorting the boarding passes. Huh? Very typical Japanese way of doing things. Another was standing around and helped to bring finished passports over from the counter. I helped out by quickly looking thru the passports to check the identity, sort by gender, took the form and co-form to verify the total number of passports and packed into the bag. I wondered why I had to help do their job. The guy mentioned I could work in the tour agency. I told him jokingly to hire me. Took a while so I went to the loo, went for a quick walk around and bought candied pineapple, and a dehydrated mangosteen. Came back they had got 3 counters processing instead of the initial one counter.
I carried the bags and we settled into a cafe. We sat at different tables do while the lady continued highlighting as one guy read off the rest of the boarding passes. I looked through the menu and was ready to pay for my own meal when she said they would pick up the tab, company account. This part I wasn't sure but since she said so. I had a green tea latte, a sesame grilled salmon side and a Tom Yam soup and a glass of warm water, cos how could u go to Thailand, and not eat their Pat thai, Tom Yam or Curries and that's exactly what was missing from the meals, due to the spicy nature. Seriously I am not one of those who must eat Chinese food in every country that I go to. One of the main points is the local cuisine. I took my time to savor the food especially the Tom Yam that burned. Had fun with the alphabet biscuits that came along with my tea. Finally I could eat very leisurely, not like only having 30-45mins to eat. I glanced over at the lady and she was busily engrossed in seat allocation and having to write up small slips of paper with seat numbers. She didn't take a break the entire time. Later on, maybe 2hrs, we went to meet the rest who had just cleared the coming into the airport liquid check.
So I kinda stood around and waited and followed some for the toilet breaks. Later set off after a while. The class behind me was the cheeky class and they had a lot of fun asking me questions. Like what was I chewing? To which when I replied Gum, they gave me a u-broke-the-sg law. Which I have to explain that a small qty is on but not a large amt nor for selling... They wouldn't let me jump but allowed for the couple of class girls whom I was tailing to jump over, saying that students is ok but not teachers... So my class waited for me to clear the immigration just 2 of the other class girls queuing and blocking in front of me. Man, playing around with me...
The plane ride was ok but I sat at every opportunity. Stoned and close my eyes when I am not needed. At the Bangkok airport we had 25 mins to shop. I went and bought a Camomile tea and was sipping it. Again when the class moved. The same class behind me, another boy would ask me "how many hours did u sleep?" Even "What are u drinking? " To which I would reply cos to encourage English usage. Though when I answered Camomile, initially couldn't comprehend cos the Japanese in their own brand of English say "Camomi". Then I had to repeat how to pronounce Camomile a few times so that student can try to mirror.
On the plane, the boy beside me saw I was looking thru the game selection and asked me if I wanted to join them for a link-up Poker. I thanked but declined telling him that I wanted something non-thinking because I am too sleepy to think. Poker requires thinking so nvm, go ahead. I played a few rounds of Pac-Man and later listened to music instead. English, Japanese and Chinese songs. The flight dinner of omelette with pork and fried rice was delicious. Think dinners are nicer than lunch.
The rest was typical. Final toilet break then parents pick up. Waited around until every single one was collected then a quick debrief. I was the first at the taxi and hopped on without bothering to ask about sharing. It's covered and too much trouble to ask the rest. Reached home, bathed and slept.
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