So, how much? No, not for that hooker!

How much is too much, how much is not enough?

I'm still teaching at my original school I started with. The kids are, for the most part, great and I don't want to leave them. I am teaching mathematics to kids from ages 8-13, and English conversation to older kids from ages 15-19. I also teach at a mall, in a language school, Inlingua. I have students from all ages (4-40). I also teach private lessons in my condo. I've turned my one bedroom condo into a classroom, with a huge whiteboard, and a small selection of books that I can use for worksheets depending on the lesson. I'm beginning to understand what it's like to not have to plan much at all for tutoring/private lessons. I have done a lot of the prep work/book selection already so I essentially just start class and continue where we left off before. This is easy money.

How do I know how much to charge?

I think there are WAY too many people in Thailand who take advantage of their position. Read all this and then I'll slap the wages of life in Bangkok.

Becoming an educator should not be about ripping people off. I completely understand if someone is charging 1,000+ baht per hour for private lessons, but only if you are actually working that much and/or have the skill set to assist you in your class. 1,000 baht is approximately 28 USD. The exchange rate is obviously changing everyday. 

Why,  why, why, why!? I don't understand why so many teachers feel it's acceptable to charge this much for one hour of work. So here is my theory...at least for areas like Bangkok/Pattaya/Chiang Mai... Cities and places with larger population.

Thai people, those of them that are wealthy enough to afford 1000 baht per hour of lessons, are willing to spend it without even thinking about it. The farang (foreigner) make an easy exchange and cash in. The work load that I see most farang having for these types of lessons usually consist of : 'hey what is your homework I can help correct that' to 'lets just talk' to 'lets open this book'. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything wrong with these methods, however I do feel that if you have little to no prep, and charge that much you pretty much could be an English teacher fraud. What do I mean by fraud?

An ESL-NE speaker (English as a second language and native English speaker), are usually people who can speak the language quite well, without thinking. The trick, is being able to understand all the rules and exceptions in English. Knowing that the English language has 12 tenses. Not 3. Knowing that we call 'is, am, are' as the verb 'to be'. Knowing how to conjugate have, to be, etc... Knowing about prepositions of time and place, or the many parts of speech in English. Or knowing about the difference with 'either and neither' or describing the way to pronounce 'th' correctly without just having them repeat after you. As a teacher you should be able to figure out or research ways to effectively teach. Read that again, EFFECTIVELY teach.

Now I bet a lot of people could be reading this and could be thinking 'oh wow Harry you are hating on teachers and think you are the best.' No no no, I am not the best I am no where near that. I am rather aware of my skill set. I have some tricks up my sleeve as we all learn to build on our own. I do not know the Enish language well enough. I can't explain the use of adverbials verse adverbs. (What the heck is an adverbial!?) I can't describe the reasoning behind phrasal verbs, like 'passing out'. I can explain the definition but not why it is set up like that. How about that oh so familiar 'l' instead of 'r' that all the Thais say. No one can do the 'r' perfectly. It's because their 'r' in Thai sounds like 'l'. We need to be effective teachers in order to change this so they are speaking correctly. Not sit there for three hours and have them repeat it. Show diagrams of the tongue! Examples! Many words. (A trick I've used is to have them say 'motorbike' and they slightly grasp the r sound in that word. I tell them to cut that out and place it in another word like rice or road. To start using the 'r' sound and try to emphasize/exaggerate the sound. I've found it to work pretty well to make them exaggerate it then tone it down. Another good tip for the th sound I've used is to have the student very lightly bite on their tongue and breath out. Not push spit or make a fart sound with their mouth but more of a relaxing exhale. That's been working perfectly for the past few weeks in my classes of 40 kids. They are loving it. Usually they'd get annoyed but I think they can actually hear the difference themselves.)

So, if you are a teacher that is able to answer a ton of types of questions and teach effectively then I see no problem with charging that much for an hour, as long as you can back yourself up with the books and help with homework. (Minimal prep).. However, if you are simply not trying to educate yourself and are not self evaluating your lessons every single day you teach, then I think it's just shy of a scam if you charge that much. If you ARE simply trying to just sell your accent and memorized knowledge of 'how things are' in English, then sure! Go ahead! Do it, I encourage it. Thais love speaking and practicing too. I think it's worth only around 300- 400 baht an hour, though. Which is still good!!!!

Like I said I'm no expert, and I definitely need to grow a lot in the teaching realm. 

So my lessons that I teach got me firing my comments about this because I get paid around 600 baht per hour in my private lessons. I still feel I am overcharging but the students/clients insist on giving it. Yes, I even tried lowering it because I just feel horrible if I'm not honest.

Ok I think you understand or can at least sympathize with where I am coming from. (There is another great example, 'where I am coming from'. That sounds like a difficult thing to explain. Maybe say 'it's the same as you understanding my perspective?' Sure that sounds good! Wait, do they know the word perspective?... Hmm)

The baht. How far does the dollar go? How far does the baht go? Here's my personal breakdown. And this is all of a decent living style. Nothing extremely fancy and nothing below comfortable living. I don't have to worry about turning on and off my electricity other than for saving energy, not my baht.

Well, the breakdown - if you take your time you can probably find a decently nice condo with a pool and a gym for around 7,500 baht a month. Including A/c and a stove top, and a fridge. Sometimes parking if you need it.

That comes out k be slightly over 200 USD a month. (Many can be found immediately for 10,000 baht a month)

As for food, one meal averages 35 baht (1 USD). If you want luxury meals - a couple hundred. Pretty good buffets from around  300-2,000 (extremely nice buffets... I never go there, haha. I always go to the 300 baht ones).

Electricity usually runs around 800 baht a month for someone running a/c frequently. Water bills are pocket change - probably less than 80 baht per months wifi/internet : 650 baht per month.

Transport: around 1,000 per month.

Ok now that you know that, check out all of this below...

So, even if you spent around 16,000 baht a month on living expenses, that's still a lot. So wait, wait, wait. Are u telling you that people can come to Thailand, teach lessons to people for 1,000 baht an hour, teach them at two periods every week, and perhaps have 1-3 people in one lesson/class? One a week with 2 kids, 1,000 each.... Is what? 8,000! Ok so let's try to get our money that we need to survive. And let's make us work a little harder, only one student per hour. We would need to teach 16 hours in one month. Less than half of the average full time working week in western worlds.

If you teach any more, you are rich. 

Now, most of us  have full time salary jobs, that are reliable for a monthly income. So that we don't have to rely on the flexible private lessons. Now I think 1,000 baht for a lesson was an extreme example for me to use, but it does definitely happen. However if you worked the work week the same amount as in a western world, you'd have to charge about 100 baht and hour to get what you need to live. Now that's absurd, you can definitely get a job paying more, working less. A lot less. Average jobs are 30-35,000 baht a month working around 15-25 teaching hours, not including grading and planning. Most of the jobs don't require an extreme amount of work, however some do. For example, my current job requires more than some of the international schools. I do get paid more, though.

Now, you can really see what I'm saying.

The sad part is that if we as tutors and teachers are not making it known that the working class, if they are able to spare 100 baht for an hour of just simple communication skills and phonics, they should be able to. Heck, set up your condo like I did for a classroom, bring 5 Thais in and practice simple phonics for 100 baht each. You have 500 baht an hour, helping the underpaid and working class citizens.

Okay enough ranting about all that.

Disclaimer I don't have anything against teachers that don't or can't explain parts of the English language. I can't, I'd be a hypocrite. However, I do find it a little  scummy if you are charging so much for an accent. You don't offer them as much as they should be getting. 

Hey maybe I'm still stuck in that western 'bang for you buck' mind set? Hmm..

So, if you happen to be strolling in Thailand and need to understand the costs of living please do so! Or if you are a fellow teacher, please feel free to use this for a little bit of insight on the world of private lessons.

Liebster Award, Teacherista, and Hershey

https://heyteacherista.wordpress.com

Hey you young tiger lilly.

Check the 'true life' of a teacherista. :) teaching tips, travels and trousers. Well not the trousers but I thought it sounded good. Thanks Krissy for the shout out and nominating me/awarding me this dandy little treat. The Liebster award! I know I always have grammatical errors, and say some weird things on here. It's more for memories and sharing experiences. I'm not trying to enlighten anyone, but rather include them on my venture. As we all know, I am not a punctual person when it comes to speaking and being proper. I type how I speak. Yikes... Sorry for the headaches ya'll.

Soooo with that, thank you for the blog shout out!! Liebster Award? I thought it was lobster at first and thought I won a lobster. Dang. I'm kinda hungry.

Really awesome of you to notice others. I'm going to give a shoutout to Jennifer Hershey. Inspirational blogs soon to be brighter than the sun, and already hotter than the Earth's core. Focus on that positivity! Yes!

http://Jmhershey.wordpress.com

P.S. Your last blog with communicating. Love it.

As for this crazy girl with questions.... Im going to throw it at you now:

1. What is your favorite thing to do after a long day? I like to sleep, watch Netflix, draw, listen to music, make music, eat and beat box on the toilet. Sometimes I am able to multitask and do two or three at the same time.
2. If your personality could be expressed by an animal, what would it be and why? I'd like to say a majestic horse. Black stallion. But I think personalities are for other people to decide for you! They'd probably call me a monkey or that orange hairy monkey we all forget how to spell. Orange something. Yeah, that one. And no, I'm not a ginger. 
3. Where do you want your next travel destination to be? Preferably Mongolia. But I don't think it'll happen next.
4. What is your biggest accomplishment of 2015? Oof. I'd say publishing my documentary, but it didn't happen. Need to get the music approved. So, probably stabilizing my income and happiness in Bangkok.
5. Tell us about your blog and how it got started? Well, after attempting a blog about Uganda, and shortly thereafter it failed.. I decided to travel and take risks and try to do crazy things. I wish I did more crazy things. I should. Though, through it all, wherever you are, you must push on in the venture. So, The Venture On.
6. What is your biggest motivation? My childhood.
7. What is your guilty pleasure song? Any backstreet boys song and Mmm..bop (thanks to my older sisters)
8. Easy one… favorite food? Strawberries!!!!!!
9. If there was one skill you could have that you don’t currently, what would it be? To move things with my eyes. Some would say this is a power. If it's possible, then it's a skill. Prove its not possible. Go.
10. Personal Mantra? I'm an English teacher and I failed my vocabulary test today. Mantra? Yeah I should probably know this. 
11. What is goal you have for 2016? Keep working on my children's books. I'd say publish them but you know that doesn't really happen with things I make. (Documentary) haha. 

So, again thanks for the nomination!!!!

Jenn. Questions for you:

1) what makes you happy?

2) what inspires you?

3) what are your dreams?

4) are these dreams obtainable?

5) if yes, what do you need to do in order to make these dreams come true? If no, how can you use this dream to push you further in a positive direction?

6) will you make your obtainable dreams your goals?

7) why did you start this blog?

8) what is one moment you felt very happy, by yourself?

9) what is one moment you were very happy with someone else, or other people?

10) will you count how many awesome things you have right now in your life? And help me show everyone that today.. There is an amazing amount of good. :)

Super cheesy I know. Jennnnn please answer and If you want go ahead and 'nominate' or 'award' this to someone else. Ask them 10 questions as well. ROLL OUT!

:)

One year later.

The sound of pulling up to Wawa in Pottstown, PA, waiting in the parking lot. I can hear the faint voices and chatter of others outside. It's the sound of normal, familiarity. Only this time I open my eyes and I'm not anywhere near where I imagined. I'm im an unfamiliar car. I see shopping centers in Thai language. I see the Big C shopping center. I see my girlfriend coming towards the car, who I'd usually see Jake, my Dad, sister or mom. These people, these places, and these sounds all familiarize themselves with each other in my head. I realize I've started to become comfortable in my current stage. Things seem normal. Nothing is extravagant anymore. I didn't think that day would come but without any hesitation, it crept up while I was sleeping and found its way under my eyelids. All without a peep. Monks collecting food offerings in the morning from the general public has turned into a type of traffic jam for me, rather than a novelty. The appreciation is nothing less than before, I just have a new mission every day. It's to get to work. To school. To the kids.

I remember my first few days at work. I walked in to the canteen and grabbed a fork to eat. A line of M girls (high school) were laughing at me. One girl gains the courage to come over and says, 'teacher...' And quickly tosses a spoon into my food on my plate. I laughed and said thank you. Though, I hadn't known the reason why she did that, my fork was fine. As I looked around I noticed everyone eating with a spoon as their main utensil and a fork as the guide. 

It was a hysterical, and sweet moment.

Throughout the last year I've learned so much about communication. Language barriers, language similarities, language itself. I've learned about sounds, phonics, grammar, tone, and many more aspects of communication. I've become a master of charades. You will lose if you play me. I'm being cocky. Try explaining 'cocky' to non native speakers without laughing. Turns out most kids know all the bad words before everything else.. I guess I can't blame them. I know many bad Thai words too.

I've been teaching in a school that is part of a chain. Assumption. There are many Assumption schools around Thailand. I am at Assumption Suksa. These chain of schools are extremely well known. I've heard many people say it's part of the top 5 schools in Bangkok. (I'm assuming school chains because I know a few Assumption schools that are of higher standards than mine.)

I've learned how to handle over 300+ girl students in all my classes, manage grades somehow, and have seen improvement and confidence boosts in the students.

I always thought teaching would be a great job. I thought I'd like it but wasn't sure how much. I LOVE this job. I am told often I work too much. Friends in different schools, my girlfriend, etc.. 

I am never scared of hard work. Annoyed sometimes, yes.. But in the end, it feels good. In fact, sometimes I wish I did more! I truly wish I had more time so I can do more for these kids.

After my first semester teaching and watching some of my first students graduate, I decided to stay. This time it's in my favor. Math is back. I love math. I love pi. I love teaching math. I now teach over 200 primary (elementary) girls mathematics in English. I also teach high school girls conversation. I also continue my extra classes on weekends at Inlingua, and private sessions in my condo.

Back to comfort..

The times I hear these noises, the familiar ones from home, make me extremely comfortable, homesick, and scared all at the same time. I left home for teaching and finding something more for me, something challenging, something different... If it's becoming too normal, am I going to find myself in the same situation? Will this be a never ending cycle?..

All I know now, as I lay here in my $175 a month condo in one of SE Asia's most well known city's, is that I continue to learn one thing. How to appreciate everything, everyone, and every experience more and more. I may get bored but it proves I'm learning and experiencing things. I'm able to compare and contrast. I'm able to see the similarities and create my own comfort.

A thought I had a while ago, but didn't know how to put it into context... In a search for happiness, when you finally get there.. do it all again.

The hardest part, now that I'm used to it.. Is the constant silence from your friends and family. Here, I understand that they, over there, have jobs and lives of their own. Even if I were there now, it wouldn't be like I can see them every day, or when I want to. It sure would be easier though. The time zones.. I can't express the jealousy, guilt, shame, loneliness, and forgotten feelings I have when I see the get togethers, the parties, the jokes, the laughs. My communication is at an all time low. I haven't seen or spoken to some family and friends in over a year. The worst feeling of it all is that I don't blame them. I get it. It's my decision, but I can't help it. It's a mind game. Sometimes it's a battle against yourself. So, I watch documentaries, look at pictures, and read from what gives me my drive. I educate myself on poverty, on child soldiers, on human trafficking, AIDS, international education standards, etc..

I am moving forward. As much as I hate myself for thinking negatively and feeling down, especially about those close to me.. I will not fall to believe our relationships are weaker than the one, two, or however many years I'm away. Maybe it's that their year goes by faster than mine, or maybe mine goes super slow. Maybe it's a gap in the space time continuum.

To my brothers at home. Don't forget we rotate our rings when we're together.

Venture on, and don't let happiness stop you from a whole other type of happiness. It doesn't stop if you find it once. You can rediscover it an infinite number of times. At least for me, I feel that.

Attack of the Tesol

So, I guess my blog is similar to Star Wars. My episodes are out of order. This one falls in place immediately after I leave Mel and meet people at a hotel. Let's call it... 'Venture On, attack of the Tesol'. 

Walking in to a strange group of people you've never met before... I've done this all too many times in the past. I'm almost worn out. I know some of these relationships will be significant but most will not be. I'm not trying to be cynical at all but this is what happens when you spend a few weeks with people. You make friendships with few that will last longer and be stronger. There isn't anything wrong with it but knowing this realty I tend to now not engage as much as first. I let the rain settle and I wait to make my ripple. That sounds weird...

I meet Justin, Kyle and Krissy first. Krissy is running around asking Justin questions I'm not sure of, talking about cards and phone calls. Soon I realize it's one of the horrors of being abroad. You lose your ATM/credit card. Or the machine eats it. Somehow it's gone.

Yikes! I immediately have sympathy for her knowing the struggles if contacting companies and banks while abroad. I say nothing and mind my business.

Kyle. He reminds me of my friend Josh. One of my best friends from home, but for some reason I didn't ever picture Josh doing this. Wait, I thought. Duh, this isn't Josh. It's Kyle. They are different. Sometimes it's really difficult to separate individuals in your head. I think that relates to stereotyping a lot too. Who knows maybe Josh would do this. I have no clue. But it makes me think, will I or anyone ever truly be culturally competent? Will someone ever not stereotype? Is it inevitable? I believe there are different levels of it all but really, it's so in depth I feel like I can't comprehend most of it. It's almost an overwhelming thing to think about. I stop. I'm back in the breakfast area where all the soon to be English teachers are meeting to eat.

I see Katie again. She takes a seat with some other people.

AH! I meet the now known as 'hundred baht' this guy is awesome. He has an extremely deep voice. He has quite a character about him that I can't quite put my finger on, though it's not a bad thing. It's somewhat inviting. He's got a sense of humor and loves to talk to people. On fact he was talking to me on Facebook well before we met in person. We were both backpacking in Thailand for a little beforehand. He has been to Thailand before. It's nice to have a modest traveler to talk to.

I can't help but feel like sometimes I get excited and want to share my experiences with people, solely because I was alone and couldn't share it with anyone. Like India. I find myself talking about it often. I'm not sure what but I think there is something going on in my head now. It struck a nerve or something. I've been having flashbacks. I wake up in the night sometimes. Feeling like I'm there. But then I have other amazing sights in my mind of the Taj, the Ganges river.... It's such a wild mix if emotions. Though here I go again.. I know sometimes I'm a modest traveler, but I think this is one thing that I can't stop talking about. I even annoy myself. I just hope I don't annoy others.

Were now in vans. Katie, Me, Meghan Zach, Madeline and Charney. 

These few were my first victims of excitement and stories.

Our stop at Mcdonalds and Starbucks was a western relief. We all relax on a couple hour ride to Hua Hin. We are provided some guidance on phones, cash/banks/ATMs, and where to go for goods. We were given time to go around the mall.

We split into small groups to locate anything we will need for our first few days. I buy hardly anything compared to some. A fan, some cereal, snacks and food. Oh and of course some good ol' toilet paper. 

I am approached by a small Asian girl, who says 'sooo you must be Harrison'.... I'm confused, flattered, and creeped out at the same time. I replied with a small smirk, 'ummmmm, yeah and you are?' We both laugh and introduce ourselves a little more thorughly. I then said, 'you do that often? Approach people with their name?' Haha.

That was the beginning of my group, The Red Group.

Shortly after I found the little Asian girl under my shoe, I quickly jumped to the side to let her yell at me all of the time. She is a feisty little one that we all got to know and love for her 'I. CANT. EVEN. But really can' attitude.

We all rushed around for necessities and foooooood! Me: toilet paper. Gotta have it. Sorry but I ain't no bushwhacked man. I'm a full grown man with some manorilla puberty hair. That needs wiping. No squirt squirt or hand wipin will do the trick. Now that the graphic part is over...

I looked to my left to see two odd individuals carrying their cart outside to the group waiting location. One with a fan and one with a giant knife. What the hell?

We don't have kitchens! It was pretty funny and cool, though. These fond individuals are now two of my good HuaHin made friends, Jessie and Stacey.

Back to Suchaya House.

We moved in together, learned together, practiced together, taught together, drank together, went crazy together, and were tourists together... We were the red group in the TESOL certification course. Friendships were made, drama was swarming around us, and we could have been the next 'Real World' house.

Almost every day we were practicing our extremely similar lessons, to the most minimal and easiest possible way to teach pronunciation and vocabulary.

It was a brutal process for the first few days because some of us weren't quite sure if we were supposed to be doing it different ways. After the first few, almost all of us were in the groove with these new methodologies. This was a foundation. I do believe it's necessary to make sure teachers are able to do this. And follow direction. First step to being a good leader is to be a good follower. I think..

I feel like I'm getting in the groove and really starting to do well. I feel like I'm on fire. Literally. These temperatures are whaling on my pores so much that on the drive home, standing in the sungtaew, my elbows have a continuous drip. Some would even say waterfalls. I am now known as the most sweaty person these people will ever know. And to think that in 4th grade during recess, I thought I was weird and uncool because I didn't sweat as much as Stefan Bilinski. Pft, I caught up for the missed years I missed out.

Almost every day we entered the pool by the house, and had some beers. I usually say out on some beers because I didn't have much money. I saved for the well worth moments, though. Like the beer pong that Katie and I totally won at the bar, but they said it costs another 200฿ to move on to the next round. Pssshhh. Or the celebratory beers after we successfully made it through day 2. Or successfully made it through day 3. Or successfully made it through day 4. Catch the drift? It was a mad house. Rumors, gossip, who's hot, who's not?

However, we all made it worth it and had a blast. Our placements were being announced slowly, through interviews and demo lessons, to phone calls and trips around the country..

Katie and I were called in. We were told we had interviews. They went well. Or, well enough. Sitting at the interview table, we met Kate and Colleen. Another red team member, Cherene, sat there as well. All soon to be office butt bumpers. We were all told we would be teaching at Assumption Suksa. This branch of school is really well known. All girls. Catholic. Oh shoot. If my buddies got word of this they would definitely make some jokes about it. Probably innapropriate jokes. :O to say the least, I was pumped and ready to go. Please for the love of... Don't take that as a pun. Really. I'm a teacher. Here to teach. 100%. Maybe a little venture and exploring. Maybe some booze. But I'm here, to teach.

As time went by, Kat and I decided it was time for the inevitable... We stopped our attempts at communicating as much due mostly to my schedule during the month.

Soon after it all, we were graduating and saying our goodbyes. Goodbye drama. Goodbye friends. Hello to the next part of my life.

300+ Catholic Girls. Here I come.

Venture On.

Ayuttaya and the end to begin

Mel and I grab a taxi to head one hour north. Ayuttaya is full of ruins and older temples. We are worried about weather and rain and have so far been extremely lucky and times everything perfectly. Rain has not gotten in our way yet.

We got a taxi to the bus station 'Mo Chit'. This bus station is full of mini vans, buses, taxis, etc.. We keep asking around but the language barrier is rough. Mel tries a security/info desk. I try a ticket window. We are asking and it's to no avail. Really need to learn a little more Thai, haha. We make it easier for us, but just longer by staying 'ayuttaya?' And we are pointed where to go. It's across the station. Unsure if where 'pointing' meant to go we just went ahead and tried asking more people... Eventually we'd get to a vehicle right?

One after another we keep asking. We find our way into a small mini van that will cost us 60 baht each one way. Sweet. Approximately 2 USD.

Arriving in Ayuttaya right across the bridge, we are greeted by the wonderful 'HELLOOO TUK TUK! I show you many things.' We say no thank you and keep walking. We hae time and we see that Ayuttaya isn't that large of a place so we can see the things we want to see, or majority of what we want to see fairly easy. We decided to walk almost everywhere. From walking through the older ruins and hearing people bein blessed by monks, to hearing music and seeing elephant rides/shows happening in the near distance, we were please with what we saw.

The architecture was actually really interesting. I couldnt to stop looking at how the bricks were layed and cemented over to form the taller spiers. I'm not sure what the correc term is for the things I'm describing, but seeing the chips and pieces fall apart, the deformities in the structures was almost soothing. You could see how long and what efforts were put into building this piece of artwork. To see it being preserved and idolized is refreshing. Not sure why, but I'm hoping to connect with that more later, or disconnect... I just want to understand more.

Mel and I walk and walk and walk and take pictures and pictures and pictures and then we just think about what we want to eat eat eat.

We decide to walk across the other end of town to a restaurant that is in our books, but it's kind if difficult to find. We see it, but don't know how to get there. The canal doesn't really allow for easy crossing unless you venture behind all the buildings on the other side. We decide to try. We find our way to a temple, strolling on through and finding different pathways that lead to beautiful flowers all around. We don't really care what happens were just happy to be here. Finally we reach a guesthouse of some sort. Maybe this is it?

Woah this isn't it, but it's a damn good guest house. Has some extra curricular activities, and it's all very nicely displayed.  From the furniture and the wooden legged structures it definitely seems like a place I'd enjoy. Anway, the owner sees us because it's not really peak season and no one is around. He leads us through to the correct way through the temple and towards our destination. Thanks kind man!

Despite the vicious dog's territory we were passing through, we made it! Sadly... We wanted to eat on the boat but this is when the rain got rough. And I mean ROUGH. I think this is the hardest of the monsoons we've seen. The plastic and plates and food is blowing in the wind. Across the river, from where we came, we see cars stopping to wait it through. Honestly we could hardly see the cars. Barely even the lights. The rain was falling so fast in so much volume that I was truely amazed. It's like you can read things and see things in tv but you really just don't know, until you feel it like that. - like climbing to a high elevation for the first time and the struggles that you can encounter/ not expect. It's so difficult to describe.

Nonetheless, we were dry. Sitting and eating under a roof next to some older women sharing food. We all laugh with each other after we've relocated a few times haha. WowZaaa. 

The restaurant/guest house helps us get a tuktuk/taxi back to the bus station. No way we were goin to go in this rain walking. It did slow down a lot so it wasn't as bad. We take a ride back on another minivan, get of at victory monument and walk around for some food and maybe some shopping. This is a huge hub for transport. We arrived in the evening and the night life came alive. Second hand shops everywhere. Were enjoyin our last time strolling through Bangkok together. We find extremely cheap food, and take some back alleys that seem a little less traveled. Of course it's all been traveled before. It's Bangkok. Tourist central. But it's the last bit of adventure we can find.

Back at our hotel, we sleep. The next morning, is an early one. I have to meet up with my group and hop on another van, that will take take me to Hua Hin, where I will take my TESOL course with XploreAsia. It's a fast morning and I'm hugging Mel all too soon looking through the glass door widows as she walks away. I'm thinking about her on her day alone, what she will conquer and what she will see. It's one last day. Live it up, safe travels home, and thank you SO much, for giving me the best vacation of my life. No one will take this from us, it was our time and our experiences. I loved it! Love you, Mel!!!!!!!

Here we go. Teacher Harry is back.

Krabi and Ko Phi Phi

Mel and I took our new outlooks on northern Thailand and sought out the south. We had a connecting flight to Krabi, a well known tourist spot for some island hopping. We arrived in Krabi only to realize out ferry to the island was not running anymore. The ferry is longer than an hour ride so it only runs a couple times a day.

We had to whip out the books and find a hostel or hotel. We decided to stay in Pak-up hostel not far from anything we wouldn't mind seeing. We took advantage of the night and walked around, found a random festival of sorts with a stage for participants in some karaoke event. It was alive with a night market, food, and accessories for whatever you could think of.

This is where Mel and I had our first encounter with the King.

We were enjoying some cheaply made cocktails and some mediocre sushi when the clock struck 6:00pm. We were a bit confuse when everyone around us stood up and was still. I wasn't sure if it was like the start of an American baseball game or what was happening..

We stood as everyone else did and stopped what we were doing.

The song was in honour of the king.. the nation.

Now before I say anything more I want I make a statement that it's illegal to speak of the royal family with any negative context. This is a law that is much different than other countries. So with travelers, they should be aware and educated on this so they do not make any remarks, and find themselves in trouble.

We enjoy some Thai ice cream and some children performing on the ground playing instruments. This is a common practice, at least from what we've seen.

I'm eager for a burger. We find a place to eat. It seems like an Australian bar and grill or something. I gotta ease off the American. India was rough and exciting. Thailand is great. But food.... Yeah I need that burg.

We are happy to get some rest in the hostel which is actually pretty nice. Only 250฿, which is around 7-8 USD. Booya.

Next day we head off to Ko Phi Phi. We got a ticket at a ferry office the night before. I forget the exact price but just as everything else, once you but something you find it cheaper elsewhere. We rode on the ferry to the island watching the cool clear blue water under the skies. It's a long two hours or so, and we approach the long tail boats you dream of and see in pictures. The boats are all lined up on the sand, the bungalows are in sight, an many, many people trying to recruit for the next dive. Diving is huge here. I want to try so bad. It's very cheap here for this kind of sport. If you want a diving license, do it in Thailand. As so I've heard. I haven't done it yet and I want to. I am rather poor.. So even though it's cheap, I have bills to pay, haha. Dang student loans.

Were walking through the people trying to sell things, and are lookin at the poorly scaled map. Easy to read but confusing at first as anyone would be with anything new.

We reach our place to stay for the night after a short walk (long walk in respect to the islands size). We check in for one night and realize that in two days, the boat returning to krabi will be too late for our flight. We apologize and tell the hotel we need to check out after one night.

Everything is alright, after some brushing around for our documents. Walking to our nice little hut, we take a look off the edge of the hills and it's got a great view. We are able to unload, and go enjoy the beach!!! Yes! This island is hounded with tourists and party goers, Muay Thai, tattoos, etc.. Were walking around trying to find some things to eat or just see. We keep passing this 'pirate' restaurant? It's quite funny. I'm not sure if Mel knew the whole time but I didn't realize the restaurant had multiple openings to enter from either side. It was all open air walls/pillars, but i didn't know that. I guess I just couldn't see through to the other side? Everything is so crammed here. Nuts. At least for the Farang (westerner). We also keep passing this place called 'The Rock'. It looks like a dominant restaurant, more expensive and up on a higher level. Literally.. Elevation.

Mel and I spend some time on the beach walking out to the water, explore the weird slimy sand creatures we found that look like clear spaghetti and slurp themselves back into holes as soon as they make contact with someone. Ewwww. Hehe.

We spend a decent amount of time on the beach laying there. Relaxing. It's nice. I see a group of guys throwing a football. Man I wish the guys were here. My dudes would love to have a catch in the mile long ankle high water. 

After some photo ops, and some relaxing on the beach in front of some tunes from a nearby bar, we head on up to bed.

We hear and FEEL the bass from the beach. It's bumping outside like crazy.

Were in one of the farthest places to stay, too!

I take a look down towards the beach, much lower than where we are currently. It's loud, there are lights, fire twirlers, an it's like the night is young. Mel and I don't feel like going nuts, we try to get some shut eye, wow that music was loud. Haha. I can't imagine staying closer down towards the beach.

Now, we wake up, eat a nice complimentary breakfast, and are headed out back to Krabi.

It's funny, we ask if no assistance for this man to help us. They load us in a truck, on the back. Kinda like a sungtaew. Were going down the sometimes steep hill, one way hardly paved path. Holding on for dear life at points to not fall off, haha.

The end comes near and the truck stops. We unload our bags and the man throws them in a sort of square cart/trailer/dolly thing. Were wondering what is happening then realize it has wheels. He's pullin it! He starts to pull our bags through to the ferry on the other side if the island. We feel bad because we just walk behind him, passing all the other foreigners feeling like this is some sort of, indecent treatment. We try to say we can take the bags but the man insists. He's extremely kinda smiling, and generous.. Then again... this is just a walk to the ferry.. Not Mongolia.

We reach our ferry early, watch some fish under the docks, wave goodbye to the scenery and take a much wanted spot on the top of the ferry to lay down, in the beating hot sun. Another two hours or so back to Krabi. Easy enough we just walk around Krabi and search for a place to stay again. Worst case scenario we go back to the hostel, otherwise we just keep looking for a nice place to relax and feel comfortable.

We find a place and are able to bring down the price a little bit. Mel says 'screw it' and takes her card out, haha. WOOO. A/c hehe.

Were just roaming the streets we were roaming the two days before and are ready for our flight back to Bangkok. This is where it sucks. Going back to Bangkok means Mel and I are coming to an end in our vacation and fun.

Besides from the excitement of getting back to Bangkok, and getting my luggage from the storage unit, there wasn't too much more excitement other than good old Khao San road. We were staying on Khao San road. This road is permanently closed and had a vast amount if bars an restaurants. This place goes WILD at night. From Ping Pong show offers to laughing gas, to just hanging with friends or gettin down on the dance floor.. It has a chronic environment. I mean that in a both positive and negative way. 

Katie Matero, my Student Staff Coordinator in Johnson Hall for the Spring 2014 semester. She's taking the course too. We message each other and find out she and others in the group are coming to khao San road. We decided to meet at 7 eleven. Mel and I wait around and meet up, get introduced to some people, and have a night turn old. We watched foreigners take the 'spotlight' in search of peer acceptance, watched child break dancers, are scorpions and eventually made our way to 'the club'.

The Club. The entrance is a large oval neon sign which has a small opening with some

Guards standing under it. You pay a cover fee which gives you a stamp for re try and a drink once you get in. (Ticket). The doorway leads you down a long ish dark hallway, which seems darker when it's your first time and you are under the influence. Definitely quesionable at first when you are unsure of the territory and surroundings you are in. Mel stayed in the room for this part which is okay, but I really wish she came! It was nuts. The hallway opened up to (again seemed larger than it was while under the influence.. Haha) a huge opening of a dance floor with a center rounded DJ stage. Lasers and lights and robots filled the underground club feel of the cement walls. Katie and I walked in an got our picture taken and were put on the club's Facebook site. Oh boy. Then we were all going wild snapping pics and dancing to some wild house/techno music. A bit intense. After being there more often now, it's definitely not as insane or wild as it felt. It felt like I was in college again.

Despite all the crazy fun, we all separate and hit the sack. The next day, Mel and I were going to head to Ayuttaya for a few hours. After Ayuttaya Mel is going to have her one night in Bangkok. Within te next 48 hours I'd be off to meet my group for the TESOL course. I'm eager to meet people and get started but... I'm definitely going to miss Mel. She was a huge uprising of spirits for me after all of the highs and lows in India. India... You got me good, but I'll be back some day. I want to. See more, volunteer more... I need to understand you more. Damn Delhi. Haha.

Up next: Our day in Ayuttaya.

Goodbyes and see you laters wih Mel.

The end of the beginning.. And the beginning of the rest of my life.

The best parts of Thailand. The White Temple and hiking.

It's been a pretty long time since I last wrote.

Social Media websites like Facebook seem to capture my moments through the last few months the best.

A brief summary of what I've went through, from finishing my backpacking days with Mel, to watching my senior students (M6 students) graduate, to planning the future of my life...

I've spent a month with a group of amazing individuals all seeking to graduate with a TESOL certificate, had some amazing friendships form and bonds were made, was placed in a very well known private all girls Catholic school in Bangkok, many teachers were illegally working expats, I was involved with drama, got a Thai girlfriend, got a second job teaching English to students from 4-40 years of age, and had a roommate leave early... I am happy to say I think my craziness may be coming to a settled state for now. I'm focused. I'm teaching. I'm learning. I'm happy... Where I left off:

Mel and I were at Chiang Rai. We got on a bus that was heading to the White Temple. (Wat Khao?) We were shooed off the bus on the road. It was a rather large road to cross to the white temple we saw in a distance. We booked it and ran. We went to sit for a minute across the street from the White Temple and got some coffee/tea. We take a minute to embrace the temple from afar. As the no so many people approach the entrance, we walk right on in. Unfortunately some of the White Temple was still under construction. The history of how it was made is pretty neat. I won't get into it now, but it describes why the temple is under construction now.

This temple is beautiful. Pictures don't do it justice. Pictures might actually give it "too much" justice. I feel like seeing the cracks and the "realness" in the structure makes me appreciate it even more. It's not a magical fantasy and some place that is not reachable. This place exists. This place is somewhere Mel and I physically went to.

Mel and I take a walk around, watch the fountains turn on giving the temple a softer look. We walk around the outside and make our way to the steps. The bridge was not accessible at this time. All around the temple are offerings of beer, cigarettes and liquor. The faces of these sculptures are disgustingly creative. 

Our short trip to the temple allowed us to see some other traditional wishes that Buddhists make. There are trees made of hanging wishes. I actually want to focus on that a little bit.

Think of a single place, where you have a magnitude of wishes all compiled in one spot. What are wishes? Wishes are passion. Drives. Compassionate ideas that human beings strive for, or hope for.

One single tree made of wishes hangs, with each wish supporting each other forming one global idea. Unity at its best.

We head back to the road looking for a bus back to the bus station. The road is empty. No buses, no cars, no motorbikes, no sungtaews. Where are we? .............realistically about a 15 minute drive from the bus station. Walking in this heat?.... no way. Mel and I start walking to look for more opportunities..

After about 5 minutes of "what the hell are we going to do? we have to make it back to the bus station for our ride to our bungalow", we turn around and spot a sungtaew.. We yell from a short distance "Chiang Rai Bus!". I motion to Mel in the distance to run to the sungtaew as I hop on the back and yell "2" so they know she is with me. It's crazy how little words you can use to communicate. No need to for sentences. Knowing a tad of the Thai language could help..

We make it back and wait for our ride in plenty of time, and luckily our ride shows up early.

Here goes the ride to the bungalow.

Mel and I make eye contact with this guy about my age, maybe a little older. He approaches us and just waits. We have our booking in hand and before I know it we are throwing my backpack in the bed of a truck. I quick strap on the rain gear incase it down pours on our ride. You never know! Mel and I hop in the truck. I'm exhausted. I'm about to fall asleep. I know its a long ride but I try to stay up as long as I can before dozing off. I'm losing focus as we make random left turns and take long side roads. Where are we going?

We stop. The driver look sat us and just motions "1 minute". What?... He runs out to a small house in an alley. We wait a few minutes. Mel and I look at each other and think, "We hardly spoke to this guy at the station... are we in the right car?... What is happening? Wouldn't it be a crazy story if he was picking up some illegal black market stuff..." We wait... and wait.... and wait.... I have no clue what's happening. We just laugh. We are slightly worried, but after all the travel we just don't care we are exhausted. 

Finally, he comes back with some groceries of some sort. We made another 3 minute pit stop along the way. Now we are cruising along the mountains. These mountains are not like other mountains I've seen. They have many peaks, but all with drivable terrain.... well I shouldn't say drivable... I should say "Thai drivable". hahaha.

I am falling asleep and can't hold my eyes open. As I doze, every time we see something cool, Mel shakes me, or pokes me, or shoves me into the door. I appreciate it, but I just do not care at this point. 

I didn't care until I turned around and look out the window. I'm suddenly wide awake again. Mel says, "Sorry, I just feel like you are missing a lot and I don't want you to." *Best part of a travel buddy* You have two sets of eyes, you can support each other and help each other see and do the best of things. Not missing a beat.

The views are amazing and terrifying to look down. Why look down? Oh, because we are now at an extremely steep incline on a rocky..no, BOULDER made road. Dirt and rocks and nothing on the right side of the truck as I look out my window but pure open space/air with banana leafs, bamboo, and free falls.

We are in the boondocks. The damn boondocks. The driveway to the bungalow leads to a peak on a mountain. There are 7 huts. One house. a few dogs. This is it. We hop out, are led to our room, and I can't wait to take pictures.

We are in the middle of the jungle, in the mountains. The view shows the hills rolling over each other in the rice fields into the jungle and the paths carve along the sides and into the valleys. The clouds glow above, and in the distance you can hear a small waterfall. Mel and I decide immediately that we will be doing the hike that the house owner offers. We book it with him that night. When I say "book it", this is not like any other booking we've done. What did the next day have in store for us? We will see but I'm sure its going to be amazing. We order dinner (which we have to let them know hours in advance about because it takes time to prepare up here). Curry was my choice. 

Best curry I've had.

As we eat dinner, we meet an awesome couple backpacking through. They were the only other 2 people here. The mountains were ours. We got to know them quite well for the short amount of time we had. We ate dinner, learned about how they got here, how they met, what they are doing after, music, etc... Nui, the owner told us that he was going to start a fire for us. Around the corner of the house was a pit fire.

We offer to help and Nui insists on doing it himself, "Thank you my friend, no worries my friend. I work all day, no worries my friend." He is so kind. He tell us stories about his childhood, his past, his future, where he likes to live, why he likes to live here, what he doesn't like, why travel is good, why culture is good, why cross-cultural experience is good to have. He explains that everyone is different, and come from different places. When you understand not just one but two or three or more, things make a lot more sense. You can respect everyone a lot more. He has not done much traveling himself other than in Thailand. The way he speaks is so...... simple yet modest and wise. The little english he knows, he used in very soft spoken and decisive ways.

It's amazing how in language, even when using the simplest of words, how you say them can mean so much... We can tell that tomorrow will be more than just an adventure, but we will learn about Nui and his ways.

Mel and I enjoy the sunset, the fire, our new friends, drink some beers and let ourselves soak in the countryside laying on our hammocks, and eventually falling asleep in our beds under our nets....doused in bug spray. Haha.

The next day we rise up and have an amazing breakfast. This food is incredible here for what they have to prepare/how long they have until food would go bad.

We head out on our adventure with Nui.

A whole different type of hike. We start off from the top of our mountain, down the trails through the weeds, the pickers and the banana leaves with the dogs leading the way. First up is a road we drove on to get here. We walk down a bit, pass a small village with wooden planks as walls with weaves as protection and support.

Mel and I walk with Nui into the hills, up and down in the rice. We go from ankle high grass to Neck high rice. This season is right at the end of the monsoon season, meaning all the rice is extremely high, and the trails have not been walked on yet for many months and are disappearing. We plow through for around 2-3 hours of short breaks here and there.

We find ourselves at a small flat circle area with running water. This water doesn't look amazing, but this will do for our lunch. Nui grabs a piece of fresh bamboo and chops it down for us. We wrap rice in banana leaves, stuff the bamboo trunks with these small rice packets we created, and fill it with water. We then grab another bamboo trunk and pour egg into it. We lay these in a fire, and allow them to come to a boil. The egg is finished and cooked inside the bamboo in no time.... though the rice is taking a bit longer. We also have fresh chicken barbecuing, mmm.

I take it upon myself to find dry sticks and weeds to help our fire burn. The rainy season made all the plant life very healthy and hard to burn. Nui continues to chop burning wood down while I find small shrubs to keep it going in the mean time.

This whole process of cooking lunch took around 3 hours to complete. Crazy. We dumped out the rice, and chopped open the egg bamboo, and ate the chicken.

The food was really good. Or at least it was really good after hiking for a couple hours and cooking it for a long time. I was starving. haha. anything would be good I guess.

Nui does not feel so well. He does not eat much, and has been taking frequent breaks. His stomach seems to be acting up and he keeps running to the forrest to take some pups. poops. number 2s... etc..

Poor guy is sweating and slaving over work for us!

We have to continue forward though, we are supposed to catch a boat on the river! We move forward through more rice, more jungle, more weeds and pickers and vines. My legs itch like there are a thousand bugs crawling through my hairy legs, eww. The sweat and heat is unbearable. Water consumption is at a max. My camera is burning hot.

We are crawling through the dark shadows of the jungle and getting hit by random beams of light through the gaps in the trees and brush. The trail is completely gone. Nui has no idea where the trail is, but continues to say "no worries my friend, be happy". We pop in and out from the barracks of the jungle to the heavens of rice one after another, trying to find what peak we are on, what trail to look for, and what direction to travel in. I can't imagine what is going to Nui's mind right now. "Oh boy, we are lost and I have two farangs with me." We just continue to ask him questions about his life/the area, etc.. 

After scattering the fields and black holes of shrub, we emerge out into the daylight once more...

The day is one I will remember for the rest of my entire life. Mel and I glowed in the blue sky, with the white bed pillow clouds, and the fortress high grass. I couldn't be happier about being lost, with no water, no more food, and no trails to follow. The view was impeccable. Mel wasn't feeling so good either, but this moment made us silent. Everything is worth this view, and these few minutes of pure seclusion.

After a little rest on a random hut, we pass some bamboo pipes used to smoke. (Apparently they smoke more than tobacco herrreeee haha) Illeggalllll. :P

Finally we find ourselves approaching a village. A tiny village. About 10 - 15 huts...maybe. Toilets are 4 small cement walls with a hole and it wreaks of urine. Walking a little further, we reach Nui's destination. A small break to our adventure. I take a seat on the small deck of the locals who speak absolutely no English. In fact, they hardly speak at all. Mel sits next to me. A woman is handling buckets of maggots or bugs of some sort I have no clue. She sorts through ones that are "good" then throw the rejects to the chickens to each. Little did I know that eventually down the road.. I will have eaten those bugs in my in Thailand.

They end up having hand made bags accessories....not many. Just a few to show off to the people that Nui brings through. We don't want any, but right before we leave, I motion and ask about bracelets. The woman goes inside and retrieves a small bag with just 3-4 bracelets in it. Mel and I choose matching bracelets to remember our time through the rice fields and villages. We buy them, tie them, and venture on through. Eventually after more ups and downs outside of the tree coverings, and in the brutal sun, we have found our way to Nui's friend with a boat. We hop on the long-tail and sit on the river as we speed through the valley of the mountains.

These moments are priceless. Nui has led us to amazement.

We continue to enjoy the breeze, the view, and the hot springs that we arrive to next, then head back tot he bungalow.

Amazing curry dinner, the couple, and the fire pit are occurrences of the evening once more. We are tired though, and don't stay out as late as before.

The next morning the couple leaves early in the morning. We leave in the next morning as well and head for our flight from Chiang Rai to Krabi (with a connection in Bangkok).

Nui was a very wise and small Thai man. Thank you for your hospitality, the adventure, and the kindness in your heart along our journey. (Nui actually confessed later that he was very worried that we would be mad because we got lost. We confirmed with him that we actually appreciated it, and loved the adventure.)

Upcoming: so much I don't know where to start. But I'm still going..

The Venture on..