My working day starts with the alarm ringing at 5:45am. Outside the daylight is just starting to appear and it is already hot. The view from the main bedroom balcony is shown in the picture to the left. After my Weetbix (only found at one supermarket so far, about 25 minutes away) I head off to school at 6:30am with my neighbours Matt & Gail, fellow teachers at Ruamrudee, who own a car. I have also been ridden to school on the back of Matt's scooter which is a bit of an adventure. The trip takes less than 10 minutes which is a nice change from the past 9 years.
The school day is divided into five 70 minute periods on a four day cycle. I have 6 classes, 2 Year 11 IB Chemistry, a Year 11/12 Environmental Studies and 3 Year 10 Biology. Two days of the four day cycle I teach 4 out of 5 periods and the other two days 3 out of 5 periods. The school day starts at 7:15am with "Homeroom". I have a Year 9 group of 18 kids - the first names that I have completely learned. School ends at 2:45pm, but I have not been getting away that early. I normally go home on a school shuttle van that runs staff and students the 3kms or so to the main road, from where I have a 10 minute walk back home.
My mooban - Parkway Chalet is quiet and leafy with short side streets (called sois - I am on Soi 17) coming off the single main road. There is a little park just near my house. There are a few school staff members in the mooban but mainly well-off Thais. The entrance gate is shown in the picture. On the gate are security guards that salute you when you go past. They also ride around the mooban on their bicycles constantly, so it is very safe.
The school day is divided into five 70 minute periods on a four day cycle. I have 6 classes, 2 Year 11 IB Chemistry, a Year 11/12 Environmental Studies and 3 Year 10 Biology. Two days of the four day cycle I teach 4 out of 5 periods and the other two days 3 out of 5 periods. The school day starts at 7:15am with "Homeroom". I have a Year 9 group of 18 kids - the first names that I have completely learned. School ends at 2:45pm, but I have not been getting away that early. I normally go home on a school shuttle van that runs staff and students the 3kms or so to the main road, from where I have a 10 minute walk back home.
The way the housing villages or "moobans" are arranged is quite different. The main road I live off (called Ramkhamhaeng - see picture) runs from down near the city and ends not far past my mooban. Coming off the main road are numbered streets that are the only way in and out of the mooban - they are normally dead ends even if they go for a few kilometers. I am on Ramkhamhaeng 190/1. The school is on 184.
My mooban - Parkway Chalet is quiet and leafy with short side streets (called sois - I am on Soi 17) coming off the single main road. There is a little park just near my house. There are a few school staff members in the mooban but mainly well-off Thais. The entrance gate is shown in the picture. On the gate are security guards that salute you when you go past. They also ride around the mooban on their bicycles constantly, so it is very safe.
Today I played golf for the first time in Thailand, at a course with water on every hole called Pine Golf & Lodge. Golf in Thailand is certainly an experience, with a female caddie (see picture) to carry your bag, give you distances to the flag and advice on how the putts will break. It was incredibly hot, relatively expensive and very slow but it is always good to be on the golf course!
What a great life. Not bad being sent to Hong Kong. Just love the whole concept of the moonban and to know how safe you are there. As your mum I needed to know that. I really liked your female caddie she looks very cute. Sounds like you are getting very spoilt.
ReplyDeletePlace looks great except the busy highway!Nice mooban, looks like it has a nice feel. Looking forward to a visit.
ReplyDelete