Pom mai mee bahn. Pom sow.

I wrote this on Monday, October 27 at 9:00 P.M.  It apparently didn't post.  I should have a new post tomorrow night.


So much has happened since my last post, I don't know where to begin.  I've finished my training course and said my farewells to many of my fellow trainees.  The partings were heartfelt, and I'm certain that I've made friends for life.  Fortunately, we did manage to have one final blowout; karaoke included.
Early Saturday morning Erica, three other trainees, and I set off for Bangkok.  Erica and I were dropped off at Siam Computer and Language (our new employer) and left to our own devices while the other three were squirreled away to secure housing in north Bangkok.  Meeting our contacts, we were given our assignments.  Everyone in the office who heard of my placement had nothing but congratulations to offer.
After basic formalities, we split up to find housing in our respective areas.  One of those formalities was informing us that while the company would be providing a housing stipend, we would be expected to put our own deposit down.  That's three month's rent.  That's a lot of Baht.  Going separately was a necessity because my school is right in the heart of old Bangkok, but Erica's is near the eastern fringe.  This is a very large distance, especially in Bangkok traffic.
Ian, the internal program director for Siam, loaded me in his brand new Honda and we were off.  Zipping may not be best way to describe our trek through the streets, but unless you're on a motorbike, not too many people are.  Canadian by birth, Ian has lived in Bangkok for eight years.  He has taught in several schools around the city, including my current posting.  He knows the neighborhood names.  He has no sense of direction.
We were attempting to get to the school at which Ian had taught for two years.  What could have been a fairly straight shot (by Bangkok standards) turned into a journey of an hour and a half. Ian may not have any idea where he is in relation to other things, or where other things are in relation to each other.  He certainly doesn't use vague concepts like north, south, east, or west.  He might measure distances using a perhaps unreliable time en route methodology.  But Ian is also a tremendously nice guy, and a font of useful knowledge about teaching in Thailand, and Bangkok life in general.
During the six hours that we spent together, most was spent in his car, and nearly all of that was engaging and insightful.  For my part in distracting him with a barrage of questions I accept partial responsibility.
We visited my school and having spent time there himself, he was a great asset.  He knew the layout, the room numbering, and the faculty.  Having him introduce me to the department head and ah-jahn Cindy (my fellow teacher) was a nice feather in my cap.  He was also able to fill me in a little more on the students and what to expect as far as behavior and skill level.
As I discovered today, my school has some great qualities.  It happens to be an all girl school, which apparently makes a world of difference in classroom behavior, disposition, and general desire to learn.  The students are so sweet, at least on the first day when we mostly play games.  The faculty seem nice and very willing to help.
For the moment, that will have to suffice.  As it is getting late, I'll post more on school thoughts soon.  There is much to discuss about beginning my career as a teacher, and I fear that I will go on for quite awhile once I begin.
Another important matter needs attention first.  I have no home at the moment.  Ian and I left the school after speaking with Cindy.  She had a lead on an apartment near the school that we were going to look at today (but that has been postponed until tomorrow... maybe).   He wanted to show me a few in his neighborhood so that I could get a feel for them, but the idea was to hold off until I could look at Cindy's lead and then decide.
After another directional misadventure, we did manage to look at two apartments.  Things here are very minimalist.  A bed, wardrobe, basic desk with moveable stool, and an all in one toilet/hose yourself down room are pretty much the standard.  They weren't bad, and tomorrow I will speak with Ian again about commute time and reevaluate it.
In the interim, I am staying on the north side of the city with one of my fellow trainees.  It is a wonderful apartment complex.  The manager is cutting the teachers a deal, and the apartments include the standard with a small refrigerator, microwave, and television.  Also, Internet is included.  The complex even has a pool.  This would be idilic if it weren't for the hour commute via ferry to work.  It truly is a tough decision.
For the time being, I can only count my blessings for having someone whom I've known for such a short time enduring my invasion of her space.  I have tried to intrude as little as possible, but still realize that this is inconveniencing her.  I hope that I would be so accommodating in her place.
While the tone of this post is fairly light hearted (owing to my first day at school), the emotional roller-coaster of Saturday was not.  Arriving in Bangkok on very little sleep to find that not only was my housing not arranged as promised, but that the cost of securing any would deplete my financial resources in their entirety left me shell shocked.  I felt adrift in a huge teeming metropolis without an emotional anchor.  Here I was to be teaching my first class in less than 48 hours, and I wasn't sure that I would have a place to stay in the next 12.
Dad, thank you for your support when I needed it.  You've buoyed me yet again.