Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. I have just uploaded a new video blog.
http://youtu.be/LVCNnwRXpJA
We are setting off to Ko Chang tomorrow night, for a few days of New Years celebrations, and to meet the new volunteer Charlie. It is all very exciting.
B x
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Saturday, 22 December 2012
The day before, the day before Christmas.
This past week has been rather quiet, we have not had any lessons due to mid term tests, so I have kept myself busy with painting and cleaning the house.
I have received a lot of what seems like positive feedback to my video blog, however I am not sure if it is sarcasm or not. Overall, I am pleased with how it went and ave already started on the next.
I am going to give you all a little message for christmas, I may even sing, so make sure to keep the volume on your computers down if watching. I do apologise in advance.
This weekend has been lovely, we have met up with 6 other volunteers to celebrate Vicky's 18th birthday and Christmas. There is a big party at our school on Tuesday which should be good, as the teachers like to party. Me and David have been asked to perform, so we kindly accepted and have been practicing. David on vocals and keyboard, Me on standing up in front of everyone, forgetting the words.
Two weeks ago we helped to run an English camp at a monastery. It was a strange experience as I am still a little unsure of the cultural no no's when it comes to monks. It did turn out to be very productive and the novice monks had a great time learning english. They all had their heads and eyebrows shaved, so I gave myself a challenge of finding the one who looked most like my dad. There were a few close contenders, but then one came in wearing glasses and blew them all away. It did make me laugh.
I am learning the names of more students a school, which is a difficult task. I know the names of my favourite students, I know you shouldn't have favourites, but you just can't help it. One of my students has a remarkable resemblance to a friend, Phil Waite, so even though his name in Vun, I can't help but call him Phil.
I have received a few presents from home which is amazing, thank you so much to everyone who made the effort to send one, it really does mean a lot, you are making my Christmas. There has been a bit of a problem with the parcel from my parents, and it is somewhere in Thailand. It has all been sorted now, so I am just hoping that it arrives before Christmas.
I will post again on Tuesday...
Stay classy ... World
B x
I have received a lot of what seems like positive feedback to my video blog, however I am not sure if it is sarcasm or not. Overall, I am pleased with how it went and ave already started on the next.
I am going to give you all a little message for christmas, I may even sing, so make sure to keep the volume on your computers down if watching. I do apologise in advance.
This weekend has been lovely, we have met up with 6 other volunteers to celebrate Vicky's 18th birthday and Christmas. There is a big party at our school on Tuesday which should be good, as the teachers like to party. Me and David have been asked to perform, so we kindly accepted and have been practicing. David on vocals and keyboard, Me on standing up in front of everyone, forgetting the words.
Two weeks ago we helped to run an English camp at a monastery. It was a strange experience as I am still a little unsure of the cultural no no's when it comes to monks. It did turn out to be very productive and the novice monks had a great time learning english. They all had their heads and eyebrows shaved, so I gave myself a challenge of finding the one who looked most like my dad. There were a few close contenders, but then one came in wearing glasses and blew them all away. It did make me laugh.
I am learning the names of more students a school, which is a difficult task. I know the names of my favourite students, I know you shouldn't have favourites, but you just can't help it. One of my students has a remarkable resemblance to a friend, Phil Waite, so even though his name in Vun, I can't help but call him Phil.
I have received a few presents from home which is amazing, thank you so much to everyone who made the effort to send one, it really does mean a lot, you are making my Christmas. There has been a bit of a problem with the parcel from my parents, and it is somewhere in Thailand. It has all been sorted now, so I am just hoping that it arrives before Christmas.
I will post again on Tuesday...
Stay classy ... World
B x
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Video Blog
I have now posted a new video on my youtube page.
Please take the time to have a look, it is only 5 minutes long.
http://youtu.be/u8Z6htRn7ZA
Hope you like it...
B x
Please take the time to have a look, it is only 5 minutes long.
http://youtu.be/u8Z6htRn7ZA
Hope you like it...
B x
Friday, 14 December 2012
Christmas is coming...
This month has been really exciting so far, with Christmas quickly approaching. I have been busy with making cards lots of cards, all by hand and doing a few paintings to give as presents. I decided to use glitter on my cards, I should have remembered from past experience that it never works out as planned. Glitter is just a shimmery pain, it is harder to get rid of than sand. I have turned up to school with it on my face and clothes after trying to keep clean.
The teaching is excellent, I love all of the students, and I am starting to remember more names which is good. Since Christmas is coming, I am doing various activities to teach them about Christmas, getting them to make cards for each other. It is all very fun.
I had an incident the other day though, I was playing a game which involves swapping chairs and as I was about to sit down, I slipped and then got taken out by one of my students, everyone was really worried, but I just got up and laughed. I also accidentally called one of my students a s**t, in Thai. His name on his name card is kie, which I pronounced as key, but it was meant to begin with a g.
I am going to start doing more video blogs, well I want to anyway, but I keep putting it off. Mainly because then I will be able to say more, show you how great everything is and I don't really like writing that much.
Keep posted and I will post a link to my Youtube channel.
B
x
The teaching is excellent, I love all of the students, and I am starting to remember more names which is good. Since Christmas is coming, I am doing various activities to teach them about Christmas, getting them to make cards for each other. It is all very fun.
I had an incident the other day though, I was playing a game which involves swapping chairs and as I was about to sit down, I slipped and then got taken out by one of my students, everyone was really worried, but I just got up and laughed. I also accidentally called one of my students a s**t, in Thai. His name on his name card is kie, which I pronounced as key, but it was meant to begin with a g.
I am going to start doing more video blogs, well I want to anyway, but I keep putting it off. Mainly because then I will be able to say more, show you how great everything is and I don't really like writing that much.
Keep posted and I will post a link to my Youtube channel.
B
x
Saturday, 1 December 2012
November
November has flown by, it only seems like a couple of days since we were in Bangkok, but then I looked at my calendar this morning and realised how much we got up to, we were busy pretty much all of the time!
Last weekend was interesting, robyn and claire came to visit and we had a little party, it was a good laugh and nice to get drunk in our house with someone else, rather than just me and david.
We painted a Union Flag on one of our walls and it looks amazing, there will be photos on Facebook.
I had a horrible migraine on Monday and spent the entire night with my head under the shower and head in the toilet. Tuesday was equally as fun as I was feeling pretty dead, I did start to feel better in the afternoon and ended up going to a wedding. I hadn't eaten for a while, and got drunk with al the teachers from a small amount of alcohol.
Wednesday was Loy Gratung, a Thai festival to give thanks to the river, we made our Gratungs and floated them on the river. It was quite a spectacle as there were hundreds of floating decorations on the river and lots of lanterns and fireworks.
Teaching for the past two weeks has been amazing, I am really enjoying it, I have started to use more games and activities to make the lessons more enjoyable for the students and they really get into it. The best part is that they are all becoming more confident at speaking in English. There are a few students that wouldn't even talk to start with, but now they are happily joining in with the activities.
I still love how bad the little pictures are in the advent calendar, I got a little train yesterday. The paper ones are much better than chocolate!
Thanks for stopping by.
B x
Last weekend was interesting, robyn and claire came to visit and we had a little party, it was a good laugh and nice to get drunk in our house with someone else, rather than just me and david.
We painted a Union Flag on one of our walls and it looks amazing, there will be photos on Facebook.
I had a horrible migraine on Monday and spent the entire night with my head under the shower and head in the toilet. Tuesday was equally as fun as I was feeling pretty dead, I did start to feel better in the afternoon and ended up going to a wedding. I hadn't eaten for a while, and got drunk with al the teachers from a small amount of alcohol.
Wednesday was Loy Gratung, a Thai festival to give thanks to the river, we made our Gratungs and floated them on the river. It was quite a spectacle as there were hundreds of floating decorations on the river and lots of lanterns and fireworks.
Teaching for the past two weeks has been amazing, I am really enjoying it, I have started to use more games and activities to make the lessons more enjoyable for the students and they really get into it. The best part is that they are all becoming more confident at speaking in English. There are a few students that wouldn't even talk to start with, but now they are happily joining in with the activities.
I still love how bad the little pictures are in the advent calendar, I got a little train yesterday. The paper ones are much better than chocolate!
Thanks for stopping by.
B x
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Nakhon Sawa and other things...
We had a brilliant time in Nakhon Sawan meeting up with Beth and Holly. We were helping them with teaching in their schools which was really interesting as it allowed us to pick up some new teaching techniques. All of the teachers were very welcoming and were pleased to have us at the school, some of them even wanted us to stay for longer. I was having troubles with budgeting and was left with very little money which was rather stressful, my Mum kindly gave me £30 which is enough to last me till the end of the month.
Budgeting my money is a new experience for me, and one I am not too good at. I have found that to be able to afford food for the whole month, even if I am just spending my money on food, I have to buy less than I need to fill me, so I am generally hungry most of the time, unless a meal is bought for us.
We are going to start cooking soon and get taught how to use our very basic equipment to cook some lovely thai meals. This should help my money problem.
After receiving the TRX from home, I have gotten David into it, he seems to be enjoying it, but then if he isn't he just has me shouting at him till he finishes the workout. I am also feeling a lot better as it really does give you a good workout, something I have missed. Before, I had resorted to using makeshift weights which were impractical and sore on my hands.
I have also been doing some painting which is very relaxing, it allows me to forget about everything else. It is a nice feeling to paint because I want to and not because I have to have it inspected by my teachers. I saw some oil paints in the Arts and Culture centre in Bangkok and was tempted, but was discouraged by the price tag as 4 tubes would have amounted more than a months wages. Its a good job I stocked up from school and will have some waiting for me when I get home.
I am loving teaching at the moment, mainly because I am jut playing different games with the students which have them practicing their English, and laughing hysterically for an entire lesson.
We went rice picking the other day, I was sort of dragged into it against my will, but ended up enjoying it. We worked for about an hour and a half and were dripping with sweat.
It is so hot all the time, it was almost 40 degrees a couple of hours ago, and in summer, if we go down south. Peter said it could reach 50 and that we would burn in a minute or two. I will have to stock up on the hats and sun cream. It will be a shock to the system returning home next year when it has rarely been under 30 degrees and 25 degrees is seen as very cold.
I am sat in the coffee shop at the moment, saving my money as we get free cake and coffee, I have not spent anything since monday. So I might be able to afford tea tomorrow night!
Love and Kisses
Ben
x
Budgeting my money is a new experience for me, and one I am not too good at. I have found that to be able to afford food for the whole month, even if I am just spending my money on food, I have to buy less than I need to fill me, so I am generally hungry most of the time, unless a meal is bought for us.
We are going to start cooking soon and get taught how to use our very basic equipment to cook some lovely thai meals. This should help my money problem.
After receiving the TRX from home, I have gotten David into it, he seems to be enjoying it, but then if he isn't he just has me shouting at him till he finishes the workout. I am also feeling a lot better as it really does give you a good workout, something I have missed. Before, I had resorted to using makeshift weights which were impractical and sore on my hands.
I have also been doing some painting which is very relaxing, it allows me to forget about everything else. It is a nice feeling to paint because I want to and not because I have to have it inspected by my teachers. I saw some oil paints in the Arts and Culture centre in Bangkok and was tempted, but was discouraged by the price tag as 4 tubes would have amounted more than a months wages. Its a good job I stocked up from school and will have some waiting for me when I get home.
I am loving teaching at the moment, mainly because I am jut playing different games with the students which have them practicing their English, and laughing hysterically for an entire lesson.
We went rice picking the other day, I was sort of dragged into it against my will, but ended up enjoying it. We worked for about an hour and a half and were dripping with sweat.
It is so hot all the time, it was almost 40 degrees a couple of hours ago, and in summer, if we go down south. Peter said it could reach 50 and that we would burn in a minute or two. I will have to stock up on the hats and sun cream. It will be a shock to the system returning home next year when it has rarely been under 30 degrees and 25 degrees is seen as very cold.
I am sat in the coffee shop at the moment, saving my money as we get free cake and coffee, I have not spent anything since monday. So I might be able to afford tea tomorrow night!
Love and Kisses
Ben
x
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Presents.
I wanted this to have its own post because it was so amazing! I received a rather large parcel from home the other day and as soon as I opened it I was ecstatic. My hands were shaking I was that happy. I didn't know what to do with myself, I was running around like god knows what. I think I got a bit too excited with all the sweets and scoffed half of them almost immediately, it was the best. I did feel a little ill later on though.
I was so happy to have art materials as I had been really missing painting. I realised that the last time I had done any painting was in my Art exam for my A2. I did another on monday night and was quite pleased with the final outcome, I stuck to sunsets and landscapes, but missed out the birds.
I had quite a hard time explaining the teachers that the picture on my T-shirt of me, the one Kate Whiteside got me for my 18th, was actually me. David tried to back me up but they still didn't believe it. I didn't want to take my top off and show them as this would have been highly inappropriate, so I just left it there.
I rang my mum to say thank you and it was lovely to hear her voice, and my dad's as well. Nancy said hello, but in a very shy manor, unlike her.
I am still delighted about everything in the parcel, the TRX is great. I am getting David on it, he is not really used to excessive amounts of excersise, but hopefully I will be able to change that. I might take note of my Mum's motivational technique and just scream "COME ON" in his face. I may even add in "PAIN IS JUST WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY". David is going to love it!
HOO RAHH!!!
B
X
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