the journey is the destination

All last month I spent my weekends running straight to the Andaman Sea. The beaches and friendly vibes of the low-season are especially appealing after a week of high-energy work. A 2 hour van ride followed by a 30 minute jaunt in the open bed of a truck gets me to the Ao Nang pier. From here Ton Sai is roughly 20 minutes by long-tail boat. then it is only minutes before I will hear a friendly "Welcome!" from one of the few bar owners. And now that I have visited a few times I might get, "Welcome Teacher!" or my all time favorite, "Welcome home!!"

One weekend I went with another teacher, Holly and we had an amazing time exploring and hiking around Railay and over to Ton Sai. I had done the hike between those two before, but along the path from Railay East to West we stumbled onto a path that I had not seen before. It was a rope hanging to the side of the main path, and we noticed a sign that said "No base jumping or parachuting" which caused us to pause. Then we quickly realized it was a trail, and with our bags and all we decided to check it out. 10 rope ladders up later we found another couple of adventurers who told us we were about 1/2 the way up to the view point! We happily continued, in awe of the rope ladder system and the jungle trek we had inadvertently found ourselves on! And the view from the lookout point could not have been more spectacular! 

We attempted to get to the lagoon, but the rocks were super wet and slippery and then as we got to the intense vertical drops it started raining so we took our que and headed back to the main path and continued over towards Railay West.

Spending my weekends in a tourist destination still seems surreal, while most people have traveled half the globe to get here - for me its merely the weekend. And I have had the pleasure of meeting some really interesting people, some other teachers also working in Thailand or elsewhere in Asia, quite a few backpackers, climbers, and adventure seekers, some here for days others staying for months. But for me it is only a matter of 2 days, because its back to work on Monday morning!

So this week we are still in the office all week but there are no classes. This gives us a chance to rebound from this semester and get ready to turn around and do it again! Today was a great day. I got to be crafty all day at work. Then driving to the train station to buy my ticket to Bangkok i found a building full of graffiti!! AND it happens to be day #5 of Vegetarian Festival! So so many things and the day i didn't have my camera!

But I do happen to have a few pictures I took on Sart Thai. Friday was the Chinese Buddhist mid-year celebration, a time to honor spirits and ancestors, as well as the souls of plants and animals. Always held on the new moon of the tenth lunar month this day also marks the beginning of a 9-day Vegetarian Festival. "Kin-che" or กินเจ means to eat vegetarian, and it is one of the first Thai phrases I learned. Buddhist tradition values a strict vegetarian diet and yellow flags are displayed at vegetarian restaurants. This week the markets and streets near the temples and around town have been full of carts and vendors lined with yellow flags! Its a great week to be vegetarian in Thailand! :D
 

and in the spirit of Vegetarian Festival ... here's one for all the animal lovers out there  <3

~OneLove~

One Semester Down

Yesterday was the last day of the semester at Joy School and I experienced an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride looking at my students and acknowledging the growth and improvement each of them have accomplished in the  4 ½ months that I have known them. They are each so unique and they have each stolen a piece of my heart. I never could have imagined how intense a bond I feel towards my class.

Grace, Jin, Paipo & Grape

Being that they are only 5 years old and English is not their first language, our communication is largely physical in nature and their limited vocabulary leads to some hilarious conversation attempts! A few of my students in particular already have a great sense of humor and they are just to die for.

N'Pun, Namfah & In

It already feels like we’ve been through so much together! It seems like ages ago that TinTin broke his arm, or when Jin sliced her chin open when she slipped on wet tile in the bathrooms!! Or when Jin brought me an adorable little girl drawn on a cardboard toilet paper roll wearing a pink kimono and a white porcelain hat! Or when we took our field trip to the police training academy!

Class field trip @ Suratthani Police Training Academy

It was crazy to realize that we have completed ½ of the year and in another 6 months my kids are graduating to K3. I think to continue teaching I will have to figure out how to NOT get soo attached to each class, hopefully just because this is my first time doing this I didn’t know… But I can’t even imagine having to say goodbye to my 27 wild little children, I feel like no class could ever be as awesome as them. Yet at the same time I guess its just as crazy to think that every year is a chance to experience another set of amazing, unique, creative, and inspiring little people! In some ways it still feels so surreal that I am a teacher right now.

In

I feel so much gratitude for the people that have made my experience here even possible. I work at a great school, with a boss that I view more as a friend, and an amazing team of teachers that I have grown to love & respect as friends and fellow teachers. I have support in every aspect of my life here. We have an amazing teacher trainer, Lisa, who is always available for questions, concerns, advice, or anything related to teaching or culture here. I am thankful for Holly, who was so reassuring to me in my interview and really inspired me and encouraged me with her outlook and perspective after living in Thailand for 7 years and loving it. She met me over Skype and she was the one to hire me on at The Learning Network and ultimately give me this opportunity. Everything has been taken care of by the school as far as visas, immigration, work permits, taxes, insurance, and our housing is provided as well. And thanks to Holly, I even have an amazing yoga teacher! I just don't know what more I could even want!?

Deer, Pussorn, Pin & Grape

Everything is always working out for me.

I feel confident that I am on a path that is leading me towards alignment with my purpose and my highest bliss! How amazing that I get to do art, yoga, music, math, and English with my kids every single day!?!

And now.... just another 8 days and I will be meeting my mom in Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit a.k.a. Bangkok a.k.a. “The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukam.” or in Thai script, กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบูรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์.

Did you know that Bangkok is the capital with the longest name? Well.... it is. And I can't wait to get there and spend time exploring with my mom!!!!

Life is good.

Namaste friends 

XXX