สวัสดีค่ะ

Sorry I haven’t updated recently. I have been busy since the moment I last posted. On Monday we passed out flyers and advertised around Latkrang and the university near here (King Mongkut Institute of Technology, or KMIT). KMIT is essentially the MIT of Thailand, except for engineering. Apparently most of our students come from there.

                

Santisuk people taking the bus to KMIT.

(The non-Thais from left to right are Kate [the other Latkrabang missionary with me], Caitlin, Bethany, and then myself. The girl on the left is a Pre-1, although she is also very good. They both joined the four of us for shopping downtown later that afternoon.)

                Afterword, we ended up spending the night downtown with two other missionaries (Caitlin and Bethany) since we had orientation at the main Santisuk branch the next day. We got to briefly traverse around the mall and then I sat in on Caitlin’s Level Pre-1 class.  Pre-1 is usually taught by a Thai, and then levels 1+ are taught by native English speakers, however there was too much interest in Pre-1 so she splits a class with a native Thai speaker. He works on grammar and some of the harder concepts and she does the pronunciation and reading parts. After her class I accompanied her and her students for dinner.

                

Caitlin's Pre-1 class and I. 

                We went to this outdoor restaurant where her students ordered a wide variety of dishes that we all shared family-style. A cultural tip- Thais love to share their food or drink. I have never been around a Thai who had something to eat that they didn’t offer me to try. On one perspective, Thailand is a nightmare for germaphobes, but it’s amazing if you want to get the chance to try as much food as possible. And thanks to that night I can add duck bill to the list of things I’ve tried!

                

Duck bill.

                Seriously. It’s duck bill. And it isn’t just like eating meat off of the bill. You eat the bill itself. It took me a long time to wrap my head around that concept. However, it actually is really yummy! I also got the chance to work on speaking to native Thais there. The Pre-1 level is not even remotely close to fluent, but with enough patience, you can definitely have a conversation. Cultural tip #2- Thais are really easy going and like to have a good time. So even if you are with a Thai who doesn’t speak a word of English, you’d be surprised how far you can get connecting with someone with smiling and laughter alone.

                After spending the night at Cailtin’s and Bethany’s, Kate and I had orientation at Santisuk. The main branch is located further downtown than the Latkrabang branch that I’m at. It is a great location and is full of awesome people.

                

A photo of the back of the Santisuk main school taken from Cailtin and Bethany's porch.

                I was there until much later today when I finally returned to Latkrabang. Bangkok is already starting to feel like home, and I ventured out around the streets by myself for the first time today. It’s definitely easier and more fun to go around with other Thais, but there’s a sense of pride that I can at least keep myself from starving now.

Eating Thai ice cream after dinner in Latkrabang with other Santisuk members in the area.

                That’s all for now, other than that I start my first day of teaching class tomorrow! I got assigned to teach Level 1 students. (Kate has Level 2.) I briefly saw some students at the school who I believe will be mine. They seem so genuinely sweet I can’t wait to spend time with them. But again, first I must make time for sleep. I’m not so good at that nowadays. I hope everything is well back in the US! I'll be sure to update on how teaching goes tomorrow!