Filling in

I heard pounding on Alli's door at 8 o'clock this morning. When Alli didn't answer and the cries became both more insistent and annoying, I threw on a tank top and some shorts and poked my head out of the door. I had no contacts in and must have looked sleepy as hell. I heard two voices cry "Oh! Teeeeaccherrrr!!" The fuzzy shapes then revealed themselves to be James and Baker, two of our EPDP students, in M.3 and M.2 respectively. They immediately told me they were going to Chiang Mai today, to see a movie, and posed the question "Teacher! You will go with us?" To which I could only sleepily stammer, "Oh! Um... Ok?" While they waited outside, I went back in my room and woke up a bit more, brushed my teeth etc. Apparently as I was doing that, the boys convinced the morning receptionist/manager we call Fuzzy-Headed Man to unlock Alli's door. Um. Wtf. Needless to say, we will be deadbolting the door from now on in addition to locking the doorknob. 

So after the rude awakening, Alli and I both headed out with the boys. We caught a songtaew and went straight to Central Airport Plaza. The boys settled on watching the second Percy Jackson movie, so we bought tickets and went to eat. After wandering around and figuring out that most of the buffets and restaurants around were entirely too expensive, we settled on the Central Plaza food pavilion, which has a lot of yummy traditional Thai foods to choose from. After lunch we played a silly Thai arcade game thing and then it was time to go to the movie.

The movie didn't suck as bad as I thought it might. It was kind of cheesy, but it was pretty fun. Anthony Stewart Head and Nathon Fillion definitely made it better. 

When the movie was over, Alli and I escorted the boys to Wororot market to catch a songtaew home. We went to the Sunday Night Market in Old City. I was really excited that we could go, since the last songtaew leaves for Lamphun at 7. The market sets up around 4 and was much more pleasant to be able to actually navigate the market without having to fight through a huge crowd. Had a delicious chicken kebab for dinner, and now here I am back at home. 

In teaching news, we only have the month of September left. Four weeks, technically, although the last week will be finals so it will probably not be a full week for me, and I'll have to proctor for a few days. So really I have two weeks of classes, one week for my finals, and then one week for the school finals. I'm so ready. This semester has been a long lesson in What Not To Do. Next semester should be so much better both for me and my students.

Now I just have to figure out where I want to go for break in October. I'm thinking maybe Angkor Wat? I only have about 2 weeks, and I think that might be pushing it a little. But I'm ok with that. 

As far as the rest of my time, this whole past week Char and I have been going to Thai Zumba. One of these days I'll get a video. It is not like the Zumba that most people think, but more a mix between 5 year old hopping around and teenie bopper dance moves. It is hilariously exhausting. Mostly just hilarious. After a week straight I sort of feel like I have a grasp on maybe half of the moves. It's only Monday through Friday, and we intend to keep going. We have already recruited Jenny, a Philippino English teacher, to come with us Monday. Wednesday, Jenny's husband JP, an English teacher at a different school, and Ryoma, the very animated Japanese teacher at Chakkham, are also coming with us. I am so excited.