Kalasin

We are finally settled in our new apartment in Kalasin. It is sooo hot here! According to the locals, it's hotter than normal for May. We thought it may be a little cooler since we are now in the northern region but that is just not the case. We take about 5 showers a day just to cool off. There is no hot water available, and I realize now that it is not needed whatsoever. Our apartment is very nice though and conveniently situated across the street from our school. We live in a one bedroom apt on the top floor. It has a living room with a desk and tv and has a private bathroom. The bedroom is pretty large with a queen size rock hard bed and wardrobe for clothing. We have French doors off of the bedroom opening up to a front patio, but there is no railing so it's quite dangerous. There is no kitchen which I find weird but it is pretty standard here. Theres just a random fridge and microwave in the corner. It is actually cheaper to eat out every meal instead of cooking at home which is clearly different from the US and a true adjustment on our part. A lot of the fresh groceries at the supermarket are overpriced because many fruits and veggies are imported and many of the stores do not carry items we are searching for such as beans, good bread and cheese. We did splurge on an electric wok, however, so that we can at least cook chicken for dinners. Its hard to come across a comforting, filling, and healthy meal but we are trying!


Today we got to see inside our school for the first time, take a tour, and learn of
our schedules for the next 5 months. I believe Jason totally made out. He will
be paired with a Thai teacher and they will teach 2nd grade, the same class in the same classroom everyday. He also has a math, science, and health lesson once or twice a week. His classroom has air conditioning and the bathrooms are right down the hall. He will have 20-30 students.


As for me, I apparently teach different classes all day long by myself. 2nd,3rd and 5th grade English and 6th grade math. None of my classrooms have air conditioning and they are all located on the top floor, go figure, the hottest rooms in the entire school. The classroom will change for me every hour and every day. I have around 20-25 different classes a week, so I will see about 800 students in a week but each individual student once a week.
Bathrooms are a few floors away from me and the toilets are just holes in
the floor. They call them squatty potties. I will be required to bring my own toilet paper with me each time because it is not provided within the stalls. This is unfortunately not unusual here. My average class size will be over 50.


I got quite emotional when I found out this news- envious of Jason's set-up. He assures me it will all work out and in the end it always does. I came here to learn about myself, what I can handle and how I react to stressful and unusual situations.
This is going to be such an amazing challenge of my endurance so I am trying to stay positive.


The first day with students will be Wednesday.