You've become a part of me.

As I Embark on my last week as Resident teacher at Thab Khlo Municipality school, it only seems fit to post my reflections and thoughts. Last week, I finished my last full week of teaching. So blessed. and tired. yep definitely tired. I have one more day of teaching. It's a bit weird. It feelslike this is the point when everyone has just gotten comfortable. Like the teachers, parents, even my neighbors with me here. And yeah I leave in under a week. It's weird how the human mind works. We'll see certain people on a regular cycle but it takes a number of interactions before we become attached to those moments. I'll never forget my first week at Thab Khlo. It was a lot to handle. I was fatigued from teaching and becoming accustomed to a full work day, but also keeping up with demands at home. Over time, it all became quite normal. Here we are.

With two of my fellow teachers at my school! They all got together and we had a nice food party. ~___~ Afterwards, we went sight-seeing at the next town over.

Look at the beautiful rice fields (and me)! Often on family trips, we drive past so many of these but I've never gotten the chance to stop and see one up close. 

Me @ inside the temple!

Statue of monk

My fellow teachers and I went to a temple created by a monk over a span of 11 years. The name slips me at this moment. This was the overview of the museum dedicated to him.

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The next day we visited our grandparents and aunts/uncles one last time!

Me and my host mom in my grandmother's backyard. She and our grandfather have a pig farm!

After visiting grandparents, we headed to a restaurant and had a final goodbye. I love my host family so much. As I playback these past weeks/month, I've been so overjoyed at how perfect they really were for me. We at first had a rocky start but it all fell into place as expected. Their extended family has opened their arms and taken me in as their own. Before Thailand, I wasn't concerned about danger and safety but acceptance did come across my mind. I knew that I didn't look like a "typical" volunteer as it's not as common to see people of the African diaspora traveling (we're changing that). But it has been just the complete opposite. With an absolute joy and happiness to see my face every time we've interacted. This family has left a dent in my heart that will always long for them. I'm hoping to visit Thailand to become a program director for this English program (we'll see what God has in sight).

My beautiful aunt and uncle (paa and loong). Their kindness and beauty towards me has been so welcoming and overwhelming.

Featuring my beautiful host mom! (Meé Op)

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Thai cuisine is a God send and no one can tell me other wise.

My host brother took this candid!

On the drive back home, I thought this was a cool shot!

A Week's End

I'm incredibly thankful to have made it to this Friday. For some reason, this week was my most "burnt out" week I've had since arriving in Thailand (mind you, I  arrived June 1st). When I was in class, I was forgetting my classes' previous content, repeating lesson plans (before midway realizing) and more. It was a bit taxing to get through the week but I did it!

During this time, I was reminded of the importance of self-care and maintenance. I realized that it is okay to take time out for yourself. I have to keep reminding my self that my feelings are validated and that this experience is a difficult one. It's not easy living in an unfamiliar country, language, people and having to be in a constant state of "immersion."

But I made through! And with a lot to celebrate! My kids are able to comprehend my lessons are becoming more confident in the English speaking abilities. They strike up conversations a lot easier now.

This week we finished the most of the murals for our school. Pictures below! It was a great time painting these!

 

 

Finished Product!

update: we have since added two more murals: a hopscotch with chinese numbers and a train with the Thai alphabet. The students learn 3 languages (Thai, English and Chinese)

We're headed off the Lopburi (the place with monkeys) tomorrow so stay tuned!

All the best,
Sade

"To educate a girl and is to educate an entire community"

My co-teacher Ann, took this picture of my fifth graders.

I feel like it captures my mission and values while I'm here. I keep finding myself tied back to education in some realm or position. Being an African immigrant to the US, I learned to value education at a young age. Very quickly, it became very real to me the sacrifices that I made and were made on my behalf in order to get to this place. For a while, I imagined myself working in international education policy world and working to decrease the opportunity gap in education. During my first year at university, I interned at an international education NGO and found myself at the fore front of these issues. Two years later, with considerable experience, I still find myself tied to this content area. I'm interested in how education can be used as a tool of poverty alleviation and an increase of access. I look forward to the remainder of this experience.