Work
It has been 7 years since I last started a new job. That’s a long time! Starting with the Foundation I find myself the newbie. Trying to get my head around new things, remembering names, faces & the Thai way of doing things. So…working as a volunteer I need to have a work permit, even though I’m not getting paid. To do this, I need to have a medical…in Thailand. I show up to the doctors office, $8 and a syphilis test later I have my medical certificate…. Why syphilis you ask? Why not all the other diseases out there? Why not! After the medical comes the photos. Apparently it’s not ‘polite’ enough of a photo unless you are in a full button up shirt & jacket – thank god for photoshop!! I look so studious & smart 🙂
The Foundation is great though. The people, the work, the kids. Oh, the kids are adorable! As well as teaching English to kids in 2 different schools, the Foundation helps out with kids who have no family & have to live at the school. Orphans basically. We run an after school program for them (Coconut Club) to help improve their English and keep them entertained. Very very fun! They can do games, bingo, cooking, anything. After a few days I was greeted with the usual ‘Teacher Teacher!’ as they run in the door. Totally in love! On the weekends we try and do swimming with them, to teach them how to swim. Even though they literally live across the road from the beach, they never get to go, and most of them can’t swim.
Home
My apartment is right above the office, so I can pretty much sleep till 15mins before work. Fabulous! My room is big enough for me to explode in, and I have my own ensuite to make a mess of. My flatmate Angela is great, and we also have a furry resident, Biscuit. Biscuit also doubles as the office cat and can often be seen pouncing on one of us, or climbing up one of the office chairs. Angela is house sitting at the moment (the place is a palace!) so Biscuit and I are flying solo.
Kamala
Kamala is gorgeous. It’s a small town, set right on the beach and his beautiful bit hills surrounding it. My first 5 days were glorious, but now the rainy season is here with a vengeance, and it has been constantly raining. The fog and mist can be seen most of the time rolling in over the hill. This means that everything is wet. Everything! Walking down the street you are constantly walking through puddles, and on our bike you can get soaked. All I wear are rubber flip-flops (god forbid I should say thongs over here!). I have purchased my ‘blue condom’ rain jacket poncho from 7-11 and look super attractive wearing it.
Off for dinner at the palace. Joy!
