Emergency rush

So, another addition quicker than last time, I am getting better. Things have been a little hectic. It was J's B'day last week so copious amounts of my time was spent deciding what to get him, I had plumped for a new mobile but spent hours in the Nokia shop wondering whether the ones I liked were a little too girly, after consulting with men, I discovered that clearly if it looks cute and is available in pink it isn't very manly. Thanks for your help guys by the way, I went for the 6230i - which meant absoutely nothing to me two weeks ago but now I feel qualified as a new consultant for Which? phone magazine.

Anyway, I took him to a Brasilian Churrascaria for dinner which was fun and meaty and on Friday we went out with various friends to a German brewhouse which is huge, sells "german beer"-as dmonstrated by Monika and "German food" has a show and the entire building is shaped like a massive keg of beer... only in Thailand...


Sorry, I almost forgot to point out that this is Maria and Hannah, simply doing what they always do...


I am currently laid up at home and climbing the walls a bit. I have an intestinal infection according to the doc, and much as I'd love to sicken you with my famous imagery, I fear you already get the picture. Going to the hospital here was a bit strange. People arrive in taxis and I can assure you that I was the only one in the emergency waiting room who looked even vaguely ill. There were only about 4 of us in there! Urgence was not a key factor that's for sure. Women were strutting around with their LV bags, the hospital had escalators and a green area -what is that all about, not to mention a shop a bakery and coffee shop and in some there are even Macdonald's! Last time I was in an emergency room in the UK there was a guy next to me trying to hold is eye in it's socket coz some nutter had hit him over the head with a baseball bat all coz the offender had thrown his fag out the window and had hit the probably by now one-eyed pedestrian in the head and he had shouted that he should be more careful. Needless to say, people around me had clearly broken stuff and/or were bleeding. There was a woman in front of me using two mobiles at the same time, one on each ear! I have GOT to get a mobile with a camera. honestly, the stuff I could take pics of on a daily basis, would shock you all.
As an aside, I can't wait till the world cup is over. I am so bored of the convoluted conversations I have with Taxi drivers, you know the Where are you from? Oh UK! England 2 Portugal 0! It wasn't till I was like oh really? that the taxi driver realised that cearly I had no idea that he was predicting and they hadn't even played yet. I took my time explaining to him in thai that I was Welsh (oooh Ryan giggs!) and therefore I don't care about the World Cup. I was rather shocked that not only did he know Ryan Giggs but he also said Millenium Stadium and Cardiff! Last time I told a taxi driver that I was Welsh he asked me if I was muslim...nuff said.

Mellow Yellow

It's the King's Jubilee - 60 years on the throne, longest standing (or should that be sitting?) monarch in the world. Personal benefits of this jubilee are a 5 day weekend. Course, most of the roads are closed in and around Bangkok so travel wasn't really an option oh and I had to work on Saturday and Sunday but I can't complain. Monday and Tuesday are official days off, J had friday off due to traffic (??!!) and about 80 percent of Thai people are wearing yellow T-shirts in the colour of the King's flag with his emblem conveniently across your heart and most have "I love the King" in big letters over it. Nice and tasteful.

It is a weird concept to see people get so into their monarchy. I usually just see them as a figurehead, but here in Thailand they really do stuff and are attributed with the majority of the success of the Kingdom. It is an offence which could carry a jail sentence to criticise the King.

Now that I am teaching adults I am finding out all sorts of things. Here are some interesting tidbits:

My teenagers have no idea who Madonna is! Seriously, they make me feel old, the other day, I was teaching them about pop groups and stuff and they had to design their own group and CD cover etc. As an intro I had the pussycat dolls on the screen and elicited what they knew about them. One Q I had was what songs do they sing? I expected them to reply Don'cha and that was that. They came out with some huge list, Stickwitu, Beep, Sway, I was quite shocked. Never heard of these songs. And no offence to the pussycat dolls but I assumed they were a one-hit wonder, let alone get as far as making a whole album!

Honestly, teaching teens is like being back at school again. I don't remember being so rude to my teachers or surly. I feel like I have to earn favour with the 'cool' group and stuff and quite frankly I just can't cope with the smug look on their faces and that fake passifying grin that makes me want to do some serious damage and make it toothless. It's not a mexican wave I get when I ask them to do the unbelievably horrifying task of picking up their pens and actually writing something, shit, it's not like their supposed to be studying or anything, it's a mexican eye-roll. No to mention the fuss when the dreaded word homework comes up. The more they complain, the more they get! They'll soon realise they aren't going to win. 2 weeks ago a group of girls thought that they could stretch a 15 minute break to 40 and looked at me like I was in the wrong and insane when they returned to find the classroom door locked. Strangely enough, they haven't been late since.

Not only am I finding out about teenage behaviour, but I am finding out some weird superstitions. You can't get your hair cut on a Wednesday, Sunday will bring you long life, Monday - happiness, Thursday - guardian angels will protect you, Friday - you'll never go in want, Saturday - you'll gain admiration. Think about that next time you make an appointment.

Bizarre.

Well, that concludes my Thai tales for now...