"You're life must be so exciting. All the adventures, the cultural experiences, the tropical paradise. And no real responsibilities! It's like your whole life is a gap year!"
 |
| random chicken in the Fitness Park |
Here's a little secret about life as an ESL teacher in a small town: There can be a LOT of dull moments to fill. Especially if you have no classes but your school uses the cruel and unusual punishment of forcing its staff to sign their names every morning, thus prohibiting any escape from the town.
During the last two weeks with few or no classes, I can boil my life down to the following activities:
Using the internet for reading the news, looking for funny pictures of kittens, watching reality tv and waiting anxiously for the new Mad Men, The Killing, and Game of Thrones to be posted.
Walking along the beach, up Monkey Hill, and/or to the market all the while trying not to pass out from heat exhaustion and sunstroke.
Reading from a limited supply of books. A few pubs serve as a library for the ex-pats, but most of these ex-pats are men and 85% of the material is spy novels (boring AND complicated).
Eating street food, home cooked food, restaurant food, 7-Eleven food, healthy food, naughty food.
There are no plants, pets, kids, gardens to take care of. No home improvement projects. No talent for art or music endeavors. No cinemas, libraries, or gyms.
Don't get me wrong. The life is good and relatively stress free. But man, sometimes it takes a lot of effort to figure out how to spend the hours. So here is an example of how I spent half of one dull day.
Got up and made the bed. Drank some instant coffee with chocolate milk, Checked emails (none again--so popular!). Read the news.
 |
| the master suite |
Went away from the computer for one second and lost it to Stephen.
 |
| the den |
Got ready for a long walk to Monkey Hill and to the market to buy meat and veggies. Put on copious amounts of sunscreen that melts off within 10 minutes. The weather was over 90 degrees as usual.
 |
| lovely little fitness park |
Walked through the fitness park and marvelled at the equipment. Didn't want tetanus or to be stared at, so skipped the circuit training.
 |
| at least it's free |
Walked up the small steep hill that's now overrun by monkeys. They've seen Planet of the Apes, I'm sure. And they're plotting something. Also looked out for snakes. They're in on it too.
 |
| "It's a madhouse! A madhouse!!" |
Trudged up the three flight of stairs, thankful to have the excuse to stop for taking photos. Could feel the heat burning through my t-shirt and making more moles pop up. Put on a Queens of the Stoneage song so I could make it to the top. Saw a monk de-robing. Pretended not to.
 |
| the dreaded stairs to the top of Monkey Hill |
Walked back down the stairs to a main road that leads to the market. Tried not to pass out from the heat radiating off the asphalt and the occasional whiff of open sewer.
 |
| must stop to catch my breath and enjoy the view |
Entered Subsin Market, which is open everyday until about 3 or 4. There are no grocery stores that sell fresh produce or meat, so this and other markets around town are the only place to get fresh food unless you trek to Hat Yai about 45 minutes away.
 |
| the market is one of my favorite places in town |
Bought two big bags of veggies and herbs and moved down to the meat section. Tried not to think about the botulism and salmonella floating in the blood-covered counters and floor. Tried not to pass out from the smell. Bought some pork and beef that looked fresh.
 |
| Yum! Pork face!! |
Went to Lee, a grocery store (without fresh produce and meat) to get rice, TP, bread, and milk. Tried not to get angry about the tiny narrow aisles blocked by employees just standing around using their mobile phones. Tried to remember that overstaffing low paying jobs is a form of social welfare.
Flagged down a motorbike taxi and tried not to think about how I really should wear a helmet on these things especially when driven by inexperienced, impatient drivers. Paid my 20 baht, went upstairs, put away the stuff, and thought about how to spend the next 8 hours.
 |
| the entertainment center |
 |
| Where's the stove? |
 |
| my only cooking equipment |
 |
| the fitness park near Samila Beach |
 |
| these monkey are not on their designated hill |
 |
| Monkey Hill-most people use the green elevator thing- I use the stairs in the back |
 |
| durian fruit is so stinky it's banned from many places |
 |
| fitness equipment at the bottom of Monkey Hill |
 |
| I really should research where the meat comes from..... |
 |
| Yes, I'll have some lettuce and an orange cat, please. |
No comments:
Post a Comment