A mother’s love, so strong and true The guiding hand was not guiding you A little Emporer enjoys the spoils Whilst the princess humbly toils
Slowly the empire will expand And falls away any guiding hand Is what you learned enough to rule The head and heart of a simple fool?
Today I’m feeling:
Unsure. Last night I could feel an oncoming tickle in my throat, I thought, perhaps from burning garbage smoke in the air. I slept early and woke up feeling ok but with more of a sore throat. There are a few sick students again recently, including Baipad and Apple who I see on most mornings.
Now, mid-way through the day I’m feeling on the edge. I could either recover and be ok by tomorrow or this will snowball into a full-blown flu or cold. Trying to stay positive through whatever happens.
Today I’m grateful for:
The almond croissant that Amy bought and we shared today. I’m not that into them so I wouldn’t usually buy one for myself but I found it sweet and tasty, a good post-dinner dessert this evening.
The best thing about today was:
At the end of my extra class with the grade 10s today I asked 4 of the students if the work was ok and they told me they enjoyed it and it was fun. I was happy to hear that. I had fun teaching it too.
Something I learned today?
The shortest war in history was between Britain and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
As normal, I guided a few struggling students through their work and thought perhaps that they needed some extra information that would help them with this in the future. I think I had an expectation that they already understood this grammar (present simple verbs, positive and negative) but whilst a few knew it, many did not. I need to make the lesson a little clearer if I decide to use it again.
I took this picture because I’d been asking Ploy, who is now in grade 9, to draw another picture of me as the previous one she did was two years old already. I like it though it is way more handsome than the real me!
We should be living in a paradise by now Yet wrapped in realities that ground our flight Utopia hides, beyond the hillside brow Amidst the chaos, in a darkened night
Around the corner, this dream quietly shines A realm where peace sings a hopeful tune Utopia beckons and yet this hope reminds The journey will not be completed soon
In that elusive place, worries disband, A sanctuary where souls find their rest, Utopia calls from its promised land, An oasis waiting, only found in death
Today I’m feeling:
Not too bad considering I woke up wanting to sleep more. The abs exercises hurt as I was doing them and I can feel all the work that the muscles around the rest of my body had to do because my abs are still weak. I’m now pretty convinced that my weak abs and connections to the hips are the cause of most of my body stress/weakness, down to my calves and up to my neck. Slowly slowly.
Today I’m grateful for:
The Downy fabric spray that is trying to counter the smell of cat spray on the sofa and isn’t quite succeeding.
The best thing about today was:
My grade 10 class who were interested in learning, in the topic and discussing it as best as they could in English but mostly in Thai. Having a keen, attentive class is a joy.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Yesterday I got a message that today was a meeting for the foreign teachers to meet with the director but I sent a message to Kru Tang saying that I had class at that time and she was fine with that.
Later I got an assuming message from Nancy saying that it was a bit sad that I didn’t go and that I felt differently to the team! FFS!
I told her that I had planned my lessons and that this one was quite important for my students this time and that if it was a different class then it might have been possible. There was no reply after that.
That has upset me a little but I’m happy knowing that I’m doing the right thing for my students.
Something I learned today?
Today is Nomsen’s birthday. Every day seems to be someone’s birthday. Nomsen told me that she turns 14 but I’m not sure if she was counting correctly as another student in the grade above told me it was her 14th birthday today.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I comforted little Nicha who got reprimanded yesterday for having earphones in during class yesterday. Instead of just being asked to take them out the teacher made a big deal of it and if she gets in any more trouble they’ll kick her out of school. That seems a bit harsh considering what some of the other kids get up to. Understandably she was a bit down.
I started my lessons on relationships for the grade 10s as Toon in that class requested it. I made them Thai translations so that they could understand better the meaning behind the content. In this case, I found that I wanted their understanding more than just using English. Toon said she was happy with the lesson, so I’m glad about that too.
Tonaor reminded me that yesterday I told her I would give her a candy today. She caught me just as I was about to leave and I honoured my word, went to the car to get another candy and gave it to her. She was happy.
I took this picture because, for some reason as I approached the hospital to get some medicine, I was impressed by its stature. I’ve been here many times and not thought much about how it looks. Perhaps it was because it was approaching golden hour and the air turns a special colour.
Little Shi was making his own plans Putting his destiny in his own hands From the fields to the city streets Amongst the learned he competes
In the trees, he’d monkey around Exploring the minutiae of life he found Every little step that he was taking Expanded the world he was making
And while those around studied well They learned little that he could tell He found a different meaning to success Found his own way to progress
The things his father had been denied Would not stop this little dragon’s rise As the littlest kid he stood above Remaining humble and sharing love
Until to the mountain, he climbed alone All the horizons became his home
Inspired by a true story in Zachary Mexico’s China Underground 16th Nov 2024 – Shared with Poets and Storytellers United
Today I’m feeling:
Happy and positive though starting to flake a little now it’s lunchtime. My first class was a little chaotic and frustrating but hopefully the afternoon classes will be more uplifting.
Today I’m grateful for:
Having a bag of candy again that I can gift to random students when I feel like it. Am I the Candyman? A little bribery goes a long way.
The best thing about today was:
Being able to control myself when pushed to the edge of my patience several times.
It helps that I like the kids so much and they make me laugh a lot but sometimes I wish I was just teaching the more mature students. Sometimes I feel embarrassed for myself, wondering what other teachers might think if they came into the classroom when children are noisy and not paying attention.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I wanted to go to the hospital on the way back home but the traffic was busy and getting out of the hospital with a car now is a pain in the ass since the U-turn has been closed off because everyone was using it to skip the traffic lights. I was too tired to bother coming back out on the motorbike so will try again tomorrow when I can leave school a little earlier and hopefully, there’s a little less traffic.
Something I learned today?
Jerry Lewis made a controversial film called The Day The Clown Cried in 1972 and it was never released and has been hidden away ever since.
A couple of years before he died he agreed that it could be released but only after he and those that were critical of the ideas in the movie had probably died too. So then it was decided to be released in June 2024. The movie’s story sounds interesting and thought-provoking. I wonder what it will be like.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
As my grade 8 students were reading the text I gave them I let them try to pronounce the difficult words and gave them positive feedback when they got them right.
I followed up with Paen that she was feeling ok as I didn’t see her on Friday and she didn’t reply to my messages since then. She said she was sick but I’m not sure if something happened with Praew that has upset her.
I was going to punish Program for being late to class without communicating with me but I decided to show him that that was my intention, but this time I will not punish him though he must remember to let me know why he is going to be late.
Remember that this is the kid who ended up sitting in my class before doing nothing because he had picked up another student’s bag and lost his own…. I have since noticed that despite his clownish behaviour he is pretty good at English.
Tonaor randomly messaged me for advice about a logo design for her online store, which is the first I’d heard of it but I’m not too surprised.
Kids of 13 or 14 are getting smart about making money using the internet these days. I was happily surprised that she asked me for advice though.
This was not in my class but I took this picture as an example of a typical classroom lesson environment. To be fair, everyone had finished their work but there was no sitting quietly reading a book until the bell goes. These are my old grade 7 and 8 students, now in grade 9. There’s Phoom, Chok, Jackie and… fuck, I’ve forgotten the other boy’s name though I can picture his face quite clearly.
Ready to go, ready to do, ready to be. Struggled through the new abs exercises but didn’t feel quite as much aching around the sides this time. Back to some arm work tomorrow even though my shoulder isn’t quite yet 100 percent.
Today I’m grateful for:
The dental clinic because I had to change my appointment since I’m now teaching an extra class on Thursday.
The best thing about today was:
Watching my second lot of grade 8s making well-wishing cards and Poppy going out into the playground and giving the card to her crush.
Then after that, Nicha and Tonkla gave each other cards in what could finally see them become closer. Nicha has been crushing on Tonkla for a couple of months already.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Creme brought two kittens in to school today. They are just two days old and their mum has disappeared. She has to feed them goats milk every two hours.
Is that good for them? I don’t know. I don’t know if they will make it.
Too many cats here and not enough responsible owners. Everyone loves cats but they don’t want to or can’t afford to pay for them properly.
Something I learned today?
Arsenal are out of the FA Cup, Manchester City beat Huddersfield 5-0 and Israel has already spent 60 billion dollars on its genocide of Palestinians.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I sent messages to Nicha and Poppy telling them I was proud of their bravery today.
I encouraged and supported Nut and Namsai when I could see them understanding the work I gave them today.
Are these good deeds? They feel like just the deeds of a teacher. It’s good to note them for myself I guess so that I am reminded of them in the future.
Write about a time when you laughed uncontrollably.
There is a joke, a basic form of which is below, that I used to love to tell when I was maybe 13 or 14 years old. You can see from the text that the joke is not very long but with a bit of practice you can make it last as long as you like.
I don’t know where I originally heard the joke but it got a good laugh when I first told it and then, when others had joined, I was asked to tell it again and soon it became a request and even though everyone knew the punchline, which is hilarious because it isn’t even that funny, the laughter was in the telling.
At some point in one telling of the joke it took so long to tell because everyone was rolling around the room in tears of laughter, including myself. I reckon it took about an hour. I felt that that was the ultimate telling and haven’t thought about that joke for a long time.
As I didn’t remember where I’d heard the joke I wondered if it was even a joke that might be popular and searchable online but sure enough I found it.
I doubt it will draw much laughter now, unless you are 13 or 14 years old perhaps.
Three scientists were one day discussing what would happen if they rammed a cork up an elephant’s backside and force fed it for 2 weeks. But because the experiment had never been documented and the idea was hard to comprehend they decided to have a go. A week after the experiment had started they began to realize WHY the idea had never been tried, they were stuck for someone to pull the cork out.
One of the scientists came up with the bright idea of training a monkey to do the job, so they spent the next week training it to pull out corks once a buzzer had rung, then push it back in for another go. The big day arrived, they set up all the monitoring equipment and set out to a safe distance.
The first scientist went 1 mile away, the second went 2 miles away and the third went 3 miles. When they were all ready the first scientist pushed the button to sound the buzzer.
BBBAAANNNGGG!
The third scientist (3 miles away) was up to his ankles in shit, the second (2 miles away) was up to his knees and the first (1 mile away) was up to his waist. When the others joined the scientist who was 1 mile away they noticed that he was in fits of laughter.
“What the %$*& is so funny?” asked one of the scientists.
“You should have seen the monkey’s face trying to get the cork back in!!!”
I took this picture because Earn was happy and dancing today. Her happiness often depends on the interest of boys and she confided something I didn’t quite follow but included the sentence ‘he’s come back’. I’m trying to encourage her to love herself more.
Tired, relaxed and lazy again. Today is a repeat episode of yesterday pretty much. Not excited, not unhappy.
Today I’m grateful for:
The cake that Amy came back with at lunchtime, presumably from Nong Oh who she was out with. A light chiffon with cashews in a thick caramel topping. It was nice in that it didn’t taste as sweet as it looked.
The best thing about today was:
Cleaning up the last pile of junk on the floor of my room. There is stuff there that is inspiring me to think of new lesson plans so I hung on to quite a bit of it. The floor is clear but I still need to go through the stuff on the shelves and that will mean more inspiration and ideas and then a concern about lack of time to execute all those ideas.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
In the scheme of things, I did very little today. If there was anything out of my control then it had no lasting resonance with my memory.
Something I learned today?
From watching the interview with Nathan Rich I discovered that you can inject whisky into your veins and get drunk from it. I mean, it makes sense but it seems like a stupid thing to do when you can just drink the stuff!
That guy has certainly had an interesting life and we share a weird connection in that we both got into computing as a way to raise ourselves up in the world (and both into punk and then with interests in China).
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
Today was all about Amy and being sympathetic to her situation with the unfolding drama therein.
Was the killing of hundreds of hairy worms on the avocado tree a good or vile act?
Tell about something you love doing that you’re terrible at. And tell about something you really do not like doing that you’re great at.
For the former, I guess it would be playing guitar, though I don’t really think that I am terrible. I’m just not good.
For the latter maybe Maths, though again, I wouldn’t say that I was great at it either. In fact, if I think about it I actually like learning about Maths but have an aversion to it because of a long-held hatred of my high school Maths teacher.
Even then, I’m over it (I should be because it was 40 years ago!) so I need to think of something else here.
It’s tough. I don’t consider myself particularly great at anything and at my age now I’m not really doing anything that I don’t like doing anymore.
I took this picture because this pup is cute and loves me.
Standing here amongst the detritus This is certainly a lived-in room The treaties of the past are scattered Across a floor that’s never seen a broom
There’s an unused TV in the corner Hoping the remote will be found one day Tho’ full of dust, it’s fuller with love A satisfying sty in which to laugh and play
inspired by the memory of living in Mick’s house – more detail here
Today I’m feeling:
Tired but relaxed. Amy stayed at her parent’s last night and much of today and after coffee, hanging out washing and shampooing Tigger I slowly watched the day disappear reading, watching TV and not much else.
Today I’m grateful for:
The discounted milk protein drinks at the Lotus store – three for the price of two.
The best thing about today was:
Finishing reading Wuthering Heights, which I enjoyed much more than I expected. I love finishing one book because it means I can start another!
I also started reading China Underground at Utopia, the first two stories of which reminded me a lot of my time meeting people in China and to realise how much the world, and I, have changed since.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
There is some family drama going on that I have absolutely no control over and so the best I can do is to comfort Amy and help her with figuring out the best way forward.
It’s a frustrating situation that goes deep into Thai culture and societal norms that involve blind acceptance of the patriarchy.
Whilst I knew about this, it is uncomfortably close to home this time. It is also making me feel even more for the female students that I teach and wonder what of their future.
Something I learned today?
Our avocado tree is infested with giant hairy worms that are eating their way through the leaves. I have to warn Amy to stay away from there as she will surely be allergic to their hairs.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I fist-bumped the staff at Utopia and the girl customer whom I have seen there a few times before and smiled and acknowledged most everyone else who came in whilst I was there reading and drinking my coffee.
Apart from that I didn’t have much interaction with anyone else today, even online.
I took this picture because these little fucks are difficult to see on the tree. There are five visible here and 100s more out of focus.
A little tired but in a good mood. I’ve been waking up before my alarm quite often which is a little annoying as I know I’m not getting quite enough good sleep. This morning as I was dozing and waiting for my alarm to go off I wondered if it was because I was excited to exercise. That was quite an interesting thought for me.
I moved on to Intermediate leg exercises this morning and got through it pretty easily. I don’t think I can move up to Intermediate arm exercises yet though. I still don’t have the strength in my back, shoulders and arms yet and I’m still waiting for my right shoulder to fully recover before getting back into even the Basic exercises that I normally do.
Today I’m grateful for:
All the drivers that let me cut into their queues so that I could get to work a little quicker this morning (actually every work morning!). Traffic is getting busier and busier along the bypass now and the dumb traffic light systems they have in place frustrate everybody.
Anyway, I will let people in when I am in a similar situation and see other folks being in a hurry.
The best thing about today was:
Getting paid! But now I have to be really careful with the reduced payment again this month.
Can I stick to no more than two coffees a day and nix the third that I have every other day or so? Buy less snacks, no candy for the kids, no meat sticks for the pups….?
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
As soon as I got paid I settled my account with Gui at House. That was just over 1000 baht! Gah!
He has offered to let me pay once a week before but I told him I didn’t want to do that because I can fool myself by only paying 130 baht a day, convinced that that amount is acceptable. But seeing 1000 baht a week…..that I can’t rationalise!
Something I learned today?
Today was Baitoey’s birthday. I only taught her a little bit last year and she was quite quiet in class but she is always friendly and playful with me since then. I gave her 5 baht as a gift because that was the only money I had in my wallet! My last 5 baht!
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
My old student Noah was complaining about T. David this morning and then in the afternoon, after they had a class together T. David complained about Noah and her attitude. So I thought I would message her and see what the story was.
She said she has given up in his class because he goes too fast and she doesn’t understand. When she told me that other students do understand I encouraged her to ask them for help (though I know she has struggled to make good friends in this class). I told her not to give up and that I will help encourage her as much as I can.
Kru Ning talked to me a little after our classes about some of the grade 7 students we share as they sometimes don’t show up to her class, or do little or nothing whilst there. I confirmed that they were a little difficult to get motivated and gave her my suggestions though I struggle with them too.
It was nice to actually have a Thai teacher ask my opinion, or for my help, with our students. I guess usually they don’t because perhaps they don’t want to admit that they are in that situation or admit that perhaps a foreigner might have another angle or useful idea.
I took this picture because when I got home I found a package from Ryu in Tokyo with his Stacked State CDs and t-shirt plus his solo CDs. I will listen to them tomorrow. A weekend of furious fastcore.
There’s no more debating The words that you’re stating Broke down my defence Pushed me off the fence There’s no more however I’ll live this truth forever No more other hand A line in the sand Fighting the good fight Confirming I am right
Having said that though No! Tell me it ain’t so!
Today I’m feeling:
Positive and happy though also a little saddened at some circumstances that arose last night when Amy’s brother and girlfriend came to visit. Things are happening in the family space that are a little upsetting for Amy and she is quite bothered by them. It feels like another thing to push her away from Thailand unfortunately.
Today I’m grateful for:
Funfai again as this morning she presented me with a big bag of almonds.
One of her quirks tickles me in that when she doesn’t know the answer to a question she says ‘I don’t know’. This may not sound odd when written down but it is sometimes quite difficult to get people here to admit that they don’t know something. Often they will just give some bullshit answer.
I’m glad Funfair happily admits not knowing things though. To me, that shows a desire to learn, or an acceptance that it is ok not to know everything.
The best thing about today was:
Teaching this extra (grade 10) class. I found out in the morning it is a pretty good class including many of my old students so it was good to have some familiar faces there because that made me feel comfortable, which in turn made the other students comfortable too.
I’d put together a quick reading and writing lesson in the morning and wondered if we would have enough time to do it but they pretty much breezed through it and were happy to be corrected on pronunciation. It’s a stark contrast to my grade 7 class in the morning which was like herding cats as usual. I enjoyed both classes in different ways.
I’m quite happy to have taken on this extra class despite it meaning extra work for me.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I still didn’t get paid yet and had to beg money off Amy to put petrol in the car. I’m down to 61 baht in the bank and 40 baht in my wallet. I’m taking this as an opportunity to be frugal and make do with what I already have. Except coffee. That is on credit, thankfully, though I hate doing it.
Something I learned today?
In Switzerland, it’s illegal to own just one guinea pig because they’re social beings and get lonely.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
This morning Paen messaged me asking if she could come and join my class with the grade 7s. The reason being that she is developing a friendship with Praew and wants to see if she will be her girlfriend.
As I didn’t really have much planned for the class except some Quizizz and as I’d like to help Paen make a new friend or girlfriend I allowed her to come and sit and help a little too.
Both Praew and Paen were happy to have this chance to be together. Paen has struggled with friendships with her peers so I’m hopeful that making friends with a younger girl could work out for her.
Are you a doer, a maker or a leader?
Out of these three choices, I reckon I’m a doer. I’ve always been an advocate for doing something, anything and I still follow that line of thinking.
My doing recently involves the challenge of presenting a poem every day. I’m not sure how long I have been doing it now, maybe it’s two years already.
Also, trying to go back and add information to this blog about the past is a monumental and endless task which is the kind of stupid thing I like to get into.
Previously, in the absence of anyone else doing it, I started the record label, organised shows and tours and shared the information to help others to do the doing too.
Part of that crosses over to being a maker, as I made part of the Sydney/Australia/Asia music scene and am still involved in that, though not as relentlessly as before.
As a teacher, I hope that I am helping in making responsible adults and this also crosses over to being a leader.
I don’t play well with adults and have no desire to lead them, to lead a work team or the like but seem to have fallen into being a de facto leader for my students.
I took this picture because Nudee and her friends were trying to make TikTok videos after they’d finished my classwork. I was outside the classroom and this picture was actually taken through a highly tinted window (it’s very difficult to see inside with the naked eye) so I was surprised that the picture even came out so well. Ironically, the girls were all too embarrassed to have their picture taken and I grabbed this shot before they put their hands up in front of the camera. Nudee likes to wear colourful contact lenses which make her eyes look amazing. She also has a lip-piercing which is prohibited by the school rules (hence the mask) but I have seen many kids flouting it recently and I like it.
The future is behind me Invisible to the eye The past keeps coming Towards me until I die
Understanding is backwards Yet life is straight ahead In the end, it’s all done When it’s all been said
Today I’m feeling:
A little edgy due to lack of sleep. I kept waking up whilst having wild and unusual dreams. I forget their story but have kept the feeling as I woke. It’s a little disconcerting. Leg exercise and stomach stretching was good and easy. My shoulders are feeling a little better but not sure that they will be fully ok before next week when I’d like to get back to arm and shoulder exercises again.
Today I’m grateful for:
The teachers who helped me with some little things today, such as finding a stapler and staples in the mess of the teacher’s room and sending the student list so that I could print out the student names for my new class.
I’m also grateful to my past self for downloading lots of useful English workbooks in the past and finding something useful to use for my new class. I already have too many ideas and I haven’t even met them yet or know what their skill levels are. I’ll soon find out though – first class tomorrow.
The best thing about today was:
An interesting comment from Kru Karn when I expressed concern for one of my students that she looks after. She off-handedly said that most teachers don’t care that much about the students, implying that I do. I don’t know if she was congratulating or criticising but I took it as a matter of pride. As an average, untrained English teacher I make it a point to at least care about the students and the job that I’m employed to do.
A late update as I’ve just hopped into bed with delectable-smelling clean sheets and anticipating this, I used the expensive shower gel that smells like glitter and glamour. I’m soft and snug, smelling of champagne!
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
My grade 7 class was a little out of control, still in holiday mode. I have the feeling it will be like this until the end of the semester with this grade. I didn’t push them too hard today, just prepping them for the real work on Friday.
Something I learned today?
The Ancient Romans used to drop a piece of toast into their wine for good health, which is why we ‘raise a toast’.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
After my grade 10 students had completed their work for me I helped them with a speech that they had to do for another class later today. I recorded the speech myself so that they could copy my pronunciation and I sat with them as they practiced and gave them tips.
If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
Somehow I wonder if I might relax a little knowing this.
Without knowing this, of course, I may die suddenly tomorrow. I should relax now!
Would I keep working? I enjoy what I’m doing right now but with a known time limit what else could I do in the meantime? Would travelling the world feel satisfactory or would it just feel meaningless? Do I even know how to enjoy myself anymore!
I think perhaps I would go travelling but on a nostalgia trip and also to catch up with old friends and have one last conversation.
I don’t think I would just fuck everything off and spend the time decadently. Maybe a little!
I took this picture because this weird little cactus at House appears to have the Christmas spirit.
If you really wanted to do it, you would have done it already; If you’d really thought through it your ship may have sailed steady
Yet here you are with swollen eyes begging help from the lovely skies; You’ve got a blessing in disguise, it should have come as no surprise, the things you really wanted you didn’t want at all.
Today I’m feeling:
A little stiff and aching from the last four days of slovenliness but in a good mood, especially to see my students again. I’ve worked out a fairly easy plan for this week to ease us all back into study gently.
Today I’m grateful for:
Having 196 baht left in the bank so that I could still get out 100 baht from the ATM and buy a 12 baht pack of gum today. I hope to get paid soon because I don’t have enough money for petrol which will run out tomorrow!
The best thing about today was:
Despite getting distracted with making new lessons whilst at House enjoying coffee, I still had time to catch up on some reading and writing and went back to school for afternoon classes feeling good.
Something I learned today?
In the process of my students making cards I checked the messages they were writing just to make sure their English was ok but couldn’t help noticing some of the nice sentiments that they were showing to their friends, family, crushes or partners. It was quite heartwarming and endearing.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I let my classes relax into the new year by making cards and didn’t stress too much about them being late or playing on their phones.
I offered myself to teach an extra class now that Kru Wave has left. I got in quickly before anyone else, both to show willingness and also to be able to choose the time that suited me best.
What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
Nothing is too serious to be joked about depending entirely on the environment and circumstances. No one should ever be upset with anything a comedian says on stage. One can either find it funny or not. Nothing is taboo in this case. But to repeat the same jokes in an inappropriate situation would not be smart.
Gam took this picture because today I had my classes make cards to give to people offering them best wishes and Goya (pictured) and a couple of others made them for me. Goya wanted photographic evidence of presenting it to me so here it is. She’s grimacing because I was poking her in the ribs so that she would smile instead of pulling faces like she was doing before. Her card was funny because she thanked me for teaching her and asked forgiveness for being stubborn and not paying attention in class.
1994ever 