Category: 2020

We got that attitude! – 22nd December 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for my alarm to wake me up every day. I would be out of whack without it.

A reasonable day at work though not so much with my own students. My class is lazy, forgetful and undisciplined. I’m struggling to get them into line sometimes. I just have to find better ways to engage them – maybe vary their lessons a little bit.

I’m listening to a CD for the first time in ages as I’m writing this. Feels good to try and enjoy a whole album in one sitting for a change.

As usual, it doesn’t feel particularly Christmas-y though we do have a tree on our terrace with flashing lights. It’s cool. I think we should just have flashing lights all the time.

I’m looking at my bookshelf and happily overwhelmed with options of books to read. It seems that I only read 32 books last year which is fine but when I look at my bookshelf it seems like it will take me many years to get through what I own. I think my collector personality has moved onto books. I would love more time to sit and read. Read a good book.

Something nice that happened today was that I went to primary to talk to Chompoo about next semester and as soon as she saw me she smiled and held out her arms for a hug. I felt very grateful to have had at least some impact on these children’s lives. I asked her if she would rather work hard and learn more or take it easy and relax (not specifically about school) and I was so happy she chose to work hard – even if she didn’t mean it – it means she’s smart.

I certainly hope next year’s classes are less taxing than this year’s! All the kids make me laugh in one way or another and there are none that I don’t like – even if I sometimes don’t like their behaviour.

We got that attitude! – 21st December 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for the wind. Hopefully, it can blow away the smoky air. It’s cold. It’s refreshing. It’s unusual.

It’s been a while since writing and it is something I’ve been trying to prompt myself to get back into. I’ve been a bit lost recently – having some negative thoughts that took me into myself.

A lot of this centred around George and while I know he is a nice friendly person and can be a good friend, something’s happened in my head that questions all that. Some of this was based on things that he said and things that I’d heard.

I knew that I shouldn’t judge on some of these things but it became a downward spiral due to such close proximity all the time. I withdrew into myself where I was actually quite happy.

I’m really enjoying working at the moment and the challenge the students give me every day. I feel more comfortable around them and less around George’s alpha-male-ness. Like I said – he’s not a bad alpha male, not a bad person or anything. I just have an aversion to alpha male behaviour. It’s not his problem at all, but mine. Anyway, I apologised to him for being a bit off (which also affected the way he was treating me) and things are more even again now.

13th Dec 2024 – Not long after this, George’s true colours became more apparent and the things that had bothered me had turned out to be good intuition. I do still think though that in some ways, I made it my problem and I should have just let him get on with it.

I’m keeping myself a bit more occupied with learning Thai and staying out a little less for coffee in the morning. I actually prefer to help the other teachers if I can.

Apart from that, I feel OK, though a little flat as we approach the end of this strange year. A lot has changed for the better for me, whilst I can see it has worsened for a lot of others. I need to completely tune out from the news and find some focus on other things I’d like to try.

I want to read more, and try drawing. Learn more guitar, Thai and how to play a keyboard. All these things seem possible.

One week goals

  • Draw something from my room ✅
  • Finish TCRAH ✅
  • Clear guitar stage 4 on Yousician ½
  • Complete more music learning ½

The Chiang Rai Alternative Hour #69 – Against All Odds – 18th December 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

There’s a lack of equipment where we are hiding in the cave networks on the edge of Burma. But we made a new show – against the odds! The director is not pleased.

This week there’s music from Chavez, Kurt, bEnt, Warhammer 48k, The Freeze, Tera Melos, Jeff Fox, Bee Vamp, Dreamies, Space Negros, Electric Deads, Secret Snack, Private Dicks, Spycker, Larval and Suspiria.

Incidentals taken from the Church of the Sub Genius Hour of Slack.
Listen right here or Mixcloud, Stitcher, Apple, Amazon…..all those cool places I guess.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Chiang-Rai-Alternative-Hour-107307097314670/

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for all the books asked comics that I have waiting to be read. I can choose from fluff to depth depending on my mood.

We got that attitude! – 17th December 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for the yoga app because it helps me to stretch in the morning and prepare my back for the day.

21st Feb 2023 – I can’t even remember what this app is now. I don’t tend to stick with health apps as they usually end up needing a subscription to continue at some point, so I kind of adapt what I can remember and add new things as I come across them and find them helpful. I don’t do any yoga now but do a little bit of neck stretching along with some exercise in the morning.