“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” – Andre Gide
Inspired by Existential Comics #570
Inspired by this post at The Red Hand Files
Today I’m feeling:
A little run-down but forcing myself through with what little energy I have. My stomach is sore from all the medicine but hopefully I’m on the up from here.
Today I’m grateful for:
The welcome students gave me when I joined them at the exchange student ceremony this morning and even before that. Students I don’t even know wanted fist bumps today. That was nice.
I’m also grateful to Kru Ning for inviting me to sit with the teachers for the ceremony but I preferred to be with the students anyway, mostly because it meant that I could sneak out easily when I wanted to.
Also, Kru Pooky sent a message warning that the teachers from other countries may visit during my classes in the afternoon, with my two noisiest classes but thankfully no one came in the end.
The best thing about today was:
After sneaking out from the ceremony, I ended up talking with Mee and Rista a little while they were avoiding doing Kru David’s work. Mee told me that she is sad with herself because she doesn’t understand the English work that she is doing as extra classes outside of school. I tried to encourage her but I think that she doesn’t have the self-motivation to push herself through.
I also ended up helping Nong Fah to find the correct answers, which she appreciated.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The pharmacy was shut at Big C today and the supermarket also had a disappointing selection of expensive muesli. The bread shop had also run out of the Korean chewy cheese bread I like but I did manage to grab the last two sesame ones. I’ll keep checking back in.
Something I learned today?
Malaysia issued a travel warning for its citizens thinking about travelling to the UK, due to the demonstrations and riots there, which seem to be focusing on immigrant populations.
Submitted to Reena’s Xploration Challenge #335
Today I’m feeling:
A little less enthusiastic but still have energy reserves somehow. The first half of the week is pretty easy now and whilst the last couple of days are busy, they are pretty easy too.
Today I’m grateful for:
Our little birds that came and raised their family with us. It was cool to watch them grow and then fly away. Good luck to them.
The best thing about today was:
Spending some time in my room sorting out online music stuff with Parthiban, getting some money sorted to pay Johnny in HK for the Bennu LPs and chatting with Nampan and Team a bit.
And I was able to play some guitar which was fun too.
Something I learned today?
There was a big fire at Chatuchak Market a couple of days ago that killed thousands of animals. I don’t remember even seeing animals anywhere when I was there.
Submitted to Reena’s Xploration Challenge #321
Today I’m feeling:
Sick. I already decided that I wouldn’t go to school last night and I slept for 11 hours and woke feeling no better. I grabbed some medicine which did help and when I finally ate that helped a lot too.
I have to go to the dentist tomorrow so I hope to be feeling better by then.
Today I’m grateful for:
Water. Over the last couple of years, I’ve watered the garden less and most things seem to survive from what they get during the rainy season.
Often now though our pump stops working and Amy believes it is because there is not enough ground water to pump up. I don’t think that can be the case though as there was so much rain last year.
Unfortunately, that means that there will likely be something else that is the problem that needs fixing.
At the moment we can just restart the pump and it’s ok again until the next time we want to water the garden.
The best thing about today was:
Watching the first episode of the Chinese adaptation of Three-Body Problem. It was pretty good and the second episode is free to watch online but I’m not sure if I’ll take the time to find and the rest to watch for free.
Something I learned today?
More Children Killed by Israel in Gaza War Than in Four Years of Worldwide Conflicts
More than 12,300 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip between Oct 2023 and the end Feb 2024.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I did some watering whilst Amy was busy with her family organising things for the wedding this weekend.
10th May 2024 – Shared to dVerse OLN
Today I’m feeling:
Slept early last night and got up early ready to go for a ride with Bruno, up to Doi Chang.
I was too early for Utopia but felt pumped to be going on a long ass ride. Once getting into the mountains the cool clean air tickled my nose with the now-familiar smells of fresh growth foliage and flowers. All the food stalls around added to the perfume and even the small fires around reminded me of camping trips from days gone by.
It was a joy to be out there today.
Today I’m grateful for:
Bruno being the way he is and leading us to accidentally drink civet-shit coffee overlooking a glorious long valley view.
The owners also gave us a fresh avocado with local honey and Bruno asked if they had any more to which he was told sure, just go pick them. They went off under the terrace and picked up 4 or 5 big cricket balls from high up using a net on a 3-metre bamboo pole. I love that Bruno will just go and do what takes his fancy and it always ends us up in interesting situations
The best thing about today was:
The ride down from Doi Chang and through Doi Wawee was just beautiful and Wawee especially was a pretty village. The school had just let out students at midday and we drove up past the gates. The school is magnificent, sculpted up the hillside, and looks impeccable. All the kids were happy and playful as they tumbled out down the hill.
Riding through these places made me reflect a bit more on my place in Thailand and as a teacher. I can understand more about the teacher’s and the student’s apathy when I see the places where they live and the lack of opportunities and ambition around them. I give them a hard time to make the best of themselves and now I recognise those soft faces looking up at me quietly expressing, ‘What’s the point?’
Once on the road back to Mae Chan, I got stuck behind a van with about ten school students stuffed in the back along with various packages, parcels and goods. They were all happily, lazily chatting and looking at their phones, perhaps just being in the happy childhood state of not knowing what is going to happen next, where they are going or what they will do when they arrive.
In opposition, all I wanted to do was overtake the van but the roads were too twisty to be able to get around. I just wanted to get home to where I knew exactly everything that will happen. I wished I could go back to that state of happiness that comes from interruptions to boredom, saying yes to anything, just to hang out a bit longer.
When I was like that I was usually the last one home.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I thought I would struggle with not having my usual two morning coffees but for some reason, I was just psyched to be riding and didn’t really want to stop anywhere until we got ‘there’, wherever the next ‘there ‘ was.
At the end of the 7-hour ride, covered in mud, dirt and dust I dropped into Utopia for coffee finally and they all wondered why I hadn’t been in the morning.
Something I learned today?
I learned that civet shit coffee tastes smooth but is overpriced and overrated.
What was I like as a child?
The same as I am now but less grown up….in effect, I am still a child, it is just that I have learned how to handle adult responsibilities.
1994ever 