Cursed – 3rd July 2024

July 3, 2024May 5, 2025 ~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

Incarnated into another low form
Cursed again to never feel a real peace
It’s too late now to wish I’d not been born
The struggle to survive will never cease
Next life, please guide me away from the storm
Let me take a turn at a life of ease
Shed this skin before an exchange of breath
A return to life in exchange for death

An Ottavo Rima poem on reincarnation, submitted to FOWC with Fandango — Cursed and Three Things Challenge #M742 – death, wish, peace

Today I’m feeling:

A little tired but happy. I skipped exercise this morning as I was dead asleep from perhaps 10.30 until my alarm at 6 am.

My body is definitely feeling the effects of that exercise yesterday morning, so I’m ok to skip today and try it again tomorrow. It’s a kinda good tired feeling.

Today I’m grateful for:

Mee’s mum getting out of the hospital last night. I had just randomly messaged Mee to see how she was, and she said that her mum had been suddenly rushed to the hospital.

Happily, everything was ok. I didn’t ask anymore about it.

My guess is that it wasn’t as serious as Mee was making out, but I also know how important it is for her to have her mum back in her everyday life.

The best thing about today was:

Nong Praew told me that she has three dads. Her dad, her mum and me! That was nice to hear. I know she struggles in my class, not just with what I’m teaching but also socially.

I don’t know how much of an effect her medicine has on her, but she can be a little hyper happy sometimes, though she knows who to show it to and who not to show it to. I can understand why some students are put off by her, but as an adult, I can feel empathy for her.

She told me that she might move to Chiang Mai at some point because she is not happy at this school. I’m not sure how much that will help her in the long run.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

My most annoying student really pissed me off today as he pulled down his best friends pants whilst he had his hands full, in front of the whole class. I asked him to leave and have since been talking to his homeroom teacher about what to do with him this time.

No previous warnings or punishments have had any effect and I believe they won’t have this time either. I will see if I can switch from teaching his class because I’ve had enough of having to deal with him.

Something I learned today?

“Do you want some tea?” Is the new kids code word “Do you want some gossip”. I found out this morning from JubJib that the gossip is that a group of grade 9 students from my old class are bullying Yurin in various ways. I think I wrote here a few days ago about it.

Whilst Yurin is unlikely to be blameless in whatever is going on, the others shouldn’t be ganging up on her either.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Kru NumNim was away from the grade 8 class this morning so I sat in and encouraged them to do their work which was a little tough as kids played and slept instead.

By the end of the class, about 80% of the students had at least put something together.

This morning Nong Praew gave me some rice crackers as a gift for which I thanked her. A few minutes later I met Lin and she looked very sad and thoughtful.

She couldn’t or wouldn’t explain what was wrong, so I just patted her back and handed over the rice crackers for comfort. I also sent her a message later on.

Satisfied – 1st July 2024

July 1, 2024April 28, 2025 ~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 5 Comments

Through a process of elimination
We conquered our impulsive mind
To overcome the madness
That once made us so blind

Valley waters now run clean
Pure air fills our lungs
Meditating on our madness
Forced to review the sums

So the moon eyes open
A twinkle amongst the gleams
Falcon flight a-diving
At the fish thriving in our streams

Submitted to No Theme Thursday and Three Things Challenge #M739

Today I’m feeling:

A little bit down this morning, but not about anything specifically. I think it was still the leftover rust from drinking on Friday. It takes so long for me to recover now that it just isn’t worth it.

I struggled with exercise this morning but glad that I did. I have found some videos that I might try to follow, too. I keep going across different exercise apps, but they all want my money and for some reason I only just now realised I can just follow along with videos instead. I’ll try my first one tomorrow.

I felt much better after my first class, my happy grade 12s and the lesson I had come up with worked well with them, so that gives me confidence for the next two classes that I try it with.

Today I’m grateful for:

My wage (again!). Much of it disappearing already into cat food, the electricity bill and a little shopping. A bit more will disappear tomorrow when I pay off my credit at House.

The best thing about today was:

Kru Tang roping me into helping a trio of primary students with their pronunciation for a presentation that they will give next week. Their English is excellent already and I could only offer minimal advice.

But the best things that came out of it is that for three days next week, many students are away at these competitions so the school will be closed to students. Those not in competitions are to be taught online.

What that means for me, though, is no classes as I don’t have the knowledge or facility to teach online.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Suddenly, the power went out when I was teaching and I was assuming that it was in the whole building, school or area. I continued teaching without missing a beat and writing on the board instead of using the projector.

Something I learned today?

At the end of the class, when the power went out, I discovered that it was just our room where it was out and so I assumed that a breaker had been tripped and now I know where they are.

Another teacher asked me if both of the air conditioning units were on and I wasn’t sure but it made me think afterwards, what if they were? There are two air conditioning units in each classroom, why have them if there is not enough capacity to use them!?

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I sent Baipad and Anchan a translated parable from Khalil Gibran. It is about fear and dealing with it.

I talked it through with Baipad who is not well practiced at understanding allegory or thinking more broadly about things.

I hope that she understood the meaning a little deeper than before.

Spy On You – 21st June 2024

June 21, 2024March 20, 2025 ~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 10 Comments

My lizard eye spies surprise
Sideways sly spy in the skies
Explain a name, much the same
A play for fame explains the game

To beat the heat or face defeat
You gotta cheat the play complete
I did the do in watching you
So talk me through the dimmest view

Before there’s more along the floor
See what I see, saw what I saw
Split decision at the supervision
I got television with precision-vision
I got an eye on you

Submitted to Three Things Challenge #M729 and #M730
4th Dec 2024 – Shared with dVerse – TV shows

Today I’m feeling:

Not as tired as I usually am by Friday which is pleasing. I’ve already done my morning classes again and they went pretty well. Just my lively grade 8s to go and then off home again.

Today I’m grateful for:

The last drips and drops of my pay cheque that allow me to buy my yoghurt, that should tide me over until next month.

I don’t have enough money to pay for Amy’s birthday dinner now and have to figure out a way to get the credit card out of her wallet on the night without her noticing!

The best thing about today was:

The many interactions with students again, mostly mine but also a few new ones that wanted to talk.

Days like this make all the effort I put in feel worthwhile. I feel like any little small interaction is helping these kids in some way.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I have a sore spot right on the end of my tailbone. I’ve had it before and maybe it was at the same time last year. It feels like dry skin that has maybe split. It could be from spending more time sitting on hard wooden chairs or from doing more exercise at this time of year. I’m not sure. It’s more annoying than painful.

After my first class, I walked past the classroom where George was with the grade 11s that I also teach. The kids were mostly sprawled out across the floor asleep and George sat at his desk engrossed in his phone.

Well…. That’s not a great look in my book but whatever. It seems most of the Thai teachers don’t care either. But I feel at least a little bit responsible for giving these kids as much as I can, whether they would prefer to sleep or not!

Something I learned today?

China just found a cure for Type 2 diabetes and the USA wants to stop their citizens from getting access to treatment by blocking US scientists from working with Chinese Pharmaceuticals.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Aida was looking a bit down again today and she said that she has a falling out with a couple of her friends in the class. I encouraged her to not overthink things and that it may already be ok again by next week.

I can feel that she thinks quite deeply about things and maybe focuses too much on the negative.