So, quick update.
I got a job working a summer camp, two 4 week sessions
I don't start till 2nd week of March, so I have decided to travel south east asia for a little. I am going south to the islands (Koh Pha Ngan, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi) and some national parks for 2 weeks, then ill head up north to the chaing mai/rai area. as time permits ill probably check out Laos, and maybe Vietnam and Cambodia...) Then I'll work for two months, and in that time probably secure a position for the academic school year starting in May.
Tomorrow is another border run to Burma, and then I'm off the the island for some fun and Full Moon Parties (world known for all night partying on the beach)
Hope all is well!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Hua Hin
So we came from Bangkok to Hua Hin, a couple hours on the Upper Southern Gulf of Thailand. We got a bus, came into town and got a hostel. We decided to start the house/job hunt, and ended up with a great 3 story town house for the month of January, to base our job hunting. The house is great, near the Royal Palace and Queen's Park, in a relatively quiet and safe area, about 6 minutes on bike from the city center. We quickly found out that the jobs in Thailand really want you to work for them, but they won't hire you until the school year starts. This means that schools would love to hire us, but can't get us working until May 1st, and there is no way any of us can wait that long. Of course we found this out the day we got our townhouse, but it seems that anywhere in Thailand, for normal Thai schools, would be in a similar problem. So we have been looking all over...
We did get one job offer from Stamford International University, with their English Immersion program, but have not fully decided on that one. It would be amazing, and we could even start teaching University level intro English classes, but we feel that teaching kids would be more rewarding for us. So that is one option, if things get out of hand.
Another school really liked us, and was trying to figure out a way to pay us half time until may when we can start working for fulltime. This sounded ok, but we have started to question if Hua Hin is somewhere we would want to spend 6 months or a year, as there really isn't a young scene, or a huge backpacker scene... so we'r just conflicted and torn.
The worst part is that our Tourist Visas are coming to and end. We have to do a border run next weekend, and if we can get a 2 or 3 month tourist visa from Malaysia, we may make the trek, but if not we're planning on renewing for one more month, and then just figuring it out.
The money is going, but not horribly fast, so we're not in a GIANT rush, but the visa thing does suck a little. There is a really cool Summer Camp, which would be awsome, but it doesn't start till March, and unless we have a tourist visa that can handle it, we may have to flee the country in hopes of something else. But that's not for at least a month.
Weve been trying to see what we can of Hua Hin, which has great night markets, and some decent beaches. There is a temple at the other side of town that has monkeys running all around, so you can pay 60 cents to get bananas and feed them. Today Johanna set them down to take a picture of me, and one big monkey stole the whole bunch and ran up a tree... sneaky little...
There are some cool beaches, and when it's really hot we go for a swim and do some reading. Cooking for ourselves is also great, and putting peanuts and fresh pinapple with stir fry has really become addicting... the best pinapple.. mmm so fresh
Let's see. We rented bikes too, so we have our own transportation, and it gets great gas mileage, i think. I spent about 5 dollars and got around 200 kilometers... i tried to convert it, but didn't remember exactly what I got. Either way Ive driving all over the place in the past week and only spent about 8-10 dollars on gas... gotta love the little motorbikes...
I guess that's it for now, sorry I didn't write earlier.
Oh, Her Royal Magesty, the Princess (the King's sister) passed away a couple weeks ago, and it's interesting to see all the tv adverts for her, and lots of her pictures were put up. Also you are asked not to wear lots of bright clothing, as to respect the time of mourning...
On that note... hope all is well, and I'll post up on this once I figure out if I am going to take any of the job offers, or move to Bangkok to look for jobs, or try for that Summer Camp at the University on the other side of the gulf... Hopefully tomorrow morning will help everyone get back to my emails and we can get some productive stuff done. Also, I just might be able to call people (no promises), so watch out grandma!
We did get one job offer from Stamford International University, with their English Immersion program, but have not fully decided on that one. It would be amazing, and we could even start teaching University level intro English classes, but we feel that teaching kids would be more rewarding for us. So that is one option, if things get out of hand.
Another school really liked us, and was trying to figure out a way to pay us half time until may when we can start working for fulltime. This sounded ok, but we have started to question if Hua Hin is somewhere we would want to spend 6 months or a year, as there really isn't a young scene, or a huge backpacker scene... so we'r just conflicted and torn.
The worst part is that our Tourist Visas are coming to and end. We have to do a border run next weekend, and if we can get a 2 or 3 month tourist visa from Malaysia, we may make the trek, but if not we're planning on renewing for one more month, and then just figuring it out.
The money is going, but not horribly fast, so we're not in a GIANT rush, but the visa thing does suck a little. There is a really cool Summer Camp, which would be awsome, but it doesn't start till March, and unless we have a tourist visa that can handle it, we may have to flee the country in hopes of something else. But that's not for at least a month.
Weve been trying to see what we can of Hua Hin, which has great night markets, and some decent beaches. There is a temple at the other side of town that has monkeys running all around, so you can pay 60 cents to get bananas and feed them. Today Johanna set them down to take a picture of me, and one big monkey stole the whole bunch and ran up a tree... sneaky little...
There are some cool beaches, and when it's really hot we go for a swim and do some reading. Cooking for ourselves is also great, and putting peanuts and fresh pinapple with stir fry has really become addicting... the best pinapple.. mmm so fresh
Let's see. We rented bikes too, so we have our own transportation, and it gets great gas mileage, i think. I spent about 5 dollars and got around 200 kilometers... i tried to convert it, but didn't remember exactly what I got. Either way Ive driving all over the place in the past week and only spent about 8-10 dollars on gas... gotta love the little motorbikes...
I guess that's it for now, sorry I didn't write earlier.
Oh, Her Royal Magesty, the Princess (the King's sister) passed away a couple weeks ago, and it's interesting to see all the tv adverts for her, and lots of her pictures were put up. Also you are asked not to wear lots of bright clothing, as to respect the time of mourning...
On that note... hope all is well, and I'll post up on this once I figure out if I am going to take any of the job offers, or move to Bangkok to look for jobs, or try for that Summer Camp at the University on the other side of the gulf... Hopefully tomorrow morning will help everyone get back to my emails and we can get some productive stuff done. Also, I just might be able to call people (no promises), so watch out grandma!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Years
Hello everyone.
So we have successfully finished the course. We are all certified teachers. After we finished, we took a bus to a town called Pattaya known for it's Adult things. We ended up dancing for two days straight at one of the best clubs Ive been to. A mix between a live band and DJ, it was really good. Then after, on the street people are walking around with giant snakes and baby lemurs and all sorts of naughty things so the walk back is also quite fun.
Then we came up to Bangkok and are staying with our friend Chris, from the course. He has a great place, with a pool on the roof and it's right next to the Skytrain. We went to a movie (4 bucks) and saw I am Legend. No one knew it was scary and we all nearly had heart attacks. I officially hate mannequins. We partied alright (but nothing compares to the dance-fest of Pattaya)No we are relaxing by the pool, getting coveted Western fast food, and trying to feel better. Tomorrow is more sightseeing in BKK, an embassy visit, and hopefully seeing the Guertins at some point.
Ill update again when I have the time. We will be in the search for jobs and an apartment in the next week, hopefully we'll have both by the time I need to do a border run in 20 days. Enjoy New Years! or... i guess you already did.
So we have successfully finished the course. We are all certified teachers. After we finished, we took a bus to a town called Pattaya known for it's Adult things. We ended up dancing for two days straight at one of the best clubs Ive been to. A mix between a live band and DJ, it was really good. Then after, on the street people are walking around with giant snakes and baby lemurs and all sorts of naughty things so the walk back is also quite fun.
Then we came up to Bangkok and are staying with our friend Chris, from the course. He has a great place, with a pool on the roof and it's right next to the Skytrain. We went to a movie (4 bucks) and saw I am Legend. No one knew it was scary and we all nearly had heart attacks. I officially hate mannequins. We partied alright (but nothing compares to the dance-fest of Pattaya)No we are relaxing by the pool, getting coveted Western fast food, and trying to feel better. Tomorrow is more sightseeing in BKK, an embassy visit, and hopefully seeing the Guertins at some point.
Ill update again when I have the time. We will be in the search for jobs and an apartment in the next week, hopefully we'll have both by the time I need to do a border run in 20 days. Enjoy New Years! or... i guess you already did.
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