Before coming to
Thailand, I was honestly never really one for charity work. I think we all give
to charities of our choice from time to time but to fully involve ourselves in
charity work is something else altogether. I’ve been teaching overseas for over
four years now and have had quite a few interesting encounters here in
Southeast Asia. The cultural diversity, warmth of the locals and incredible
food are just a few reasons why the region draws the attention of many all over
the world. However, being with the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation has
given me a whole new outlook on life.
I teach in Baan
Kalim School and being the only English teacher there has helped me to improve
my Thai language skills to no end. The English programme at Kalim is kindly
sponsored by Baan Rim Pa, without their sponsorship we would not be able to
teach the number of students that we do.
Signing the contract and
applying for my first visa nine months ago, I imagined that teaching in
Thailand would just be the same as teaching in any other Southeast Asian
country. That naiveté was quickly washed away by the tide of reality. Teaching
here has been the most challenging aspect of my career thus far. I have become deeply
involved with my students and I have certainly grown as a teacher in so many
ways. I’ve always believed that the best teachers never stop learning and it
seems like the longer that I stay here, the more I learn.
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Jay, one of my
students from P1
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Every
Saturday we bring the children swimming |
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Yin, Cha Cha and Mint goofing around with baby powder!
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The most
difficult part of the job is probably hearing the backgrounds that these
children come from. Many students prefer not to talk about their pasts and when
we learn their histories, it’s quite plain to see why. As teachers, we’re
expected to have the answers to the questions thrown at us; we’re expected to
be there for the students and wipe every tear off their faces; we’re expected
to be that rock that they can depend on when things get difficult. Then again,
what does one say when a 6 year old is standing there crying by herself because
she misses her mother? What does one say when a child says that their mother is
away working in Bangla Road? What does one do when a child tells you that they
feel lonely? How does one help a child understand parental love when they live
in school and only have the teachers to care for them?
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Got from
Primary 2 pretending to be a speed racer |
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| Teaching the children how to play the guitar during Coconut Club |
I don’t have answers
to any of these questions despite the time I have spent here. I am part of a
group of teachers that have reconciled with the fact that it is impossible to
answer these questions. All we can really do, over and above just teaching, is
to attempt to fill the voids that exist in each and every one of these
children. We try our best to do this every single day that we are on the job.
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The teachers at Baan
Kalim School on Children’s Day, proving that there’s a child in all of us! |
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| Having fun with the children during Christmas |
In April 2016, I have decided to ride 5000km all along the border of Thailand
in order to raise money for the foundation so that we are able to continue
doing the good work that we do here in Phuket. The ride is called ‘Going the
Extra Mile’ because I want to go above and beyond my job as an English teacher
for these children. Read about the ride here: https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/a13qe7/ab/05Fwh9
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I firmly believe that Thailand is best seen on the back of a motorbike |
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| Safely driving around the country! |
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| Training session before the real 5,000km ride |
I believe in our
cause and the people that work for the foundation. I believe that the children
deserve a better tomorrow, far away from the hardship of today. I also believe
that I will stay here for a long time trying to make this happen.
