New Family

Meeting different people with different culture is both an exciting and challenging experience as well as significant events in our lives for we learn from them not only their ways but also their values, language, lifestyles, work ethics and even sense of commitments. I am beyond joy to have lived such opportunity. It gave me generous quality of learning that I must embrace my entire life. Today, my new co-workers in my new school are my new family as well. I will have another kind of values and ways to learn from these people who work with joy and value true education. I have so many expectations and hopes that with any luck will be seen as real success soon.

My first words when I started on my first day were ‘I am home.’ Truly I am home for many years of being away from the country and serve or educate foreign students, I feel I found the right place to stay and devote my commitment and forte for REAL. It dawned on me that I was wanted by my students elsewhere and here I am needed in the sense that these young ones deserve real works. As much as possible I devote my time teaching no-nonsense stuffs to those who are willing to accept them than to those who only wanted certificates.

Now that I am completing my first month in a school that holds a special spot in my being, I feel proud and glad. Proud that I’m part of an institution that involves God in the process of educating the youth and glad that I am trusted to help better in the shaping of the formative years of our future professionals together with my new family.DSC_0333

My Ayuthaya Tour in Photos part 2, Weekly Photo Challenge: Relic

Relic

What images does “relic” conjure for you? A well-worn piece of blue beach glass, the faded pencil markings from a high-school journal, or the curmudgeonly character from the CBC television series, The Beachcombers?


This week’s photo challenge – relic is a convenient challenge for me. Few days ago I visited one of the ancient capitals of Thailand and I got photos that proves its existence and antiquity. My Ayuthaya tour is my entry for this week’s photo challenge.

Ayutthaya or Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. It is located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River, and it was founded in 1350 by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya kingdom or Siam. Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. (wikipedia)

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How to get to Ayuthaya: (based on our travel)

From Bangkok

Go to Victory Monument, take the van that goes to Ayuthaya and tell the van driver to drop you off at the van terminal. Get a tuktuk ride, who usually charge you 200baht/hour tour but eventually gives you 700 baht for 5 hour tour around the city and temples. (We were three when we went for a tour so the price was not bad.) You will pay an entrance fee to some temples and in floating markets but some temples are free.

The Daily Post: Right to Brag

 

I am proud to say that for the first time in eight years of teaching, I accepted my current task without complaints 😀 I survived too in my daily challenges of teaching impulsive and headstrong adolescents.

Life was a little easier with a working space like this…
but it gets tougher with a working station like this… These books are from one class of 49 students…had to mark 4-6 pages each. Books and notebooks of another 12 classes with 30+ students are hidden… 🙂

Yes, I complain a lot. But this time I prefer silence for moaning gets me nowhere. Besides I only have less than 2 months to work like these. After that I will be a full-time mother. And the decision to give up teaching and be a full-time homemaker is the proudest and toughest thing I’ve made these days.

Sydnee at 8 months
Sydnee at 8 months

Most importantly, I’ve never been prouder in my life for having this little girl! She’s the best decision we’ve ever made.

Worlds Colliding: Hot and Cold

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Sometimes I like to question people telling me“be yourself and stay true!” Which self are they referring to? My being A who’s quiet, cool and homebody island girl? Or being me as B who’s sarcastic, hot-tempered and a whiner at work?  I always stay true, depends on where, and whom I’m taking to… or depends entirely in the mood!

 My recent homecoming to my motherland was a bit longer than the previous – two months. Enough time and chances that my two personalities may show up and battle against each other. So I stayed with my family whom I’ve not seen for 6 years. Of course many things have changed between us and I’m not sure if we still know each other or the years have made us strangers in the family.

 Before I get there I thought I found the perfect time to take a break from the pressures at work that really brings out my worst personality B. I could put aside my grumpy behavior and being a stickler to policies and proprieties. I don’t want personality B to come with me to where personality A is being loved…

But…

The first day I arrived, there was already a family gathering… the next day too and the day after… There seemed endless karaoke, partying and eating in queue which didn’t give me the time I need to relax.

I started to show a frowning face and a complaining attitude… even rubbing my opinions and ways of certain thing which totally put my parents in daze. My in-laws too who have not known me and who were in the process of knowing me well were present so I need to switch back to personality A like an ‘auto mode’ to show the soft-spoken, mature and meek character of A… (must be done to save my family and husband’s reputation that-kind-of-thing !)

Arrghhh… I don’t want to think I am two-faced. I just live in two different worlds and must conform to each lifestyle.

Then these worlds collide because of a certain situation… difficult! Stressful!

Personality A, when in the island-province, is usually quiet and prefers to read books, go to the beach than shop and party with friends. She likes to make her hands dirty in the garden and fertilize the roses and orchids and cook Filipino food that she missed while she was away…

Then some voice in my head: were you just too keen to get a time for yourself that you did not give your family and relatives enough time to be with you..?

Hmmm… is there personality C talking? The thinker, the self-adviser?

Shake my head and dismiss the idea!

Since I’m back at work personality A only shows up when I’m at home or out of work. Personality B is in constant complaining of inconsistencies, discrimination and other stuff!

And right now personality C is saying to me: You’re just being true to yourself!

Yah, there’s personality C. Right here, whispering in my head!

Just What I Needed… A Relaxing Weekend

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This fountain is greeting every visitors with pride…

 

We have different ways to add zest to our lives. You may prefer a crowded bar, a romantic restaurant, a popcorn and movie at home, a weekend movie at an exquisite movie house, a drinking session with best buddies or just plain and quiet kind. Just this weekend I preferred the latter… the peaceful one.

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I guess what’s engraved says: Jatuchak Park… I hope I was right! 😀

 

I spent a day at Jatuchak Park in Bangkok, my favorite weekend stomping ground. The day was with high humidity but it did not stop us to use up some lavish time there. Why is this park always my favorite place to relax? Well, the photos can tell you more than my words I guess.

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Bangkok always offers a perfect weather…
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Anyone is welcome to sit here…
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I think I must try those pedal duck boats and go through under this bridge to the other end

It is a vast park where people could take a nap under the shady trees without disturbance; one can jog around or run and exercise as there are exercise equipments installed in a certain area for free. Food is available when you need something to eat, it is quiet and clean. It is very accessible to malls and markets when you want to shop right after you take relaxation. Transportation like buses, taxis, motorcycles, and trains are easy to find.

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The bridge over calm waters 😀
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One of my favorite snaps… squirrels live in those trees.
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Thai Military Bank loos mighty on this one…
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A man on his solitary moment… 🙂
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What’s left from summer blossoming trees… they still look beautiful. Adds color to the greens!

This park is just perfect for me. The landscaping is neat and the flowers are well-maintained. Most importantly, this park is safe. Security is watchful and looks always prepared. You do not need to worry about petty crimes like stealing belongings, solicitors who just come to you and ask for something or irritating sellers…

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A picnic at the park is not complete without food, water, some fruits and some mags or books. This John Grisham novel is a perfect choice!
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A neat landscaping…
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Really orange…these flowers stand out!
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Pink and White… simply sweet and delicate!
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To complete the looks of a park… flowers play the biggest role and bees make it sweet!

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A park in Thailand is not complete without a lotus flower!
A park in Thailand is not complete without a lotus flower!