This morning, it was the sun streaming through the windows of my living room that woke me from my slumber. I was on my living room couch, with the lights still on, and music playing. Now, I was surprised to find myself here. I was not supposed to be on my living room couch with the remains of an ice cream cone next to me. I was not supposed to have a pounding headache capitalizing on my temples. I was supposed to be in my bedroom, a dark room that shields me from fiery sun rays. I was supposed to be waking to the sound of my morning alarm. I was supposed to feel rested and refreshed, but upon finding my cell phone, I discovered that I only had an hour to nurse myself back to sobriety before heading in to the office. Yes, this was my morning. It was all backwards, out of sorts, and the product of the farewell dinner orchestrated by the Thai staff at my school. I needed painkillers.
Like I have been saying, I have been working to cut out drinking this month in an attempt to get ready for my race in June, but a refrigerator stocked with the local brew, Singha, and the foreign specialty (haha), Heineken, sent our goodbye dinner in another direction last night and derailed my initiatives. Though I was making concessions on my own plans of sobriety, let's just say, some people took this as an opportunity let it all gooooo. Hey, what would a work function be without that one guy instigating a few of those "ummm...ahhhh...yeahhhh" - awkward moments. It was like watching The Office, but in 4D.
Well, needless to say, the 8 hour work dinner and tour of the greater Phuket area was an interesting one, yet, completely worth it since I received a framed collage of myself with the caption, "Fond Memories", had a decadent meal, full access to the open bar, and was addressed as Satree's "china doll" by my superiors in a commemorative speech. So, my time at this school has finally come to a close and I will be remembered, not for any academic contribution I have made, not for intellectual abilities, nor stellar personality trait (still laughing...). Though Anchorman is one of my favorite movies of all time and I can not think about Ron Burgundy addressing Veronica Corningstone as his "little china doll" without laughing, I am cringing a little to think that this is how I will be remembered at this school. A china doll. Really? Haha...goodness...
When I finally arrived at the office, everyone seemed to be in about the same shape as me...a little worse for the wear, but then it got funny. I was trying my best to zone out at my desk when one of my director's came bustling up to my desk. She has been pestering me to stay at Satree or at least reapply in the future, but last night, she had mentioned that since I was set on leaving my position, she might have found a job for me at a neighboring school. This is the way Thailand works...everyone always has their own plans for you...it is their way of "helping you out". In the past, I have attempted to explain to her that I'm only looking for part time work, but I figured I would get back to neutral (in regard to my mind and body this morning) and then go and speak to her about the potential job to find out the specifics and to keep my options open. However, things were not going to follow my schedule today. As I followed her to our resource center, it became clear that I was walking into an interview. I ended up meeting the director of the other school's English program, going with them to this other school to be presented to the non-English speaking principal, and was recruited to teach art and physical education at this place...all occurring in a total of 30 minutes.
Yes, here's me - head aching and recovering - in a introduction turned interview - being hired for a teaching position at a new school despite my previous insistence that I am leaving Thailand and only looking for part time work. Did I have any paper work or information with me to prove my qualifications for this position? No. Does anything in this country ever go as planned? No. Does anything ever happen in the order that you expect it to? No. Can you be roped into a teaching job in less than 30 minutes flat?
Chaiiiii. Apparently so. With the offer to pay me the same, good salary that I currently make, to take care of my expensive visa and immigration renewal, and requiring less from me, with fun classes as the cherry on top, it is a very good deal. I was returned back to school with a job offer and I am just laughing to myself. After living in Thailand for as long as I have, I am still continuously baffled by the what is considered "normalcy" in this country.
I never have a "normal" day here. I can start a less than par/out of sorts morning without any expectations in my cloudy brain and within a half an hour have the direction of my life all rearranged. This isn't because I am intellectually gifted or talented in my teaching abilities...remember....haha - I'm just a "china doll"...speaking some English with a preferable accent and clearly living a life that is 2 parts fantasy and 1 part reality. There's no other way to explain it.
This country makes me laugh...things are just mixed up, but easy. Life is made complicated only through my own decision making or lack of decision making (which is more often the case). It never really follows the schedule I anticipate or the direction I envision. Instead, I spend my time here, like my morning, just floating along and chuckling to myself as one chapter comes to a close with shambles and unforeseen opportunities unfold in its place...
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