How To Survive a Year of Teaching: Phuket, Thailand

HOW TO SURVIVE A YEAR OF TEACHING 

PHUKET, THAILAND

Living in Thailand can be a down right insane experience - with the traffic, the people, the language barrier, new food, new climate, and new experiences, all rolled into one - it is bound to make your head spin a bit. Hell, my head is still spinning! However, teaching in Thailand has been one of the most rewarding and amazing experiences of my life, so I continue to encourage people to get out and do some teaching abroad, despite the inherent challenges. We all stumble and this year, I have stumbled.....repeatedly, but I've picked up some things along the way that make this life a little easier to navigate...

#1. Spice up your life - Learning to love spice.

Okkkayyyy, so not everyone in this world is designed to eat chilies like these...

...or where they? Jury is out, but I have to say that I love 'em! The food in Thailand is amazing - filled with flavor, variety, and in Phuket - tons of fish and seafood. (Here, here vacation living!) The one thing that you have to look out for though, is "pet mahk mahk". ("Pet" means "spicy" and the "mahk mahk" means "very", so "pet mahk mahk" is very spicy!)  Sooo, start slow. Build a tolerance. Capsicum is addictive after all, so you will end up loving it (it's science), but in the meantime, remember to say, "mai ow pet" - which means that you don't want spicy or "pet nit noy" if you want a little bit of spice...otherwise...look out - spice will find a way into any dish. ANY!

I can and will go on for ages about the food, but I'll save that for another post. Maybe with an entire installment on the ins and outs of "kai dow dat bitch!"...stay tuned...

#2. Buy beer at 7/11. 

Here's a fun fact: 7/11 makes Asian life go 'round. Buy beer here! Pay your electricity bill! Add minutes to your phone! Get late night snacks! Practice your Thai with 7/11 workers! Hah! There is one on every corner or across the street from another 7/11, so you can't miss them. Additionally, if you buy beer or whiskey here, many restaurants and bars will let you bring your 7/11 purchases with you into their establishment. Yeah, check that out. This makes a night out a lot more financially feasible in an already financially feasible place.

This just in: recently, a new competitor of 7/11 has taken to the Thai streets. This is known as the 24 hour Super Cheap...a.k.a. Supaaa Cheap! (Say that like you are Asian.) Shoot, I'm so culturally insensitive, but if you do it, you will laugh, I promise. This place is bright, purple, and plaguing Phuket, so you can't miss it. Plus, they have veggies, fruit, and some healthier food options than the ol' 7. At the end of the day, 7/11 and Supaaa Cheap are goldmines for getting your life sorted, picking up Thai whiskey/beer, and dewberry cookies. Oh, dewberry cookies! Try 'em! It is simple math...

+ =

Lastly, I can't do any more than send you in the right direction, but I do suggest any other beer (Leo is my preference) over Chang beer, due to the fact that Chang doesn't really have a regulation process, so the beer is filled with all sorts of stuff that, yes, will get you hammered, but will leave you feeling like you were hit by a tuk-tuk. People call the hangover that is guaranteed from a Chang night a "Chang-over". It will get you and then you will wish you listened to my advice. :)

 

#3. There's something to be said for that little invention that is used to protect your noggin....it is a helmet! USE IT!

This issue gets me all sorts of worked up. Mostly, because people end up killing themselves on motorbikes left and right. Yeah, I know the weather is hot and you want to feel the wild blowing in your hair, or you practice muay thai all the time and are trying to let it be known, where ever you are, that you are hard as fuck. I don't care - wear a helmet, oh, and you aren't - you just look like another sunburned farrang (thai word for white foreigner) who doesn't have a god damn clue. You didn't grow up putting 10 people on a motorbike as part of your daily routine and you sure as shit didn't grow up around mini buses being used as weapons, so do yourself a favor and try to keep your brains together.

This is the kind of helmet they will give you when you rent a bike. Yeahhhh, not going to do that much, but at least it is something and it is by far better than nothing! Think about it - your head versus asphalt...

This is the kind of helmet you should get, especially if you are going to be around Phuket for awhile. These guys cost about 20-30 dollars, make you look like a member of Daft Punk, and will save your life. I'm being a bit morbid, but it is justified and honestly...30 dollars to keep your head together....come on!

While we are on the subject...

#4. Buy a motorbike. If you are here for a substantial period of time, It will save you money to buy a bike instead of renting each month. On top of that, you can sell it at the end of your stay. 

 #5. Stay Active.

Thailand is an amazing place, because it is easy to feel like you are on a permanent vacation. Yet, we all know when we go on vacation, that it is very easy for regular exercise to fall by the wayside. Sure, we all embrace the vacation lifestyle, but when Thai people start calling you out for gaining weight - which they will do, it might be time to join a sports team or get active in some way. Luckily there are many gyms and activities that you can get involved with - surfing, soccer, rock climbing, kayaking, jungle trekking, wake boarding, snorkeling/swimming/anything in the water, running, yoga, Frisbee.....for those who like that sort of thing, zumba, muay thai, whatever. The best way to get to know a new place is by getting out and being active, so take advantage! Just find something that you enjoy and stay active...even when on perma-vacation.

 

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's another amazing picture of my friend, Tim, on a climbing trip at Koh Yao Noi. Picture taken by Thailand resident, Tommy Parker.

Another friend of mine, Bob, said, "...but I haven't worked out since high school!" Well, Bob, you've got to prioritize! No one just goes around eating ice cream all day every day like an 8 year old... ;)

#6. Remember as soon as you arrive, you are a child. 

...and just like a child, you are going to stumble over words, mess up when to "wai" to people, and feel lost, a lot of the time. This is all part of the learning experience, so expect to make mistakes and be open to learning. Thais are very forgiving and are more than willing to help!

#7. Prepare yourself for being unprepared and then...expect the changes to change too. 

Being a teacher in Thailand means that everything is subject to change. Classes change, obligations change, expectations change, requirements change. Everything is subject to change and part of succeeding in the Thai education world is being okay with the changes. This isn't like western schools with strict planning and organization. Sometimes students need to get their hair or nails cut during class time, sometimes there is a sports day practice that needs to take place, but most of the time there is no rhyme or reason - it just is what it is. It is necessary that people learn to just roll with it or you will have a very frustrating experience.

That being said - Thais believe in "jai yen yen" which means that you must have a calm heart. Don't get angry at the Thai taxi driver who doesn't understand your Bulgarian accent, hell, who even knows where Bulgaria is? Don't take out school frustration on the Thai teachers, who work harder than you ever will. You are in a new country and you have to stay cool, calm, and collected, regardless of the desperation of the situation. If anyone has ever heard the phrase, "be zen", then you can begin to understand the meaning of jai yen yen. Chill out and go peacefully through this world. 

That being said...  

#8.  Learn some Thai and learn about the culture.

1. This is a remarkable place and the more you learn about the language and culture, the more amazing it becomes. 
2. Thais will respect you more - even if you can barely say, "Hello, how are you?", they will be happy that you are at least trying and will respond, "You speak Thai so goooood!"
3. Things will cost less. That whole westerner/Thai price difference is real...so knowing a little Thai can help get the price down a little bit.
4. You are in Thailand for christ's sake - learning about this place is just FUN.

#9. As a teacher, you are an educator. 

This sounds silly and self explanatory, but what I want to get across is that as a teacher, you are a role model for students, but more than that, you are in charge of a child's education. Multiple "childs" - the education of children! Imagine what you would have thought as a young person and your teacher didn't give fuck all about your education, called in sick repeatedly, or was unprepared for your classes...

My old housemate, Geoff, with his students.

#10. Live and love where you are. 

It is easy to get hung up on what's happening back home, but you have to focus on where you are and embrace the experience you are having. Being here is beautiful, magical, and passes in an instant. I constantly have to take a second to remember, hey, I'm in Thailand and it has already been over a year! Who would have imagined! Time goes quickly, so live in the present, explore where you are, and get the most out of being in this incredible place.

#11. Value the friendships/relationships that you are creating. It doesn't matter if you are here for a couple of months or a couple of years, saying goodbye is hard, but expiration dates are a part of life - whether you are in Thailand or elsewhere. Phuket just happens to be a cracked out version of impermanent living, so frequently people withdraw from investing in meaningful relationships for fear of creating something that might have to end. I, personally, don't think it should be like this. I think that we should work to value our time together for the time we have it. 

#12. Take advantage of your weekends. 

Working as a teacher can be pretty hectic during the week, so use your weekends as a chance to get out of Phuket and explore! You don't want to end your adventure with a list of movies you were able to download from the shaky internet access you have. Nay! You want be able to show people the sickest stuff that you were able to experience while living abroad. This place is filled with possibilities - just go!

Finally, for now...

#13. Party HARD, take pictures, wear sunscreen, read, write, and never, never wear a banana hammock/speedo. NEVER. Under any circumstances! 

To end all of this, I just want to take a second to say thank you to all who have made this last year so memorable, the speedo wearers, the lady boys, my students, my teachers, and my amazing friends. I don't know what this next year holds, perhaps "same same", perhaps "different", perhaps "same same, but different"...? Who knows? I'm just twenty something, staying 8 years old at heart, while exploring as a teacher in Thailand and a student in life, love, health, and happiness...