My Thai skills are getting better. Since I’ve been here my vocabulary has tripled, I can distingiush some tones, and sometimes I even can hold an entire conversation. But I still lack a huge portion of words, and I still make the confusion between “hom” and “ho’m”. With the latter I was forced to put a shirt out of commision for a week or two, due to some teasing from Arwon. I mean even just the site of me with that shirt caused a down pour of giggles and jokes. My ego has taken a beating at times. I still however, try stretching my skills even with the occasional back firing.
To protect my face of being “a teacher” though, I have to do a little pretending. Only on a few off days, and on the days inbetween. Keeping the students focused with the occasional “what does it mean in Thai?” works. I catch them a lot, and I make them break out one of their dictionaries. The other times they answer quickly, I nod or say “kay!” sometimes even a high five. But the chances of me knowing what he or she said, however much I've improved, are around 20%. I would never tell them that though.
At lunch a few days ago I walked up to a table of M.2’s (8th graders). They were all talking avidly, but still motioned for me to take a seat. I did, and looked over at Yok.
“Tam arai u?” (What are you doing?)
“Nang?” (Sitting)
“Jing jing” (no really)
“หดี้ได้ดาหืกาดืสฟาก้ดาหกด” (?) She cracked a smile.
“Mmmhhmm…” Uh oh.
“Kao jai mai?” (Do you understand?) Trying to pin me up.
“Chai” (yes) I lie trying to keep my dignity. I won’t be able to let this down for weeks if they catch me on it.
“Blair wah arai?” (What does it mean?)
“It's when you rackateer a handstand.” (That clearly means absolutely nothing)
“OK” They ease up, actually seeming slightly impressed. Victory. They continue talking amongst the table. Well, maybe not a moral victory but my ego beemed the rest of the afternoon.
To protect my face of being “a teacher” though, I have to do a little pretending. Only on a few off days, and on the days inbetween. Keeping the students focused with the occasional “what does it mean in Thai?” works. I catch them a lot, and I make them break out one of their dictionaries. The other times they answer quickly, I nod or say “kay!” sometimes even a high five. But the chances of me knowing what he or she said, however much I've improved, are around 20%. I would never tell them that though.
At lunch a few days ago I walked up to a table of M.2’s (8th graders). They were all talking avidly, but still motioned for me to take a seat. I did, and looked over at Yok.
“Tam arai u?” (What are you doing?)
“Nang?” (Sitting)
“Jing jing” (no really)
“หดี้ได้ดาหืกาดืสฟาก้ดาหกด” (?) She cracked a smile.
“Mmmhhmm…” Uh oh.
“Kao jai mai?” (Do you understand?) Trying to pin me up.
“Chai” (yes) I lie trying to keep my dignity. I won’t be able to let this down for weeks if they catch me on it.
“Blair wah arai?” (What does it mean?)
“It's when you rackateer a handstand.” (That clearly means absolutely nothing)
“OK” They ease up, actually seeming slightly impressed. Victory. They continue talking amongst the table. Well, maybe not a moral victory but my ego beemed the rest of the afternoon.
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