I am
now officially retired, which I define as not seeking full-time, paid
employment. I use this definition because I am seeking volunteer work.
This
last week has been fairly quiet. We had to be at school every day, but most of
us foreign teachers were pretty loose about it, scanning in and out but leaving
for at least some of the time during the day. We had no official work to do.
Kate was doing something in her record books on Thursday—recording check marks
related to students’ skills. I hadn’t been given my record books; so I asked
Kru Toom, who said she would do them for me. I took advantage of the looseness
and went in late most days because I was getting ready to leave the house and I
worked better in the morning than in the evening. One day I went for a haircut.
Another I went for a 2-hour massage (cost 300 bahts, about $9). I knew the
massage was needed when I noticed that there were more points than usual that
hurt when she pressed on them. This is one of the things I’ll miss.
My/Our
time at the school ended not as well as it could have. Sister Viphaporn and
Sister Oranut were in the Philippines and didn’t return until Friday; so they
didn’t arrange to have my—which became our when Tony and Lovely figured out
that they could not be at school on Monday, either—salary ready Friday
afternoon. This was especially irritating because I’d discussed with Sister
Viphaporn twice that the 27th would be my last day. So we had to go
in Saturday morning to collect our salary. We agreed to meet at 9:00. Of
course, they didn’t have the money ready, which was also a little irritating,
as I had a lot to do that day. It took 45 minutes for the money to be given to
us. Then they decided to take photos. I was not in the mood to be happy and do
this, but I put a final smile for the school on my face.
When I
got home, I cleaned the house. Final cleaning before moving out of a house is a
really intimate act. As I clean in these situations, it becomes a way to thank
the house for being a good home for me. Lovely and Xiel came in the afternoon
to take their items. They wanted to take me out for lunch, and I could tell
that this was important to them; so I went with them. It was nice to have the
time with Lovely, as she hadn’t been at school most of the week, and it was
nice to spend some time with Xiel, too. Khun Yindee and her husband took me for
a last pad Thai at the mall. I’d eaten breakfast with Khun Dakom at Khun Somlan’s
house. So I ate a lot on my last day.
I had
my last class with Ammy on Thursday. She has been coming alone since Pu Pu
dropped out last week. She came on Monday and was crying when she arrived. She
cried for a while and said “no” when I asked what she wanted to do. Then she
got up and left and didn’t come back. I don’t know what her problem was. Ammy
became more talkative and asked a lot of questions. I know she has difficulty
learning at the fast pace of class when she cannot ask questions and cannot
process fast enough to keep up.
I had a
guest in my bedroom this week—a tookay lizard. These are outside lizards that
are about 10.5 inches long. It was in the bedroom two weeks ago when I returned
from the funeral. That night it was also on the door in the living room. When I
used a broom to guide it to the crack under the door so it could go outside, it
ran back into the bedroom and hid. I figured that it found its way in; so it
could find its way out. And I didn’t see it again for two weeks. Then it was on
the wardrobe door Wednesday morning. When I walked in and saw it, it ran and
hid behind the wardrobe. That made me wonder if it had been there for two
weeks. When it made its call, it sounded really close. I thought it was on the
wall outside the bedroom, where I’ve seen one before, but maybe it was on the
wall inside the bedroom. That afternoon it was on the wall. At night it was on
the living room wall near the door. I took the opportunity to help it go
outside again. I opened the door and put the broom on the wall in front of it.
It turned around and ran out the door quickly.
As I
went through my things to sort and pack them, I missed having a thrift shop
where I could take things I don’t want. Without that option, I’m taking more
back to the U.S. than I might otherwise. I gave household items to friends.
I’ll take some clothes to the Peace Corps lounge for new volunteers, but I
can’t do that until September. So, I found myself packing most of the clothes.
Some I think I’ll cut up for pillows or a quilt, as I won’t wear them in the
U.S. and they aren’t a style that most Americans would wear these days. Thais
can’t wear them to work because their dress on most days is dictated so they
are standardized. I’m storing everything at Khun Yindee’s house while I travel.
Then I can go through them again in September. I purchased a big box at the
post office to mail clothes and a few other items back to the U.S. It will cost
a lot (about $300 for the 20 kilos). I
took some household items to the new PC volunteer in the village, and Kate and
Lovely took some. So I was able to find places for the household item.
Friday
night there was a dinner at Khun Somlan’s house. Khun Dakom had told me I was
invited to a dinner for me. It turned out to be for Khun Suwit’s and Khun Toy’s
(Ubon) birthdays as well as for my departure. I took small, wrapped items for a
grab bag gift like I did last year for teachers. Everyone had a good time; so I
was glad I had done that. Two women carefully folded the wrapping, which was
reused Christmas paper from Cheryl. Sometimes I don’t realize what will be
considered special.
Surprise
of the week: We got paid a stipend for teaching in the summer course. I thought
it was just part of what was expected for our contract. So, we got our salary
and the stipend. They’ve corrected that for next year, as the new contract has
not salary for April; so teachers who teach in the summer course will get the
stipend and then have two weeks unpaid vacation.
Weather:
It was very hot most of the week. So hot that even at 6:00 AM I had to be near
the fan or I would be sweating. Then Friday afternoon it rained. It was a major
storm with heavy rain and very strong wind. It certainly cooled things down
considerably.
Since I
am leaving Thailand, this will be the end of this blog. The next one will be
Jackie Travels, a record of my travels over the next several months. New address: jekehl55.blogspot.com. (It wouldn't let me use the other one, so I had to change it.)
