PHOTOS fun photos

Hey, Here I am on my pink motorscooter. Photo taken in september, but I am still loving my rides to and from school on my little bike. I must apologize..... Once again, I was NOT able to get my photos to publish with the write-up..... SOOOO first you get to see the photos and then, you can read all about the school I teach at in the next entry. I guess you can only "kinda" teach an old dog new tricks..... oh well..............

Here are some kids in my classroom exploring the many joys of Magnets!!!!

Here are some of the kids making snowflakes and stars!!! It NEVER snows here.

Here they are "posing" for a photo while listening to a story.

This IS the beautiful POOL. So nice, relaxing and just plain lovely, don't you agree??? No wonder, it is one of my favorite things to enjoy.

This is in the Lobby of Grace International School, Flags line all of the balcony.

Grace International School, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Are these some real cuties?? 20 first graders in two classes. that's me in the back!

Be sure to read the next entry titled TEACHING so you can learn all about these photos!!

Teaching !!!!

I teach First graders at Grace International School, here in Chiang Mai. It is a wonderful place filled with teaching staff and students who come from all over the world. The staff raise their own funds to work here (our salary is in the difference we make each day in the lives of children and families). The first half of the year I taught both first grade classrooms combined in the afternoons, but now that the regular teacher has returned, I have just 10 students, pretty nice!!

Most of my students hold US passports, but they have been born and raised overseas. They are a delightful group of children that have grown up with airports, immigration, metric system and NO snow as their typical lifestyle !!

My favorite part of my school day is afterschool when I can use the HUGE beautiful pool to relax and enjoy! I know that's NOT very politically correct, but, just check out the photos and you will understand..... its nice!!

Actually, just walking into the classroom is a real joy. I have a late start up time, so the children are already in the room when I enter. As I open the door, they always greet me with "Its Ms. Thomas!!" I NEVER get tired of that!!!

Same: we teach in English, though English is NOT the first language of all my children. (English, Thai, Korean, German in my room). we teach reading, writing, language arts, math, social studies, science, P.E. art, music. And we do have christmas break!!

Different: the children remove their shoes in the hallway, before entering the classroom and put them back on, before going anywhere else on campus. Lunch is Thai food served in the cafeteria, every student has Thai class 3 days a week to learn language and culture, we celebrate the Thai holidays here (so we have shool on memorial day, labor day and thanksgiving) we start the day with everyone singing the Thai national anthem. the hallways are filled with a chorus of Other languages, as children speak to friends and family in their native language.

Well there you have a little information about wher I spend most of my days right now.

PHOTOS and photos

Stacey and me, overlooking beautiful Hua Hin. Hua Hin is a small resort town about 3 hours drive SOUTH of Bangkok, on the Bay of Thailand.

Monkey Island, where we got to feed the monkeys. Are they cute, or what? FUN FUN FUN.

Monkeys !!!!!

While in Hua Hin, visiting my daughter, Stacey, we went to Monkey Island and FED the MONKEYS. we got a red plastic bucket filled with peanuts, banana pieces and slices of corn cob.... and the monkeys came to eat. big ones, old ones, baby ones. at first they would tug on my pant leg and reach for food with one hand and then the other hand. the older ones would sit right in front of me and eat and ask for more. The young ones would grab a peanut and scurry away to a safe distance to eat. Suddenly, I felt some weight on my shoulder, and a monkey was sitting there, tapping me and asking for food. One monkey jumped up on Stacey's shoulder, climbed down her arm to the bucket and gave it a shake, helping himself to a snack. What a delightful experience!!! And I am still smiling, just thinking about it!!!

Happy New Year!

Greetings... hey, I have a site to write!!!! Happy new year to each and everyone of you.

I am sitting here with my daughter as she is attempting to teach me how to do my very own blog. I have been blessed with about 2 weeks of wonderful rest and relaxation in beautiful Hua Hin. Some highlights for me, besides spending great time with my daughter and her two cats, Simone and Magelan, are Feeding Monkeys, watching Thai boxing, and exploring more of the sites of this lovely land.

Stayed tuned for more in the days and weeks to come.

blessings,

Pam