When I decided to move to Thailand, I went in with no expectations. I did not want to limit the scope of my experiences. It didn’t matter to me where I was placed or what school I was in, as long as I was doing my best to have a genuine Thai-teaching experience, if such a criteria exists. While going into the experience expectation-less was good in theory, I realized it wasn’t practical. I wasn’t as happy as I could be. Most importantly, I realized that to live authentically, I must listen to my head and my heart. With somewhat reluctant eagerness, I recognized that it was time to leave and move somewhere new in Thailand.
Saying goodbye to the kids was the toughest part about leaving. It’s so easy to build relationships with your students. Even after a few months of teaching, it’s very hard to leave your kids behind. However, I had to say goodbye. I fought back tears while giving goodbye hugs. I kept telling them, “Teacher Roni is leaving,” but it was difficult for the 4 year-olds and 5 year-olds to conceptualize my departure.
While I was sad to leave, moving to a new school was beyond exciting. When I got to Krabi, I was picked up by the directors who brought me to my accommodation and took me out to dinner. It was such a special way to begin my teaching career in Krabi.
The kids are so cute as well! Every morning, they run in with matching uniforms and some type of new toy “look Teacher Roni, I have playdough!” They are eager learners and great students. I look forward to teaching them how to read every day and creating fun phonics games for them to interact with. Teaching is rewarding in itself, but creating lessons that enable a fun and positive learning experience enriches my job and brings life into education.
As with any teaching job, there are bumps and bruises, but I feel so lucky every day to be a teacher in Thailand. I feel fortunate to have a second chance at teaching in this beautiful country. I am grateful that islands are a ferry ride away and friends are a scooter’s distance. I am still learning that goodbyes aren’t so bad when the world is full of new beginnings.
By Ronit
Recent Comments