Things New Teachers (Gotta) Do on their First Year in Thailand/TCIS
Learn useful Thai phrases like sawasdee (hello), tao rai
(how much), hong nam (toilet), and mai pet (not too
spicy) ~ (Karla's first choice)
Join unofficial and official staff bonding trips; make new friends.
For years “old teachers” have welcomed new teachers with an
unofficial staff bonding trip to Koh Samed, a resort island with white
sandy beaches, modest bungalows, free movies, and beach bars serving mixed
drinks in buckets. The official staff trip is bigger with the office staff
and split into a party group and quiet/family group. ~ (Darryl's and Scott's
first choice)
Feed or ride an elephant (Leigh's first choice)
Watch a movie. Buy real cheap VCDs and DVDs from the sidewalk or experience
the ultimate by going to a “premier” theater where you sit
in a fully reclining lazy-boy chair and have beer and food brought in
by waiters (Tonette's first choice)
Sign up to tutor, coach, or chaperone students
Eat streetfood. Sample the local delicacies sold by vendors right outside
the school: barbecued chicken wings, spicy papaya salad, deep fried sweetbread,
or Thai pancakes
Ride the BTS Skytrain. It’s still the quickest way to get to
all the shopping centers, restaurants, hotels, and bars along Sukhumvit
Visit a Thai market. For many teachers that could either be the Chatuchak
weekend market, or the Bangplee market near Thana City, or the night market
at Sanam Luang. Master the art of haggling.
Experience local transportation. Ride a motorcycle taxi against traffic
along Bangna Trad highway and get the thrill/scare of your life. Hire
a tuk-tuk to go bar hopping or explore the ruins of Ayuttaya. Or simply
rub elbows with Thais in a bus or songtaw for only 5 baht.
Get a Thai massage. The Thai traditional massage is a form of yoga
– active for the masseuse and passive for the customer. First they
ask you to put on a pair of pajamas, then they pound, press, and knead
your body. The finale involves some twisting and contortion. Some people
honestly get used to this and make weekly if not monthly trips to the
massage parlor.
Go to one of Dr. Tom’s awesome parties (it’s all you can
eat, all you can drink, all night … just stay away from his photo
as you don’t want to be a suspect in case it gets stolen again)
Buy, borrow, or steal a copy of Lonely Planet to any of the exotic
destinations, e.g. Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal
Get a diving license and sign up for a live-aboard package. Swim with
sharks and manta rays.
Gain weight because of easy living and weekly partying; from eating
Thai food (lots of rice, lots of noodles, lots of oil from coconut &
animal fat, and very sweet)
Lose weight due to tropical weather or food poisoning (common), or
from dieting & working out (not so common)
Go down Chao Phraya River in a river taxi, barge, or do an evening
cruise with dinner (romantic)
Pamper yourself by spending an hour or two at the salon for a haircut,
shampoo, manicure, pedicure, or facial – and get a free massage
Dress silly for Halloween and Spirit Week
Dress up real nice for Double 10 Cocktails and Prom Night
Get into a waterfight with students during Loy Kratong
Buy an Internet card, phone card, and/or mobile phone
