Elephants and the Last Week of TEFL

This will be a qucik one to sum up the past two weeks. Once I start traveling again (the Gypsy life) :) I will start writing more interesting stories (hopefully). So, this is the last week of the emphamis TEFL course. Kind of a bitter sweet end. I have made a couple great friends and everyone has been great overall in the class including the trainers. Last week I taught four lessons and it was a hectic week. I did get all ones (highest score) and had a great time teaching all classes. It was a challenge to do a partner lesson (with someone else) because you are so used to YOUR way (so is life at times, eh?) but it was good. We had our big exam yesterday and studied until my brain felt like dried fruit (hmmmm???? is that what I mean, yes :)). I got a 85% which I was content with. Going back to all the rules of grammar is not an easy task but it's interesting to take yourself back. So, I should be able to walk away with an A in the class. Thursday night is our dinner celebration and then many of us will be going out in the big city to celebrate a little more......;)

I will be doing a yoga seminar all weekend with Andrew (spoke about him in another blog, "The Love Machine" yogi) and looking forward to that and then off to Pai to relax and enjoy traveling as a backpacker again. I will be headed to Laos after that for a couple weeks and then blowing wherever the wind shall take me.

Lastnight, I went to a beautiful vegetarian restaruant with my friend Elenza and another friend who is doing massage school. Elenza taxi'ed (spelling???) all the way back home on her bicycle....it was quite the site me on the back sitting on a "LITTLE" seat while she peddled away. On our way back (in the city, might I add) we came upon an Elephant named Sandy........................hmmmmmmmm All I saw was this gigantic elephant butt in front of us and I said "PULLLLLLLLLLLLL over"....:) It was sad though because Sandy the elephant was with her owner making money for HIM............I could see in her eyes she was not where she wanted to be and I'm sure you can all imagine and finish the story from there.

So, that is it for now. More when I start backpacking again.

Loves to ya all!

Jenna

Typical Jenna Day in Asia School World

Jenna's typical school day. A lot of people want to imagine what happens in the Jenna world of going to school in Thailand. Ok, here you go. Jenna has a cozy little place near the campus so, it's not in the old cute part of Chiang Mai but the hip world of college students...:) There is a busy road named Sutaupe and it is full of people, stores, street vendors, dogs, students everywhere, taxi trucks and a million motorbikes. If I lived here I would invest in either a bike or a scooter myself and pray that I don't end my life on a scooter. Like I said most people transport their WHOLE family including dogs on the scooters...it's simply amazing and entertaining.

Usually around 1:00am without a doubt actually the neighbor hood dogs will start a howling contest. I usually give it a couple minutes and then they stop. I usually sleep fairly well because I'm so exhausted from school, homework, planning lessons etc...However at exactly 4:30am my 1st wake up call is echoed ...........THE ROOSTER! Same rooster I assume and then that wake up call is followed by amazing bird calls that are new to me....:) My room has a beautiful view of the mountain so getting up on going out on my deck early in the morning is a moment of bliss. A good way to start the day. If I'm feeling really motivated I will go for a run around campus. I usually stop at a little vendor coffee stand and either get a yummy creamy green tea or coffee. The green tea late's here are soooooo good and they cost less than a dollar.......goodbye starbucks ...hello Thailand and greentea!!!!!! And then a 20min walk to school...:)

The past two days I have had lessons ....the REAL thing. The observers gave me 2 perfect ones both days....:) they say I'm a natural..:)????? Actually today was really good. I didn't feel like a robot, I felt good and natural with the kids. I had elementary kids and they loved the lesson. I actually taught them words, yeah!!!!! It's a new feeling and good feeling to know you are actually getting thru to the little ones. They were soooooooooooooooo adorable and they wanted to carry my stuff for me when class ended. I think that it has lead me in the direction of teaching elementary kids.

AFer a long day at school I look forward to walking home and talking to my favorite fruit stand man. He teaches me words in Thai and then I forget the next day and he teaches me again....:) We smile a lot at eachother and that is pretty much our relationship....simple and short...HA

Oh gosh, gotta go...more later.

love to you all!

The Love Machine and Yoga

So yesterday was Friday the 13th and ironically today is Valentines Day. What a contrast eh? I also know a very amazing and spectacular woman who's celebration of birth is today (Birthday)....Happy Birthday to you my friend!!!!! :)

I used to be somewhat of a Grinch on Valentines Day / Love day. However, that is no longer the case. I love Valentines Day! It's such a day to remind us that love is so important and to vibrate that feeling out in the world. It's about expanding your love with family, friends and significant others. Really Valentines Day should be thought of every day.....I mean, when you really think about life and what truly matters what is the one vibration that we all want to give and recieve??..............Yes, love, love love!!!!!! So many people in this world have fear, shame, etc....but when we realize we are so loved unconditionally and can give that back to someone then, that is when we feel the true vibration of life.

I took an amazing yoga class in Chiang Mai lastnight and it really started the celebration of Valentines Day off with a POW!!!! It was a 2 1/2 hour class with a man named Andrew who not only inspired all of us thru his dialog throughout class (quoting him in some of this e-mail...can't take all the credit)but is an amazing yogi!!!! Ironically once again while traveling, I found out his significant other is a very well known yogi in the US and I had the experience of doing a workshop with her in the US. The yoga class was at a studio / spa called Wild Rose Sauna. The owners name is Rose and is an amazing woman with such great energy. So........to follow the yoga was a Love Scrub made with sea salt, natural essense oils, cloves and other herbs that you applied to your skin. You would go into the sauna and let the "Love Scrub" drip off your body. After sitting in the sauna for quite some time and trying not to pass out you then applied a green tea / tea tree facial on your face. I don't think my skin has ever felt so soft!!!!!!!! Shared this experience with my friends Elenza and Lauryn from class. After a long week at school and a way to start the Love celebration weekend it was a PERFECT start!

Oh by the way Andrew the yoga instructor referred to all of us as "Love Machines" and to never take love and life for granted, life is precious and life is short, SO............. breath in the love for yourself and others and project it outward.

Wishing you all a very Happy Valentines Day and may you all show your "Love Machines"!!!!!!!!

love,
Jenna

Future Elephant Friends and Grammar

Ok, starting to get used to the Asian culture. I'm so used to the Spanish culture with traveling that I think internally I was having a bit of "culture shock". Asia is very different and when you don't know the language at all it can really be interesting. There are parts of Chiang Mai where everyone speaks English but I happen to be in the part of town that most restaurants don't have menus in English and nor does anyone speak English (I'm sure they do but they choose not to). All the internet cafes are full of students obsessed with playing video games 24/7....I mean there are HUGE internet cafes here with recliner chairs (orange and blue) and they are all filled...............it's amazing!!!!!! So, calling from one of these internet cafes can be somewhat annoying with the cheering going on in the background but funny.

School has been this week nothing but kraming everything you ever wanted to know about grammar and quite possibly, a lot of stuff you don't care to know or understand. Our brains were like melted butter at the end of the day but trying to stay focused because 40% of our grade is the test on grammer.................hmmmmm Good thing I'm so good at taking tests...HA! However today we did nothing but play games, fun learning activities or ideas for being a teacher etc...so our poor little brains had a break. Next week we will teach a total of 4 classes each. Next week they consider the hell week because learning each model of teaching and then preparing a lesson means you won't have much sleep next week.

I did find a great yoga studio finally which gave me relief. It's called the Wild Rose Sauna. It's a cute and peaceful little abode and ironically I knew the girl teaching when I went (small world eh?). Tomorrow I will do a 2 hour class followed by applying an herb paste / mud aroma thing all over and then sitting in a sauna with all the other yogis.....looking forward to it! I may also try to hang out with some elephants this weekend. I will let you know how that goes.

Just found out that all Asian schools are on break starting March 1st until May 1st....hmmm wasn't anticipating that one but somehow it will all work out. It is the best time to find a better job in the whole "teaching English abraod" but I will have to stretch my funds for a while or teach private lessons (which is illegal but everyone does it). I also found out that there is a new rule with teaching in Korea. You have to fly all the way back to your country to get a working visa....hmmm wasn't planning that one either. Supposidly they will pay for both ways but it may send me to Taiwan or Vietnam. Time will tell. :)

I am planning to travel for a couple more weeks before I fly to a possible destination of teaching after school. I will probably go to Laos for a bit and maybe head south again in Thailand to a couple more beach spots. If I'm good with my budget I should be fine, it's really cheap.

This blog wasn't too exciting but just giving some basic info....:) Maybe I will have a grand elephant story for next week. I hope so :).

Elepants and Grammar

love,
Jenna

Sent home from school and yummy orange juice!

So, I have completed my first week of school. I have different thoughts on all of it but all in all, it's a good thing. I will have to play the game in order to get the TEFL certificate. They are really strict on the whole dressing thing which I'm not fond of but will mold myself into what they want for now. I was sent home the first day of school...HA! because I wasn't dressed like a "banker". I came back and still was denied....weird eh? So, I went shopping and bought the most terrible outfit to satisfy their "banker" needs.....All the girls went to the market and lauhed the whole way thru while purchasing items we would NEVER purchase in real life. Since my whole outfit cost maybe $8.00 I will just gift it away at the end with relief. The course itself is pretty demanding but it will be a lot of help once we are all out in the teacher world. I really can't imagine going out there and just doing it or accepting a job that wasn't that great just because you didn't have the certificate. With the certificate and degree you are able to get more of a respected and interesting job so, it's worth it for me. I'm not sure if the whole teaching thing is for me but perhaps it will lead me on another path. Really you can live anywhere in the world and apply for any career path ......so, time will tell. :)

Went to my first Asian dance club. We were the only "franes / frangs (what they call white people)" in the club. It's strange, there was good dance music but they really don't dance. They kind of just stand there and bop up and down. So, of course I was dancing and my crazy friend Elenza. I don't think the Asian woman were to fond of us but the Asian men were quite entertained. I tried to encourage some of the Asian woman to join but they looked at me as if I were CRAZY!!!! And well, I am a little crazy....;)

This weekend was the flower festival so there was a lot going on. The floats were beautiful and the flowers amazing. A lot of people dressed in traditional costumes, singers, musical instruments, crazy stuff going on and unbelievable yummy food. Tonight was the night market as well and I ate so much food for only $2.00. I had pad thai wrapped in an omelet, a potatoe / tofu vegetable "thing" and grilled banannas dipped in cocunut milk................yum!

Chiang Mai is great but the pollution here is terrible....and it's hard to get away from it. However, you can find little streets with great cafe's and mellow atmospheres away from the traffic. I tend to hide in these little spots for Jenna time and just to get away from the city life. Found a great Chinese medicine man and still trying to find a yoga place to satisfy my yoga soul.

More later. Must go to homework to prepare for the 2nd week....:)

Oh yeah....the fresh squeezed orange juice.............the BEST orange juice EVER!!!!!!

love and juice to you all!
Jenna

First Day of School in Thailand

Let the drum rolls begin, the first day of school has happened. The campus is nice and Chiang Mai University is actually rated the 2nd best University in Thailand. I also found out that this particular location for the famous TESOL (ESL) course is one of the most challenging abroad but is very well respected once out in the real world. I figure if I'm going to pay this much $$$$ I might is well go BIG. It is going to be an intense month though. So for those of you who think I'm on vacation in Thailand, think again. School is from 9:00am - 5:00pm and it doesn't stop there. There is research after class with groups and homework on your own. There are a total of 6 observers / trainers and some are very strict. One lady I refer to as Natzie (spelling???) woman. I'm really not hip on the dress code going on and have a bit of an attitude about it but.......I will mold and shaped into what they want to pass the course....;) However, Thailand will not be where I end up teaching. Way to many do's and dont's. I don't do well with those....;) Not to sound negative but I'm way to comfortable in my own skin to change my ways to a certain extent. Another thing is if you are a teacher in Thailand and you happen to have a significant other / husband, no public affection. I know this may not be a big deal to a lot of people but for me that is ridiculous.....;) Not that I'm going to walk up and start making out with my significant other but if I want to hold hands or a quick kiss of the cheek then so I shall....;) Ok, I'm off on a bit of a tangent.

Overall school was great yesterday. We of course went over all our responsibilities, the course schedule, what we will be doing along the way etc....We then did several entertaining exercises throughtout the day. One was forming a group of 5 and we were given a theatrical script. The trainer would give us different emotions (happy, sad, tired, etc.) and we had to perform the scripts with these emotions. Our group had "histarical" which I was great at.....;) I was a histarical maid and found a man dead. HA!!!!!!! I have always wanted to be an actress and now I have completed that part of my life in Thailand.

There are a total of 22 people and from all over the world which is great. Ages range from 19 to 60 and a variety of personalities. I was told yesterday that I'm quite the "ham"....hmmmm I think that means character, correct? I'm not sure if I want to be referred to as a ham. :)

Anyway, have to go do a little shopping tonight to maintain my "teacher Thailand look". Chacos are a no go Colorado peeps...;( and I was told that even though I have a long traveling skirt it shows to much of my figure....are we in Muslim country?

Still loving my journey and missing you all!

Much Love!
Jenna

I have been under the weather...The famous Thailand bug...won't go in to detail but I spend a lot of time in the el bano...;) So, I have some time to write a new post and a lot of the info will be random but fun I hope. Those who have traveled to Thailand will remember.

I have decided that I'm not a person who would want to travel for an entire year on my own.....maybe when I was in my twenties. However, if I had a significant other then of course I would love to travel for a year or more. There are times when your traveling ALONE that you wonder what the hell you are doing (or at least I do and maybe some just wouldn't admit that). Most of you know I don't have a hard time meeting people but there are times when I don't feel like making the effort with small talk or for whatever reason I go thru periods where i just don't have it in me. So, after a few days of NOT being social you can tend to feel a bit odd but in a funny way. I'm happy that this journey will have a path to it such as taking the TESOL course for a month and then teaching. I have a feeling that the teaching thing will probably last a year and then maybe something a little different but only time will tell.

Today was a BIG day and I had to be responsible and actually buy a clock so I know what time it is. I actually have to be somewhere tomorrow at exactly 9:30am. My first TESOL class. Here we gooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Today I moved into my abode, it's a quaint little place and I have Jenna-fied it as much as possible. I really have nothing with me. Two skirts, 1 pair of shorts, 1 pair of jeans, 3 shirts, a wrap around which has been a blessing (thanks Mom and thanks for the idea Astrid), swim suit, sandals and tennie shoes....;) Just for those of you who haven't backpacked before, you pack light and leave stuff along the way. The "simple life"! I did pack a few nick nacks and them scattered about my studio (peacock feaver, African prayer beads, a crystal, a few pictures, cards from friends and family). These things all bring comfort and smiles to my face many times throughout the day. After I unpacked and made myself comfortable in the little studio I realized they didn't give me the one I really wanted (I looked at 3). However, I stopped and decided to see why they gave me this one...there must be something amazing about this one, I thought.....;) Ah ha, I have double the windows because I'm on the end and when you look out the window above my bed there is a huge tree with beautiful orange blossoms. My sliding glass doors enter onto a balcony that overlook a beautiful Thai home and the lush moountains. Once again luck has entered Jenna world......the small things always count and if you look around you will see so many!!!

The bathrooms in Thailand took a bit to get used to along the way but now it's quite normal to me. You have a shower in the bathroom along with a toilet and sink but there are no shower doors and there are no shower curtains. They design the floors at a slant with a drain in the corner and you just turn on the water (shower) and shampoo away. So the floor is wet, the walls are wet, the toliet lid and seat are wet and everywhere else. I am lucky to finally have hot water, it's been a while. Being in a third world country there is usually no toilet paper and if there is you must throw away in a trash can. Unfortunately, many travelers ignore this or forget I suppose.

Went to a night market lastnight and it was amazing with all the beautiful clothing and food. For breakfast I always eat fruite, yogurt and MUESLI (which is standard here)and I found a woman at the market that makes the best homemade muesli...she is now my supplier....;) It's made with grains, oats, raisons and nuts....YUM!!! I have a refrigerator in my studio so I went fruit shopping today. I found the cuttest little old Thai man who has no teeth.....he speaks in Thai the whole time as I speak in English and then we smile and laugh at eachother. However, he says thankyou in English and I say thankyou in Thai. A little twist to the story.

I also had the experience going to the mall today. I can't stand malls in the US let alone in Thailand but I have to wear "smart shirts" to school whatever that means. Do they make me smarter??? I found ONE thing that really isn't even me but I just bought it to have at least two shirts. I may have to buy shoes as well but I will see what I can get away with. I will start teaching on Thursday for practice and they want us to be presentable....tee hehehe.

Let's see what else can I fill you in on. One thing that is really disturbing is there are a lot of older men (white men) that have very young Thai girlfriends. Is a bit perverted to me but.......won't go any further on that subject.

I think that is it for now. Sending you all love!!!

Jenna