One Semester Completed

Well, after one semester I can say that I am looking forward to a break. It was a good semester, but it also had its ups and downs. A few things that caught my eye at the end of the semester.

First, I received a lot of gifts from students and I was very grateful for all of them. One student actually brought a bottle of wine to school and gave it to me. Again, the acceptance of drinking in this country baffles me. Students would never give a teacher alcohol back home, let a lone bring it to school. That was very interesting and awkward moment for me. But something I need to get used to, because I guess it happens over here.

Second, the finals schedule was rather interesting at the school. The students did not have normal classes. Rather, there were four hour and a half exam sessions for three days. Of course, students did not have exams during all the sessions. For those who didn't have exams, they simply went to a study hall room and got ready for the next exam. Which meant that for the last three days, I've only had students for half the time.

Another interesting aspect is the fact that students were allowed to leave when they were done for the day. Meaning, if a student had an exam first thing in the morning and then was done for the rest of the day, they could simply go home. If they didn't have any exams that day (which my 7th graders did not have today) they did not have to show up.

For me, it was nice because I was able to get some work done. But this was another shocking practice. I would have to say that I do not believe there is anyway this would be allowed or even work back home in the states. Nice that I could get some work done during the day and grade the exams, but there is no way it would happen back home. I think the liability of the issues would make sure it doesn't happen. Of course, Thailand is not a society that is as quick to file lawsuits and place blame on others like the USA.

Have a Happy Holiday Season!!!

Aaron