Sawasdee Kah

It appears that my teaching days are behind me. With a heavy heart I hang my hat. All that is left before I drive away from Payap one last time is a pile of grading and a luncheon with the rest of the teachers. And while America is still two months away I feel like I'm already saying goodbye to the biggest part of my life here.

Today I looked back to my first blog about teaching. On June 8, 2009 I wrote, "Suddenly it was 1 o'clock and I was standing in front of a room full of Thai kids and was apparently supposed to teach them English. What I learned during that class is that Thai University kids are not exactly like American University kids. For starters there was a lot of cell-phone chattery going on even as I was teaching. Also I am referred to as Ajarn Elena (or professor Elena) which is going to take some getting used to."

Well, I'm used to it. And no, Thai University kids are not like American university kids. Here there is no pretension, no sass, no holier than thou attitude. What I need to say about my students is that they are the warmest, sweetest, most kind-hearted people imaginable. No they are not terribly academic but they try (sometimes) and I can leave Thailand with the knowledge that I at least taught them how to properly ask to be excused to use the bathroom. No longer is Payap University overrun with a chorus of "teachaaaaaa, toilet!" Now, there are at least a few members of the community asking, "may I please go to the toilet?" Improvement.

I had individual sessions with each of my students in Conversation as a part of their final exam. They all left saying, "I love you!" "Come back to Chiang Mai!" Broke my heart into pieces. A few of them even brought presents. A panda picture frame, a miniature mug that says "espresso," a small angel which they said was me. I am a sucker for trinkets especially when they are given by teary-eyed girls named Peggy telling me, "have a good luck to you."

The e-mails have now begun. I just got an e-mail from my student Sprite saying, "I miss you na ka. Big girls don't cry." This might be the first time a Fergie reference ever made me tear up.

I could gush for days over the amazing students I got to share my year with. I could tell a million stories of how I almost killed a kid for answering his phone in class (again) or how I left the classroom with sore cheeks from smiling and laughing so hard. But I think I've already done that.

All I know is I never expected to find such friendship and warmth in a land so different. And I can't even begin to speak about my colleagues. New York is far, far, far from here but my students, my fellow teachers, even the once intimidating Ajarn Oyporn have made Payap feel like a new home.

Just now a student sent an e-mail that reads, "I try to do the best as I can do. I hope to see you again. Have a good trip and good luck. I will miss you all the time."

My sentiments exactly.