School Days

Hello from P. Lauren. I came to stay at BSF with P. Mitch for five weeks this summer. The night we left (to return to Surat Thani where our teaching contracts were), I realized I didn’t want to teach children I didn’t know while leaving the children I had very quickly grown to love. It was an idea I’d been praying about, and God showed me pretty quickly where He wanted me to be. Sooooo, I quit my job and moved back to BSF! Now I’ll get to be here for six months. 

I’m helping teach English Grammar, English Proficiency, and Speed Reading with Teacher Jean. It’s been awesome having two teachers for the classes because, as I found out this summer when we taught summer school, the BSF kids are leaps and bounds ahead of the other kids in school. So within each grade there are two vastly different levels. Jean and I keep the class together whenever possible, but we usually split the kids and alternate teaching the two groups within each grade. 

We’re just starting our fourth week at Bawrirak Suksa Chiang Mai School, and things are going well. All the kids seem to get along with each other and are excited for new friends. The school is beautiful, the lawn was just put in, the canteen is finished meaning we can eat outside now where it’s much cooler, and the library is FINALLY finished. I’ve put in over 60 hours organizing the books by ability level, content, and alphabetically. Some of the older girls helped me when I spent all day on a Saturday up there. They weren’t quite enthused with the alphabetical system of filing, but it was nice for me to have some company! 

This Thursday was Wai Kru (Teacher Respect) day - the first ever for the brand new school. The kids decorated “paans” (vase/goblets) with flowers and presented them to the teachers. They came forward on their knees with their heads down and bowed to the ground in a wai. This was to show respect for their educators and thank them for what they’ve already taught. It was very formal yet touching. They sang a beautiful song, and Cheri, Mark, Faith, David, Daniel, and Paul played traditional Thai instruments. 

Mark with his friend Seth - hands muddy from making the base of the "paan"

Naomi and Faith with their 6th grade class

Abby choosing which flowers to use

Nathan putting a final touch on the "paan"

Cheri and Grace with their 5th grade class

Paul showing determination under the pressures of being an artist

Ruth, Esther, Teacher Jean, and Malee (another 4th grade student)

5th grade's finished products

Faith, Cheri, Daniel, and Mark with their traditional Thai instruments

And moving onto the kids:

Sarah got into one of the schools she was trying for. She leaves the earliest and returns the latest. She’s working very hard in school, and her teachers have taken notice -especially in English class. Her teacher asked if she would be willing to help translate to the students and in effect, help teach the class. 

Peach and Hope are attending a different school that’s closer to BSF. Their teachers told them since their English is so good, they’ll be eligible to go on a trip either to Laos or Singapore! 

Becky and Ben are in kindergarden (K3). House Mother, Brian, and another Thai teacher teach them. Hannah, Joy, Luke, Sammy, and Phillip also go to classes; they’re in K1 and K2. 

I will try to update the blog much more frequently; things have been crazy trying to get everything organized for the new school. Thankfully, we’re starting to settle into a routine and finish everything we needed to (printing, laminating, organizing, etc.).

I am so blessed/content/overflowing with joy to be here. These kids make me laugh hard and melt my heart multiple times per day.