Grade 11 Students!

Over the past two weeks of not blogging, so much has happened at my small school in Thailand. Some things include the school’s annual winter festival, a 5 day break for the King’s birthday, I got a haircut, we renovated the “entertainment” room in a local orphanage, I barely taught any classes due to my students being home, and we spent the weekend teaching at “English Camp” at a local “resort.”

To start this Tour de Kyle’s Past Two Weeks, we will make our first stop at the Winter Festival. On Saturday night the students put on an awesome festival fully equipped with food, dancing, sugary snacks, ladyboys, and more food. At the beginning of the night, our wallets were full and stomachs empty, but the end of the night was quite the opposite. We were overly full and quite broke because of the students constantly hustling us to purchase their food because it

Staring contest with my new best friend

was “better than the other students.” To the right, one of my 6 wonderful grade 11 classes hustled me to purchase some sort of delicious food that I cannot remember the name of.

The second stop on this tour is the local orphanage. Due to the King’s birthday, we were given 5 days off from teaching, so we decided to spend that time volunteering at a local orphanage to help out in any way possible. Through the help of some awesome people back in America, we were able to raise money to help the kids and bring Christmas to Thailand. We ended up changing a small, dirty entertainment area into a comfortable, clean, and welcoming area where the kids can hang out with one another. It was a blessing to be able to get to know the kids, help out, and spend our break in a different way.

The third stop in the tour is that I got a haircut. Yep, that is it. On to the next stop...

Our last stop on this tour is English Camp. Over the course of the last 48 hours, the foreign teachers at my school have successfully helped run the annual English Camp for the students in 7th grade. The weekend was full of games, food, songs, dancing, skits, more food, rain, more songs, and losing power because of the huge storms. It was a blast to get to hang out and get to know students that I do not directly teach. The 7th grade students are so small, cute, and fun to teach. Even though I was tired from playing 6 hours of Pictionary yesterday, I loved every second.

Every second of every day has been a blessing being here thus far. I love my time here, and I am continuing to look forward to the new people I meet, places I see, and things that I learn. -Kyle

Picking Coffee

Yesterday I made the 2 hour trip to Doi Chaang, which is one of the top mountains in Thailand to grow coffee on. I was met at a local coffee shop by a woman named Doon, hopped in her pickup truck, and we drove about an hour or so to meet a farmer at the local “city” (well, town). Once at the city of May Suai, we hopped in a tiny 4-wheel drive truck and made our way up the extremely steep and windy roads to the farms on top of the mountain. We arrived at the man’s small “coffee supply shack,” loaded up all of our necessary supplies on our backs, and we began the trek through the jungle to begin our day harvesting coffee.

We spent about 3-4 hours learning about the process, separating the good coffee cherries from the bad, the green cherries from the red ones, and then made our way back to the “coffee supply shack” to enjoy a delicious (and spicy) homemade meal prepared on palm branches by the farmer’s mother. Following this, we were taken to

the processing area where we learned about the rest of the process. Here, the cherries are soaked in water for 24 hours, the good cherries are further separated from the bad, the actual coffee bean is separated from the cherry, and the beans are dried naturally in the sun. It was a blast to be able to actually be a part of the process and learn about how everything is done from the plant to processing. Let me tell you...it is hard work. I now understand why there is such a movement to increase farmer’s wages. This has completely inspired me to create a business that views farmers as equals, not a means to an end.

Coffee Cherries

In this day and age, there is such a large separation between the producer and consumer. We are so caught up in the busyness of our lives that we do not even know where our morning coffee comes from.  I am guilt of this too. To be quite honest, I didn’t even know that coffee is a fruit and comes from a red cherry until a few weeks ago. In the past, I have been easily swayed to purchase a product because of the “USDA Organic” or “Fair Trade” labels, but after my visit yesterday I question how “fair” a Fair Trade product actually is and if it is consistently organically produced. Is it actually fair or organic, or is it just a label aimed to make consumers feel good about their purchase?

Yesterday definitely made an impact on me in many ways. Being able to work side-by-side with farmers is something that I will never forget. It has helped me to look “beyond the label” and to begin to understand the process that I need to take to help support others abroad. Continue to check back on the process and enjoy the photos!

-Kyle

New Friends

Flower Garden in Mae Sai

I have successfully finished my fourth week of being a teacher. I am slowly getting used to the routine of waking up early, having a desk, being referred to as “Teacher Kyle”, and my life being a constant game of charades. When I first moved here, I could never have imagined that this type of life would become “normal”. Everything at first was overstimulating and required so much effort to do even the simplest of tasks like calling a taxi. I am no longer overwhelmed while walking through downtown Chiang Rai surrounded by Thai writing and locals, yet it has become a part of my life. I know that I still stand out because I am 6’3” and white, but I finally feel like this is my life and home, not just an extended  vacation.

Teaching has been something that has challenged me in many ways thus far. Like I have previously mentioned, I am teaching 9th and 11th grade general English classes, and I am teaching 11th and 12th grade public speaking classes. I am getting better at planning lessons, grading papers, and having classes that teach students

Golden Triangle

while still having fun. Since I was so accustomed to the American way of life, the transition of working in Thailand has been a bit difficult at times. Over the last 3 weeks my schedule has changed at least 7 times (1 of which I was not told about resulting in me missing class), I have shown up to class and no students were there because there was a function I was not told about, and I was finally given the workbook I was supposed to teach from at the end of the 4th week.

Being an American, we are used to schedules and deadlines in every aspect of life. Everything must go according to plan and we freak out when it doesn’t happen that way. Here in Thailand, everyone has a “go with the flow” mentality and you are expected to keep calm and relax even when things do not go to plan. Everything that has happened thus far has been a lesson in letting go and fully enjoying my work here. In the Foreign Language Department, it is completely okay to take a nap during the day or run to the local cafe for a coffee not because people are lazy, but because Thai people want to thoroughly enjoy all aspects of life regardless if they are at work or out to eat with friends.

No matter how stressed I may get or how different the way of life is here in Thailand, I know that this experience is the perfect way to push me out of my comfort zone and help me learn more about myself than I ever though possible.

-Kyle

PS. Enjoy my photos from a recent trip to the Golden Triangle (where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet).

This weekend was the infamous Loy Krathang Festival throughout Thailand. This festival is a time where people come together to celebrate life and “let go” of all of their misfortunes in life. Lanterns are set off throughout the sky as a symbol of letting go of the things that bring us down in life. This festival, and everything it stands for, has come at a perfect time. Over the course of the last three weeks of teaching, there have been many ups and downs. Teaching is such a rewarding and beautiful profession, but there are definitely struggles that make the job very demanding and overwhelming at times for a new teacher. This past weekend was a perfect way to “let go” of these struggles and look forward to the coming weeks in a positive light.

Rather than continue to talk about the experience, I put together some  videos to share this experience with others. I know that pictures are worth a thousand words, but I believe videos are worth a million. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the video.

-Kyle

Doi Mae Salong

There are many different pros and cons associated with living and working at a

boarding school. For example, I can wake up 15 minutes before school starts, take a quick shower, and be on my way to the foreign language department, which is conveniently located about two-minutes away from my front door. In addition to this, I am given an opportunity to live in community with my students, which creates an environment where there are countless interactions between students and teachers. Rather than only seeing students in class, I am able to share meals with them, play sports after school with them, and have random conversations with them while I am strolling around campus. Because of these many interactions, I truly believe that I can connect with students on a more personal level and make a lasting impact.

Mae Salong Villages

Even though it is a blessing to be able to be surrounded by opportunities to get to know the over 800 students, it is nearly impossible

to escape this bubble. We eat, sleep, and work on a small campus with minimal opportunities to leave during the week. So after a long second week of teaching, my fellow students and I decided that we needed to begin exploring the surrounding communities of Chiang Rai. We wanted to find an opportunity to connect with locals in a rural community, so to start the process, we did what we did best: we searched Google.

We finally agreed on visiting Doi Mae Salong (Doi means mountain in Thai), which is the “least Thai city in Thailand.”  Back in the day (well, the 1970’s), the Thai government was sick and tired of an opium warlord,

Love these kids.

so they asked the Chinese for help. In return, the Chinese received this plot of land, did away with opium, and now farm Oolong tea.

After forty-five minutes on a local bus and one hour on switchback roads siting in the back of a truck, we arrived at our destination. The town (more of a village) of Mae Salong was full of friendly locals, small coffee shops and restaurants, and surrounded by tea plantations and gorgeous views. We spent the day eating local food, drinking coffee, playing with kids, and drinking Oolong tea. The town was quiet, remote, and it shut down at 5 p.m., but it was all we needed after a week of teaching in 85 degree weather.

Least Thai Town in Thailand.

At the end of our stay, we hopped in the back of another truck and made our way back to our home. Today (Sunday) has been spent doing laundry (by hand), eating delicious local food, and writing lesson plans while laying in my hammock. As I fall deeper in love with the Thai people and their way of life, the time is beginning to fly by. Over the next few months, I will continue to get to know as many people as I can while experience as much as I can because that is what this is all about. Miss and love everyone.

-Kyle

Student on campus at PCC

Despite a lot of stressing over the first lessons and much sweating in my hot classroom, I can officially say that I am a teacher. My first week is over and done with, and it feels great. The faculty, students, and even the lizards welcomed me with open arms. In Thailand, students grade levels are different than in the United States. Rather than being broken up into grades K-12, secondary students are in Mathayom 1-6 so grade 7 is Mathayom 1, grade 8 is Mathayom 2, etc. This semester, I have been given the responsibility of teaching General English focusing on listening and speaking for Mathayom 3 and 5 (9th and 11th grade) and Public Speaking for Mathayom 5 (11th grade). For all of my classes, I was given very few resources for my classes, so almost everything that happens in my classes is up to me. I am able to choose what I teach and how I teach it as long as I am helping my students improve their ability to speak English.

Basketball after class

I never could have imagined how much I would love being a part of the Princess Chulabhorn College community. The students are so respectful and greet me every class by standing and saying in unison “Good morning teeaacha! How are youuu todaay?” I am blessed to be able to call this place my home for the next 5 months (or maybe more). Even though we are still referred to as Farang (foreigner) by every local Thai, I feel as if we are slowly becoming known as well respected teachers in the  community.

Life is simple here in Chiang Rai, but I could not ask for more. I live in a home with no kitchen, sleep on a bed made for a small child, and my roommates are tiny creatures, but I am grateful for the simplicity and the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the culture. Even though I am here to teach English to my students, I feel as if I am learning more and more about myself and others every day.

-Kyle

KyleDucharme.com

Overstimulating Streets of Chiang Mai

Sometimes it feels as if I was born again. New sights, sounds, and tastes are impossible to avoid when I leave the comforts of my small concrete home. Even the simplest things in life have become a demanding task that might only end up in confused stares and an awkward laugh. The words “quick” and “easy” are no longer used in sentences describing any activities that occur outside of my home. Every action, no matter how big or small, requires thought and effort to carefully choose the way that I communicate so that the other person understands my needs.

The dictionary’s definition of culture shock is, “the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.” Before I left for Thailand, I thought that culture shock was a feeling that someone initially felt when first introduced to a new culture in a foreign country. Now that I am here, I have realized that culture shock is not a one time occurrence, yet it is an ongoing experience . Every second of every day is a new experience that is overwhelming at times due to constant over stimulation.

In the United States, almost every interaction between people is done without much effort or thought.  It is easy to become complacent and forget to appreciate being able to connect with everyone around us. I am surrounded by so many amazing people here in Thailand, but I am unable to communicate with them, which has become the hardest parts of transitioning thus far. Even though my Thai vocabulary is very basic, I am putting the time and effort into learning everything I can about the language and culture so that I can form lasting relationships with locals.

I am slowly starting to transition to the Thai way of life, and I am beyond blessed to have this amazing, yet exhausting experience abroad. All of the difficulties that I experience due to the language barrier are constantly forgotten when I am warmly greeted by locals with a famous Thai smile. I could not be more tired or overwhelmed, but I could not be happier.

-Kyle

Kyleducharme.com

Yesterday I was finally able to move into my new home at Princess Chulabhorn School in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Since it is still break for the students and faculty, we are able to have the week off to get settled in and explore the surrounding areas of Northern Thailand. I figured that it would be rude of me not to give my readers a tour of my school and new home, so I took some pictures and a short video to make it a bit easier for people to understand what I am doing back in the States. First off, a quick tour of the school that I will be teaching at for the next 5 months...

Boys dorm on campus

Girls dorm on campus

Princess Chulabhorn School is a boarding school located about 10 minutes outside of downtown Chiang Rai. The school is home to around 800 students from many different provinces in Northern Thailand. The school mainly focuses on different sciences, but it also has a large emphasis on the English language.

Classrooms on campus

Hallway next to classrooms

At school, I will be teaching 12-15 classes per week focusing on listening to and speaking the English language. I haven’t found out exactly what grades I will be teaching yet, but I am thinking that the grades will be between 7-10th grade. All of the ESL (English as Second Language) teachers have orientation this weekend, which is when we will find out who are students will be for the coming semester!

My house on campus

The last stop on this tour is my new home! Located on campus, I have been given a small house to serve as my home for the time that I spend here in Thailand. Since I am the only male ESL teacher, I was given my own house. Even though I do not have any human roommates, I am sharing my home with many frogs, lizards, slugs, spiders, and ants. We have become one big, happy family.

I ended up making a short little video our of my home, but the file is too big to upload. Boo. Instead, I will just describe the home quickly. The home has 5 bedrooms, four of which are vacant. The bottom floor has a bathroom, empty bedroom, and a large empty room similar to a basement. Since there are no washers or dryers available here, this is the area where I will be doing all of my clothes washing by hand. Yes...by hand. Upstairs has four bedrooms and a small, open common area where I conveniently set up my hammock to lounge in. In my bedroom, I have a very small bed with a bright bunny rabbit sheets, a small desk, and an interesting piece of metal where I can hang my clothes from. It is a very simple house, but it is now my home for my time here.

Well, the other teachers and I are now off to go find some delicious street food to eat for dinner in the city. Tomorrow we will leave for a two-night trip to the larger city of Chiang Mai about 2-3 hours southwest to explore the temples, meditate with monks, take a cooking class, and more. Hopefully I will be able to check back and post about our trip later this week. Hope all is well back in the States, and I miss everyone!

Sawadee Khrap!

-Kyle

Currently, I am sitting in a coffee shop in downtown waiting for the “Night Bazaar” to begin. Cannot wait for the bright lights, delicious food, and fellow ESL teachers to meet and enjoy the night here in Chiang Rai. Enjoy this picture that I recently took on the Kwai River in Kanchanaburi. I will post a longer update tomorrow when I have more time!

-Kyle

Kyleducharme.com

Kwai River in Kanchanaburi, Thailand