Probably sounds weird that I would be leaving the beach after praying so much to get here for 2 years. But I am. I heading back to Chiang Mai in 4 days for a job I hope to have probably teaching English which I never wanted to do. I moved to Ao Nang for a job. I read almost all the recommended books. I spent 2 weeks with the children in the classroom before the left for their 2 months summer break. I read about 90% of the training manuals and answered all but 30 of the several hundred questions. Then it was time to return to work in the midst of all the reading. I was asked to come two weeks before the kids to help clean and prepare the classroom. So the first week me, my assistant and director literally scrubbed the building. By day 3, I was wondering what I had gotten into. I was exhausted and hadn't done any actual classroom training. That was the same time when my previous blog was written and everything was a bit overwhelming with lots of question marks. I took the friday of that week off so I could goto Chiang Mai for a birthday party and a chance to clear my head.
It was a nice weekend where I was able to see several friends and just relax. I also made a stop in Bangkok on the way up and met my online boyfriend for the first time. We had been chatting quite a bit on messenger and on camera. We really wanted to meet. So we met for a few hrs and had a nice hang out time.
When I came back from Chiang Mai, unfortunately reality was still waiting for me but at least it didn't involve anymore cleaning. I met the new coworker who I had helped interview and liked her right away. I met the other one a few days later who I also liked. It looked like we would be a good team.
Our first day of school was 1 Sept. It was nice to see the returning students although they didn't all return that day. And it was nice to meet new ones. That day, I didn't do much. I figured that would change. It wasn't because I was lazy, it was because literally there was nothing to do. We had less than 6 kids and up to 4 adults at a time in the room. I did a lot of observation.
On the second day, it was more of the same. I wondered what I was expected to do since I couldn't seem to do what I thought I was hired for. I was supposed to work with the oldest student. But all his language materials were in Russian so his mom(my director) had to teach him that. It took a few hrs every morning at least. In the afternoon, the experience Montessori teacher(my colleague for the slightly younger class) taught him English and math skills. The rest of the time, he worked independently per Montessori Method. My director didn't have a suggestion for me when I asked what I should be doing. So I looked for things to do like straightening up things, cleaning, assisting kids who needed it and observation. By day 3, I was wondering about finding a new job. I felt so useless. The hours crawled by each day. On Friday, when my boss wanted to meet with me at the end of the day, I was half hoping that she was letting me go. If not, then I hoped she had a plan of what I should be doing. It turned out she was letting me go. She felt bad but she couldn't afford to have an extra teacher in the room. I assured her that it was ok. I had felt the same way. And so that was the end of a job I had first found out and got excited about almost 9 months earlier and prayed about for 2 years.
So I wasn't really sure what to do next. Krabi area is not exactly full of jobs which is why it took me so long to find a job in the first place. I realized that since the clock was ticking on my visa, I need to expand my search beyond Krabi. So I started hunting in Krabi, Bangkok and Chiang Mai. All places where I had people connections. But before I actively started job hunting, I took the weekend off. The night of the day when I lost my job, my new boyfriend was planning to come into town for the second weekend in a row. So I postponed job hunting and just relaxed for 48 hours. It was quite nice.
But as soon as he left and church ended that afternoon, I was on the computer emailing resumes to jobs that did have postings and jobs that didn't but who knew, maybe they might need another teacher.
My friends in Chiang Mai started pointing me in the direction of jobs up there and gave me all kinds of helpful advice. I was quite touched. After sending my CV to several schools and not hearing anything, I decided to make the trip up there. I hadn't heard anything from Bangkok yet. I also contacted my previous landlord and secured my old apartment.
I went to Chiang Mai for a couple of days with a one night detour to Bangkok. Guess why? I spent a lot of time in Chiang Mai giving the schools another copy of my CV, filling out applications and visiting my old school, I also unpacked the suitcase I had filled for the sole purpose of unloading into my apartment so I wouldn't have to mail the stuff. Ya Ya also has a new litter box waiting for her. I was also cast in a play and I begin rehearsals the day after I move there.
Yes I did decide that Chiang Mai was where I needed to return to. I miss my friends and my life there horribly. After my job ended, I felt like I was done with my life at the beach. Apparently I'm only meant to come visit here. Which I'm now fine with. It's super cheap to do that here in Thailand.
Its a very fast move. I have lost money living down here because I didn't work much, didn't earn much and now I'm unemployed.
But I'm looking forward to returning and seeing what will happen next.
