I’d like to learn more about teaching English through music.
It was a nice idea at first, but when I was actually in the classroom and
dealing with 33 sixth-graders it’s the last place I want to have a musical instrument. I'd like to know of research or actual programs of
English which incorporate music as a fundamental tool. If you know of anything, sing out. I once thought lute song might be a good
vehicle, but it has to be for advanced studies, and especially for students
with some experience with “early music”, Shakespeare and drama. Perhaps that
would mean university age people unless I could manage to run across gifted
students of high school age. I'm not going to try and sell it anymore. When I had some of these
songs together long ago I applied for Young Audiences in Portland. The board
who auditioned me really could not see how they might be of much use, and they didn't hire me. I certainly wouldn't try to play them for kids who aren't able
to be silent, and that means most kids. I feel almost certain these sorts of songs would be wasted on most children. I’d use my ukulele with them.
The new position will be in Chon Buri City, approximately
halfway between Bangkok and Pattaya in an area that is supposed to be growing
fast. The school is being built now and seems more than halfway completed. The
word I got is that I must report for duty there by March 18. They
apparently feel the facility is complete enough. I’ve been told to prepare for
chaos and confusion—the normal amount I’ve been warned to expect, but then a hefty
dose on top of that because of everything being new. My plan is to use that to
start slowly and build my skills as a music teacher/choir director as the
student enrollment grows. I tell myself it’s impossible they would expect a
fledgling music department to start off with a bang, but I expect to have to
begin some sort of Christmas program quite early in order to pull it off,
perhaps as early as September. I went with several administrators
from this school in a school van a few weekends ago just to see the place, meet
the director, and see what the city is like. I found Chon Buri City difficult
to get around. There are some motorcycle taxis, but they are not common like
Bangkok. I did not see a single metered taxi when I was there. Everybody seems
to take the mini-songtaews or drive a scooter or car. There appears to be a
shortage of housing close by the school, but I have been informed that they
have purchased some “condos” very near. This will be shared housing. I can stay there if I need to, so I
asked for a reservation, at least until I get my footing. I wonder what kind of
roommate I’m gonna get.
I was out of a job when I got hired at this school so I asked if they would
let me work temporarily at another campus until it was time to move and start at the new
place. Sure enough, they needed someone at their Suksa school, but I had to do
a fast move. It’s all the way across Bangkok, entirely too far away to commute
from my other apartment and they required me to start immediately. I showed up
for the first day at work with a suitcase, having asked the Head of Foreign
Teachers (who OK’d my hire) if he liked where he lived, what the rent was, are there
any vacancies. He set it up for me and I took it sight unseen. The best thing
about the place is the apartments are completely new. My room had never been
lived in. And they allow month-to-month rental, I can’t afford to lose anymore
deposits. I lost the deposit at my last place and was fined a month’s rent
because I signed a year’s lease but left without giving a month’s notice. I spent
hardly a month there, but it couldn’t be helped. That’s behind me and I’m moved in now, but I was quite surprised and a
little dismayed to find that my new home is situated more than 30 minutes by
car from this school. I wouldn’t have chosen it, but I just didn’t have time to
shop for a place. The guy is letting me commute with him, which might be
pleasant if he didn’t have an eight year old daughter who watches Barbie movies most mornings. Have you seen these animations by Mattel? I know
them well now, we usually watch them every morning because there’s a DVD player
and screen in his dashboard. If it’s not Barbie movies, it’s Elvis. He loves
Elvis.
I have had sinusitis for over two weeks. It must have been
developing since I had the two back-to-back colds from around Christmas. I had
low level sniffles for around six weeks after that, but it eventually flared up
on a Sunday and I started feeling ill. I asked around and found a clinic not
far from me, so Monday night I headed that way. I caught a mini-songtaew to the
crossroad north of me and tried to switch to a taxi. After only a few blocks it
became clear he could speak no English, could not read the address I had
written on a piece of paper, and was unable to read the Bangkok map I presented
to him. My Thai is still totally inadequate. Only 2 baht had accrued on the
meter in that time, so I paid him and got out. A motorcycle policeman was right
there. I walked up to him and asked him where the clinic is. He offered to take
me there and refused to accept money for the ride.
First order of business was
to get the health documents I need for my work permit: blood test results and a
physician’s certificate that I’m in good health. The Thai government requires me to
have a certificate of health as well as proof that I don’t have syphilis. They
wanted to give me a chest X-ray but I said no, and they didn’t have a problem
with it. I am puzzled though why they require a syphilis test but not HIV. I
would think HIV is a far worse problem. Only after I received those documents
did I ask to see both ear/nose/throat and orthopedic specialists for my
ailments. Sinus guy said I need to be on antibiotics for at least three weeks. At that time he will assess whether or not I
need my sinus’ scraped. I Googled that last night and was appalled, sure hope I
don’t need it. Bone guy had a look at my knee which has been hurting for some
time. I submitted to X-rays for this. He said I have a common “defect” that
causes problems for older people. I guess I’m wearing out, or it's arthritis. The blood test, X-rays,
consultation with both orthopedic and ear/nose/throat specialists and five
prescription drugs cost me about 2,000 baht. That’s probably about as much as
the deductible on my insurance for just one
of those services back in the states. The business was run very smoothly, and
I’m satisfied with the quality of care.
I need to get a new visa before I can get a work permit.
It’s called a Type B Non-Immigrant Visa, and I'm leaving in about 10 minutes to catch the bus and head to Laos. There was a lot of paperwork
which was prepared by the school. I have to provide proof of my citizenship and education. A bachelors
degree is required by the school to get the new visa, and it apparently must be
accompanied by transcripts. I provided both my masters and bachelors degrees,
but I have transcripts only for my masters. It’s the latest and greatest, why
wouldn’t they want that? As it turns out they don’t care about the masters at
all for this purpose, and I don't have transcripts for the bachelors. I'm hoping everything will be alright without it.
Today is Monday and it’s a holiday,
Makha Bucha Day. The visa run service leaves at 7:00 PM, drives all
night long and we arrive around 4:00 AM. I won’t go over it again, it’s the subject of a recent post. Wish me luck.
