This is my room...complete with snare drum practice pad and maps of the surrounding islands!

This place has been OK, aside from the  bats in the ceiling that occasionally fly into the house late at night.

I need to move next month though, so I'm not getting too comfortable here. 

This is my street...Karunrat Soi 18.  And yes, our traditional Thai-style toilet and bucket flush.  (Don't worry...I swear that isn't my toothbrush!) 

Peter insists that some people end up prefering Thai-style toilets over Western ones, but I'm not quite convinced yet...

Neighbors

These are my friendly neighbors on Karunrat Soi 18...here we are chillin' after my Tae Kwan Do practice.

They always hook up the chalam (shark red bull) before work and the occasional bia sing (Singha beer) after a hard day's work.

Noodles

This street vendor is my favorite!  I always cruise over on my jakrayan after work, hungry and usually drenched in sweat.

They wai me as I kick the kickstand and lock my bike, and serve up some seriously delicious hot noodles.  

Aroi mak mak!

Phil!

This is Phil...my British friend, fellow teacher, and roommate.

He's from Oxford, UK.  He used to be a trance DJ back in Britain, and when he was growing up he used to casually run into Thom Yorke while shopping at the grocery store.  

He is master card-player and bia-sing drinker, and is an excellent teacher unless he has food poisoning.  

He spent the last year traveling all over India on his motorcycle.  Before that, he was teaching English in Korea.  

Crowds of kids disperse after a tug-of-war contest for "sports week" at Thidamaepra.

Bplaa!

This is Bplaa (her name means "fish" in Thai)...she is a lifesaver!  She bails me out when I'm lost and helps me navigate my way through the labyrinth of Thida (occasionally sending a little student to lead the way for me).  

Prathom 4, hard at work

I mean honestly, how you could be intimidated by these kids?

The Kids of Thidamaepra

Thidamaepra is the largest school in this region of Thailand.  It has over 4,000 kids!  

When I first flew into Surat Thani and started teaching here, it was beyond anything I had ever experienced.  I found it to be chaotic and overwhelming.  

But the kids instantly greeted me with smiles, wais, high-fives, and an endless supply of energy and imagination.  

I am very happy to be their teacher!