Pros and Cons...

Hello to all. I know...long time, no post. Nobody has said they miss my writing, except for Matt Harvey, so this one is for you buddy. I hope everyone is enjoying the end of spring and anxiously awaiting summer. Out of all the posts that I have written, I really haven't gone into detail about the pros and cons of living here.
Let's get first things first. I have said it many times before and I will say it again, "I love living here!" However, being from Western culture, there are things that I miss and don't miss. My biggest beef with Thailand is the concept of space. I will give you some examples. Sidewalks are about half the size for sidewalks back home with twice as many people. I feel that you can do the math. Now imagine being at the weekend market, with over 1,000 shops in 100 degree heat. If you go to clubs here, there are these little rool-away table trays that you can put your drinks on, has the bucket of ice, extra glasses, etc. This tray is about 18 inches by 18 inches. We had a group of 10 people. How can you seriously expect 10 people to fit around something the size of a handtowel? And on top of that, throw in about 400 people surrounding you.
My second beef might sound a little dumb, but too bad. This isn't something that really bugs be, but just something little that I miss about being back home...NAPKINS! Anytime I go somewhere to eat, the Thai napkin is squares from a roll of toilet paper. However, they refer to it as tissue. I am serious, the dispenser at the table ACTUALLY contains a roll of toilet paper most of the time. I guess there is nothing like adding that "extra touch of class" to an evening meal.
My last beef that I have (that comes to mind right away) is the issue of music. It is as if Thailand is not allowed to listen to anything outside the "Top 40." I realize that I made mention to the song "Lo" in a previous post, but the list goes far beyond that. I don't hear "Lo" as much any more because it has now been replaced with "Dangerous", "Too Late to Apologize", "Right Now", not to mention about seven more songs by Akon, and T-Paine, JT, Lil' Wayne and "Zombie" by the Cranberries. At times I just want to go up to "DJ Kill-A-Party" and ask if it would kill him to play some Snoop, Jay-Z, Zeppelin, AC/DC, Rolling Stones, I believe you get the idea. Basically if I have to hear about Lil' Wayne getting licked like a lollipop one more time, I am going to light the lollipop on fire....and by "lolipop" I really mean building. I am not sayin'.....I'M JUST SAYIN'!
Now let's get to the pros of being here. I am a man who loves watching movies, especially in the theater. I can buy a VIP movie ticket (cuz I am smooth like that) for B150. That is just over $4. If I feel like watching it at home, I can buy a good quality, pirated copy for just under $3. A little better of a deal that back home. Basically the price of goods in general is worth the admission to live here.
Although I will say that I do miss the changing of the seasons, I will also say it does not beat being able to wear shorts and t-shirts for 12 months of the year. I was talking with a teacher whom I will be working with more next year, Aaron, from Indiana, about certain things that we missed about the midwest. He couldn't understand how I didn't miss the weather and I couldn't understand how he could miss the cold. I would much rather deal with 110 degree heat and humidity than -20 degrees and windy. I get to see the sun shine every day, short shorts and tanktops, and have the ability to go to the beach every weekend. How can not enjoy that? Ohh yeah, I forgot that I don't deer hunt :)
The last pro about being here is the best of all...the kids. I have said it before and I will say it over and over and over again. Students here don't compare to students back home. For you teachers out there, how many middle school students come into class everyday and ask what they are going to learn about with a smile on their face? How many middle school students are sincere when they ask how your weekend was or tell you good morning and have a good day? How many middle school students get asked to do things and NEVER ask "Why"? Students here help other students without being asked. They do it because they see a friend who is not understanding something. How much more could a teacher in the U.S. get done if he/she never had to send a student to the office or stop a lesson when a kid is doing something bad? I feel all these questions are easliy answerable without help from me. I thought was a very fulfilled when I actually left Wisconsin to move to Thailand. However, have the opportunity and the privilege that I have had to teach these wonderful students has been the most fulfilling and rewarding thing I have ever done in my short 25 years.
Well, that is all for now. Again, I hope everyone is doing great. I do want to send happy birthday wishes to Emily Lea and Matt Harvey. I know it is a little belated, but I blame my forgetfullness on the time difference. Until next time...Nibb High Football Rules!!!