Laos - Part 2 and other things (school and coup)
I was looking at my blog and noticed that it had been over two months since my last entry. I will start with the Lao trip.
My stay was only for three days and I didn't get to see much of the city because of the rain. It is in a French Colonial architecture style with a few Buddhist Wats (Temples) thrown in. I did get out to a few restaurants during the brief periods of decent weather. They do have one of the things that the French do well and that is a bread, cheese and wine (whine??) shop. It is difficult to find good bread in Thailand (outside of the sliced stuff). I came back on Saturday in the reverse direction. The twin berth room I shared with another American (California I believe). He had been here almost 15 years. I would like to return to Laos and see more of the country.
Well, believe it or not the 1st semester is almost over (October 6th) and school resumes again on November 1st through sometime in March. Last week and this week are exams only. I protor an exam with another Thai teacher. We have proctored 8 classes thus far with 2 more tomorrow. I am amazed at how ridiculous grade inflation is here. On those mandatory courses (English for Communications and Business English) 30% (thirty) is a passing grade and there are some who cannot get that. The students are not encouraged to sudy. Also they only need to attend 75% of the classes or they can be dropped. The classes go for three periods (2.5 hours) once a week. So they must attend 12 out of 16 classes. I have been kicking them out when they exceed this amount. Some believe that they can come an hour late and stay in the class. I count them absent after 30 minutes. But this way I got rid of the toublesome students. I had one group of 50 people and ended with 38 and a class of 35 trimmed to 25 - much easier to handle. I am still working part time through an agency for 4 to 8 hours a week (at 500 bhat a hour). Also I will be getting about 8 to 12 hours a week during the break for an extra 15,000 to 18,000 bhat a month. I'll be rolling in the bhat.
Well if you haven't heard by now the country had a military coup. Taksin has showed open corruption in the last year. He was able to get a law passed that would benefit him and his family in the selling of stock and his family sold there stock for a tidy billion baht. They had an election in April that would have put a new party in power but the elections turned out to be a farce as the election commission were "owned" by Taksin. Four of them ended up in prison. A new election was coming up this month or next. Taksin had been asked to step down (by the king) and he refused. The people were beginning to hate Taksin and were very happy that he was thrown out. The coup had the backing of the king (probably the most beloved man in Thailand - only 2nd to Buddha). I have seen the tanks on the street. It's almost a tourist attraction to the Thais as they stand next to or on top of the tanks and have their pictures taken.
Later
Derman
My stay was only for three days and I didn't get to see much of the city because of the rain. It is in a French Colonial architecture style with a few Buddhist Wats (Temples) thrown in. I did get out to a few restaurants during the brief periods of decent weather. They do have one of the things that the French do well and that is a bread, cheese and wine (whine??) shop. It is difficult to find good bread in Thailand (outside of the sliced stuff). I came back on Saturday in the reverse direction. The twin berth room I shared with another American (California I believe). He had been here almost 15 years. I would like to return to Laos and see more of the country.
Well, believe it or not the 1st semester is almost over (October 6th) and school resumes again on November 1st through sometime in March. Last week and this week are exams only. I protor an exam with another Thai teacher. We have proctored 8 classes thus far with 2 more tomorrow. I am amazed at how ridiculous grade inflation is here. On those mandatory courses (English for Communications and Business English) 30% (thirty) is a passing grade and there are some who cannot get that. The students are not encouraged to sudy. Also they only need to attend 75% of the classes or they can be dropped. The classes go for three periods (2.5 hours) once a week. So they must attend 12 out of 16 classes. I have been kicking them out when they exceed this amount. Some believe that they can come an hour late and stay in the class. I count them absent after 30 minutes. But this way I got rid of the toublesome students. I had one group of 50 people and ended with 38 and a class of 35 trimmed to 25 - much easier to handle. I am still working part time through an agency for 4 to 8 hours a week (at 500 bhat a hour). Also I will be getting about 8 to 12 hours a week during the break for an extra 15,000 to 18,000 bhat a month. I'll be rolling in the bhat.
Well if you haven't heard by now the country had a military coup. Taksin has showed open corruption in the last year. He was able to get a law passed that would benefit him and his family in the selling of stock and his family sold there stock for a tidy billion baht. They had an election in April that would have put a new party in power but the elections turned out to be a farce as the election commission were "owned" by Taksin. Four of them ended up in prison. A new election was coming up this month or next. Taksin had been asked to step down (by the king) and he refused. The people were beginning to hate Taksin and were very happy that he was thrown out. The coup had the backing of the king (probably the most beloved man in Thailand - only 2nd to Buddha). I have seen the tanks on the street. It's almost a tourist attraction to the Thais as they stand next to or on top of the tanks and have their pictures taken.
Later
Derman
posted by DERMAN at 2:46 AM
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