Sopisaipittayakhom School

      Several of you have asked about the school where I am teaching, so…

So Pisai is located in Nongkhai Province in the Northeastern part of  Thailand near the border between Thailand and Laos. Nong Khai is ranked # 7 in the world for the top 10 places to retire!.

  

The small village where the school is located is close to the mountains, the hill tribes and rural Thailand. The government school is a M1- M6 (junior high and high school age), under the direction of the Thailand Ministry of Education, similar to a public school in the USA. A big difference I notice is that every day the entire student body of 1400 students gather outside to start the day by ceremoniously raising the Thai Flag and singing the Thai National Anthem, then their own school flag and song, a prayer and announcements. This is where I was introduced to the students as the Foreigner English Teacher from America. 

When I first arrived at Sopisia School a Thai Government Official in full uniform complete with ribbons, the Principal, the head of the English department, and all the Thai English teachers were waiting to greet me. This was a big event as I am the first and only westerner that the school has ever had. The message on the card presented to me with a basket of flowers said: “Welcome to Sopisaipittayakhom School. We’re so proud to bring Foreigner Teacher for teaching English and Communication”

My health insurance and house is furnished by the school, and I only have to pay electricity. I do have intermittent wi-fi, hot water sometimes, and even air-conditioning in my bedroom, but not in the school! 

The Foreign English Teachers House!

   

There is one Thai teacher who speaks a little English, and he gives me rides on his motorbike when I go to market to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. 

Needless to say, as I am also the only foreigner in the village, everyone stares at me, being somewhat out of place with my blonde 

hair among a sea of shiny black hair.

All the Thai teachers are very nice and invite me to dinner often, as they all want to learn English too.

The students are very well behaved and respectful bowing their heads and greeting me with a wai (bowing their heads and prayer like hands as in a Namaste greeting). I teach 18 classes per week and some classes have over 40 students. I am truly enjoying teaching as the students are so eager to learn.

 Unknown to me, I had the Directors son in one of my first classes, and he told her that I was very well prepared and that he liked the class and it was fun too. 

She also said several other students came and told her how much they liked me as a teacher. 

I had almost forgotten how much joy it gives me to share a little of my knowledge with students.

 On my five minute walk home from school, I see the golfers walking along the path with their bags (no carts) as they prepare to tee off just across from my little house. 

On the other side of the house the cows are coming home to their shed in the back yard. 

Unlocking my door, I breathe in the beauty of the abundant greenery, colorful blooming plants and trees, with brilliant yellow and bright blue butterflies joyously flitting about. Another day of teaching just ended. 

Only a girl from Wisconsin would enjoy seeing the cows come home!