blog premier? debut? post #1

        As a good friend/yogini/frequent traveler informed me before I left for Bangkok, I "had to start a blog because you will be asked the same thing 85 000 times". I thought that was an approximate figure but she was more or less accurate.
     
     Our teacher orientation starts today and the past few days have been a whirlwind, so I thought I would catch you all up by utilizing one of my favourite tools - lists. 

      Seriously though. Love 'em. Organize my to-do lists by category. Add things on to them that I've already completed just to feel the satisfaction of crossing them off. But I digress... 

Things I've Learned Thus Far About...

Long-Ass Flights

1.) Never, ever read reviews online. People only take the energy to go online if enough rage has been generated to do so. Online reviews are the equivalent to looking up what that weird looking bump on your skin could possibly mean - it is ALWAYS cancer, etc. Ask trusted family and friends.

*Besides one power-trippy attendant in Chicago, can't really complain about my United Airlines experience, in case you were wondering.*

2.) Always check the seating chart - it's good to know whether you're getting on a plane that is so small you could head-check the ceiling if you took the time to do so (2 hour flight to Chicago) vs. feels like an airborne mini-city (13 hour flight to Tokyo).

Judging by my luck on the 13 hour flight, I saved a one-legged baby from certain death in a past life:

Helloooo exit row to myself!

3.) Do not strain your hip flexor by rushing in touch football, continuing to bike the 28 k round trip to work and running 2-4 times a week before taking a long-ass flight. You will hate yourself.

Bangkok Sidewalks:

1.) ALWAYS LOOK DOWN. They go up, down, and disappear without warning. Also, take frequent peaks behind you - motorcyclists are Ottawa's bicyclist equivalent.

2.) Don't plan on having a decent conversation whilst walking along said sidewalks. They're too narrow and it's awkward when you're always looking at the ground.

3.) They are not fun with a strained hip flexor.

Street Vendors:

1.) When in doubt about what that fried/grilled meat actually is, go with the safer-looking corn on the cob. Especially when one of the meats you recognize is most definitely fried worm on a stick. Baby steps.

This photo does *not* include the fried worms,
so stop looking

Hotels:

1.) Can be cheap AND awesome. The hotel they set us up here for the week is $30/night American.

The Golden Pearl in Bangkok

Our hotel's rooftop pool

One of the views from the rooftop pool

My studio-style room

We're here a lot

Teaching/Professionalism:

1a.) Be flexible. Not exactly a shocking revelation, but it's key. Learned the first day I got here what I originally thought I'd be teaching (9 World Geography, 10 World History, 11 and 12 English Grammar and 12 British Literature) is no more. Hopefully at least some of the 700+ pages of teaching resources I scanned will come in handy, but if not, they will some day. And I have a job. In Bangkok. Won't see me complaining.

*alsoIdidn'thaveatonoftimetoprepwiththefulltimejobandmoveandallsothisreallyworksoutinmyfavourheh*

1b.) Always, ALWAYS send a thank-you card. Apparently one of the reasons I secured my position a few months after the job fair in Kingston was because I left my interviewer a thank-you card when he didn't have a position for me to interview for. #mommaurbanraisedmeright

So much more to ramble on about, but this will do for now. Off to orientation in a couple hours - nose ring out, shoulders covered, DO NOT FALL ASLEEP.

Hope you're enjoying your Sunday evening dinners Ottawa, promise to keep these shorter and sweeter in the future!