My principal approached me yesterday and asked if I was staying another year. Very interesting given the fact we have been up front about just staying the 1 year... but whatever...
I smiled. Truthfully - I'm ready to come back to 'merica! uuuuggghhhh!!!!!
Why she approached with such a question is an explanation I care not to go into detail about... needless to say I BLAME BRIAN! He always gives people false hope because he just can't bare to disappoint them... erg... but she showered me with praises nonetheless. Always nice to hear, right?! This especially delighted my day as I am currently writing my own reference letter and felt even more confident praising myself :)
Today, I had just finished my morning lesson and was starting to review some future employment ventures when I noticed May, the principal, coming toward my room. Given yesterday's exchange, I quickly flipped over the paperwork that boldly stated EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. She asked if I had any free time and I very leisurely responded, "Surrreee I have 5 minutes Waz up?" She peered around me at my schedule. She needed more than 5 minutes. CRAP. What did I do?
She saw that I had an hour free. That's usually my backpack planning time or Teacher Misty's playdough time at her desk. She wanted to take me to the other school, Hilton, for a tour. I was game. I always wanted to pop over to the other school and see what it was like. I knew I would never otherwise get the opportunity.
A previous conversation between Brian and me.
Me: "Hey Brian, let's go see the other school."
Brian: "What's wrong with you? Why do we want to do that? I don't even know where it is... It's too far... No... I just want to relax!"
I know this wasn't an invitation given to every teacher at our school. She was trying to recruit me. Why this figured into showing me the other school? I have no idea.
..But I went anyway. I could have said no, but it wasn't the time to really turn down the offer in front of my entire class. Truthfully, I don't even know whey she thinks the offer is on the table... cough... BRIAN! What the hell did he say to this woman?:)
She had the driver, yes a driver, take us to the school. I'm pretty sure if Brian and I would have tried to find it, we would have gotten lost... so point to Brian. It's not terribly far, but it's location is no way as convenient as our schools.
I always love awkward conversations i.e. riding in a car with your boss. Luckily, I've always been good at filling in the silence with good material. I'm a question freak... so even if the person isn't a conservationist, they can't run from my millions of questions :) Plus, being a teacher now, I can stretch things out!
However, knowing how to gear conversations in the right direction takes talent if I do say so myself i.e. keep it far away from encouraging her that I'm staying another year. Also, knowing the answer before you ask the question so you can show that you care and pay attention AND have the opportunity to follow up with praises such as, "Oh thats amazing," sort of babble is always a nice touch. Again, who doesn't like praise? Some might call this manipulation or conniving. I say unto you, have you met the population currently on this planet?!? Some people are just more gifted than others at exercising this natural ability ;0) Pisces whaaaaa?!?
May isn't awful to talk to, shes very bubbly and nice. Maybe a little too nice.... fake nice... or real nice... Maybe she just can't help herself in offering things. Maybe given the opportunity to give things away, she at times feels compelled...
So, when I returned from my trip an hour later with a free delicious 4 course Thai meal for Brian, Teacher Emily, and myself - I can't lie. I knew what I was doing. I made the conversation lean that way without being obvious. Politely refused yada yada yada. Was it wrong of me to take advantage of the situation?... um maybe.... Is it wrong we don't get any perks at this job and there are alot of shady things always going on?.... um YEAH... Is it wrong Brian wants to right these wrongs by stealing something of value from the school?.... technically, yes. SO again I say unto you, What I did was at least not illegal. It also helped team morale. Teacher Emily and Brian were ecstatic! I can't explain the blank faces I received staring back at my 1 hour experience.
What didn't help team morale was having every teacher come over to see what we were eating. I mean this never happens. Why today of all days did they decide to pop over?
White lies are good. Why should I say the truth if its only going to spread animosity between teachers? "Yeah got this food (free) from May... why you ask... uhhhhhh..."
Grandmama :)
The teachers already ask me each time a project comes up to lower my standards. I think I have heard the phrase, "Misty please don't _____, your going to make all of us look bad." I don't attempt to make anyone look bad or be the shining star. I just do my job. I don't do anything special. I just do it right and I do it good. Everyone is capable... and this tangent rant is isn't just a Thailand thing. It's been happening since Elementary school. I can't apologize for my work ethic. The world would probably be a better place if people had the same ideals.
So while looking down, I quickly mumbled, "Okay, here's the plan. We all brought in food for today to eat because its Friday and we are celebrating... goes with our reward system... we got it from a market... if they ask what market just say somewhere they would never understand....everyone understand? everyone agree?" Plus, I didn't want to put May in any sort of position of favoritism toward us... it was just better this way....
So even though they, Teacher Emily and Brian, approved of this make shift story I came up with in 5 seconds and they both understand English perfectly even at my fast paced mumbling, they still could not produce a sound when questioned by the other teachers. It was a long awkward silence when the first question was asked. Surely the other two would step up? Teacher Misty spent an hour getting us this delicious food! Nope... so my first response could have been read as weird if the other teachers were the least bit perceptive to human emotions. But their not. The second stream of questions, I didn't even wait for the others to try. I just ran with it. Good thorough explanation. Though, before answering I did hear Brian under his breath whisper, "Misssstyyyy...." As in, Misty why don't you answer that question. Urg... no one else has balls? really??? Go team!!!!! - And I mean that very sarcastically. Still love them... but damn! Help a sistah out!
So the white lie was going along fine. Brian got called away for a birthday so that meant we would have birthday cake too! What a wonderful day Friday was becoming. Praise, tour, food, weekend. When Brian returned, Teacher Gerry showed up to talk with Brian about video cameras. On arriving he commented, "Oh that looks just like the food from alkdjfalkjdkajdf." What? I didn't catch that... It was clearly in Thai. "Oh, you know Eric and Mays restaurant." I was speechless. CAUGHT. What are the odds another teacher actually got take away from the other school?!? However, after taking a breath, I just looked confused and laughed and bobbled my head like an Indian - a move I learned from watching Outsourced, a comedy mini-series about an American working at a call center in India. The Indian head bobble neither says yes or no. He was more interested in talking to Brian anyway. He would never in a million years assume we got it for free of all things... maybe at the least ordered delivery. SAFE.
Later Teacher Emily confessed she knew Teacher Gerry goes over that way to eat with his family. UHHH would have been good to mention. But it worked out to be another classic TV moment that rarely happens in real life that we laugh about now. So I guess white lies can't always be problem solvers. Lesson learned... sorta... cause it still worked :)
While the boys talked, I kept bugging Brian to go get cake. He told me to go get it myself. Great. There's Teacher Misty scavenging another classes cake. It makes sense if it's Brian. It's his classes cake! With Brian chatting away, us girls left for the cafeteria area. Upon arrival I spotted the cake instantly. It was down to the wire. I shot past Emily, bumped my way to the faculty plates, and hightailed it to the cake. I don't think the Thai's were expecting such a fast farang. I swooped in and got two big pieces. After nabbing them, the rest was gone within seconds. Teacher Emily was so grateful for my fast maneuvering. I believe the wording she used today was, "You deserve two gold stars on your reward chart today. I am just in awe of you right now. You have light shooting out of your head." Thanks Teacher Emily :)
I even brought some of the cake to Brian because I'm such a good girlfriend. He didn't get any earlier because a plate wasn't shoved in his hand and he had reservations about taking a slice. Now Brian always says this to me when I go after something, "Ohhh I'm Misty... I"M GONNA GET MINE. mmmhmmm Look out for myself. I'm gonna get mine." I don't agree with this attitude he gives me. But best believe I stand up for myself and am a confident woman. I see an opportunity, I take it. You gotta act fast sometimes. I don't need to wait to be told what to do. I just do it. I think. Thanks dad :) And I don't know why Brian acts like this. Not like HE DOESN'T reap the rewards of my apparent self serving attitude.
More importantly, He sent the dirty plate back to the kitchen later that day via a student. His student brought back a comment via the kitchen staff. CLEAN YOUR OWN PLATE! Hahaha... leave it to Brian... We all know we have to wash our own dishes at school. The Thai's saw my hasty retrieval of cake before, and I hope they don't think that plate was being sent back via me :) Brian is just racking up points for me... awesome. Thanks, babe.
Quickly just to revert back to the hour long tour, the other school is going to be amazing. They are starting an international school. We don't work at an international school. We work at a private school. Big difference. Main difference money. You pay alot more for an International school than for a private school. I ran into Valarie, a fellow wife of a diver with Mermaids I met while the dive shop was having their free monthly bbq. She needed a teaching job and I suggested Phoenix. I only saw her one time since her hiring and it was a matter of seconds. It was nice to see her again. We arranged to meet up next week. I can't wait to hear about her teaching experience so far... whew! haha. Sure to be good!
Back on track... If you are a teacher at an International School you make BIG BUCKS! I make 30,000 Baht a month. International School teachers easily make 50,000 - 80,000 a month. That's alot considering I really only need at the most half my salary to live a very comfortable life in Thailand. Needless to say, it is very difficult to be hired as an International Teacher. You have to usually have a masters or bare minimum a degree in education, and the more work experience the better. A couple years will not cut it. Bringing the point back - working for an international school with my current background is ridiculous to even consider.
So... again... why did she bring me here?
Oh... Oh...oh...She wants to hire me as a teacher at her new International School. Don't worry - I'm not considering it. However, I am very flattered. I can't tell you how much applaud the woman gave me that hour. Truth be told, I'm glad at least someone was paying attention! I do work hard. I have never been a slacker in my life. It was a great booster. Always nice to have your boss gush over you... even if some of it is at an attempt to reel me back in. I always tried to end sentences with, "This would be a great way to advertise to other teachers on-line." May's no fool. She knows how this works. I can't be hate'n on her for it given my previous confession. Don't hate the player, hate the game. And I am one competitive game player at that ;0)
In all my questions to fill the hour we had together, I asked about our current teachers at Phoenix...
Me: "Well, won't all the teachers at Phoenix want to become teachers at the International school?" (It is more money after all)
May: "Ummmm..... uhhhh.... (more pause).... There is no one at Phoenix that I want to extend this offer to. Only you. We like you. Your teaching style is great... you can do things independently... your a problem solver... you don't complain you just do it and figure out a way....Blah blah blah. "
Truthfully can't remember all of it because I was stunned. What about Teacher Tom? He rocks as a teacher and plus HE LOVES IT! What about Teacher Lokki? He lives for every minute of teaching. I might be able to see her reasoning with the others... but still?!?
I was humbled.
Again, It's nice to know someone is paying attention and appreciates your work.
In retelling this story over our delicious meal, Brian's only comment was, "What about me?" (And he says I'm Misty "I'm gonna get mine"????? YEAH RIGHT!). No congratulations or you deserve it babe... you work hard or that's really awesome. None. But to answer his question, honestly I don't know. I think we would be at different schools. Or get this concept -- He would be at the international school only if he convinced me to stay. It's like Sugar Bowl all over again LOL. See he reaps benefits.
I am not trying to ring my own bell. I just needed to convey this day into writing just as it happened. The timing, coincidences, weirdness just can't be made up!
I conclude this blog with our conversation upstairs to our apartment after school...
Me: "Aww that was nice today. I was flattered..." Thinking this might be the time for Brian to say something nice.
Brian: *Silence*
Me in my head: Damn a good job or something would be the right thing to say about now. I know Brian hates giving me props but really?!?
Brian: ... after much silence "You are such an overachiever!!!! erg... you should just learn how to do the Stock Markets and make us some money."
Me: *Silence* - did not expect that comment.
Me: "Uhhh... I don't think that would work out so good...." :)
I really don't think it would.
Goodbye weird hectic Friday. Hello weekend.
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