Halfway done with class session #1

2/17/10

It’s a lot of work to come up with a 30-hour class from scratch! I knew I would probably be teaching a creative writing course here and that I had to prepare all the material for it, but I haven’t been thinking about it until now, when I realize the class in only two weeks away and people are definitely expecting me to teach it. It’s also hard because I don’t know the English ability of my students and because I have to take the American-style writing I learned in college and make it culturally relevant. Even one of the most crucial aspects of Western creative writing—critiquing each other’s work—isn’t really acceptable in a “saving face” Asian country. Anyway, I’m pretty excited to think about teaching my favorite subject, but also anxious about the responsibility. And about being able to come up with enough material in the next two weeks!

In case it’s not clear (which it’s probably not), I’ll be here for three class sessions; each is four weeks long. I’m already halfway through the first one! The second starts March 9th, and the third not until April 20th.

I think somehow word has gotten out to about half of the 130 students that I need friends. I’ve gotten gifts, notes, and offers to hang out from a lot of people. And Rung asks me how I’m doing—she says people can tell when I’m having a hard time. It’s really sweet, and I’m grateful for people to get to know :) At the same time, I’m grateful that I’m content alone, too. I don’t want to rely on having alone time, but I’m never bored and I’m only lonely because I lack close friends, a problem not solved by being with people all the time.

Tonight I’m planning to go to a night market with some girls after class, and then Friday to the beach with them. Saturday there is a school trip to Kanjanaburi, which I think is a scenic spot a couple hours outside the city. Sunday maybe another trip to a market with one of my students.

Good news—I mostly finished my FAFSA and my taxes yesterday, and it only took me maybe an hour. It’s amazing how easy it is to get W2s online and to file everything electronically. I just have to file my Hawaii state taxes and I’m all set. Yay! And I found another internet spot for weekends—a coffee shop a couple blocks away. Again, yay!