8th Jan 08

Sawadee Ka (Hello)

I'm having a great time!!! We've been to the Grand Palace and a Wat temple (I've taken loads of pictures- it was very impressive) we were shopping in one of the mega busy markets bought a few things. We started our TEFL course yesterday it is quite hard - we started our lesson's at 9am and finished at 4.30/5.00pm. But we were given loads of homework and were at it until about 8pm - basically we had to learn 6 new words in a foreign language - create all materials and lesson plans then we are teaching the rest of the class for 20mins each today. I'm teaching items of clothing in the Thai language. We are given homework every night and we have to also meet our reps for basic Thai lesson's in the evening - so not much time for sight seeing this week. We going to try and squeeze something in one night this week maybe visit the famous bangkok tower - with a bar at the top called vertigo. We are heading down to Phangan on Fri on the over night train so that should be interesting.

Got to busy bee - I think once we have got the island I will have more time to update my blog.

Love Ali x x


10th Jan 08

Hi All

I've been really busy with all the teaching work - we've been setting off at 8am from the hotel and returning around 7.30pm to do a Thai lesson and then we have to continue with our homework - planning 30min lessons for the next day. This week that is all we have done we have had hardly any time for tourist activities. I started the above blog and didn't have time to place it fully on my sta travel blog site. Anyway, I am still really enjoying it - the teaching TEFL course is a lot more work than we all anticipated - we are learning, but were are also learning lots about teaching grammar etc which will not be relevant to the age groups we will be teaching at. We have to pack tonight and straight after we finish the course on Fri were heading to the train station for the overnight train to Koh Phangan (12 hours on the train - then 3.1/2 hour on the boat) - I've checked we are in sleeper cars which are supposed to be comfortable. When we get to the island (I can't wait!!!) I will have more time to update my blog, send text etc. I've managed to upload some photo's today so take a look at Bangkok - I've got a picture of the group also. Got to go I'll update again probably Sun. I've got a new Thai sim number - I'll post it on the site maybe tomorrow. I hope everybody is well at home!

Love Ali x x x