I've been in Bangkok for the last week, staying in a guest house in the Khao Sahn Rd. area. It's been a quiet time spent waiting to hear from my agency concerning a new placement. I am playing catchup with my journal entries. Should have it done in about a week. There are times when I am tired of words. I get tired of looking for the right words to say, to think, to write. I hear many accents, dialects, languages, and with it varying degrees of speed as words are poured out. Fast talkers from Wales. Clear-speaking New Zealanders who sound Australian, but claim to be more cultured (less slangy) than the Aussies. Met a pair of Koreans, one of whom was going to Chiang Mai and happy to hear of a Korean restaurant in the area where he could get some bibimbap. In the guest house restaurant we have people people checking in, people lounging around reading, people conversing. Shania Twain is still the one on the radio, along with a bizzare mismatch of international musi ranging from MNM to Gangnam Style. I'm tapping away on an Android tablet wishing my right knee would stop aching. The movie starts at 1:00. At my last school I asked about vegetarian food. The only thing they had on a regular basis was a three egg omlette that occasionally had something like onion added to it. Eventually I stopped eating the eggs because the cooking oil didn't taste good. Thai food in a Thai restaurant in the US or somewhere outside of Thailand is not the same as what you will find in a Thai village. Its hit and miss. The fresh fruit purchased from a street vender will always be good, though. Nothing compares to fresh watermelon, pineapple, papaya, or mango. I've eaten better here than I did at my last placement. Over the next-to-last weekend of September, the rains were heavy enough to flood the parking lot where I was staying. On Monday the water was ankle deep. Eventually it would be a little deeper, but in some places it was knee deep. At school the ground floor classrooms were flooded. We were closed until Oct. 15. On Friday I started having problems with my right knee. It was a real pain during my visa run to Vientiane. I asked a teacher with a medical degree about the swelling. He told me that there were torn ligaments in my knee. So I am resting and giving my knee time to heal. Money is very tight right now, and payday is Tuesday. Let's see what happens next...

Random questions asked by @Barbieboo_Annie

1. If you were able to time travel, where would you be at this moment?
I am a Creationist. I would want to see the preflood world and find out where I am right about them, and what parts I got wrong about the people and the culture of that time period.

2. If you could choose your own name, what would it be?
I'm okay with the one I have. 

3. The first thing I'd buy if I won a $100 million dollar lottery is..
another college degree.

4. Which is worst, losing which sense: sight or sound?
I am a visual person. If I lost my sight, I'd probably stay home all day. I would probably be okay if I was deaf. 

5. If you could bring one person from history to our time, who would it be?
the idiot who started the Industrial Revolution. let him see if what we have done is what he had in mind.

6. Farthest distance you've gone from home.
Thailand is pretty far from where I grew up. It's about half way around the world.

7. If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would it be?
at this time, I have no idea who I would like to switch lives with for a day.

8. Best memory of a kiss.
still working on it.

9. Worst trend of all time.
the music style known as "grunge" comes to mind, as well as "the shaky cam," legwarmers, and the mullet (which only looked good on professional wrestlers)

10. Person (real, fictitious, dead, or alive) that you would love to meet.
Mr. Spock from Star Trek: The Original Series is the fictional character. It would be cool to hang out with Leonard Nimoy and talk about photography.

11. Favorite love song.
"Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol - but only when performed by either Cherry Lee or Mike Masse. Videos of both are available on youtube. 

12. Craziest spur-of-the-moment thing you did. (Or would want to do.)
Take anger management classes taught by Bruce Banner (The Incredible Hulk) and Ben Grimm (The Thing from Fantastic Four)

13. What's number one on your bucket list?
write a novel and not care if it makes the NYT bestseller list. just want the thing written.

14. I feel sexiest when I'm wearing...
I never feel "sexy." I have no idea what that means.

Put the sun to my back
let the wind comb my hair
I want to run from this place
and find a place to live without a care

let the sky turn to black
let the wind run through my hair
I want the stars burning bright
in a sea made with the tears of the moon

and though the flood is receding
I know your heart is bleeding
but you don’t want me around
let me leave you behind
I promise not to make a sound

put the sky to my back
let the wind cut through my hair
some day I will find my place
where love lives without fear

The last few weeks have been a literal washout. At my school we were preparing for final testing and looking forward to some time off before the start of the last half of school. What we got instead was several inches of rain covering the roads. Flooding was expected, which was why they moved up the testing schedule. When I got up on Sept. 24, the water was ankle deep in front of my place. I live about 50 yards from the main four-lane road into town. It was down to two lanes. I called a fellow teacher from school and found out school was closed until Oct. 15.

The last week of September I celebrated my 48^th birthday on the computer. It was rather boring. That Friday I got my pay and headed to Bangkok, and experienced some places where the water was rather deep. Where I live, the water got to be about knee deep. However, it was receding nicely by Friday, and I got to get out so I could prepare for my trip. Thing is, my right knee was swelling up for some reason, and even now I am still dealing with the pain.

I spent the night in Bangkok, and in the mid-afternoon booked a train to Nong Kai, the end of the line of the Royal Thai Railroad Service. I needed to hop the Thai-Lao border on Sunday morning, and so the overnight train was the best way to get there. The train left late and arrived late. I hoped the border successfully, limping slightly because of the knee. I guess most of the pain was caused by the overloaded backpack I was carrying, as well as a slightly overstuffed book bag with a busted zipper. It got cold on the train, so I was wearing a sweat jacket, but it had to come off as it warmed up rather nicely. My taxi into Vientiane, Laos, was an A/C van, and the ride was smooth. I got dropped off at the Talat Sao mall and walked the rest of the way to the guesthouse where I stay when I am in Vientiane. It is conveniently located, an easy walk to downtown, the bus station, and the Thai consulate. I had to reacquaint myself with the town, as it was my first time back in two years.

I spent most of my free time playing on an Android tablet, as well as reading A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. I tried to sleep as much as I could, as well.

Monday I went to the consulate, and was told there might be a problem as I only had three blank pages left. I was told they were cover pages and could not have a visa stamp placed on them. I was not happy about this. I paid extra to have someone process it for me, and was not in a good mood when I left. The SDA Mission in Laos is located three blocks from the consulate, and I dropped by for a brief visit, and told them about the possible problem I was facing. They invited me to have lunch of fish, rice, sticky rice, and vegetables. I had the vegetables and rice, as well as some sticky rice. It was good hanging out with them for a little while. I walked to Talat Sao, got some bottled water and a drink with electrolytes, and looked for some information concerning a bank with Western Union. The exterior of the building is interesting, not the most attractive mall exterior in the world, but inside it is rather pleasant. My knee could only take so much more, though, so I went back to the guesthouse.

 Anticipating a problem with my passport, I paid for one more night at the guesthouse, then went to the consulate. I was given good news. They used one page that I was counting on, and now have to apply with the American embassy in Bangkok for a new passport. The rest of the day went by smoothly.

On Wednesday I checked out, and headed to the bus station. My next destination was Udon Thani, where I would pick up the train to Bangkok. At a mall near the bus station I found a Western Union at a Robinson department store, and then got a kiwi-flavored ice cream cone. From the mall I walked to the bus station, got my ticket, and learned that the train was running late. It took about 12 hours to get back to Bangkok. I spent some time walking Sukhumwit before going to Victory Monument for a van home. I still do not feel rested up from the trip.

School is back in session in six days. I should have the novel finished by then, even though I know how it ends. Other than that, I’m going give my knee a rest, and get over a sore throat. Over the last two days I have been dealing with a swollen tonsil. Let’s just say it has been a rough few weeks. More to come.

The night of black before my eyes
holds for me the promise of
the coming light of endless day
when there’s nothing more to say

the sun rides high the moon rides low
over lands of deepest snow
though I am scarred by the cutting cold
I must stand and be bold
I must stand and be bold

I know not why it falls on me
this passionate storm of life
moves me closer to the day
when men have nothing more to say

the stars ride high as the moon rides low
over deserts of burning sand
though I am scarred by the furnace heat
I must stand and be bold
I must stand and be bold

these blood-shot eyes have seen too much
this battered heart is numb to touch
but the coming light of endless day
helps me to find my way

I ride high and I ride low
through the valley where I must go
though I fear the shades of death
I must stand and be bold
I must stand and be bold

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I am a fan of a song called "Sail the Sky" by the Bedlam Bards. It was featured on a recording they released called On the Drift - songs inspired by Firefly and Serenity. I listened to the song several times while I wrote this. I'll give the writer of "Sail the Sky" a writing credit if he asks, as I feel I borrowed too much from his lyrics. 

one more time girl
one more time
and, please, this time girl
don’t hold back girl
don’t hold back
all the passion all the pain
‘cause in due time girl
in due time
all the rain’s gonna fall
and the world’s gonna end
right on time

one last fight girl
one last fight
and, please, this time girl
don’t hold back girl
don’t hold back
all the passion all the pain
‘cause in due time girl
in due time
you roll with the punches
and the fight’s gonna end
right on time

one last kiss girl
one last kiss
and, please, this time girl
don’t hold back girl
don’t hold back
all the passion all the pain
‘cause in due time girl
in due time
true love will find you
and the hate’s gonna end
right on time

Thai students are encouraged to practice asking questions of native speakers of English and recording their answers in homemade notebooks. I've been interviewed numerous times since arriving in Thailand, and  while it is a nice experience in helping them practice their English skills, there are times when it is frustrating. When asked about the kind of Thai food I like, I have to spell my answers for them. My usual answer to the question is 'sometimes.' Students who don't listen carefully enough will write down 'som tom.' Even then, I have to check their writing to make sure that the 's' is at the end of words ending in 's.' No matter how many times I say my name and spell it for them, it is inevitable that they will spell my given name as 'Jame.'

Among the most frequently asked questions I am given, it bothers me that they are not able to answer questions I have for them. I have been asked, "what is he like?" I have no idea who "he" is. I ask, "who?" They don't know. They can't answer the question. And I have no idea who they are asking about, either. The previous question that I am not asked is either about a father or a brother.

Here are the most frequent questions I have been asked and their answers. 

What is your name? James

What is your family name? Heald

What is your nickname? Jim

How old are you? 47

How many are in your family? three

Do you have any brothers or sisters? I have two younger sisters.

What is your mother's name? Sara.

How old is she? She was 73 when she died.

What is your father's name? Jerry.

How old is your father? He was 42 when he died.

Do you play the guitar? I am a student of the guitar.

Do you like Thai food? Sometimes

What is your favorite Thai food? kao gee - a glutinous rice paddy covered with an egg batter that is cooked over charcoal 

How long have you been in Thailand? four years

Do you like Thailand? Sometimes. I like it when the students in class behave and I don't have to yell to be heard over the rude students talking in class without permission.

Why do you like Thailand? the weather

Do you play basketball? no.

How often do you play sports? I don't play sports.

What is your favorite sport? Taekwondo

Is your house big or small? Big, as it has three floors. It only has five rooms, though. (It is a commercial property, a storefront, converted to an apartment.)

What is your favorite room? the bedroom

How often do you go shopping? I go shopping once a day.

Over the weekend I made it down to Bangkok with two goals in mind. One was to buy some books. The other was to look at computers, possibly to buy one if the price was right. I accomplished one of these goals by spending 4000 baht at an English bookstore at the Emporium on Sumkumvit Road. I’ll take care of the computer issue next payday.

I like reading, but I don’t do enough of it. After working with words in preparing for classes, and then actually making it through the lesson, I honestly don’t feel like reading. I would rather surf the Internet, waste time playing the incredibly stupid puzzle games on Facebook, or watch reruns of Stargate SG-1. Unfortunately, I have access to a television with cable, and FOXCrime and SyFy Channel are part of the package. As I look at the situation now, I would rather be able to listen to podcasts on a computer while cooking rather than have the television provide background noise.

At least with SyFy I can get to watch The Green Hornet after catching up with episodes of Batman I missed when I was in kindergarten. If available, I would probably watch the ancient black and white episodes of Ultra-Man, a Japanese superhero who has been reinvented numerous times. I did catch a current incarnation of UM with Thai voice dubbing a few weeks ago. All I can say is “crazy.”

While at the bookstore I loaded up with a collection of essays on Thai culture, a brief history of Lan Na, a collection of stories of ancient samurai, a vegetarian Thai food cookbook, and smaller books on martial arts, including Tai Chi and Wing Chung Kung Fu. I also picked up the Rough Guide to Thailand and to Laos. I prefer The Rough Guide over Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet makes it seem so… lonely. I will get the Lonely Planet phrase books, though. They are cheap enough.

The teaching is good. Some students want to learn, and show some limited leadership potential. Others seem to be in it because they have to. There are troublemakers, as well, who won’t shut up and listen like they are supposed to, and they are the ones I have to outtalk. This past week a boy hit another boy, and it escalated into a chase, which ended in a flying kick. They were goofing off, but the issue I had concerned their safety. I had them do knee bends. I counted to 105, with odd numbers going down and even numbers going up. It was just over 50 knee bends. If I see a student smack another student upside the head, it is a 35 count per slap. Forgetting one’s textbook is a 20 count. So at least I have an alternative in punishment. And I don’t carry a stick to class. If I did, it would be a four foot long walking stick. The way my knees are feeling now, it would serve its purpose well. For the good students, I will have something for them at the end of the term. And if I see leadership in action, I will remember the student and honor them as well. The students need peer role models to follow.

Right now I’m trying to recover from the trip to Bangkok. My left foot hurts, my knees hurt, and I am always feeling run down. I can’t find the foods I need for energy, and what I can find is lacking in some important nutrients. At least I have some ideas to work with now on improving my health. When things stabilize, I will try to find an online program and go for some kind of certification in nutrition. At the same time I want to get into a position to where I can complete a degree in history.

It’s good to have goals. I hope my students will develop some goals of their own and start doing something with their time with a foreigner who cares for them.

Since the end of April I have been rather busy with travel and a few other things. The journey of a thousand miles began on Sunday, April 29, with a visa run from Ubon Ratchathani to Chong Mek, Thailand. I had to cross the border into Laos for a few minutes, and then return to Ubon, where I caught a bus for Pattaya. The visa run took about five hours, and then I had an hour-and-a-half wait for the 13 hour bus trip to Pattaya.

Earlier in the month I signed on with AYC-Thailand, an intercultural exchange program that places English teachers throughout the country. The orientation was held at the Furama Hotel near a beach in Jomtien, and officially started on Monday morning. The orientation was better than the one I attended three years ago in Kanchanaburi. On Friday, I got my school assignment to a kindergarten in Yasothon, about three hours NE of Ubon. Saturday we said our goodbyes and went to our schools. My group stopped in Khon Kaen for the night before setting on for Yasothon. About ten kilometers out, we got a call saying that my school wanted a female teacher, and so I would have to wait for a reassignment. It was on to Mukdahan for the other two teachers.

We got the teachers placed, and spent the night in Mukdahan. While one teacher was shown some apartments, I took a walk to the Mukdahan Tower, on the south side of town. Ho Kaeo Mukdahan, the Thai name for the tower, was built to honor the 50th anniversary of the coronation of the king of Thailand. It is about 65.5 meters tall, and offers a spectacular view of the Mekong River and a nice view of Suvannakhet, Laos and the Friendship Bridge #2 that links the sister cities.

Monday afternoon we left Mukdahan for home and I arrived back in Ubon sometime around 3pm.

By Wednesday I was ready to start printing resumes and hit the local schools, but I got a call from AYC asking me to come to Bangkok for my reassignment. Thursday night I had my stuff ready to go, and I hopped a train to Bangkok. Friday morning I ate breakfast at a Subway Sandwich Shop near Khao San Road, then went for a walk carrying an overloaded backpack, book bag, camera case, and two small bags filled with notebooks, dictionaries, and pens and pencils, and a few other things. I took a break at the National Museum, and then went to the AYC office. I spent the night in Bangkok, and on Saturday morning we left for the new school. One new teacher was dropped off at his school, and then the van driver got lost. We ended up near Chon Buri, and lost about three to four hours.

My school assignment is in Simahasot, Prachin Buri, Thailand. Simahasot is a spectacularly small town located on Hwy 304. The school is behind a 7-11 and a market area. I am currently living with two teachers from China who have degrees in teaching Chinese as a second language.

Sunday I crossed the border for the first time into the Kingdom of Cambodia. I was there for about a half hour on a visa run. It looks like an interesting town to visit, but probably does not compare to Siem Reap or Ankor Wat. Over the next year, I hope to visit these locations.

My classes started on Monday, and it promises to be the best experience in teaching since leaving South Korea. I like it here.

Today is the 57th anniversary of the opening of the school. To celebrate, the school is closed, and preparations are being made for a school reunion this weekend. Yesterday evening, an English teacher from India took me and a German teacher of English over to the temple where the school was started. The original school building still stands, elevated well above water level for when the river overflows its banks. It is rainy season now for SE Asia, and many are hoping it won't be as bad as it was last year.

I hope to be able to share a lot more about my experiences here when I find the time and an available computer at school.

I am way overdue for a post. Sorry about the delay.

I used to use a photo sharing site called Image Cave. Without any warning, the domain disappeared. With it are all of the photos I had posted here. I do not know how many photos are lost forever because of the irresponsibility of the "fine folks" at Image Cave. I have many pictures saved on both Facebook and on Myspace, but the ones I shared here on Xanga were posted through the missing website. It's a drag. I had a number of photos saved to various storage drives, but two are forever gone, and a third appears to be shot, as well. So far only the thumb drives have any kind of resiliency. I carry two Kensington 4 gig drives and one 1 gig drive with me everywhere I go. They are second generation USB drives about the size of your thumb, maybe smaller. I also have a third generation USB drive that is very small. In the future all photos will be stored on thumb drives. External hard drives are an epic failure to me. As for photo sharing sites, the experience with Image Cave is negative enough to where I doubt I will use them in the future.

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I am preparing to attend teacher orientation in Pattaya one week from today. I have never been to Pattaya, one of the more famous tourist traps in Thailand. The orientation begins on Monday and goes through the week. After the orientation, there will be paperwork to pick up to take to the Thai embassy in Laos so I can get a non-B visa and work in the government school. I should be gone for about a week-and-a-half. School starts in less than a month. Just need to get some money ready for the trip.

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Last weekend Thailand celebrated the new year by splashing hundreds of thousands of gallons of water on each other. The three day holiday was enjoyed by everyone, especially the ones who stayed inside and didn't get wet. Songkran is not my favorite holiday.