I feel like I have definitely hit the ground running. Scheduling can be a real challenge working in Thailand. There are no "real" set times that you work and last minute requests are always being dropped into your lap to consider. After my first Jazz Improv class on Monday, two of the drummers came up to me to ask about lessons on mallet keyboard instruments (marimba, vibes, etc.). I think that they are scheduled on Mondays at 11:00 after I teach one of the professors some mallet lessons at 10:00. After today's improv class (Wednesday), two graduate students asked about some private improv lessons. I realized then that I needed to let them know when my hours would be and on what days I would be at the school. I think that I will work with them at 1:00 on Wednesdays.
Today the dean said, by the way, there is a teacher appreciation day on Thursday where the students pay tribute and honor the teachers. He also said that on Friday there would be a dinner with all of the freshman music students. That sounds interesting because it's a time where the teachers can have some good one on one with the students and answer questions that they might have. I was talking to some of the Ajarns (Professors) today about how refreshing it is to be respected so much by the students and how they really have good questions and listen so well and try so hard. A lot of the teachers here are telling me that for a certain time the students will be that way with a new Ajarn but when the "novelty" wears off there might be some real similarities to the states. Let's hope the "novelty" lasts for about 10 weeks.
The teachers in Thailand are very devoted and work very hard and very long hours. I found out that it is not unusual for a Thai Ajarn to make maybe 12,000 baht per month in salary. That's not much more than about $350 dollars per month. I don't know how they do it. But they do it very willingly. Many of the falang (foreign) Ajarns are here on missionary support from the US and they are able to survive much better here. It really gives me a lot to think about considering that Kalya is here with me, too, and I want to be able to provide for her and be considerate of her needs.
I do love the students. They are so kind, respectful and soft spoken. That is the Thai culture and I really respect that.
Friday, I am told, is when I will meet the president of Payap University to "put a bug" in his ear about maybe adding me to the faculty at some point. We will all have a lot to think about given all that I have discovered today. I want to follow the Lord's leading and I want to hear from the Lord about His leading and do what honors Him and takes care of my wife and me. It's so different entering into this journey at this stage of my life and wanting to be sure that I am doing the right thing. I am taking it one day at a time and trying to find that moment in each day where I make a connection with someone here at Payap where something really clicks and helps. I have been experiencing that and I am very grateful.
Blessings,
Bryan
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Our first full day in Chiang Mai
Here we are, still settling in in Chiang Mai. We arrived yesterday and got our cell phones situated and picked up Chuck Sahagian's scooter to borrow while he is still in the US visiting family. Our room is nice and we are still trying to get the lay of the land where we are staying. I am still trying to figure out a schedule at Payap and then get into the rhythm of teaching at the school. It's funny, in the states jobs are pretty clear for the most part without a lot of gray area as to what your responsibilities are. I am finding in Thailand that there are a lot of "maybes" and "that would be nice". It seems like more has to go into questioning and finding out what the needs are and how I can be used. I'm sure most of that has to do with the language barrier and I think that that is what concerns me the most. I want so badly to be able to communicate in Thai beyond "Hi, how are you. My name is Bryan, what is your name?" or, "I'm hungry. That tastes very good. Thank you." I am so unbelievably limited and it is very frustrating. How could I have let 34 years of marriage to Kalya slip by without REALLY learning Thai. I feel so dumb.
I visited the University today and we will be going to a faculty dinner tonight. When I arrived at the music building I saw one of the teachers that I met 2 years ago and reintroduced myself in Thai. I was on a roll and feeling good about what I was remembering until he started to respond in rapid fire leaving me in the dust. I asked him, in Thai, to speak slowly and then finally said, in Thai, that I didn't understand a word he was saying. He was kind enough to speak in English, then, but I just felt pretty defeated.
After that I met the Jazz/Recording prof. I know that I will be doing some Jazz improv workshops and working with some of the Jazz combos. I might also be doing some work with the recording studio teaching some recording techniques. Thank God they are an Apple Macintosh school. The person that teaches the Jazz program and Recording classes is very nice and is a Christian. We had a great time talking today and I know that things will get clearer in the next couple of days. It sounds like "maybe" he will be with me in the workshops to help with the language. Pray for me to communicate and pray for us to get settled in so that Kalya can start to look into some ministry opportunities here. God is good and I am just trusting Him to help with the language and try not to get so anxious. I have to keep remembering that it's only the first day and that things will get better with each new day.
I visited the University today and we will be going to a faculty dinner tonight. When I arrived at the music building I saw one of the teachers that I met 2 years ago and reintroduced myself in Thai. I was on a roll and feeling good about what I was remembering until he started to respond in rapid fire leaving me in the dust. I asked him, in Thai, to speak slowly and then finally said, in Thai, that I didn't understand a word he was saying. He was kind enough to speak in English, then, but I just felt pretty defeated.
After that I met the Jazz/Recording prof. I know that I will be doing some Jazz improv workshops and working with some of the Jazz combos. I might also be doing some work with the recording studio teaching some recording techniques. Thank God they are an Apple Macintosh school. The person that teaches the Jazz program and Recording classes is very nice and is a Christian. We had a great time talking today and I know that things will get clearer in the next couple of days. It sounds like "maybe" he will be with me in the workshops to help with the language. Pray for me to communicate and pray for us to get settled in so that Kalya can start to look into some ministry opportunities here. God is good and I am just trusting Him to help with the language and try not to get so anxious. I have to keep remembering that it's only the first day and that things will get better with each new day.
Monday, June 7, 2010
It's strange . . . I know that we will only be gone for two and a half months but I have been feeling a weird sense of raw emotion. Family comes to mind immediately and I get a sense of emptiness knowing how much I will miss everyone.
Two words came to mind today as I was thinking about leaving on this "test" trip for the summer: anticipation and uncertainty. Anticipating what is in store for us as I try to "fit in" at Payap University in a role that I am somewhat unsure of (at least for this trip). Which leads to the uncertainty of how this will all play out and what is in store after the next school year here in Spokane. Kalya's anticipation of what ministry to be involved in, whether it's child trafficking or one of the many orphanages and the uncertainty of what her role will be there.
The more I thought about Anticipation and Uncertainty the more I realized how those words are such good descriptions (from a human perspective) of faith and hope. We hope in what we don't see so that we will wait for it with perseverance. It's funny that the things that seem uncertain to us and look to be very "risky" are not that way at all. That's why we can have a hope and exercise faith because God is trustworthy and will take care of us.
So, while it's hard to leave, I am anticipating exciting things of which, in my own mind, are uncertain but held in God's hands. Please pray for us (me expecially) to exercise "Jai Yen" (a cool, calm heart) in Thailand and listen and discern what our steps should be as we live in Thailand this summer.
- Bryan -
Two words came to mind today as I was thinking about leaving on this "test" trip for the summer: anticipation and uncertainty. Anticipating what is in store for us as I try to "fit in" at Payap University in a role that I am somewhat unsure of (at least for this trip). Which leads to the uncertainty of how this will all play out and what is in store after the next school year here in Spokane. Kalya's anticipation of what ministry to be involved in, whether it's child trafficking or one of the many orphanages and the uncertainty of what her role will be there.
The more I thought about Anticipation and Uncertainty the more I realized how those words are such good descriptions (from a human perspective) of faith and hope. We hope in what we don't see so that we will wait for it with perseverance. It's funny that the things that seem uncertain to us and look to be very "risky" are not that way at all. That's why we can have a hope and exercise faith because God is trustworthy and will take care of us.
So, while it's hard to leave, I am anticipating exciting things of which, in my own mind, are uncertain but held in God's hands. Please pray for us (me expecially) to exercise "Jai Yen" (a cool, calm heart) in Thailand and listen and discern what our steps should be as we live in Thailand this summer.
- Bryan -
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