A set of them, actually. I'm getting paid to read dialogue, lesson examples, and dictionary terms for a set of instructional CDs. I've been writing example sentences for the same company, and the whole process is really interesting. I've read a couple thousand dictionary terms, and quite a bit of lesson content now, and the production schedule is picking up. I'll be recording for two hours each day for the next week or so. Pitt took some pictures of the first session, and I'll try to post those soon.

Flowers at Jiraporn School

The school owner's wife grows fantastic orchids, as well as some lovely water plants. It's funny to see what I think of as "hot-house flowers" thriving outside, but they're gorgeous (a little like those "tropical fish"). She rotates them through so the ones that are blooming are out where they can be seen. (more pictures)

Alternate View of Thai Royalty

Around the time of the coup, we said a bit here about the sterling reputation enjoyed by Thailand's king. We pretty much passed along unedited the stated opinion of every Thai person we've ever talked to. But it seems that that's not the only opinion out there, and I'd be remiss if I didn't pass along the alternate view: here.

And on the Economics of Education

The school I work for is a private school, and it's common in Thailand for the families of some students to get off as long as possible without paying. It's also common for the school to hound those students on a regular basis for payment, rounding them up in the office for lectures and giving them bills, and generally putting them in a very uncomfortable spot. Last week I was finishing the last of the P. 4 speaking tests (with about 8 students who happen to comprise the bottom quarter or so of the class) and had them come in at lunch hour. As the students arrived dutifully on time, we saw the school secretary throw her hands in the air and yell "Jackpot!" (or what Louise assures me is the Thai equivalent). Almost every one of those students owed the school money. As expected, they struggled on the test, and it left me thinking about how economic status fits into the educational machine, both here and at home.

Labels: Thailand