Looking Back to My Love

I will move... to a smaller place, a room perhaps and with this change, I will be leaving what I enjoyed most in life, gardening.  It is a decision I made, not because I am tired and weary of doing the garden, but because I decided to focus on bigger things on a more personal level.  

Here is a throwback of the garden from years and years.

2011

2011

2012

2012

2013

2013

2014

2014

2015

2016

So goodbye to one love.  You were with me for a long time and it was a great journey.  I will miss you but I will be back, grander than ever.

Land of Hell: A Day in Photo

Disturbing yet thought-provoking.  The mysteries of Buddhism unfolded when I visited the Wat Phai Rong Rua in Suphanburi Province.

Statues of people being punished by breaking Buddhist precepts. 

Some more statues depicting torments for sinners.  While none were explained by signs or labels, the statues were obviously showing despair, anguish, anxiety and dreadfulness.

The tree of adultery

There were two towering sculptures of a man ghost and a woman ghost with very detailed genitalia.

More disturbing displays of human sculptures guilty of sins such as adultery, murder, pride, envy, sloth, lust,  greed, addiction and others. 

But one cannot depend on others for his or her own deliverance, one needs to seek 'salvation' by his or her own doings. 

When a man seeks to gain liberation, to break away from the endless cycle of birth and death, to gain realization and enlightenment, he can only do this by his own efforts, by his own concentrated will power.  (Source: www.budsas.org)

The Lost Message

It's been a year but sometimes I still think that the closure I made with my dad wasn't enough.  I still cry when I think of him and I still get angry when I remember some of the things that happened between me and my father. 

Since I am doing some cleaning at home, I stumbled upon an envelope sent by my sister some years ago regarding some health policies.  Since I am shredding unnecessary documents at this time, I took a special look as to its content. There was a small note that fell from the pile and it was from my father.  I do not even recall reading it as I didn't need the policies sent to me. 

I rushed myself in the hospital for a needed operation some years ago.  All alone, with just two bags, it was one of my heart wrenching moment. I survived and without much assistance from anyone. And through all these years, not knowing of this lost message. 

Dear John,

When I heard about your situation, I told your sister to go to Thailand immediately.  Don't worry about expenses.  I am ready to produce 150K in pesos because she told me about your situation.  I even told your brother and his wife to get ready to go there because your sister is busy with her classes.  

I'm willing to go there but my passport and papers are very difficult to get.

John, I am very sorry I cannot get in touch with you immediately.

Thanks,

Papa

Sand and Stones

Part and parcel of my classroom set-up is a sand table where various activities take place. This time, the table was filled with sand and stones. And as i watch the children engage themselves with these two materials, I am amazed at how they describe the properties of the sand and the stones and on how they manipulate the materials in many varied ways. 

As I always capture the moment, there are so many things I observe when I work with the children around the sand table.  Aside from patience, which is a dying virtue, each child speaks about the significance of their one stone to another via a pattern of colours, of sizes, and of weight.  

The overall aesthetic speaks about the collaborative effort of all the children to contribute in their own little way, a structure as fascinating that of a spiraling stones in varied patterns. 

When the children are proficient in the use of the smaller pebbles to balance one on top of a bigger piece, a sense of accomplishment shows on their faces.

However, it takes one child in my class, a girl with special needs, who made me cry.  She is having difficulty balancing her last piece on top when all of a sudden, she picks some sand, spread them on the stone before placing that one last piece of pebble on top.  It is success!

On this day, I learn that life is not that difficult to face because there is always going to be a solution for a problem.  We need to find that answer whether by doing it on our own or by watching other people do it. Then, we say to ourselves that when there is a will, things are possible. 

A Welcomed Invite

It was supposedly just a delivery of sort.  I am de-cluttering and there are some things at home that can be used by other people thus the delivery to a friend's house.  Upon arrival, I was then asked whether I have the time to go with them to the floating market.  Since I was already there, off I went. Here's my small adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed walking along the stalls that sell all kinds of things most especially food.  They were aplenty and then number of fruit juices I adore were all there from shakes to herbal drinks.  It was welcoming.  

the Lam Phaya Market

a barge used for the river cruise

part of Tha Chin river

a hundred year old abandoned house

a lotus flower at 5 pm

Thank you for the visit.  

To End the Year with Gratitude

me!

It's the end of summer school and since it is going to be another milestone in my teaching profession, a coming celebration of my beginnings, I gathered the last comments I got from parents before the school ended.  They are reminders of how I should face the new year of my teaching life.

Thank you for the wonderful comments:


I can't say enough about how much we, Carl, Nok, Emily and Nara appreciate your kind support to Nara.  We will be your biggest fan always! Branden family

Thank you so much for your love and care to Chris.  You know how much I appreciate every thing you did.  With love always. Lertsmitivanta family

Thank you so much for a wonderful year together.  We really appreciated it. Phisuthikul family

Thank you so much for a wonderful time!  You're an amazing teacher! Jayden is very happy to go to school everyday because of you.  I wish he had more time with you, very nice group of staff, kids and environment. Jiramanakorn family

We love you Teacher Jonathan! You have been so amazing and instrumental in Anna's growth and learning. Boudreaux family

Thank you for the love and helping Branden grow into a loving and wonderful environment.  He has enjoyed everyday at school.  We saw the joy in learning in him and the fun of learning.  Wish you all the best in life and keep up the great job. Williamson family

Thank you! Hong family

Thank you for all the love and learning you have given these kids.  We will miss you so much! Wishing you all the best for the future! Trahan family

Your presence in our daughter's lives has influenced them and us for the better.  There is no way we can thank you enough.  We look forward to remaining friends. Udagawa family

Best wishes. Pubudumuni family

Thank you for a wonderful year.  Thanks for being a good teacher. Andersen family


I started teaching on July 13 many years ago, so today is a grand celebration of my past and my present while I look forward to what the next year will bring.

Getting to Know You 11

11th of a series, enjoy!

Genius talking.

Me: What's the long form of TV?
Students: Television!
Student 1: What's the long form of No?
Me: What?
Student 1: November full moon shine, Loy Krathong, Loy Krathong!

credits: www.seaboardbungalow.com

Me eavesdropping.
Girl Student: Will you marry me?
Boy Student: Yes, I will.
Girl Student: I decorated a chair and he told me it is beautiful. You know, we can marry and kiss each other. I will have a ring and you have one.
(Ahh, time is very different now!)

credits: www.confettidaydreams.com

One student behaving badly.
Student : If you are a bad person, you will be kicked out of your home and you get to live outside.  You'll be homeless!

credits: www.freeimages.com

One student leaving the country.
Me: Are you going to miss your friend?
Student: No, we can always FaceTime each other.

credits: www.getappsonpc.com

Working it out between two people.
Student: When two people cannot marry each other, they can be BFF.

credits: www.theodysseyonline.com

They know me well. 
While reading a sad book about death, I was about to cry when all of a sudden a girl child started saying to her friends.
Student: He is going to cry, he is going to cry...

credits: www.bustle.com

Who ordered pizza?
Me: Could you please help me fold a paper boat.
Assistant:  Sorry, but I am not good in oregano. 
Me: Hah?!?

credits: en.wikipedia.org

 Have a wonderful day everyone!

Walk With Me

And I will write and write and write until ...

It was some months past when a man had a surprise visit.  It was in a form of a comment from someone he doesn't recognize. Some exchanges were made with proper introductions, and in a bit; those exchanges became rather interesting and enchanting. 

The other person admitted a persona as monstrous, that of a beast, which manifested itself in stories of past events.  That undesirable trait of which was carried throughout, from previous friendships and failed relationships.  

While the other man was considered dense, knowing nothing of the intricacies of what he was attending into.  Formalities were shaken by one long letter and in an instant, perhaps one night of recollection and a day of turbulent emotions, gave way to plunging in, diving and swimming with things that were new to him.  It was like walking through the unknown with bouts of anxiety, fear, and anxiousness.

From exchanging notes of worth to one particular phone call, another first was made and that was to break the barrier of anonymity.  The voices, unknown to each other, that paved the way to a higher level of intimacy. That one night of hello's and how are you's became nightly calls of greetings, revelations, reflections, dialogues and narratives. They were not of the simple kind; they were intense, heavily laden with emotions and drama, with frequent laughter and tears, of stepping into uncertainties, realities and fantasies. 

It became addictive, in a good sense, of knowing that someone is and will be with the man.  One night, he mentioned that dying still permeates in his thoughts even after the change.  He was being selfish, unknowingly hurting the other person with his insensitivities. So when the other half bursted into tears, a realization came into his being and that of being lucky, of being loved, of being thought of, of being affectionately invested, and being taken cared of.  The other person is right, as to why this man have to think of leaving when someone so dear is here to stay with him. 

His was a life of change and of new beginnings brought about by the presence of the other person.  He should be grateful, appreciative and most indebted to that change in him done by one. So in this story of fervent love, I am fortunate to have him. 

Sai Noi Floating Market

Sai Noi is roughly around 40 kilometres away from the city of Bangkok and while it is around an hour drive, I got to see one of Sai Noi's attraction and that is of the floating market.  Since I have been to numerous floating markets, I decided to just walk around and look for things that interest me. 

In many temples, this flowering tree called Cannonball Tree or Sala Tree always fascinates me with its flowers.  A symbol of Buddhism, as it has significance to the birth of the Lord Buddha, this tree is considered unlucky by Thais that's why they are only found planted in temples.  

Since the temple is still under construction inside, the place for worship can be found outside. 

One Hindu influence in many temples is the inclusion of cattle around its vicinity.   With the cow, it is said that the cow is the abode of the religious Gods in Hinduism. It is a symbol of Dharma. 

Drums symbolize a liberation of sentient beings from heaven and hell by its sound.  It echoes the dharma teachings of Buddhism as the sound diffuses in the air and also acts as time for meetings and religious ceremonies. 

Houses that lined up the entrance of the floating market are all proportioned which is something I can live with, the need for orderly things. 

There is a market, though not the floating part, that is heavily displayed with an assortment of things ranging from plants, clothes, shoes, bags, food, and others.

It was a pleasant walk, away from the maddening crowd of other bigger floating markets or temples.  It was a delight to see the how one community sustains itself by building a temple that generates spirituality, commonality, and economic sustenance for all.