Good-byes

I had to say some good-byes, a few of them tearful, before leaving on Friday.

Then, it was off to the pub, in the tradition of international school teachers, to farewell those colleagues I have been working with.

As we say in American English, C Ya!

I have enjoyed my six years teaching there, at one of Bangkok’s finest international schools. I have particularly enjoyed the good students, the ones who have gone off to places like MIT, Stanford, and Columbia. However, I have very little in common with the teachers.

The teachers at that school make too much money. And it attracts ants to sugar, or flies to shit.

One of the teachers is trying to sell a used juicer for more than $400! This is a country where fruit just drops off the tree and juice is practically free. Another teacher spent almost $600 on an ice-maker! Here, a bag of ice costs less than 20 cents.

I’m sure they’re good teachers, when it comes to teaching their subjects. But really: who will teach the students common sense? And, most importantly, who will teach them that acquiring gadgets does not bring happiness!