Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: EXPECTATION (01/28/21)
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TITLE: A Plan Gone Awry | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marlene Custer
02/04/21 -
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As we prepared to go, we discovered a Teaching English as a Second Language course which was located in a touristy area south of Bangkok. We had been to Thailand briefly before, so were somewhat familiar with the food and culture. The small town where we would be staying was on a large bay. There were boat trips for tourists going to a small tropical island that could be seen from shore. Brochures advertised little food huts where one could purchase banana/pineapple pancakes and other Thai delicacies. The school decided that since my husband was with me, our housing would be in the local hotel close by, rather than in the dorm. We eagerly looked over the hotel website. This was going to be a fantastic vacation while we prepared for our assignment!
After a grueling flight to Bangkok, we took a cab three hours south. Our eyes grew big as we gazed at the beautiful high rise. But alas, we were the only customers! We were hungry and needed to get something to eat before setting out to view our surroundings. We entered the hotel dining area, and of course, we were the only diners. We asked for a menu, and acting somewhat flustered, the waitress/cook told us what was available. We politely agreed to the offer, but wondered how fresh the ingredients would be.
After eating enough to be polite, we went to check out the pool area. Our faces drooped with disappointment as we realized the pool had not been cleaned anytime recently. Enjoying the pool would not be on our agenda. It was still early enough to go down to the bay and walk along the shore. So off we went. Unfortunately, we were disappointed again. The shoreline was strewn with trash and broken glass. My thoughts went immediately to my needing more protective shoes than sandals. My husband remarked, “I wonder where the place is that features banana/pineapple pancakes?” Looking around at several closed up shops we were dismayed to realize we could not read the Thai Script. In Bangkok many of the signs had English subtitles. Culture shock settled in like a weighted blanket.
The next day we went to the Language Center where my classes were to be held. Following a tour of the facilities, the staff kindly pointed out a restaurant that certainly had banana/pineapple pancakes. The restaurant looked like a car repair garage with cement floor and dust webs decorating the walls and ceiling. There were a few other people eating, so we stepped over a couple of sleeping dogs and found a seat. The cook said they were out of bananas, but we could have pineapple pancakes. By that point we needed ‘comfort food’.
We spent a restless night that night and began having serious thoughts about our decision to take the course. We were feeling a great need to be with those who could help us navigate all the changes we were facing.
One more experience impressed on us our vulnerability. On the way back to our hotel we decided to meander through the little market area. There were tubs of different kinds of curry, but hardly anything we recognized for snacks or vegetables that we could supplement our meals with. While browsing, we were accosted by a panhandler with a pitiful looking wound on his leg. He told us his tale of woe of not being able to get help at the little hospital because of lack of cash. The incident compounded my anxiety and heaviness. What if we had an emergency? Would we even be able to communicate adequately?
The next day we made a call to the staff we would be working with north of Chiang Mai. They graciously allowed us to come early to our assignment. As we approached the city, a peace settled over me. Yes, there were still some anxious moments, but now we had more realistic expectations, and friends to guide us through them!
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