Tag: village life

When Tokay Geckos Take Up Residence

March 11, 2014

I think it’s tokay mating season right now. Tokay geckos (Gekko gekko, Latin name) are the second largest gecko species in the world. They are nocturnal and range from India and Nepal to across Southeast Asia. All of the ones that I’ve seen have been blue with reddish spots all over their body, and all of them have been a minimum of six inches long, but mostly longer. They have a very distinct mating call, which starts of with short, rapid-fire croaks and then goes into “TOK-ay, TOK-ay, TOK-ay.” I’ve been hearing this call so much lately, which is what lead me to believe it is mating season. more “When Tokay Geckos Take Up Residence” …

Peace Corps Week 2014 Video: Laura and Zack

March 2, 2014

In honor of Peace Corps Week this year, the team at headquarters in Washington is holding a video contest. The theme is “What I Wish Americans Knew.” My friends and fellow volunteers, Zack and Laura, created a really great video. Check it out!

My Peace Corps Service is 50% Complete

February 18, 2014

There have been a flurry of time marking milestones happening over the last couple months. First, there was New Year’s Eve and Day. Next came the one year anniversary of coming to Thailand. Then there was my 26th birthday. Friday was Maka Bucha Day, or the first Thai holiday that I have had a chance to celebrate twice. Finally, Sunday marked the day of the half-way point of my service in Thailand. I have now been in Thailand longer than I have left here. more “My Peace Corps Service is 50% Complete” …

Common Animals in a Thai Village

February 7, 2014

As a Peace Corps volunteer, I live in a rural area. One thing that I think is characteristic of any rural area is the presence of animals and livestock. As I rode my bike past the local herd of cows, that are different from cows in the States, I thought about how different the animals are that I encounter on a near daily basis than the animals that I came in contact with regularly in the States. So, here is a short list and some pictures of the animals that are a part of my life in Thailand. more “Common Animals in a Thai Village” …

Election Day Comes with Some Hiccups

February 4, 2014

It was early December and I was stopped over in Bangkok on my way back to my site after a vacation in the South to go diving and visit Khao Sok. I meet up with another Peace Corps volunteer who was also in the city at the time, and we were wandering around Khao San Road when he got a text. It said the prime minister had resigned and was calling new elections. I soon found out that the date for the elections was set for February 2. On Sunday, the voting was scheduled to be open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

more “Election Day Comes with Some Hiccups” …

Bangkok: A Nice City Near Thailand

November 26, 2013

Thailand is a tourist destination. Tourism accounts for more that 15 percent of Thailand’s GDP. However, the Thailand that I experience is not the Thailand that most tourists experience. Tourists generally stick to the major cities: Phuket, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Particularly when it comes to the capital, the differences between tourist Thailand and rural Thailand are extremely stark.

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Implementing Phonics Instruction: A Success Story

November 22, 2013

It’s been an exciting time for me in my fourth, fifth and sixth grade classes.

With all of these classes, Kru Ning and I were able to teach all of the letter sounds last semester. We’ve continued review the letter sounds at the beginning of class as well. But I can see the some of the kids’ eyes glaze over when we do this. They haven’t had a chance to see how to use the information that we’ve taught them. This semester, they’re getting a chance to put it all to use.

more “Implementing Phonics Instruction: A Success Story” …