Sawadee ka, fellow learn-it-all 👋

Greetings from Chiang Rai, Thailand!

Currently, I’m posted up at the Central mall where I’ve become a regular. There are inflated Santa Clauses, an inflated Poinsetta tower outside the front of the mall, and a teenage pianist outside playing tunes. “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” is blasting around the mall. I find myself humming along. It feels familiar, and I latch onto any moment I can. When I first heard “Deck the halls” in the mall on November 1st I was shocked. Thailand is 95% a Buddhist country, but it still loves its Christmas cheer. Don’t be confused, though. I am still expected to work on Christmas Day, and my students have midterm exams that week.

The three most popular notes on my phone have been of the new Thai words I learned, the names of the teachers I meet, and the expenses of the cash I pay for every meal. There are so many notes I could share with you. I’ve centered this letter below as a zoomed-out update.

Now, let’s dive into letter 235 from a learn-it-all. Enjoy!

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❓Question to think about

Let’s check in. How’s life?

🖊️Writing

Last night, I thought peacefully in my steamy shower as I slithered into my bubblegum pink sheets at 8 pm on a Friday— “I can grant myself grace.”

I touched down in Bangkok 15 days ago, on October 25th. My first time in this foreign country. It’s okay to feel exhausted. It’d be concerning if I somehow was ready for all this change.

While in Bangkok for four days, I met over 100 other English teachers and didn’t hit it off with my assigned roommate as she Facetimed others instead of connecting with me. I got a Thai phone number, made a few quality friends, converted 200 USD into 6,702 Baht, and slept through the night, albeit with support from melatonin.

My first night of sleeping in the house at my boarding school in Chiang Rai was late Tuesday, 10/29. I have slept 11 nights in my new home. I am teaching the whole senior class of 144 English classes on top of my other courses with 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th graders. Usually, I wouldn’t say I like killing trees, but the executive decision was made that name tags are imperative. This is the first time I’ve taught English in person before.

Two months ago, I wrote in my letter about feeling heartache from leaving Hawaii that I wanted to pursue growth.

My main intention with coming to Thailand after being too comfortable on an island was to grow by pursuing discomfort. Quite frankly, I am thriving with that intention! Every day I am thoroughly uncomfortable.

To summarize my acclimation to life into some nuggets in a poem…

📜🖋 Poetry Corner

Two Weeks in Thailand: The Wins & Losses

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedI’m glad I boarded that flight,
Even if now, things don’t feel quite right.

My bed’s a comfort, my light bulbs glow bright,
But I left my toasties at 7/11 last night.

My American roommate’s a win in this place,
Though my co-teacher speaks Thai at a rapid-fire pace.

A hot shower’s bliss till the drain clogs thick,
And I’d kill for a kitchen where I could cook up something quick.

Refilling water at school feels great,
But bottled water’s still on my dinner plate.

No rent to pay, a short commute to boot,
But privacy here is a rare pursuit.

In cold weather, sleeves feel just right,
While I learn Thai vocab, one word at night.

Oh, the things I’ve gained and the quirks I’ve found—
Here’s to growth in this strange, new place.

✚/ − High & Low List

🎧Listening

First Times by Ed Sheeran

Ain't it funny how the simplest things in life can make a man?
Little moments that pass us by
Oh, but I remember

The first kiss, the first night, the first song that made you cry
The first look in your eyes when I said, "I love you"
I can still feel the butterflies from when we stumbled home that night
I can't wait to make a million more first times

🔍Word to define

Sabai sabai: Thai phrase meaning to take it easy.

It directly translates to comfortable or relaxed.

🌟Quote to inspire

"There will never be a perfect time to do something that stretches you. That’s true whether you are starting a business, having a child, changing careers, or wrestling with any number of challenges. That’s not a license to be reckless and never think things through, but at some point you have to embrace the uncertainty because it is the only path forward. If you were ready for it, it wouldn't be growth." — James Clear

📸Photos of the Week

Captions for these photos from right to left:

1. Welcome lunch from the Foreign Language department: Ing, Boom, Emily, Kop, Dada, Noon, Soi, Kristy, [Chinese teacher’s name I am forgetting], Mary
2. the best ramen I’ve ever eaten when I had a sore throat and was coming down with a cold
3. the blue temple trying to feel Zen even though it’s gella crowded on a sAturday afternoon with a horn blasting.
4. Blue temple again because she’s a beaut.
5. Some ice cream for 20 baht from an auntie who knows zero english.
6. Playing volleyball with my coworkers. I won one gae and was teh tallest on the team! I have potential.
7. My 8th grade class of students that I teach Science and technology English to on Monday afternoons
8. eating fruit for breakfast: apple, banana, and OJ
9. My students acting out the Thai New Year

🙏Shoutouts

• To my students and co-teachers and all the people I’ve met over the past week whose names I have no idea how to actually spell. I’ve been writing everything phonetically.
• to my students who celebrated Sports Day this past week! Their cheer dance choreographies were impressive and the costumes and banners in their parades. It felt like a form of homecoming.

I appreciate you reading this!

If ideas resonated, I’d love you to press the heart button, leave a comment, reply to this email, or reach me at vermetjl@gmail.com.

Keep on learning 😁

Mahalo 🌺

Jen

PS - in case you missed last week, I shared about 🌱 New Beginnings in Chiang Rai

PPS - If you’d like to support my work, I invite you to buy my book Letters to My Life full of curated letters

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