This is a page for haphazard sentiments, views and other salmagundi that does not fit elsewhere.

Newest entries come first.

2003
November 23: Tuff Term
My schedule this term is much more hectic than last term. In addition, I have been under the weather for the past couple of weeks. This has convinced me to initiate a new plan of Quality Control in My Personal Life. Specifically, I am not going to take on too much extra work in the form of overtime or special graduate school teaching. I will fulfill my commitments this term, but beginning with the new school year in June, I will do my regular program teaching and keep OT to a minimum and only at reasonable hours.

November 8: History repeated
History did, indeed, repeat itself (see below). But now we are into the second term and it promises to come in second. That is, it is never as good as the first. I have some good students and one class, thanks to the presence of an "alpha male," that promises to be the worst class I've ever had. Time will tell.

October 25: Away we go
Well, folks, here we go. A new semester. Yep. It starts on Oct. 27 and, if history repeats itself, the first week will be uneventful with a lot of students not bothering to show up, text books not there or, if they do materialize  the students didn't get them, wrong room assignments and -- essentially benign chaos. Jai yen and mai pen rai.

October 16: Some wacky suggestions for improving Thai Education
The following suggestions relate to the problem of "group think," which discourages criticism, innovation, taking chances and thinking for oneself: Eliminate school uniforms (mandatory in all schools from kindergarten through the first 4 years of university). Eliminate "rap nong" (virtually mandatory "welcome university freshman" tradition that is no more than an initiation which includes hazing and, while done in the name of unity and friendship, results in dependence and fear). Eliminate mandatory short hair for boys and girls in most schools from 1st through 12th grades. Minimize "group work" in classes. Give more individual assignments.

October 4: There is no such thing as "politically correct."
Political correctness does not exist among Thais. Despite years of effort on the part of some Westerners, there is nothing vaguely resembling political correctness in Happyland. Yes, it's true that  Thais don't recognize it as the oxymoron that it is. They go one better. It is nonexistent in their minds and this scourge is nowhere to be found in the psyche of any Thai I have ever met. Yuppies masquerading as vagabonds be advised; you can bring your backpacks, but it is futile to bring your baggage.

October 2: Know your local motorcycle taxi
If you live in a small neighborhood with local motorcycle taxi drivers, they can be a great help for you. Fortunately, the area we live in is blessed with polite and honest MC taxi drivers. They do much more than their taxi work. One is our handyman and can fix almost anything for a very reasonable price. Another, a lady driver, pays our bills for us once a month -- saving us braving Bangkok traffic and using up a lot of time. (I might mention that paying bills by mail, indeed checkbooks, are most unusual here. Most people pay bills at Pay Points, such as the Post Office or Seven-Eleven.)

September 26: Closed
The entire city of Bangkok is closing down from October 17 until the 26th. Why? APEC. What is APEC? Well, it is the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation organization. It includes the USA and George W. Bush will be here in the Big Durian (smells bad, tastes good) along with a whole bunch of other politicos. The city is closing so that -- well -- it does not have a traffic problem for a week or so. Other measures are also being taken to give the impression that there are no mangy stray dogs, beggars, poor people, children selling flowers at intersections, roadside food stalls,  and well, other stuff like that. Don't get me wrong. I'll enjoy the time off and the lack of traffic.

September 19: Places I've Been
Here is a list of places in Thailand I have spent at least one night: Authaya, Ban Dung, Ban Phe, Bangkok, Bang Saen, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Hua Hin, Jomtein, Kanchanaburi, Khao Yai, Khon Khen, Khukan, Koh Samet, Koh Samui, Korat, Lampang, Loie, Mae Sai, Nakon Sawan, Nong Kai, Pattaya, Petchaburi, Phitsalulok, Phrae, Phuket, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Si Saket, Songkla, Trang, Trat, Udorn Thani. I am going to stop update this here and instead make a new page with the info here.

Instead of a Journal Main Page