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| A cerimónia - The ceremony |
Estou há quatro meses fora do meu país e longe dos meus. Nunca me aconteceu antes. Mas como tinha esperanças, as coisas estão-se a desenvolver e acho que é tão fácil como simplesmente... ser.
Na última semana a escola quase só funcionou com professores
e nem a cantina abriu. Entreti-me com a preparação do solo para o meu jardim e
tive a ajuda dos alunos para reunir cartão, estrume, joio de arroz e folhas. No
dia em que tive muitos ajudantes senti-me um verdadeiro anfitrião de uma quinta
e deu-me um gozo danado ver os progressos rápidos da cooperação.
Assisti ao sistema de passagem de ano dos alunos com
negativas. Os professores dão-lhes um trabalho qualquer que eles copiam e é
lhes oferecida a nota 50%. Um sistema bem simpático (hipócrita) à boa maneira
tailandesa mas eu já estou focado em como melhorar a melhor nota da escola nos
testes nacionais (47%) e não quero perder muito tempo com o que não posso
mudar.
A festa de despedida da turma dos mais velhos foi bonita com
uma cerimónia em que os professores devolvem os alunos aos pais e desejam-lhes o
melhor, lembrando-lhes que têm sempre ali uma família com quem contar, entre
alguma emoção. Bem mais quente, por exemplo, que quando saí do Técnico com o
diploma. Acho que só o empregado da secretaria que me o entregou, se apercebeu
disso.
Também descobri que um dos professores mais velhos, Kasem, e
que treina a equipa de futebol dos mais novos, foi quem plantou as árvores da
escola há 30 anos atrás e impediu que o director as mandasse abaixo para
construir algo mais. Fiz questão de lhe agradecer apesar de ele não falar uma
palavra de inglês. Acho-o um pouco parecido com o tio Artur. Gosta de conversa
de ocasião com quem encontra na aldeia ou fora.
Já com as férias planeadas, o director ofereceu-me uma sala
só para Inglês no próximo ano, de que eu desejo fazer o templo do Inglês, e um
ordenado mínimo para me governar em Abril.
Vim para Nong Khai neste fim-de-semana onde uma amiga, a
Khaek, apresentou-me um casal amigo e arranjou-me cinco alunos de uma
assentada. Fiquei em casa do casal num ambiente mais limpo, pacífico e saudável
que o que encontrara na casa da Wanlapa. Em duas horas fiz o mesmo dinheiro que
fazia antes em 8. Irei voltar no final do mês para mais.
Para quem tinha medo de fazer o que gosta por causa do dinheiro,
aqui está qualquer coisa. Não garante nada no futuro mas dá alento.
Agora vou fazer um intervalo no ensino. Estou a caminho de
umas férias como voluntário em quintas em zonas diferentes da Tailândia para
aprender mais sobre agroflorestas na versão tailandesa (Wanakaset). Voltarei em
três semanas para tratar do visto.
Lembrando-me ontem das conversas à volta da mesa com os
amigos da Khaek. Sempre muito interessados em Portugal, falámos de religião e
da possibilidade de ter uma experiência como monge. Já percebi que o Budismo
tem uma mensagem anti-materialista muito forte e toda a gente sabe quais são os
quatro bens essenciais: casa, comida, roupa e medicamentos. A prática constante
de dar comida aos monges ajuda-os a não esquecer o que é ser generoso.
Hoje, o Nin, o dono da casa onde fiquei, levou a família às
seis da manhã a um templo para agradecer ter ganho algum dinheiro na lotaria.
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| Onde gosto de estar - Where I like to be |
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| Forno para fazer carvão - Charcoal-making stove |
I've been out of my country for four months and away from my people. It has never happened to me before. But as I had hoped, things are developing and I think it's as easy as simply... be.
Last week school worked mostly with teachers and the canteen was already closed. I entertained myself with the preparation of the soil for my garden and I had the help of the students to gather cardboard, manure, rice husk and leaves. On the day I had many helpers I felt like a true host of a farm and it was a damn enjoyment to see the rapid progress of cooperation.
I watched the year-end system of students with negative scores. Teachers give them some work that they copy and get a 50% grade. A nice (hypocritical) system in the good Thai way but I'm already focused on how to improve the school's best grade in national tests (47%) and don't want to waste too much time on what I can't change.
The farewell party of the older students class was beautiful with a ceremony in which the teachers return the students to their parents and wish them the best, reminding them that they always have a family to count on, with some emotion. Far warmer than, for example, when I left college with the diploma. I think only the clerk who gave it to me, noticed it.
I also discovered that one of the older teachers, Kasem, who trains the football team of the younger ones, was the one who planted the school trees 30 years ago and prevented the director from cutting them down to build something else. I made a point of thanking him even though he doesn't speak a word of English. I think he's a bit like uncle Artur. He likes casual conversation with those he meets in the village or outside.
Already with the vacations planned, the director offered me a classroom just for English next year, of which I desire to make the English temple, and a minimum wage so I can survive in April.
I came to Nong Khai this weekend where a friend, Khaek, introduced me to a couple of friends and got me five students at once. I stayed in the couple's house in a cleaner, more peaceful and healthier environment than I had found at Wanlapa's place. In two hours I made the same money I was making in eight. I'll come back at the end of the month for more.
For those who were afraid to do what they like because of the money, here is something. It doesn't guarantee anything in the future but it gives me some breath.
Now I'm going to take a break from teaching. I'm on my way to a volunteer holidays in farms of different areas of Thailand to learn more about agroforests in the Thai version (Wanakaset). I'll be back in three weeks to extend the visa again.
Remembering the conversations around the table with Khaek's friends. They were always very interested in Portugal. We talked about religion and the possibility of having an experience as a monk. I have already realized that Buddhism has a very strong anti-materialist message and everyone knows what the four essential goods are: home, food, clothing and medicine. The constant practice of giving food to the monks helps them not to forget what it is to be generous.
Today, Nin, the owner of the house where I stayed, took the family to a temple at 6 am to thank for making some money in lottery.
Last week school worked mostly with teachers and the canteen was already closed. I entertained myself with the preparation of the soil for my garden and I had the help of the students to gather cardboard, manure, rice husk and leaves. On the day I had many helpers I felt like a true host of a farm and it was a damn enjoyment to see the rapid progress of cooperation.
I watched the year-end system of students with negative scores. Teachers give them some work that they copy and get a 50% grade. A nice (hypocritical) system in the good Thai way but I'm already focused on how to improve the school's best grade in national tests (47%) and don't want to waste too much time on what I can't change.
The farewell party of the older students class was beautiful with a ceremony in which the teachers return the students to their parents and wish them the best, reminding them that they always have a family to count on, with some emotion. Far warmer than, for example, when I left college with the diploma. I think only the clerk who gave it to me, noticed it.
I also discovered that one of the older teachers, Kasem, who trains the football team of the younger ones, was the one who planted the school trees 30 years ago and prevented the director from cutting them down to build something else. I made a point of thanking him even though he doesn't speak a word of English. I think he's a bit like uncle Artur. He likes casual conversation with those he meets in the village or outside.
Already with the vacations planned, the director offered me a classroom just for English next year, of which I desire to make the English temple, and a minimum wage so I can survive in April.
I came to Nong Khai this weekend where a friend, Khaek, introduced me to a couple of friends and got me five students at once. I stayed in the couple's house in a cleaner, more peaceful and healthier environment than I had found at Wanlapa's place. In two hours I made the same money I was making in eight. I'll come back at the end of the month for more.
For those who were afraid to do what they like because of the money, here is something. It doesn't guarantee anything in the future but it gives me some breath.
Now I'm going to take a break from teaching. I'm on my way to a volunteer holidays in farms of different areas of Thailand to learn more about agroforests in the Thai version (Wanakaset). I'll be back in three weeks to extend the visa again.
Remembering the conversations around the table with Khaek's friends. They were always very interested in Portugal. We talked about religion and the possibility of having an experience as a monk. I have already realized that Buddhism has a very strong anti-materialist message and everyone knows what the four essential goods are: home, food, clothing and medicine. The constant practice of giving food to the monks helps them not to forget what it is to be generous.
Today, Nin, the owner of the house where I stayed, took the family to a temple at 6 am to thank for making some money in lottery.
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| Uma praga inofensiva - A harmless pest |
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| A Mali no seu café catita - Mali in her quaint coffee shop |
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