I could (sort of) use a day off

So far I have taught 19 days, and I've had 8 days off.  THIS IS AWESOME!
A few of those days off were for the monks to teach, one was for testing (about buddhism), a few because of the protests, one for Father's Day/King's Birthday, and one for Constitution Day.
I am definitely not complaining about an overly-stressful workload here in Thailand. Even during a "normal" week I teach for 24 class periods and have almost 10 hours of plan time per week.  TEN hours - teacher friends, is this what most high school teachers have?  Imagine what could be accomplished if all school teachers had this much time to plan, prepare lessons, reflect, call or e-mail parents, meet with student/principal/parent/colleague, pee, grade stuff, relax... wouldn't it be nice?

I'm sure the biggest contributing factor to this nearly-stress-free teaching environment is the fact that I'm the foreign teacher.  I don't have to help grade assessments (can't read Thai, darn) and don't have to deal with any parents.  Also, the Thai teachers don't really care what I teach the students as long as I turn in grades for each unit.  Deal.

Since I've had so much free time, I have planned enough lessons to last a while.  So I am able to get out and enjoy exploring this lovely area of Hat Yai/Songkhla - visiting the zoo, aquarium, beach, temples, islands, elephants, markets... oh wait. None of those things have happened.  Because it has been raining and raining and raining.  hmph.


Here's what Hat Yai looked like on that one sunny day when we were able to be outside:

And here's what it looks like most days so far:

I'm getting a bad case of cabin fever.  I'm dying to get out of this apartment and see something AWESOME.  

There are a still a few things to do around here, like shop at this weird indoor market...

I did not buy the troll (but should have)

 

...and spend way too much time in this bookstore...

...and sit around this apartment... 

 ...listening to the rain and feeling like this.

At least I have plenty of time to research and read about what I will do when the sun finally comes out!  There's a long, long list in the making.  And when the clouds drift away long enough for the sun to shine, this will be me: