As the end of the school year rapidly approaches, so too does the construction on parts of our center sports grounds. The various basketball, volleyball and badminton courts have all but been completed with the surfaces painted over the past few days. The paint and other chemical fumes have taken their toll on students and teachers alike particularly in the GEP buildings to the east of the courts carried by the stiff breezes. I felt quite light-headed most of yesterday with the combination of fumes and high heat and more than one kid passed out. Typical Thailand.

It was an odd day as many classes were cancelled in multiple levels in the various programs. None of my lessons were affected, however, although a political rally took place immediately before my last class and the hallways were littered with flyers of the incumbent mayoral candidate. I do not understand why they canvass so heavily at this school. None of the children are of voting age and I questioned one politico earlier in the week with a “Why are you giving me this? I cannot vote in your country” to which he responded by giving me another stack of flyers. I suppose they get paid by how many they get rid of. I tried to to exam reviews in my lessons today but only a precious few students seemed to care. After all, they do not even need to take the tests (or even to attend) in order to receive a passing grade! Sometimes, I wonder why we even bother. Just turn in all the scores at the beginning of the school year and spend the remainder playing games and drawing pictures would be much more enjoyable than force-feeding resilient and belligerent teenagers.

Anyway, with the sports courts painted in their garish colors the crews can now turn their attention to the multi-million baht stadium/arena which is supposed to be completed in May. After that, we all hope that they will return to the reconstruction of the fire-damaged dining hall as none of us want to try to eat in the parking lot tent once the monsoonal rains and winds return.