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Michael Allan Charles

Banking Internationally

4/29/2015

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Good luck is all I can say. It starts from the day you walk into the bank and try to open a bank account. You would think that you are asking for gold ( and tons of it). You almost have to offer your first born for the privilege of setting up an account and letting the bank use your money to earn interest. I wrote in an earlier post how to send money home by bank
transfer so this time I will talk about credit cards and things of that nature.
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Credit cards are an amazing things, especially if you have money in the bank but unfortunately the issuing bank can and does arbitrarily block the card because something is triggered in their computer that tells the bank someone is using the card somewhere that they should not be using. Remember that when you go away to teach for a year at a time, inform the bank that you could be using the card in any country, especially if you do not want to be embarrassed in some hotel and restaurant when the bill comes! I have had my cards blocked many times and now they have written in their computer " travels a lot!"


I have spent hours on the phone with the issuing bank and there are numerous problems with this. First of all, if you are in Asia day is night and night is day so good luck trying to get anyone. on the phone. Secondly it is very expensive and you are only using your verbal language of communication. You will quickly discover that most of our communication happe with withs non verbally. 
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There are few things that money can't buy like this beautiful sunset, but for most things you will need your credit card. Also be advised that in a lot of Asian countries the bank you deal with your salary with, will only issue you a credit card for use in country of origin. If you want to use your credit card abroad you have to specifically ask for one that is designed for that purpose and it will likely cost you a few dollars!
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One of the joys of teaching

4/25/2015

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I remember reading years ago that one of the greatest joys in teaching was working with your colleagues. The beautiful thing about teaching in Asia is meeting teachers from all over the world. 

We had our school  induction yesterday and it was wonderful to see so many bright and eager faces of teachers from a lot of the world's continents,  They were excited, eager to learn about the school and Asia and determined to be successful in their jobs,  They have so much to learn but are so eager that  it renews the human spirit. 

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Meeting new people and potentially reinventing yourself to be anyone you want to be is one of the greatest benefits of living and working in a different country. If you are as old as the hills, as I am, it is great to stay young and pay back all of the teachers before by teaching young teachers the tricks of the trade. If you are retired you just might want to come out of retirement and do some teaching in Asia. 
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Sex

4/18/2015

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I thought my book It all started in Mandalay  might be considered unbelievable by some in terms of the illicit sex that permeates the book, but I am learning more and more that it is quite tame compared to real life. I am on vacation for a few days in Bangkok and what happens in Bangkok stays in Bangkok!

Yesterday, an older Indian woman was in a shop asking about the "Metro" There is no Metro in Bangkok so I started to speak with her and asked if I could help. After sorting out the subway system for her and explaining some areas she could explore, her husband, 68 years old ,asked me where he could find a "sexy" massage. The ensuing conversation, which lasted about 30 minutes was fascinating and will have to find it's way into my next book. 

I asked if they both wanted to go and she said she sees enough vagina every day to last her a lifetime. I asked her what she meant by that and it turns out she was a gynecologist. The husband was a doctor also. I told them to save their money and just go back to their room for a little wild session and she said they do not do that anymore. If eyes could speak he would have killed her. He then replied that if he went with another woman she would grab him by his ear and twist it off. Not at all, she said, just take lots of condoms! I left them arguing in front of a store as I slipped away.

I then walked further up the road and sat down for a Coke in McDonald's of all places. A young Ugandan woman ended up sitting next to me and we started to talk. Apparently an older Ugandan woman promised her a job as a nanny in Bangkok and brought her over on a plane. In mid flight she was told there was no job and she had to do sex work to "pay back" the money she owed her. The woman told me that over the course of the year she had to pay back $6,000 and now to extend her visa she had to pay another few thousand. In actuality it cost about $40.

This girl ( in her twenties I would guess) was an indentured servant and she saw no way out of the mess she was in. In a few months or weeks, after she pays off the next debt, there will always be another debt to pay and another. As I left her, I saw a man speaking with her and no doubt will be in his bed in moments. 

After I walked out of McDonalds a woman approached me and asked where I was going? Just looking around I told her and then she asked i I wanted company. I gave my standard answer which is maybe on my way back. I went on my walk, turned around and headed back to my hotel. Out of nowhere someone hit me. I could not believe it. When I turned to see who it was, the woman shouted "you forgot me already!"

I guess some dalliances are more pleasant than others! I always like to add pictures to my blog, but what picture could I possibly put here? Words might have to suffice!
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Water Festival-Songkran

4/14/2015

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In Thailand, the traditional New Year's Water Festival is called Songkran and it is celebrated right now from April 13-15. Of course, it starts before and goes long afterwards as Thais drink to excess, splash water on each other continually and enjoy themselves immensely. It is the hottest part of the year and generally speaking a little water is very welcome!  The water metaphorically washes away all of your sins for the year, just as Jews at New Year's wash away their sins in the nearest body of water. 


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The problem, and I call it a problem, not a challenge, is the stupid "farang" or foreigners who buy the biggest water cannons they can find and walk near the street spraying motor bikes and tuk tuk drivers with pails full of water. This results in many traffic fatalities every year in Thailand and it is very dangerous. 
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This is what you see all the time if you are lucky enough to be alive after falling off a motorcycle. I have personally witnessed two fatalities in the last two days and I dare say it was the foreigners and not the Thais who created these accidents as the pavement becomes deadly slippery and the drivers swerve to avoid fools who put ice in the water.

People are also walking around sprinkled with powder which can cause momentary blindness. 

I am begging all "farangs" to let the Thais do their thing and just watch and enjoy. If you must throw water, do what the Thais do. Fill a little small bowl with water and sprinkle it on passers by. Put the guns away.

You are visitors in this Land of Smiles. Not an invading army!!!

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Teachers and Bus Drivers

4/12/2015

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I took a 12 hour bus ride today from Phuket to Bangkok. We were not supposed to stop so I was surprised when we pulled into a bus station in the middle of the night. I relaxed a bit when I realized what was happening. There was a shift change and a new set of drivers came on. Frankly I was relieved and felt a lot safer crashing through the Thailand night with a fresh set of eyes and reflexes, although who knows how long these new drivers were up for.?

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You will be surprised if you teach at an international school how teachers are turned over like bus drivers during a shift change. I think there are a lot of reasons for this. Teachers who come overseas to teach are a special breed and are often running away from something or are quite adventurous people who do not like to live in one place.

The other reason, I think, is that senior management at most international schools see teachers as bus drivers that are interchangeable at any time or place because they only see one role for teachers....as transmitters of knowledge and do not see the transformational  parts of job where we turn young people into adults. Teacher turnover is high in international schools which I find really disturbing, although in my book, which I wish you would read, the teachers did stay a long while in the same school and with the same organization. If you want to read my book, just click on the link on the right and thank you so much for the wonderful reviews. They are much appreciated. 

Teachers have to look for the inner beauty of each of our students and be responsible for their growth. Bus drivers just have to get us from point A to point B in one piece! Talking about beauty, have a look at this picture I took yesterday.

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Toilet Seats

4/8/2015

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default position in the western world
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default position in Asia
Perhaps this says in all in regard to the role of women in Asia. In the west, the default position in any house will have the toilet seat down in respect to women in the household. 

In every Asia house I have ever been to, the toilet seat is always up when not in use. ( providing there is a western style toilet)

I think this fact alone adds a lot to my discussion in the last blog about sex roles.

By the way, I have next week off and as I said in the last few posts I am in the south of Thailand. Any ideas where I should travel next week?  Pray tell write and let me know!
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Sex Role Stereotyping in Asia

4/3/2015

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If you choose to come to Asia, you better get used to the different sex roles in everything you do from teaching to golfing to travelling. The males definitely have an easier time and if you happen to be old and white like I am all the better. 

You are treated like a king whether you like it or not. When you have a massage the female masseuse  will put on your shoes and serve you tea when it is finished. When you open your mouth to speak. students will thank you as will your colleagues if you are male. It is quite amazing really

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If you are female, you better be prepared. I was in a meeting the other day with a number of management types from the school. When it came to getting the coffee, or in this case tea, you can guess who went and got it for the two male colleagues.


 I am not a woman so I cannot tell you the other indignities you may have to suffer but I am quite sure they will be there because of your gender. 

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Each gender have a definite role to play in the family dynamic and let us just say that if you are a male you will be served literally hand and foot. I honestly found it hard to get used to but it tends to creep up on you slowly but surely. The other day in a restaurant with an Asian woman colleague we were having fish. In Asia they serve the whole fish and it is tricky to cut up and handle. I was waiting for her to cut it up and serve me and even though we are colleagues and equals she served me. 


It is an interesting dilemma for me. Should I attempt to change culture or just accept it and thank God I am a male? The answer is not easy if you are male and you are treated his way but what is our role as teachers?


If you read my book, It All Started in Mandalay I have a number of references to sex role stereotyping. Have a read and tell me if you think I overdid it. You can buy it by pressing the book logo on the right side of this page. 
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    Michael Allan Charles is the first time author of It All Started In Mandalay

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