Tuesday, June 02, 2009
First day of school and Phuket gateway. May 11th.
Monday 11th May - a dreaded day for some; it was the first day of the new school year.
Jessica would have a new teacher and for John it involved a change of school.
The school they attend, Kajonkiet, is a successful private school with many facilities. In fact there are 2 schools. Both Jessica and John started in the Thai kindergarten, but transferred to the English speaking school quite quickly - John after only a year.
The style of education is more stimulating perhaps, than in the Thai school.
The equipment and facilities are excellent and there will be more school photographsin the next days.
It seems that the management of the school will do whatever is needed to make it successful.
The school day seems long. Jessica starts at quarter to eight and finishes at 4 o'clock - she is still only 7 years old. There is half an hour or more homework at the end of each day.
John starts at half past eight and is in school until half past 3. He also gets some homework.
More is expected of young children in Thailand - and the children seem to be able to deliver.
And Jessica and John have to be able to do it in 2 languages.
Have a look at the website.
http://www.kajonkietsuksa.ac.th/en/mainframe.html
We traditionally took pictures of Jamie and Ashley on the first morning of the school year. And we did the same in Thailand - Jessica and John posed in their uniforms.
Jessica in the classroom - feeling embarrassed that her grandmother was in there taking photos.
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Each of the pillars has text explaining something of Phuket history and culture.
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There is an interesting sculpture, set in the well maintained grounds, of a huge turtle and eggs.
And here is the Sarasin Bridge - two bridges now to cope with all the additional traffic.+sm.jpg)
Jessica would have a new teacher and for John it involved a change of school.
The school they attend, Kajonkiet, is a successful private school with many facilities. In fact there are 2 schools. Both Jessica and John started in the Thai kindergarten, but transferred to the English speaking school quite quickly - John after only a year.
The style of education is more stimulating perhaps, than in the Thai school.
The equipment and facilities are excellent and there will be more school photographsin the next days.
It seems that the management of the school will do whatever is needed to make it successful.
The school day seems long. Jessica starts at quarter to eight and finishes at 4 o'clock - she is still only 7 years old. There is half an hour or more homework at the end of each day.
John starts at half past eight and is in school until half past 3. He also gets some homework.
More is expected of young children in Thailand - and the children seem to be able to deliver.
And Jessica and John have to be able to do it in 2 languages.
Have a look at the website.
http://www.kajonkietsuksa.ac.th/en/mainframe.html
We traditionally took pictures of Jamie and Ashley on the first morning of the school year. And we did the same in Thailand - Jessica and John posed in their uniforms.
The next couple of photos were actually taken on the second day of school. We let Jamie and Mam sort things out on the first day without us.
John amongst his classmates getting ready for morning assembly.
Jessica in the classroom - feeling embarrassed that her grandmother was in there taking photos.
Bill and I had a day out.
We drove north and onto the mainland.
We stopped first at Phuket Gateway.
Poor Phuket - the authorities are trying so hard to create more things to do and see of cultural and historical interest and the tourists have so far failed to respond.
Phuket Gateway is found close to the Sarasin Bridge and it has style and class and explains much about Phuket. There is a cafe and a shop.
And how many visitors were there when we were there? Just two! Bill and me.
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Each of the pillars has text explaining something of Phuket history and culture.
+sm.jpg)
There is an interesting sculpture, set in the well maintained grounds, of a huge turtle and eggs.
And here is the Sarasin Bridge - two bridges now to cope with all the additional traffic.
The bridges are not long because the waterway between the island and mainland is not wide.
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And tomorrow I shall share pictures with you of a couple of places we visited on the mainland.
