Today I finished up yet another language exam. It’s hard to believe that I’ve now completed 8 of the 9 modules for language study here in Lopburi. It’s been a good couple of weeks. For this last module I actually studied outside of the language school with a “normal Thai guy” rather than a trained Thai teacher. This suited me well as I have been studying about everything handyman. We’ve been talking about electrical things, engine things, plumbing things, Motorbike things, tools, getting your car checked-up, etc.
I even got to ride my lang. tutor's 4-Wheeler for a bit. Sweet!
The exam went well today also. Spent nearly the entire time just talking about the little victories I have had lately in using my Thai and getting things fixed or done. It’s nice to once again… finally …feel useful.
Coming from the States I felt useful. I was involved in a lot of things, I was effective at what I did, had a lot of things on my plate (as is my personality). So, coming to Thailand has been a bit rough in some ways. Without a good amount of Thai, I felt useless. I couldn’t tell the mechanic that I needed my motorbike tire changed without both getting a headache and handing them out to everyone I was trying to talk to. If something needed done at our home, I didn’t know how to give directions to our home and describe what the issue was over the phone. Early on, I couldn’t even describe how short or long I wanted my hair cut when going for a trim on the ole’ Fohawk. But, finally, I am able to do all of these things… and once again feel a bit useful here. I bought the parts needed and replaced a sink drain in our bathroom yesterday afternoon, I’ve helped move air-conditioning units at a local church, I’ve taken our washing machine to get repaired, I’ve called for a professional to come and service our Air-con unit when it stopped working… Oh, and I’ve ordered pizza over the phone and it was successfully (after them calling nearly 4 times because they were lost) delivered.
So, maybe, just maybe, we’ve turned a bit of a corner in our language learning and our lives here after 10 months. And in good time. We’re looking to buy a vehicle soon, next weekend we will be traveling to look for housing in Bangkok for when we move next month, and the following week we will sit before the church board in Bangkok to finalize details of us partnering with them to plant a church in the coming years.
Thanks for all your recent prayers and encouragement. Maybe we’ll be able to do this missionary thing after all…
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by marcusjlewis, Brook Sarver. Brook Sarver said: Maybe all is NOT lost. Maybe we'll be able to do this after all! // Some Tuesday blogging randomness :: http://bit.ly/9EknZH [...]
Hey, Brook. It’s Amy. Just wanted to say how proud of you guys we are. I can’t imagine how hard and frustrating that language barrier must be, but you’re doing it! Can’t wait to hear more language success stories.
Thanks for the encouragement Amy! We’ve definitely come a long way in the last 10 months, but boy do we have such a LONG LONG way to go!
Thank you for keeping us informed of your life. I love the stories. Helps give concreteness to my prayers.
[...] an office full of bankers that I am gay, learn to read and write in Thai, and have been able to build some decent relationships with Thai people. And it’s all been really encouraging and REALLY difficult (and even boring) at times. [...]