Teacher clothes

Classes begin tomorrow and I am super excited. They provided me with my text books, lesson plans, grading criteria, and class materials. Basically I am simply regurgitating all the information because there are 2,000 students in these two English courses and the school wants them to be standardized.

Now an interesting twist is I have to wear exaggerated "teacher" clothes. I know we have a lot of teachers in the family and quite honestly there is nothing wrong with what you as teachers wear. In America, the outfits are simply business causual and very nice. Here on the other hand, I have to go a bit overboard. Since most of the white people who come are vacationers or back-packers, the typical look includes tank-tops, Rainbows, head wraps, hippie skirts, short shorts, etc. In Thailand, you receive respect on the level akin to what you are wearing. Therefore, I have to wear button-up blouses, long skirts, close-toed high heels or flats, and my hair up. Its may sound the same as what people wear at home but if you saw the style, its more like Anne of Green Gables in the second film where she teaches at the private all-girl school. There are a lot of frills on the shirts and the skirts are to my ankles or low-calf.

Its an interesting switch from college student to teacher. But I do find when I where my "teacher" clothes, people treat me much more respectfully and don't try to overcharge me.