Daybreak

6.15 The digital alarm goes but I'm usually already awake.

6.16 Stumble to the living room extension and press the kettle button.

6.17 Shower including wet shave using the mirror I bought at Tesco Lotus the day after I arrived.

6.25 Breakfast in the living room area - muesli or toast with honey, a big mug of coffee and my essential banana.Watch Al Jazeera news on the television.

6.42 Getting dressed - including inappropriately - tie and black leather shoes.

6.50. Remember lunch token, name tag, diary and pens and set off for work.

7.00 "Sawasdwee krap" to the maids and then soon to the street sweeper and the motorcycle taxi guys in their official orange jerkins. A foul smell of subterranean sewage wafts up on the corner. I hold my breath. The same stray dogs are scrounging around looking for scraps. The same young woman in a light blue Volkswagen Beetle drives by. The traffic jam is already congealing as another working day begins in Bangkok 

7.12 Arrive at the school and clock in electronically with my name tag.

7.13 Drink water from one of the fountains.

7.15 In classroom. Turn on air conditioning. Switch on computer. Check out the Daily Bulletin. Prepare the electronic register before the pupils arrive. Check personal emails and last night's football (if any).

7.45 Pupils arrive. A tutor group of nine fourteen year olds. There's Porsche and Win and there's Eye and Cherie.Take register. Read out notices.

8.00 We are in Pavilion One - like an open barn. The pupils stand in lines. The tannoy plays the Thai national anthem. The younger children sing along. Afterwards all students turn and "wei" to each other with hands clasped together as if in prayer.

And so begins yet another school day. I have been back here two months now and the thing that really sustains me - apart from the salary I can save - is the students. So much warmth and sheer pleasantness. The idea of respecting teachers seems innate and unquestionable but as before, the main thing I observe is how very pleasant they are to each other. There's no chance of a fight breaking out. They help each other with their work They don't shout or snarl or seek to belittle others. Nobody's trying to impress or to be top dog. They just get on with things without fuss and with ready smiles on their faces. There can be subtle cultural undertones but essentially what you see is what you get - happy kids, happy to be at school and happy to do their best, grateful for any extra help you can give them. If only teaching had always been this way...