Return of the Psycho Ex-Pats (*snore*)

Despite my many attempts to ignore, tolerate, or work around “Mafia Boss,” he still keeps coming back. Like 99.9% of expats in Bangkok, I work as a teacher. I enjoy this most of the time, despite difficulties such as cultural conflicts, miscommunication, unreliable or insane employees, or nitpicking parents. But by far, the biggest pain in my lovely ass is the Mafia Boss. He goes by many names, not all given by me, but I have yet to hear one that is particularly flattering. He’s surely one of a kind though. For someone who works in a school, he has an amazing knack for making people feel like they’re “in the Cold War,” “working in a cutthroat business, not a school,” "working for a tyrant," or "like being with a tempermental 6 year old."

This man’s for real. I was thinking of writing one of my usual blogs about him. There’s enough information to go on and on, but now that I’m writing, something I normally love to do, I find myself getting tired just by the thought of discussing him again. Anytime I try to describe him, my lips spill out unbelievable hyperboles which I’m sure only takes away from my validity. No one is this bad. No one is “out to destroy you.” “Dynasty” was a soap opera, not a reality-based tv show. But oh baby, people like this DO exist. They are dangerous (though they achieve much more in the area of drama than they do in pure results). They care more about their own image and recognition than they do for the welfare of their employees and the children they teach. It’s all about image and power. This is what’s so depressing. I spend SO much time trying to improve the school I’m a part of, which is often an uphill battle as it is, that trying to fight some slob who wants to be king of the world, and sees you as an obstacle in his way, is absolutely exhausting. How to get rid of someone who the school keeps because he is loyal (though they admit, flawed), but who causes pain, anger, and chaos around him?

Okay, now I’ve already written more than I thought I would (it helps to be watching “The West Wing” on the side and coming back to this on commercials).

In other news, the cool season is here finally *HOORAY* I went swimming and it felt really good. A charming ex-boyfriend is in town (and brought a nice pair of shoes!), and I have fantastic teachers working for me in our school. Now, if we can make it to the end of the school term alive and intact (end of February), then maybe, JUST maybe, there really is a god.

But probably not.